Abstract:
A transporting apparatus for rolling ingots, having at least one travelling carriage, includes a tilting frame and a guide frame, wherein the tilting frame has at least one longitudinally displaceable transporting carriage with a rail section, which is intended for accommodating an ingot rest and, for the purpose of forming a rail extension, can be positioned collinearly in relation to a furnace rail, and the guide frame has at least one hook carriage, which can be moved essentially parallel to the transporting carriage and comprises at least one tiltable hook for engaging in the ingot rest.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a transporting apparatus for rolling ingots, in particular aluminum rolling ingots, to the use of such a transporting apparatus and to a method for transporting rolling ingots. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In the industrial production of aluminum semifinished products, the aluminum in the form of rolling ingots is first of all subjected to a heat treatment in order subsequently to be converted in a rolling mill into the desired sheet metal shape. The heat treatment leads to heating and homogenizing of the aluminum, which facilitates the rolling process and increases the quality of the semifinished product produced. 
         [0005]    It is known to use ingot pusher furnaces for heating and homogenizing aluminum rolling ingots. Furnaces of this type are stationary and in each case comprise an inlet side and an outlet side. Rails are attached in between in the longitudinal direction within the furnace. Ingot pusher furnaces customarily comprise two rails which serve as a guide for ingot rests. The ingot rests are produced from cast iron and are sufficiently heat-resistant to ensure dimensional stability within the heated-up ingot pusher furnace. The rolling ingots to be heated are deposited on said rests and moved through the furnace. Continuous heating of rolling ingots is thereby possible. 
         [0006]    The ingot pusher furnace is charged via a roller table on which the rolling ingots are brought up to the furnace. The roller table is positioned at right angles to the furnace. A charging apparatus, also called “up-ender”, picks up a respective ingot from the roller table and deposits said ingot onto the ingot rests. As soon as the furnace inlet door is opened, the ingot rests together with the rolling ingot are pushed into the furnace. The continuous pushing of ingot rests into the furnace causes the ingot rests and rolling ingots to be pushed through the furnace. 
         [0007]    On the outlet side, the ingot rests with the rolling ingot placed thereon are pulled out of the furnace by a pull-out apparatus. A tipping apparatus, also called “down-ender”, deposits the heated-up rolling ingot onto a roller table of the rolling mill. 
         [0008]    Both the up-ender and the down-ender are securely anchored on the factory floor foundations on the inlet side and outlet side of the ingot pusher furnace. This means that each up-ender or down-ender is in each case assigned to an ingot pusher furnace. It has turned out in practice that the fixed assignment of a pull-out apparatus or tilting apparatus to an ingot pusher furnace leads to an unfavorable utilization of the pull-out or tilting apparatus. Due to the waiting times which are caused by the rolling ingots only being discharged from the ingot pusher furnace intermittently, the pull-out or tilting apparatus is shut down for relatively long periods. At the same time, when a plurality of pusher ingot furnaces are used, a dedicated pull-out or tilting apparatus is required for each ingot pusher furnace, which leads to higher investment and maintenance costs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is the object of the invention to specify a transporting apparatus for rolling ingots, which permits improved utilization and by means of which the investment and maintenance costs of a production system for rolled products are reduced. The invention is furthermore based on the object of specifying the use of such a transporting apparatus and a method for transporting rolling ingots. 
         [0010]    The invention is based on the concept of specifying a transporting apparatus for rolling ingots, comprising at least one traveling carriage. The traveling carriage comprises a tilting frame and a guide frame. The tilting frame has at least one longitudinally displaceably movable transporting apparatus which comprises at least one rail section for receiving an ingot rest. The rail section, in order to form a rail extension, is positionable collinearly with respect to a furnace rail. The guide frame has at least one hook carriage which is movable substantially parallel to the transporting carriage. The hook carriage comprises at least one tiltable hook for engaging in the ingot rest. 
         [0011]    The invention has a plurality of advantages. Firstly, the traveling carriage enables the transporting apparatus to be assigned to a plurality of furnaces, in particular ingot pusher furnaces. The investment and maintenance outlay for production systems for producing rolled products is thereby reduced. At the same time, the utilization of the transporting apparatus is increased, i.e. the shutdown periods known from the prior art during the transporting of rolling ingots from the furnaces to the rolling mill are reduced, and therefore an efficient operation of the transporting apparatus and of the entire production system is ensured. Secondly, the construction according to the invention enables a pull-out apparatus, namely the hook carriage, to be combined with the transporting carriage. The transporting apparatus according to the invention therefore combines both the function of pulling the rolling ingot out of the ingot pusher furnace and the function of further transport of the rolling ingot to the rolling mill. The technically complicated transferring, known from the prior art, of the rolling ingot from the pull-out apparatus to a tilting apparatus is simplified by the transporting apparatus according to the invention. 
         [0012]    The transporting carriage is preferably movable transversely, in particular at right angles, with respect to a direction of movement of the traveling carriage. This permits a simple and efficient use of the transporting apparatus for picking up rolling ingots from a plurality of ingot pusher furnaces and transferring the rolling ingots to a common rolling mill. If the ingot pusher furnaces are arranged parallel to one another, movement of the traveling carriage and the transporting carriage, which is displaceable transversely with respect thereto, enable the transporting apparatus to be rapidly positioned in front of the ingot pusher furnace, which releases the next rolling ingot. 
         [0013]    In a preferred embodiment of the transporting apparatus according to the invention, the tilting frame comprises a tilting axis which is arranged parallel to a direction of movement of the traveling carriage. This arrangement of the tilting axis facilitates the transfer of the rolling ingot from the transporting carriage to a rolling mill or a tilting apparatus. 
         [0014]    In a further preferred embodiment of the transporting apparatus according to the invention, the guide frame is height-adjustible. The height-adjustability of the guide frame facilitates the handling and control of the transporting apparatus. In particular, the height-adjustibility of the guide frame enables the hook carriage to be lowered or raised, preferably in relation to the transporting carriage. The hook carriage can therefore be lowered with the aid of the height-adjustable guide frame in order, for example, to create space for a tilting apparatus which takes over the heated-up rolling ingot from the transporting carriage. 
         [0015]    The hook carriage and/or the transporting carriage preferably each have an electric drive, in particular a belt drive. This does not exclude the hook carriage and/or the transporting carriage being actuated electrohydraulically. The electric actuation is expedient in particular for a simple and process-optimized control of the transporting apparatus. 
         [0016]    According to a further preferred embodiment of the transporting apparatus according to the invention, the traveling carriage is movable on running rails which are arranged transversely, in particular at right angles, with respect to a furnace pass-through direction. The combination of the traveling carriage with running rails, which are preferably mounted fixedly on a factory floor or on foundations, firstly has advantages in respect of the energy efficiency of the transporting apparatus and secondly is beneficial regarding a relatively low outlay on maintenance and repair. Furthermore, the rail-mounted traveling carriage enables the rolling ingots to be transported securely and uniformly. 
         [0017]    The traveling carriage can comprise two tilting frames which are arranged on either side of the guide frame and each have a transporting carriage. In a particularly preferred manner, the two tilting frames are activatable synchronously to each other. 
         [0018]    The at least two transporting carriages are preferably movable synchronously to each other. The synchronously movable transporting carriages ensure that the rolling ingot is taken over securely and uniformly from the ingot pusher furnace. In this case, the transporting carriages can be brought up to the ingot pusher furnace in such a manner that the rail sections bear against the furnace rails within the ingot pusher furnace and therefore form an extension of the furnace rails. The ingot rests can thereby be transferred in a simple manner from the ingot pusher furnace to the transporting carriage. 
         [0019]    The transfer of the rolling ingot from the ingot pusher furnace to the transporting carriage is facilitated in particular by the guide frame preferably having a longitudinal guide for the hook carriage, which longitudinal guide extends parallel between the at least two transporting carriages. The hook carriage is therefore movable in parallel between the transporting carriages. This arrangement makes it possible for the hook carriage to reach through the transporting carriages such that the hook of the hook carriage can simply and efficiently grasp the ingot rests with the rolling ingots resting thereon in the ingot pusher furnace and pull same onto the rail section of the transporting carriage. Furthermore, the longitudinal guide for the hook carriage, which longitudinal guide is arranged between the transporting carriage and tilting frame, makes it possible for the transporting apparatus to have a compact construction. 
         [0020]    The guide frame can comprise a lifter which is height-adjustable with respect to the guide frame. The lifter interacts with a lever arm of the hook in such a manner that the hook is tiltable about an axis of rotation which is arranged in particular transversely, preferably at right angles, with respect to the direction of movement of the hook carriage. The lifter permits simple and reliable actuation of the tiltable hook. In particular, the hook is released from the ingot rest preferably by means of the lifter which therefore forms a particularly simple and maintenance-friendly release mechanism. 
         [0021]    In a further preferred refinement of the transporting apparatus according to the invention, it is provided that at least the tilting frame, in particular the transporting carriage, and/or at least the guide frame, in particular the hook carriage, comprises at least one heat and/or spurt protection shield. Heat and/or spurt protection shields of this type have a positive effect on the service life of the apparatus, which is exposed to an increased thermal loading due to the proximity of the furnace output side. The operational reliability of the apparatus is therefore increased. 
         [0022]    According to a further independent aspect, the invention is based on the concept of specifying the use of the above-described transporting apparatus for transporting rolling ingots, in particular aluminum rolling ingots, between one or more ingot pusher furnaces and a tilting apparatus. 
         [0023]    A further independent aspect of the invention relates to a method for transporting rolling ingots between one or more furnaces and a rolling mill, which method comprises the following steps:
       providing an above-described transporting apparatus;   extending at least one furnace rail, wherein the rail section of the transporting carriage is positioned collinearly and flush to the furnace rail;   actuating the hook carriage in such a manner that the hook grasps an ingot rest and moves the latter onto the rail section of the transporting carriage;   displacing the transporting carriage longitudinally and tilting the tilting frame in order to transfer the rolling ingot onto a tilting apparatus.       
 
         [0028]    A further method step preferably comprises actuating the hook carriage for transferring the ingot rest to an ingot rest return. 
         [0029]    The advantages and effects mentioned in conjunction with the transporting apparatus apply correspondingly to the method according to the invention for transporting rolling ingots. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached, schematic drawings, in which: 
           [0031]      FIG. 1 : shows a side view of a transporting apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment according to the invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2 : shows a top view of the transporting apparatus according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 3 : shows a front view of the transporting apparatus according to  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0034]      FIGS. 4 to 14 : show a side view of the transporting apparatus according to  FIG. 1  in different method steps during the transport of rolling ingots. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    As illustrated in the side view according to  FIG. 1 , the transporting apparatus or the ingot carriage has a traveling carriage  1  with a tilting frame  10  and a guide frame  20 . The traveling carriage  1  is rail-mounted. Specifically, two running rails  2  which are fixedly connected, in particular bolted, to a foundation  5  are provided below the traveling carriage  1 . The running rails  2  are oriented transversely with respect to an ingot pusher furnace (not illustrated) such that the traveling carriage  1  is positionable in front of the outputs of different ingot pusher furnaces, which can be arranged parallel to one another. The furnace output side or the furnace region is illustrated in the figures as a chain-dotted line. It can be seen that the traveling carriage  1  is at any rate arranged outside the furnace region. The traveling carriage  1  furthermore comprises a plurality of drive units, in particular a travel drive  4  for the traveling carriage  1 , a tilting drive  15  for the tilting frame  10 , a raising drive  24  ( FIG. 2 ) for the guide frame  20 , a hook drive  29   e  ( FIG. 2 ) for a hook carriage  21  of the guide frame  20 , and a transporting drive  16  for a transporting carriage  11  of the tilting frame  10 . The travel drive  4  is coupled to at least one wheel  3  of the traveling carriage. The travel drive  4  therefore interacts via the wheel  3  with the running rail  2  for advancing the traveling carriage  1 . The travel drive  4  is preferably designed as an electric drive, in particular as an electric motor. 
         [0036]    The traveling carriage  1  furthermore bears the tilting frame  10 . For this purpose, the traveling carriage  1  has a tilting axis bearing  6  which is arranged in the region of, or specifically above, the wheel  3  of the traveling carriage  1 . A tilting axis  14  of the tilting frame  10  is mounted hingedly in the tilting axis bearing  6 . The tilting axis  14  is preferably oriented parallel to the running rail  2  closer to the furnace or to the wheel  3  closer to the furnace, wherein the tilting axis  14  is arranged vertically above the running rail  2  closer to the furnace or the wheel  3 , which is closer to the furnace, of the traveling carriage  1 . At a distance from the tilting axis  14 , the tilting frame  10  is hingedly connected to a tilting joint  17 . The tilting joint  17  is furthermore coupled to the traveling carriage  1  via a first rotary joint  17   a.  A second rotary joint  17   b  connects the tilting joint  17  to the tilting drive  15 , which is hingedly coupled to the traveling carriage  1 . The tilting drive  15  comprises a translatory drive, for example a linear drive or a lifting cylinder. In particular, the tilting drive  15  can comprise a hydraulic cylinder. It is also possible for the tilting drive  15  to have a spindle drive or a rack drive. It is advantageous for a compact construction if, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the tilting drive  15  is completely arranged below the tilting frame  10 . 
         [0037]    The tilting frame  10  furthermore comprises a transporting carriage guide  18  which extends in the longitudinal direction of the tilting frame  10 , i.e. substantially at right angles to the tilting axis  14 . The transporting carriage guide  18  can comprise a rail guide, for example. The transporting carriage  11  is mounted in a longitudinally displaceable manner in the transporting carriage guide  18 . The transporting carriage  11  is therefore movable in the longitudinal direction of the tilting frame  10 . For this purpose, the transporting carriage  11  preferably has guide rollers (not illustrated) which engage in the transporting carriage guide  18 . 
         [0038]    The transporting carriage  11  comprises at least one rail member  13 . The transporting carriage  11  preferably has two rail members  13 , as can be seen from the front view according to  FIG. 3 . The rail member  13  has an overhang  13   a  with respect to the furnace side or in the direction of the furnace region, which overhang protrudes over the tilting frame  10  when the transporting carriage  11  is moved into the front end position. The front end position is formed here by the position in which the transporting carriage  11  is closest to the furnace or furnace region or projects into the furnace. The transporting carriage  11  here is arranged substantially vertically above the tilting axis  14 . A rail section  12  which extends substantially horizontally over the entire length of the rail member  13  is arranged above the rail member  13 . The rail member  13  and the rail section  12  are preferably fixedly connected, in particular welded, or are formed integrally. If, as provided in the present exemplary embodiment, two rail members  13  carry the rail section  12 , it is particularly preferred if the rail members  13  substantially form an I-member-like profile with the rail section. It is also possible for a single rail member  13  to form a simple T-member-like profile with the rail section  12 . 
         [0039]    The traveling carriage  1  furthermore carries the guide frame  20 , wherein the guide frame  20  is coupled in an articulated manner via at least one, in particular two, in particular three, in particular four, raising joints  25 . The raising joints  25  are preferably arranged spaced apart from one another, wherein, in the case of four raising joints  25 , two raising joints  25  in each case preferably form a pair of raising joints. The raising joints  25  or pairs of raising joints are arranged spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the guide frame  20  in order to ensure an axially correct lifting or lowering of the guide frame  20 . At least one raising joint  25  or a pair of raising joints is connected to a raising drive  24 . The pair of raising joints further away from the furnace preferably has two raising joints  25  which are each coupled to a raising drive  24 . The raising drive  24  can be designed analogously to the tilting drive  15  as a translatory drive. For example, the raising drive  24  can comprise a linear motor, in particular a lifting cylinder, especially a hydraulic cylinder. The raising drive  24  is in each case coupled in a hinged manner to the traveling carriage  1  and to the raising joint  25 . The raising joint  25  is likewise coupled in a hinged manner to the traveling carriage  1  by a third rotary joint  25   a  and to the guide frame  20  by a fourth rotary joint  25   b.    
         [0040]    The guide frame  20  comprises a longitudinal guide  23  which can be designed, for example, as a rail guide or roller guide. A hook carriage  21  is guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner in the longitudinal guide  23 . The hook carriage  21  preferably has guide rollers (not illustrated) which interact with the longitudinal guide  23  in such a manner that the hook carriage  21  is movable, in particular can travel, along the longitudinal guide  23  of the guide frame  20 . As can readily be seen in  FIG. 3 , the longitudinal guide  23  is arranged substantially centrally between two transporting carriages  11 . 
         [0041]    According to  FIG. 3 , the transporting apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment has two tilting frames  10  which each comprise a transporting carriage  11 . The tilting frames  10  are arranged parallel to each other and have tilting drives  15  and transporting drives  16 , which are each independent of each other. The tilting frames  10  are therefore actuatable independently of each other. The two tilting frames  10  are preferably actuated in a synchronous manner by means of a suitable control. It is also possible for the tilting frames  11  to be connected mechanically to each other, for example by a rigid axle or a rigid transverse member, such that the tilting frames  11  are actuatable synchronously to each other. In this case, a single tilting drive is provided for the two tilting frames  11 . It is furthermore possible for the transporting drives  16  to be coupled to one another in such a manner that the two transporting carriages  11  are movable synchronously. Both the coupling by means of a corresponding control, and also a mechanical coupling between the transporting drives, which brings about the synchronous movement of the transporting carriages  11 , can be provided here. The transporting carriages  11  can also be coupled mechanically to each other themselves, for example by means of a rigid connection between the transporting carriages  11 , such that a synchronous movement of the transporting carriages  11  inevitably arises. 
         [0042]    The hook carriage  21  comprises a supporting structure  26  which comprises two chassis members  26   a  and a cross member  26   b.  The cross member  26   b  is fixedly connected, preferably welded, to the chassis members  26   a.  The chassis members  26   a  and the cross member  26   b  together essentially form an I-member-like structure. The chassis members  26   a  engage in the longitudinal guide  23  of the guide frame  20 , wherein the chassis members  26   a  preferably form a roller bearing for castors (not illustrated) which are arranged within the longitudinal guide  23 , in particular within guide rails (not illustrated) of the longitudinal guide  23 . According to the front view in  FIG. 3 , the cross member  26   b  extends in the transverse direction beyond the transporting carriage  11 , in particular beyond the rail sections  12  of the transporting carriages  11 . The cross member  26   b  therefore has a width which is greater than the outside distance of the transporting carriages  11 . 
         [0043]    The hook carriage  21  furthermore comprises at least two, in particular four, in particular eight, hook members  27  which are fixedly connected, in particular welded, to the cross member  26   b.  The hook members  27  extend here from the cross member  26   b  in the direction of the furnace region. The hook members  27  thus form an overhang analogously to the rail member  13  of the transporting carriage  11 . Furthermore, the hook members  27  comprise a rotary bearing  27   a,  wherein an axis of rotation  28  of the hook  22  is arranged between each two hook members  27  or two rotary bearings  27   a.  The hook  22  is therefore hingedly connected to the hook member  27  by the rotary bearings  27   a  of the hook members  27 . 
         [0044]    The hook  22  comprises an extension arm  22   a  which is adapted to project into the furnace when the hook carriage  21  is arranged in the front end position. The extension arm  22   a  has a hook tip  22   b  which substantially has a barb-like shape. The hook tip  22   b  comprises in particular an oblique sliding surface  22   c  which forms an acute angle with a lower surface or edge of the extension arm  22   a.  In interaction with the rotary bearing  27   a,  the sliding surface  22   c  permits tilting of the hook  22  if the hook  22  is driven toward a substantially stationary object in such a manner that the sliding surface  22   c  slides along the object, as a result of which the hook  22 , in particular the extension arm  22   a,  is tilted downwards about the axis of rotation  28 . The hook tip  22   b  furthermore comprises a front stop  22   d  which is arranged opposite the sliding surface  22   c  and limits the barb-like shape of the hook tip  22   b.  During use, the front stop  22   d  comes into engagement with an ingot rest  40 , and therefore the ingot rest  40  can be pulled out of the furnace. Furthermore, the extension arm  22   a  comprises a rear stop  22   e  which is adapted for applying to an ingot rest  40  and for pushing the ingot rest  40  forward. The front and rear stops  22   d,    22   e  are arranged substantially at right angles to the longitudinal extent of the extension arm  22   a.    
         [0045]    The hook  22  has a lever arm  22   f  as a type of counter element or counter weight with respect to the extension arm  22   a,  wherein the lever arm  22   f,  starting from the axis of rotation  28 , points away from the furnace region, i.e. rearward. The lever arm  22   f  is oriented substantially parallel to the extension arm  22   a,  wherein the lever arm  22   f  is arranged higher than the extension arm  22   a.  This means that the lever arm  22   f  is formed essentially above the axis of rotation  28 . As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the lever arm  22   f  engages in the transverse direction over the transporting carriage  11  or the rail section  12  and forms a connection between two extension arms  22   a  or hooks  22  arranged parallel to each other. An inner lever arm  22   f,  i.e. a lever arm  22   f  facing the chassis member  26   a  or the longitudinal guide  23  furthermore comprises a finger  22   g  which extends vertically downward in the direction of the traveling carriage  1 . The finger  22   g  has a rotatably mounted roller  22   h  which, during operation, interacts with a lifter  30  (explained in more detail below) for tilting the hook  22 . 
         [0046]    The lifter  30  is coupled to the guide frame  20  via a link arrangement  32 . The lifter  30  comprises two lifting rails  33  which are arranged on either side of the guide frame  20 , as can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The lifting rails  33  are in each case hingedly connected to a link arrangement  32 , wherein the link arrangement  32  forms a kinematic chain between the lifting rail  33  and a lifting drive  31 . It can be seen according to  FIG. 2  that the lifter  30  has a common lifting drive  31  which is directly coupled to the link arrangement  32 . The link arrangement  32  is connected to a further link arrangement  32  by a cardan shaft  34 , and therefore the lifting drive  31  acts on the two link arrangements  32  and therefore on the two lifting rails  33 . Analogously to the tilting drive  15 , the lifting drive  31  can have a translatory drive, in particular a linear drive or a lifting cylinder, for example a hydraulic cylinder. The lifting rail  33  extends in the longitudinal direction of the guide frame  22 , wherein the lifting rail  33  has a longitudinal extent which substantially corresponds to the longitudinal extent of the tilting frame  10 . The lifting rail  33  furthermore comprises a front end  33   a  and a rear end  33   b,  wherein the front and the rear ends  33   a,    33   b  each form an oblique sliding surface. It is therefore ensured that, during the movement of the hook carriage  21  in a movement range corresponding to the longitudinal extent of the tilting frame  10 , the roller  22   h  of the hook  22  is basically arranged above or on the lifting rail  33 . 
         [0047]    The operation of the transporting apparatus or of the ingot carriage is explained in more detail below with reference to the sequence of operations illustrated in  FIGS. 4 to 14 : 
         [0048]    It is advantageous if the transporting apparatus is connected in terms of signal via a corresponding control or regulating unit to the control of the ingot furnace or of a plurality of ingot furnaces. The cycle steps of the transporting apparatus that are explained below are therefore preferably determined in accordance with the overall operating sequences within a system which comprises ingot pusher furnaces and a rolling mill feed, between which the transporting apparatus operates. 
         [0049]    If an ingot pusher furnace is ready for discharging a heated-up and homogenized rolling ingot  60 , a corresponding signal to the transporting apparatus causes the transporting apparatus, in particular the traveling carriage  1 , to be positioned in front of the relevant furnace by actuation of the travel drive  4 . The transporting carriage  11  is driven into the front end position in the transporting carriage guide  18  of the tilting frame such that the transporting carriage  11  is positioned directly in front of the open furnace, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The height of the rail section  12  of the transporting carriage  11  is dimensioned here in such a manner that the rail section  12  forms an extension of a furnace rail (not illustrated). 
         [0050]    The rails which are laid in the furnace and on which the ingot rests  40  are pushed through the furnace are therefore extended by the rail sections  12  of the transporting carriages  11 . In the first method step, the hook carriage  21  is likewise driven into the front end position, and therefore the hook  21 , in particular the extension arm  22   a,  engages in the furnace. During the forward movement of the hook carriage  21  into the furnace, the hook tip  22   b  is driven toward the ingot rest  40 , in particular toward a lateral projection  41  of the ingot rest  40 , and therefore the sliding surface  22   c  slides obliquely downward along the projection  41  and causes the hook  22  to tilt. As soon as the hook tip  22   b  has passed the projection  41 , the hook  22  tilts back into the inoperative position, and therefore, when the hook carriage  21  is driven back in the direction of the rear end position, the front stop  22   d  enters into engagement with the projection  41  and the ingot rest  40  is thereby pulled onto the transporting carriage  11 , in particular the rail sections  12 . 
         [0051]    It is pointed out in this connection that in each case two hooks  22 , as can be seen in  FIG. 2 , form a pair of hooks, wherein the distance between the hooks  22  of a pair of hooks is selected in such a manner that the hooks  22  are in each case arrangeable laterally on an ingot rest  40 , and each of the hooks  22  enters into engagement with a lateral projection  41  of the ingot rest  40 . 
         [0052]    The transporting carriage  11  and the hook carriage  21  are preferably actuated or moved by belt or chain drives. The belt drive of the hook carriage  21  is illustrated by a thicker chain-dotted line in each of  FIGS. 4 to 14  and the belt drive of the transporting carriage  11  by a thinner chain-dotted line. 
         [0053]    The hook carriage  21  is driven by a first belt  29  which is connected to a driving pinion  29   a.  The first belt  29  furthermore runs over three further pinions  29   b,    29   c,    29   d.  Two first guide pinions  29   c,    29   d  are arranged spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the guide frame  20  in such a manner that the belt  29  between said two pinions  29   c,    29   d  forms a substantially horizontal course along which the hook carriage  21  is movable. For this purpose, the hook carriage  21  is fixedly connected to the belt  29 . The driving pinion  29   a  is furthermore coupled to a hook drive  29   e  which is arranged substantially centrally in the guide frame  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As is furthermore apparent from  FIG. 2 , the hook carriage  21  has two belt drives which are coupled to the common hook drive  29   e.    
         [0054]    The belt drive of the transporting carriage  11  is similarly constructed. In particular, the belt drive of the transporting carriage  11  has a second belt  19  which is connected to a motor pinion  19   a.  The second belt  19  runs over a plurality of further pinions  19   b,    19   c,    19   d,    19   e,  wherein two of the further pinions  19   d,    19   e  are arranged spaced apart on the tilting frame  10  in such a manner that the second belt  19  stretches substantially horizontally between pinions  19   d,    19   e.  The length of the belt stretched between the pinions  19   d,    19   e  is adapted in such a manner that the transporting carriage  11  is movable from the front end position as far as the rear end position along the transporting carriage guide  18  of the tilting frame  10 . For this purpose, the transporting carriage  11  is fixedly connected to the second belt  19 . By means of the belt arrangements or belt drives of the hook carriage  21  and of the transporting carriage  11 , the rotational movements of the transporting drive  16  or of the hook drive  29   e  are in each case converted into a translatory longitudinal movement which leads to a movement of the transporting carriage  11  or of the hook carriage  21 . 
         [0055]    In the second method step, the hook carriage  21 , which is coupled to the ingot rest  40  by the hook  22 , is moved by the first belt  29  or the hook drive  29   e  along the longitudinal guide  23  of the guide frame  20  in the direction of the rear end position such that the ingot rest  40  is pulled onto the rail section  12  of the transporting carriage  11 . As soon as the ingot rest  40  is arranged on the rail section  12 , the movement of the hook carriage  21  is stopped ( FIG. 5 ). 
         [0056]    The lifter  30  is used below in order to release the hook  22  from the ingot rest  40 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . For this purpose, the kinematic chain formed by the link arrangement  32  is actuated via the lifting drive  31 , thus resulting in the lifter  30  being raised. The lifter  30  here lifts the roller  22   h  or the finger  22   g  and therefore the lever arm  22   f  upward, as a result of which the hook tip  22   b  is lowered because of the axis of rotation  28 . The engagement of the hook  22  in the ingot rest  40  or the lateral projection  41  of the ingot rest  40  is released. The lifter  30  remains raised, with the hook carriage  21  being moved at the same time further in the direction of the rear end position. The effect achieved by the roller  22   h  and the lifting rail  33  is that the hook  22  remains in the tilted position, at least until the hook  22  is arranged at a distance from the ingot rest  40  or transporting carriage  11 . As soon as the finger  22   g  or the roller  22   h  slides downward from the lifter  30 , the hook  22  tilts back into the inoperative position in which the extension arm  22   a  is oriented substantially horizontally. 
         [0057]    In the previously described three first method steps or cycle steps, the guide frame  20  is arranged in a raised position. This means that the guide frame  20  is driven by the raising drive  24  into the upper end position. 
         [0058]    In the following step, which is illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the guide frame  20  is lowered or driven into a lower end position. For this purpose, the raising drive  24  is actuated, as a result of which the raising joint  25  rotates about the fourth rotary joint  25   b  and brings about the lowering of the guide frame  20 . Furthermore, in the fourth method step or cycle step, the traveling carriage  1  is actuated in order to move the transporting apparatus to a tilting apparatus  70 . For the further method steps, it is therefore expedient to position the transporting apparatus in front of a tilting apparatus  70 . In  FIGS. 7 to 13 , the tilting apparatus  70  is illustrated as a tipper in the manner of a hook or shovel. The tilting apparatus  70  preferably serves to deposit the rolling ingot  50  onto a rolling mill or rolling mill feed. 
         [0059]    In order to feed the rolling ingot  50  to the tilting apparatus  70 , the transporting carriage  11  is moved by the corresponding belt drive, in particular the second belt  19 , in the direction of the rear end position. In this method step, the transporting carriage  11  is preferably positioned substantially centrally with respect to the transporting carriage guide  18  such that there is sufficient free space laterally around the transporting carriage  11  for the transfer of the rolling ingot  50  to the tilting apparatus  70 . The transporting carriage  11  is therefore also removed from the furnace, and therefore the furnace door can be closed. 
         [0060]    In the next method step according to  FIG. 8 , the rolling ingot  50  is transferred from the transporting carriage  11  to the tilting apparatus  70 . For this purpose, the transporting carriage  11  is driven further in the direction of the tilting apparatus  70 , in particular into the rear end position of the transporting carriage guide  18 . The tilting apparatus  70  engages here between the two transporting carriages  11 , which are arranged parallel to each other, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In this connection, it is expressly pointed out that it is particularly expedient if the transporting carriages  11  are actuatable or activatable synchronously. 
         [0061]    The transfer of the rolling ingot  50  onto the tilting apparatus  70  is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . In this method step, the tilting frame  10  is tipped by actuation of the tilting drive  15 , wherein the tilting frame  10  rotates about the tilting axis  14 . By actuation of the tilting drive  15 , the tilting joint  17  in particular rotates about the first rotary joint  17   a,  as a result of which tilting of the tilting frame  10  is brought about. By means of the tilting movement of the tilting frame  10 , the rolling ingot  50  is deposited onto the tilting apparatus  70 , with the ingot rests  40  being retained on the transporting carriage  11 . The tilting frame  10  initially remains in the tilted position, wherein the transporting carriage  11  is moved back into the front end position or the takeover position. 
         [0062]    In the next cycle step according to  FIG. 10 , the tilting apparatus  70  is tipped or pivoted in order to bring the rolling ingot  50 , which is received on edge, into a substantially horizontal position and to deposit same with a flat side onto a rolling mill or a rolling mill feed. In the meanwhile, the traveling carriage  1  is positioned in front of an ingot rest return  80 , wherein the guide frame  20  is raised into the upper end position by the raising drive  24 . The transporting carriage  11  is driven forward into the front end position such that the rail sections  12  form a common, extended guide for the ingot rests  40  with return rails  81  of the ingot rest return  80 . 
         [0063]    As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the hook carriage  21  is likewise moved into the front end position, wherein the hook engages or hooks into the ingot rest  40  which is arranged on the transporting carriage  11 . As already happens during the gripping of the ingot rest  40  in the furnace, the hook  22  hooks in substantially automatically also during the gripping of the ingot rest  40  on the transporting carriage  11  by the sliding surface  22   c  of the hook tip  22   b  sliding along the projection  41  of the ingot rest  40  and triggering the tilting movement of the hook  22 . During this operation, the rear stop  22   e  of the extension arm  22   a,  which is part of the hook  22 , enters into contact with the lateral projection  41  of the ingot rest  40  such that, during the further movement forward of the hook carriage  21 , the ingot rest  40  is pushed from the rail section  12  of the transporting carriage  11  onto the return rail  81  of the ingot rest return  80 . 
         [0064]    As soon as the ingot rest  40  is arranged in the ingot rest return  80 , the lifter  30  is actuated, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , in order to release the hook  22  from the ingot rest  40 . The extension arm  30  is actuated analogously to the previously described method step, in which the hook  22  is released from the ingot rest  40  after the ingot rest  40  is pulled out of the furnace. The hook carriage  21  is correspondingly moved back, wherein the hook  22  remains in the tilted position because of the raised lifter  30  until the hook carriage  21  is removed from the ingot rest return  80  to such an extent that the roller  22   h  or the finger  22   g  slides downward from the lifting rail  33  and therefore releases the automatic resetting of the hook  22  into the inoperative position. The hook carriage  21  is preferably moved into the rear end position. 
         [0065]    As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , in a next step, the guide frame  20  is lowered onto the lower end position. Furthermore, the transporting carriage  11  is moved back, preferably approximately into the center of the transporting carriage guide  18 . The hook carriage  21  is furthermore in the rear end position. In this configuration, the movement of the traveling carriage  1  between the furnaces or between a furnace and the tilting apparatus  70  is permitted. In this configuration, the traveling carriage  1  is preferably actuated in order to position the transporting apparatus in front of a furnace which outputs the next heated and homogenized rolling ingot  50 . 
         [0066]    As soon as the traveling carriage  1  or the transporting apparatus is positioned in front of the furnace which outputs the next rolling ingot  50 , the transporting apparatus is brought into the basic position for the next cycle sequence. For this purpose, the hook carriage  21  is driven into the waiting position. The waiting position of the hook carriage  21  is reached, according to  FIG. 14 , if the extension arm  22   a  of the hook  22  is arranged substantially to the side of the transporting carriage  11  or below the rail section  12 . In the basic position, the guide frame  20  is preferably arranged in the lower end position, i.e. in the lowered position. As soon as the furnace is ready for outputting the next rolling ingot  50 , the furnace door is opened and at the same time the guide frame  20  is raised in order, firstly, to position the transporting carriages  11  onto the furnace rails and, secondly, to drive the hook  22  or the extension arm  22   a  into the furnace and to pull out the rolling ingot  50  with the aid of the ingot rests  40 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0067]    The transporting apparatus or the ingot carriage therefore has the following core functions:
       transporting rolling ingots  50  and sliding rests or ingot rests  40 ;   extending the furnace rails mounted in the interior of the furnace by means of the transporting carriage  11 , which serves as a mobile rail section and as an intermediate storage space for the pulled-out rolling ingot  50 ;   pulling the rolling ingot  50  out of the furnace interior with the aid of the hook carriage  21 ;   transferring the rolling ingot  50  onto the tilting apparatus  70  by lowering or tilting the tilting frame  10  on one side;   transferring the empty sliding rests or ingot rests onto the ingot rest return  80 ;   absorbing static and dynamic forces and torques during the manipulation at the rolling ingots;   positioning and arresting the traveling carriage  1  or in general the transporting apparatus; and   synchronized moving of the transporting carriages  11 .       
 
         [0076]    In order to position and arrest the transporting apparatus or the ingot carriage, the traveling carriage  1  preferably has corresponding devices, for example brakes. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the transporting apparatus comprises heat or spurt protection shields which minimize the thermal effects on the mechanical and electrical components. The heat and spurt protection shields are preferably arranged in the front region, i.e. on the furnace side, of the transporting apparatus. For example, spurt protection shields or heat protection shields can be assigned to the tilting frame, the guide frame and the traveling carriage on the furnace side. 
       List of Reference Numbers 
       [0077]      1  Traveling carriage 
         [0078]      2  Running rail 
         [0079]      3  Wheel 
         [0080]      4  Travel drive 
         [0081]      5  Foundation 
         [0082]      6  Tilting axis bearing 
         [0083]      10  Tilting frame 
         [0084]      11  Transporting carriage 
         [0085]      12  Rail section 
         [0086]      13  Rail member 
         [0087]      13   a  Overhang 
         [0088]      14  Tilting axis 
         [0089]      15  Tilting drive 
         [0090]      16  Transporting drive 
         [0091]      17  Tilting joint 
         [0092]      17   a  First rotary joint 
         [0093]      17   b  Second rotary joint 
         [0094]      18  Transporting carriage guide 
         [0095]      19  Second belt 
         [0096]      19   a  Motor pinion 
         [0097]      19   b,   19   c,   19   d,   19   e  Further pinions 
         [0098]      20  Guide frame 
         [0099]      21  Hook carriage 
         [0100]      22  Hook 
         [0101]      22   a  Extension arm 
         [0102]      22   b  Hook point 
         [0103]      22   c  Sliding surface 
         [0104]      22   d  Front stop 
         [0105]      22   e  Rear stop 
         [0106]      22   f  Lever arm 
         [0107]      22   g  Finger 
         [0108]      22   h  Roller 
         [0109]      23  Longitudinal guide 
         [0110]      24  Raising drive 
         [0111]      25  Raising joint 
         [0112]      25   a  Third rotary joint 
         [0113]      25   b  Fourth rotary joint 
         [0114]      26  Supporting structure 
         [0115]      26   a  Chassis member 
         [0116]      26   b  Cross member 
         [0117]      27  Hook member 
         [0118]      27   a  Rotary bearing 
         [0119]      28  Axis of rotation 
         [0120]      29  First belt 
         [0121]      29   a  Driving pinion 
         [0122]      29   b,   29   c,   29   d  Further pinions 
         [0123]      29   e  Hook drive 
         [0124]      30  Lifter 
         [0125]      31  Lifting drive 
         [0126]      32  Link arrangement 
         [0127]      33  Lifting rail 
         [0128]      33   a  Front end 
         [0129]      33   b  Rear end 
         [0130]      34  Cardan shaft 
         [0131]      40  Ingot rest 
         [0132]      41  Projection 
         [0133]      50  Rolling ingot 
         [0134]      70  Tilting apparatus 
         [0135]      80  Ingot rest return 
         [0136]      81  Return rail