Method for producing rare-earth magnets, and slurry application device

A method for producing rare earth magnet comprising the steps of applying a slurry of a powder in a solvent to a sintered magnet body of R1—Fe—B composition, wherein R1 is one or more elements selected from Y, Sc and rare earth elements, the powder containing one or more compounds selected from an oxide, fluoride, oxyfluoride, hydroxide and hydride of R2 wherein R2 is one or more elements selected from Y, Sc and rare earth elements, drying the slurry to coat the sintered magnet body with the powder, and heat treating the coated magnet body for causing R2 to be absorbed in the sintered magnet body, the method further comprising the steps of:

• providing a slurry tank filled with the slurry, a conveyor having a conveyer belt for conveying the sintered magnet body, a plurality of insertion holes perforated in the conveyer belt, and a plurality of column or rod shaped push-up members,
• arranging the conveyor and the plurality of column or rod shaped push-up members so that i) the conveyer belt forms a horizontal track which goes through the slurry in the slurry tank, and ii) each of the column or rod shaped push-up members is vertically arranged to move up and down through the insertion holes of the conveyor belt, and iii) the plurality of column or rod shaped push-up members are disposed under the conveyor belt and moved in a horizontal direction parallel to the horizontal track of the conveyor belt within the slurry tank,
• moving the conveyor belt and the plurality of column or rod shaped push-up members so that the plurality of column or rod shaped push-up members are moved in a same direction as the conveyor belt and are moved beneath the conveyor belt within the slurry tank,
• placing and conveying the sintered magnet body on the conveyor belt by the conveyor so as to pass through the slurry in the slurry tank, for thereby immersing the sintered magnet body in the slurry and applying the slurry to the sintered magnet body, and
• temporarily pushing up the sintered magnet body on the conveyor belt during the immersion duration within the slurry tank, by the plurality of column or rod shaped push-up members which protrude from the conveyor belt through the insertion holes of the conveyor belt, such that the sintered magnet body is lifted up and separated from an upper surface of the conveyor belt and then moved down onto the prior position on the upper surface of the conveyor belt without turning over.