Sealing apparatus for inlet/outlet of atmosphere facility

A sealing apparatus for hermetically sealing the inlet or the outlet of an atmosphere facility for atmosphere-treating a strip while holding the strip between a pair of rolls at least whose outer surface is made elastic, the sealing apparatus comprising:

• a casing for enclosing the pair of rolls;
• a seal plate for sealing the boundary between the casing and each of the pair of elastic rolls by elastically contacting the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of elastic rolls;
• covering members, formed of an elastic material, comprising a first flange contacting the end surfaces of the rolls and a first sleeve extending outwardly from the outer peripheral surface of the first flange in the axial direction of the rolls, the covering members being incorporated as members of a roll end seal apparatus and disposed on both ends of each roll;
• first supporting members disposed on both ends of each roll and formed of a rigid material, each first supporting member comprising a second flange which makes a junction with the outer surface of the first flange, and a second sleeve extending outwardly from the outer peripheral surface of the second flange in the axial direction of the rolls;
• second supporting members disposed on both ends of each roll and formed of a rigid material, each second supporting member comprising a third sleeve arranged between the shaft of each roll and the second sleeve outwardly from the second flange in the axial direction of the rolls and a third flange extending from the outer end surface of the third sleeve in the axial direction of the roll to the radial direction of the rolls;
• outer bearings each interposed between the third sleeve and the second sleeve, which receive radial and thrust forces, the outer bearing being disposed on both ends of each roll;
• inner bearings each interposed between the third sleeve and the shaft of each roll;
• and
• an end surface sealing member interposed between the side wall of the casing and the third flange of the second supporting member at both ends of each roll, at least the outward side of which in the radial direction of the roll is formed of an elastic material.