Metal slab conditioning system

Claim 1

The combination comprising: A. slab handling apparatus including: i. a base; ii. a pair of independently rotatable leaves each adapted to support a slab, each of said leaves being pivotally mounted to said base to rotate in a direction toward the other for transferring said slab from one of said leaves to the other; iii. means for independently rotating each of said leaves from a horizontal position through more than 90* in a direction toward the other leaf, said leaf rotating means being adapted for selectively positioning each of said leaves in an inclined orientation; B. an enclosed conditioning tool platform mounted for rotation above said leaves and having a slab conditioning tool projecting therefrom; and C. means supporting said slab conditioning tool platform, said supporting means including means for imparting to said slab conditioning tool platform longitudinal, vertical and lateral motion with respect to a line parallel with and central of the pivotal axes of said leaves for positioning said slab conditioning tool in the same relative position with respect to the surface of said slab supported in said inclined position on either of said leaves as said tool moves thereacross, whereby said slab conditioning tool is selectively positionable with respect to said surface of said slab supported in said inclined position on either of said leaves.