Conveying and cooling lengths of semifinished products

Claim 1

An arrangement for cooling and conveying hot lengths of semifinished metal products coming from a hot forming or hot working process, which arrangement more efficiently utilizes floor space, comprising: at least one run-out table for conveying at least one said length in a direction of conveyance which is substantially parallel with respect to the major axis of said length, and having an end stop for stopping said lengths; at least one cooling bed for conveying said length while it cools in a direction of conveyance which is substantially transverse to said major axis and substantially parallel to the direction of conveyance of the run-out table and downstream thereof, one end of said cooling bed being located adjacent to and upstream said run-out table; and transferring and pivoting means for transferring said length from the run-out table to said one end of the cooling bed while pivoting said length about its major axis approximately 90*, said transferring and pivoting means comprising a pivotal arm normally having its longitudinal axis above and approximately parallel to said run-out table, means mounted on said pivotal arm for picking up said length, and drive means for pivoting said pivotal arm about a vertical axis pivot means at one end thereof which pivot means is located above and upstream saId end stop of the run-out table a distance equal to the length of the longest length of semi-finished metal product, so that by the placement of said one end of the cooling bed adjacent to and upstream said run-out table the overall length of the arrangement is minimized and the floor space is utilized more efficiently.