Heat treatment line and method for operating the heat treatment line

Abstract

A heat treatment line for producing a heat treated metal component includes a heating station, which heats the metal component to a component temperature above the austenizing temperature, and a temperature treatment station, wherein the temperature treatment station has an internal temperature which essentially corresponds to the temperature of the metal component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat treatment line for producing a heat treated, in particular pre-coated metal component, comprising:
 a heating station which heats at least regions of the metal component to a component temperature above austenizing temperature; and   a temperature treatment station, said temperature treatment station having at least in regions an internal temperature which essentially corresponds to the component temperature of the metal component.   
     
     
         2 . The heat treatment line of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature treatment station is constructed as continuous furnace, in particular the continuous furnace has at least in regions the internal temperature of the temperature treatment station. 
     
     
         3 . The heat treatment line of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature treatment station is constructed as chamber furnace. 
     
     
         4 . The heat treatment line of  claim 3 , further comprising multiple said multiple chamber furnace arranged on top of each other and/or adjacent each other. 
     
     
         5 . The heat treatment line of  claim 3 , wherein the chamber furnace at least in regions has the internal temperature of the temperature treatment station. 
     
     
         6 . The heat treatment line of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature treatment station is constructed as rotary kiln. 
     
     
         7 . The heat treatment line of  claim 1 , further comprising a cooling station arranged upstream of the temperature treatment station, 
     
     
         8 . The heat treatment line of  claim 7 , wherein the cooling station is constructed as hot forming and press hardening tool. 
     
     
         9 . The heat treatment line of  claim 8 , wherein the cooling station is constructed as dip bath. 
     
     
         10 . The heat treatment line of  claim 7 , further comprising a manipulator for transferring the metal component between the heating station, the heat treatment station and the cooling station. 
     
     
         11 . The heat treatment line of  claim 10 , wherein the manipulator is constructed as an industrial robot. 
     
     
         12 . A method for operating the heat treatment line of  claim 1 , comprising:
 establishing an internal temperature of the heating station above the component temperature of the metal component;   introducing the metal component into the heating station;   heating at least regions of the metal component in the heating station to a component temperature above austenizing temperature; and   introducing the metal component into the temperature treatment station.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the internal temperature of the heating station is set between 1000° C. and 1300° C. and the internal temperature of the temperature treatment station is set between 800° C. and 1000° C. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the internal temperature of the heating station is set between 1100° C. and 1200° C., and the internal temperature of the temperature treatment station is set between 850° C. and 950° C. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the temperature treatment station is used as buffer to compensate down times and/or production halts at the heating station and/or the cooling station. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a pre-coated metal component with a metallic pre-coating is heat treated for generating an at least regional intermetallic phase. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the metal component is removed from the heating station when reaching an actual temperature of the metal component of 700° C. to 1100° C. and transferred into the temperature treatment station, and wherein at least regions of the metal component are post heated in the temperature treatment station to the component temperature, in particular to at least 900° C. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the metal component is removed from the heating station when reaching an actual temperature of the metal component of 800° C. to 1000° C. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the metal component is removed from the heating station when reaching an actual temperature of the metal component 850° C. to 950° C.