Method and apparatus for heat treating

A method for heat treating a plurality of discreet, individually movable parts, said method comprising said parts with direct radiation from a source of infrared radiation until said parts attain a desired state of heat treatment, said method further comprising heat treating said parts within a plurality of stations arranged in a line of travel, said plurality including at least a first station and at least a second station with each of said first and second stations having separately and independently controllable infrared radiation generating lamps and said first and second stations mutually isolated from one another, said method including moving a first of said parts along said line of travel into said first station and holding said first part substantially stationary relative to said line of travel in said first station while heat treating said first part within said first station with a first infrared radiation intensity controlled independent of a second radiation intensity in said second station and simultaneously heat treating a second of said parts in said second station with said second radiation intensity and while holding said second of said parts in said second station for a period of time equal to a time said first part is held in said first station, continuing heat treating said first and second parts for a substantially equal period of time and subsequently moving said second part along said line of travel from said second station and moving said first part along said line of travel directly to said second station and moving a third part along said line of travel into said first station and holding said first and third parts substantially stationary relative to said line of travel in said second and first stations, respectively, while heat treating said first part within said second station with a second infrared radiation intensity controlled independent of a radiation intensity in said first station heating said third part, heat treating said first and third parts in said second and first stations for a substantially equal period of time.

A method for heating treating a plurality of discreet, individually movable parts in a plurality of heat treating stations including at least a first station and a subsequent station arranged in a line of travel, said method comprising:

• measuring an actual temperature of a first one of said plurality of discreet parts;
• admitting said first one to said first station and holding substantially stationary relative to said line of travel said first one in said first station for a first residence time;
• heat treating said first one in said first station during said first residence time with infrared radiation emitted from infrared lamps having an intensity selected in response to said measured actual temperature of said first one to elevate a temperature of said first part for said first part to at least partially attain a desired state of heat treatment;
• measuring an actual temperature of a second one of said plurality of discreet parts;
• moving said first one along said line of travel to said subsequent station after said first residence time and admitting said second one to said first station;
• holding said first one substantially stationary relative to said line of travel in said subsequent station for a second residence time and holding said second substantially stationary relative to said line of travel one in said first station for said second residence time;
• heat treating said first one in said subsequent station during said second residence time with infrared radiation from infrared lamps within said second station with said second infrared lamps having an intensity selected in response to an amount of heat treatment of said first one in said first station;
• and
• heat treating said second one in said first station during said second residence time with infrared radiation from said first infrared lamps having an intensity selected in response to said measured actual temperature of said second one to elevate a temperature of said second part for said second part to at least partially attain a desired state of heat treatment.