Operation control device and method for a plurality of electric power consuming systems

Claim 1

An operation control device of a heat treatment apparatus for use in an electric power supply system for supplying electric power from one electric power source to a plurality of electric power consuming systems, which can determine based on an outside signal whether or not the electric power consuming systems can proceed operating, said operation control device comprising: an output electric power detecting unit for detecting electric power outputted by the electric power source; a comparison control unit for comparing a detected value of the output electric power detecting unit with a present reference value to output a comparison signal indicative of a result of the comparison as the outside signal to be supplied to the plural electric power consuming systems, whereby the comparison signal indicating an inoperable stand-by state when the detected value exceeds the reference value; and a determination means connected to each one of the plurality of electric sower consuming systems for determining based on the comparison signal as the outside signal whether there is sufficient electrical capacity to proceed to a next step, wherein the next step is a step requiring a largest electric power consumption amount as each one of the plurality of electric power consuming systems having a set of steps where each step uses a different electric sower consumption amount, whereby if there is insufficient electrical capacity the next step is not executed until sufficient electrical capacity exists.