Device for transferring products in plants for metallurgical treating of said products

In a method for treating hot and cold metal products including a preheat furnace having an outlet oppositely confronting an inlet of a reheat furnace, the method comprising the steps:

• conveying cold products along a first path leading to an inlet of the preheat furnace, the cold products being initially heated in the preheat furnace during movement of the cold products through the preheat furnace along a second path that is substantially perpendicular to the first path;
• conveying hot products along a third path substantially parallel to the first path and leading to the inlet of the reheat furnace thereby bypassing the preheat furnace;
• a material handling process for transferring preheated products from an outlet of the preheat furnace to the inlet of the reheat furnace, and for transferring hot products from a point between the furnaces to the inlet of the reheat furnace,
• the material handling process including the steps
• providing a support between the outlet of the preheat furnace and the inlet of the reheat furnace for receiving preheated cold products from the preheat furnace or hot products;
• and subjecting the cold and hot products to lifting and displacement from a location below the support for lifting and translating these products from the support to the inlet of the reheat furnace;
• and for
• selectively reversing movement of hot products from the support means to the preheat furnace, through the outlet thereof, for temporary hot storage therein.