NOVELTY - A continuous heat treatment furnace comprises different transporting mechanisms transporting objects to be thermally treated in a drying and binder-removing area and a firing area, respectively. The transporting speed of each transporting mechanism is set so that the transporting speed in the drying and binder-removing area and the transporting speed in the firing area differ from each other.    USE - For heat treatment of objects, e.g. substrates of solar batteries (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The invention ensures a necessary heating time with transporting the objects to be thermally treated rapidly in a short time in the firing area. The heating time of the objects can be made nearly uniform.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A continuous heat treatment furnace comprises drying and binder-removing area(s) (41) where drying of the objects to be thermally treated (1) and/or removal of binder are carried out and a firing area (42) where the objects to be thermally treated is fired. The drying and binder-removing area(s) and the firing area are provided in succession from inlet (51) side towards outlet (52) side of the furnace. The objects to be thermally treated are subjected to drying and/or removal of binder while being transported through the drying and binder-removing area and then fired while being transported through the firing area. The heat treatment furnace has greater than or equal to2 transporting mechanisms disposed along the transporting direction of the objects to be thermally treated. The objects to be thermally treated are transported by different transporting mechanisms in the drying and binder-removing area and the firing area, respectively. The transporting speed of each transporting mechanism is set so that the transporting speed in the drying and binder-removing area and the transporting speed in the firing area differ from each other.    An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a method of heat treatment using the continuous heat treatment furnace wherein the transporting of the objects to be thermally treated through the firing area by one of the transporting mechanism shows behaviors of acceleration, deceleration, re-acceleration and stop, and the difference in heating time for the portion heated for the longest heating time among the portions of the objects to be thermally treated is within 0-1 second.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a diagrammatic view of a continuous heat treatment furnace.    Objects to be thermally treated (1)    Beams (2, 21)    Beam supporter (4)    Wire materials (11)    Wire material holder (12)    Wire material supporter (14)    Firing area (42)    Inlet (51)    Outlet (52)    Infrared heater (61)    Near infrared lamp heater (62)