Levitating and melting apparatus and method of operating the same

摘要

In addition to a first driving device which moves only a lower crucible, and a first control device which controls the first driving device, a second driving device which changes the vertical relative position of an upper crucible and an induction coil, and a second control device which controls the second driving device are disposed, whereby the relative positions of the upper and lower crucibles and the induction coil can freely be changed. Consequently, the relative positions of the induction coil and the upper and lower crucibles can adequately be set in whole of the operation period from the initial operation stage to the final operation stage, in accordance with the position of a melting zone in the top portion of a material to be melted which grows as a result of continuously charging chips.