Patent ID: 8376734

Claim:
A roller hearth furnace ( 1 ) for heating and/or temperature equalization of continuously cast products ( 2 ), especially those made of steel or steel materials, which are cut to lengths ( 10 ) that fit the furnace and are then conveyed into and out of the furnace through the furnace chamber on rollers ( 13 a ), where a first row ( 13 ) of rollers, which extends in the longitudinal direction ( 12 ) of the furnace ( 1 ) and whose rollers ( 13 a ) have a length that corresponds to the width of the continuously cast product ( 2 ), is arranged on the entry side ( 11 ), where a second row ( 15 ) of rollers is arranged on the discharge side ( 14 ) parallel to the first row ( 13 ), and where between the first and the second rows ( 13 , 15 ) of rollers there is a buffer zone ( 16 ) with lifting elements ( 17 ) for the transverse conveyance of the continuously cast product ( 2 ), wherein the first row ( 13 ) of rollers and/or the second row ( 15 ) of rollers extending in the longitudinal direction ( 12 ) of the furnace ( 1 ) each form a heating zone ( 19 ).