Provided is a roller shaft insulation member for reducing the heat which is conducted to the bearings by passing through the space between the roller insertion hole of a continuous annealing furnace and the roller, wherein the roller shaft insulation member of the continuous annealing furnace comprises an inorganic fiber blanket, which contacts or is near the outer circumferential surface of the roller and in which the content of 45 μm or larger shot is 3% or less. A continuous annealing furnace provided with said roller shaft insulation member is also provided.

Provided is a roller shaft insulation member for reducing the heat which is conducted to the bearings by passing through the space between the roller insertion hole of a continuous annealing furnace and the roller, wherein the roller shaft insulation member of the continuous annealing furnace comprises an inorganic fiber blanket, which contacts or is near the outer circumferential surface of the roller and in which the content of 45 μm or larger shot is 3% or less. A continuous annealing furnace provided with said roller shaft insulation member is also provided.

An apparatus for calcining a secondary battery cathode material includes: a calcination furnace including an inner space that includes a temperature rising space, a temperature maintaining space, and a cooling space, which sequentially communicate; a plurality of rollers for transferring a sagger, in which a cathode material is accommodated, from the temperature rising space to the cooling space via the temperature maintaining space; a plurality of heaters arranged along the inner space; a plurality of gas feeding parts for feeding gas to the inner space; and a plurality of exhaust parts for exhausting gas from the inner space, wherein the cross-sectional area of the temperature maintaining space is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the temperature rising space and the cross-sectional area of the cooling space.

An apparatus for calcining a secondary battery cathode material includes: a calcination furnace including an inner space that includes a temperature rising space, a temperature maintaining space, and a cooling space, which sequentially communicate; a plurality of rollers for transferring a sagger, in which a cathode material is accommodated, from the temperature rising space to the cooling space via the temperature maintaining space; a plurality of heaters arranged along the inner space; a plurality of gas feeding parts for feeding gas to the inner space; and a plurality of exhaust parts for exhausting gas from the inner space, wherein the cross-sectional area of the temperature maintaining space is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the temperature rising space and the cross-sectional area of the cooling space.

A device for thermal or thermo-chemical treatment, in particular calcination, of material, in particular battery cathode material, having a housing and a process chamber in the housing, in which there is a process chamber atmosphere during the treatment and which defines a conveying level. The material, or carrying structures loaded with the material, at the conveying level can be conveyed in a conveying direction into and/or through the process chamber by a conveying system. An entry airlock gate defines an inlet level and includes an airlock gate chamber, an airlock gate inlet and an airlock gate outlet, as well as an inlet conveyor which is designed so that the material or carrying structures loaded with the material at the inlet level can be conveyed through the airlock gate inlet and into the airlock gate chamber. The conveying level and the inlet level are different from one another. A method for thermal or thermo-chemical treatment, in particular calcination, of material, in particular battery cathode material, in which the material or carrying structures loaded with the material at the conveying level and the inlet level are conveyed at different heights.

A device for thermal or thermo-chemical treatment, in particular calcination, of material, in particular battery cathode material, having a housing and a process chamber in the housing, in which there is a process chamber atmosphere during the treatment and which defines a conveying level. The material, or carrying structures loaded with the material, at the conveying level can be conveyed in a conveying direction into and/or through the process chamber by a conveying system. An entry airlock gate defines an inlet level and includes an airlock gate chamber, an airlock gate inlet and an airlock gate outlet, as well as an inlet conveyor which is designed so that the material or carrying structures loaded with the material at the inlet level can be conveyed through the airlock gate inlet and into the airlock gate chamber. The conveying level and the inlet level are different from one another. A method for thermal or thermo-chemical treatment, in particular calcination, of material, in particular battery cathode material, in which the material or carrying structures loaded with the material at the conveying level and the inlet level are conveyed at different heights.

In a door structure of a heat treatment furnace performing a heat treatment of a workpiece, there are provided: a first opening member and a second opening member in which workpiece passing ports where the transferred workpiece passes are formed; and a sheet shutter, the sheet shutter is provided with a winding portion and a shutter portion, the shutter portion is disposed between the first opening member and the second opening member, the shutter portion is provided with a first sheet portion which covers the workpiece passing port of the first opening member and a second sheet portion which covers the workpiece passing port of the second opening member at a time that the shutter portion is closed, and it is configured that a gas storage portion is formed between the first opening member and the second opening member at the time that the shutter portion is closed.

In a door structure of a heat treatment furnace performing a heat treatment of a workpiece, there are provided: a first opening member and a second opening member in which workpiece passing ports where the transferred workpiece passes are formed; and a sheet shutter, the sheet shutter is provided with a winding portion and a shutter portion, the shutter portion is disposed between the first opening member and the second opening member, the shutter portion is provided with a first sheet portion which covers the workpiece passing port of the first opening member and a second sheet portion which covers the workpiece passing port of the second opening member at a time that the shutter portion is closed, and it is configured that a gas storage portion is formed between the first opening member and the second opening member at the time that the shutter portion is closed.

Provided is a roller shaft insulation member for reducing the heat which is conducted to the bearings by passing through the space between the roller insertion hole of a continuous annealing furnace and the roller, wherein the roller shaft insulation member of the continuous annealing furnace comprises an inorganic fiber blanket, which contacts or is near the outer circumferential surface of the roller and in which the content of 45 m or larger shot is 3% or less. A continuous annealing furnace provided with said roller shaft insulation member is also provided.

Provided is a roller shaft insulation member for reducing the heat which is conducted to the bearings by passing through the space between the roller insertion hole of a continuous annealing furnace and the roller, wherein the roller shaft insulation member of the continuous annealing furnace comprises an inorganic fiber blanket, which contacts or is near the outer circumferential surface of the roller and in which the content of 45 m or larger shot is 3% or less. A continuous annealing furnace provided with said roller shaft insulation member is also provided.