Pattern-switching temperature control apparatus

A pattern-switching temperature control apparatus dealing with inter-zone interference for a multi-zone furnace with an intra-furnace thermometer means, each zone having a heating portion carrying a heating element and a heating-portion thermometer, comprising

• a work setting element where a number representing a prescribed quantity of works of a kind to be heat-treated is set;
• a temperature setting element on which a series of temperature settings (x.sub.i) for individual heating portions of the furnace zones (Z.sub.i) are set;
• a memory adapted to store a plurality of temperature distribution patterns (P.sub.is) for the furnace, a set of said numbers representing the prescribed quantities of works of different kinds to be heat-treated at corresponding ones of said temperature distribution patterns, a set of different series of temperature settings (x.sub.ir) to be selectively set on said temperature setting element, and a set of inside temperatures (y.sub.ir) detected by said intra-furnace thermometer means at different furnace zones when said temperature setting element carries corresponding ones of said settings (x.sub.ir);
• a calculating means for calculating a heat transfer gains (g.sub.ir) from said set of temperature settings (x.sub.ir) and said set of inside temperatures (y.sub.ir), calculating series of temperature settings (x.sub.is) for said temperature distribution patterns (P.sub.is) by using the heat transfer gains (g.sub.ir), and storing the thus calculated series of temperature settings in said memory;
• a counting means for counting the number of those works of one kind which are heat-treated by the furnace;
• a setting means adapted, when count of said counting means coincides with said prescribed quantity of said one kind of works, to read out that number from the memory onto said work setting means which represents the presecribed quantity of the works to be heat-treated next and to read out said calculated series of temperature settings for the temperature distribution pattern to be used next from said memory;
• and
• a regulating means adapted to control said heating element depending on difference between actual temperature detected by said heating-portion thermometer and temperature settings on said temperature setting element.