Patent ID: 8298474

Claim:
An apparatus for loading and unloading a heat treatment furnace including a frame structure with a first upper and a second lower plane, which are arranged parallel above one another and are connected together by a plurality of frame struts, wherein the first and the second planes each have a plurality of openings and wherein the frame struts have a plurality of guides, a plurality of lifting struts, which are connected to a lifting mechanism and are vertically movably mounted in the guides of the frame struts and extend vertically above the upper plane, wherein each lifting strut has a carrier at a first position associated with the upper plane and at a second position associated with the lower plane, wherein the carriers are so aligned on the lifting struts that they are movable into the openings in the associated planes, when a vertical movement of the lifting struts occurs, and at least one stop arranged on a frame strut, which limits the vertical movement of the corresponding lifting strut.