Brazing method and brazing apparatus for brazing metal plates

A brazing apparatus for brazing metal plates together via a brazing material, the brazing apparatus comprising:

• a heating chamber into which a workpiece is loaded, the workpiece including metal plates that are stacked via the brazing material;
• a first deoxidizing device configured to remove oxygen from the heating chamber;
• and
• a first heating plate and a second heating plate that are located inside the heating chamber, wherein
• the brazing apparatus is configured to, with the heating chamber controlled to a preset oxygen concentration or less, sandwich the workpiece between the first heating plate and the second heating plate in such a manner that the first heating plate and the second heating plate cover the workpiece entirely as viewed in a thickness direction of the workpiece, and heat the workpiece to braze the metal plates together via the brazing material;
• and
• wherein the brazing apparatus further comprises:
• a preliminary chamber that is continuous with the heating chamber;
• a first opening and closing unit located between the preliminary chamber and the heating chamber;
• a second deoxidizing device configured to remove oxygen from the preliminary chamber;
• and
• a conveying device configured to convey the workpiece, wherein
• the brazing apparatus is configured to, with both the preliminary chamber in which the workpiece is loaded and the heating chamber controlled to the preset oxygen concentration or less, open the first opening and closing unit to load the workpiece into the heating chamber.