High temperature conveyor furnace with low friction conveyor travel surface

Abstract

A high-temperature conveyor furnace with a low friction conveyor travel surface is provided. The furnace includes a muffle defining a heating chamber, hearth plates providing a hearth surface within the heating chamber, and a conveyor belt to convey product through the heating chamber. The conveyor belt is formed of a first material, such as a nickel-chrome alloy. A plurality of low-friction inserts are supported by the hearth plates, preferably in openings in the hearth plates, to provide a surface upraised from the hearth surface upon which the conveyor belt travels. The inserts are formed of a second material, such as an electronics grade ceramic, that is different from the first material of the conveyor, which minimizes friction between the inserts and the belt. The low-friction surface is particularly suitable for high temperature, low dewpoint furnace applications, such as stainless steel brazing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.