Heat Treatment Method And Equipment For Mass Processing Of Components And/Or Assembly Of Components

Abstract

Disclosed is heat treatment equipment and process that facilitates heat treatment process by introducing focused high intensity infrared heating to components on a conveyorized system for maximizing the throughput of heat treated components.

We claim: 
     
         1 ) An improved heat treatment equipment for mass processing of components and/or assembly of components via controlled heat treatment process, wherein said equipment comprising:
 a chain conveyor with an adaptation to host a pallet thereon;   a heating oven configured to receive the pallet with component being heated, the heating oven having a plurality of infrared emitter sources and auxiliary parts positioned therein, the heating oven having at least two sets of emitters mounted on either side of the pallet;   a plurality of sensors including an entry safety sensor, an unloading sensor, a shade sensor, a pokayoke sensor set, a non contact temperatures sensor, and an exit safety sensor;   a water or equivalent cooled reflector unit covering the infrared emitters and components thereby encapsulating the heating process, the reflector unit having a housing configured to concentrate infrared radiation optimally onto the components for delivering maximum temperature in minimum time; and   a cooling provision/water jacket configured to prevent heat transfer to the non-targeted region, the water jacket pneumatically activating and surrounding the non-targeted region.   
     
     
         2 ) The heat treatment equipment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pallet is designed to receive individual component alignment for optimal and precise radiation throughput quantity of the components being heated. 
     
     
         3 ) The heat treatment equipment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the infrared emitter source includes an array of quartz heat lamps, Infra Red Light Emitting Diode, Infra Red Laser, Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser or other infrared emitters having predefined power ratings and specifications to permit high intensity infrared radiation heat transfer. 
     
     
         4 ) The heat treatment equipment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said equipment allows utilization and positioning of designed IR emitters such that targeted IR radiation is facilitated. 
     
     
         5 ) The heat treatment equipment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing of the cooled reflector unit having an engineered cooling path that prevents damage of the infrared emitters and reflective material in the high intensity infrared radiation zone. 
     
     
         6 ) The heat treatment equipment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the non-contact temperature sensor validates the set process temperature on exit of the components after being subjected to heat transfer. 
     
     
         7 ) The heat treatment equipment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein heating is facilitated by a highly productive and energy efficient non-contact method for thermal treatment comprising hardening, softening, stress relieving and the like. 
     
     
         8 ) The heat treatment equipment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the component is made of material selected from metal, non-metal, plastic and composite material. 
     
     
         9 ) The heat treatment equipment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said equipment facilitates a compact footprint for simultaneous online/mass processing of multiple heat treatment components thereby offering substantial reduction in energy consumption and process time.