Apparatus for heating and transferring metal materials for a melting plant, and method for melting metal materials

A melting plant comprising a melting furnace in which to melt metal materials, a loading unit configured to feed said materials, and a heating and transfer apparatus, said heating and transfer apparatus being interposed between said loading unit and said melting furnace and being configured to heat and move said materials, fed by said loading unit, to said melting furnace, at a temperature comprised between 300° C. and 800° C. and keeping them in a solid state, wherein the heating and transfer apparatus comprises:

• a transporter device configured to move said materials continuously to said melting furnace, wherein said transporter device is chosen from a group comprising a transporter belt, a plate transporter belt, a mobile board transporter, a rotating chamber or a possible combination of the above, wherein said transporter device is provided with a closed chamber for the passage of said metal materials;
• and
• a plurality of induction heating units, each of the induction heating units comprising at least one coil mounted externally to said transporter device and suitable to generate an induced magnetic field in said materials in order to heat by electromagnetic induction said materials, moved in said transporter device, to a temperature between 300° C. and 800° C. and keeping them in a solid state,
• wherein the induction heating units associated with the transporter device are provided in different positions along the longitudinal extension of the transporter device, configured to differentiate the heating action on the material in the transporter device in different positions of the latter,
• wherein said transporter device comprises a mobile board transporter with a mainly longitudinal development, defined by a channel with a cradle-type concave cross section, to contain the metal material inside it and associated with an actuation member of the vibrating type, and
• wherein the closed chamber comprises a closing body configured to hermetically enclose the metal materials during said passage;
• and
• the melting plant further comprising a suction apparatus configured to reduce a pressure within the closed chamber.