Method of decreasing width of thin slab and apparatus therefor

For decreasing the width of a thin slab: a turning roll contacts the thin slab being conveyed at a certain contact angle to curve the thin slab; a tension applying device disposed in front and at the back of the turning roll, applys a tension to the thin slab forwardly and rearwardly in the direction of conveyance of the slab. Thus, the slab can be decreased in its width to a satisfactory section with no buckling loop forming portions for forming loops of the hot thin slab at the inlet and the outlet sides of the apparatus for decreasing the width of the thin slab absorb the intermittent proceeding of the hot thin slab in the direction of flow of the material. Thus, the continuous receipt and the delivery of the slab are made possible while the intermittent width decrease is performed, and the combination of the continuous casting equipment with the hot finish rolling equipment is materialized.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a method and an apparatus capable of 
satisfactorily conducting reduction of a thin slab, particularly a hot 
thin slab to a considerable extent in the widthwise direction so as to 
decrease the width thereof. 
As a conventional method of adjusting the breadth or width of a hot slab, 
there is the method of conducting the reduction of a relatively thick slab 
(having a thickness of 200 mm and a width of 1500 mm for example) by 
vertical type rolls installed in front of a group of rough rolling mills 
of a hot rolling equipment in the widthwise direction by use of an 
equipment described in Japanese Patent Kokai (Laid-Open) No. 114501/81. 
However, according to this method of adjusting the width, the value of 
width decrease by one pass was limited to 100 mm, whereby, in order to 
decrease the plate width of the slab from 1500 mm to 1300 mm (i.e. the 
value of width decrease is 200 mm), it was necessary to conduct two passes 
or more. Moreover, since the rolling was made by the vertical type rolls, 
extremely thick portions (hereinafter referred to as "dogbones") occurred 
at portions adjacent opposite ends of plate width. If horizontally rolled 
thereupon, then the dogbone portions flowed, spreading in the plate 
widthwise direction, which were called width spread phenomena. Thus, there 
was presented such a drawback that the efficiency of width decrease was 
lowered. 
Furthermore, at the forward and rear ends of the slab, there occurred the 
longitudinal expansions of only opposite end portions in the plate 
widthwise direction, the so-called fishtails. For this, the dogbones are 
lessened in size at the front and rear ends of the slab at the same time. 
Therefore, the width spread phenomena by the subsequent horizontal 
rollings are small in value at the forward and rear ends of slab. Hence, 
there have been presented such disadvantages that the slab is lessend in 
its width and the fishtails are further expanded, so that the yield is 
lowered to a considerable extent. Further, recently, there has been a 
demand for continuous casting of slab of thin thickness (thickness of 30 
to 50 mm for example). In this case, with the above-described method, 
there has been presented such a drawback that a buckling tends to occur in 
the widthwise direction of slab. 
On the other hand, there is a method of changing the width of slab in a 
continuous casting equipment, and, in many continuous casting equipments, 
moulds are replaced to change the width of slab. However, this method has 
been considerably disadvantageous in that the casting operation should be 
stopped during the replacement of the moulds, whereby the casting 
efficiency is low and the production is lowered. Therefore, the 
replacement of the moulds made it difficult to efficiently manufacture 
slabs of various widths. 
Recently, there has been developed a technique, according to which the 
width of slab is changed during casting, without the replacement of 
moulds. However, there still remain the problems in the material quality 
of the surface of cast slab and the leakage of molten steel. Further, if 
the change of width is made suddenly, then there occurs a problem of a 
breakout, etc. due to an incomplete formation of a solidified shell. 
Hence, the change of width has had to be made slowly. In consequence, the 
slab in the widthwise direction during the change of width is formed into 
a tapered shape, and, even at a casting speed of about 1 m/min, the length 
of a portion being of the tapered shape reaches about 10 m or more when 
the width of slab is changed from 1500 mm to 1300 mm. 
Further, recently, the adoption of high casting speed has been studied. In 
this case, the tapered portion is further lengthened. In consequence, 
there are presented such disadvantages that it becomes necessary to adjust 
the tapered portion in its width during a later process, whereby the 
number of man-hours must be increased. 
As described above, the conventional method of decreasing the width of a 
hot slab, particularly a thin slab, either in the rolling by the vertical 
type rolls or by the means of changing the width in the continuous casting 
equipment, has been disadvantageous in that the decrease of width cannot 
be carried out efficiently. 
In addition, as a system for decreasing the occurrences of fishtails in the 
rollings in the widthwise direction of slab, such an apparatus is well 
known that a press device for decreasing the width of the end portions in 
the plate widthwise direction of slab is provided upstream of the vertical 
type rolls as shown in Japanese Patent Kokai (Laid-Open) No. 68504/81. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
One object of the present invention is to provide a method of decreasing 
the width of a slab and a apparatus therefor, which are suitable for 
decreasing the width of the slab into a good shape in cross section 
without causing a buckling to a hot slab, particularly to a thin slab. 
The method of decreasing the width of a thin slab according to the present 
invention features that the thin slab being conveyed is curved at a 
predetermined portion with respect to the direction of conveyance of the 
slab to give a tension to the curved portion in the longitudinal direction 
of conveyance of the slab, and the slab is pressed at the curved portion 
in the widthwise direction of slab. 
Furthermore, the apparatus for decreasing the width of a thin slab 
according to the present invention comprises: a turning roll for curving 
the thin slab in the vertical direction with respect to the direction of 
conveyance of the slab; a tension applying device for applying a tension 
to the slab; and a press device for pressing the curved portion of slab in 
the widthwise direction, which has been curved by the turning rolls. 
The adoption of the above-described arrangement makes it possible to 
achieve the aforesaid object. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for 
decreasing the width of a thin slab, particularly a hot thin slab, wherein 
the continuous receipt and delivery of the slab are made possible by use 
of means for intermittently decreasing the width, and the combination of a 
continuous casting equipment with a hot finish rolling equipment is 
materialized. 
Loop forming portions for forming loops of the hot thin slab are provided 
on the inlet and the outlet sides of the apparatus for decreasing the 
width of the thin slab in order to absorb the intermittent processing in 
the direction of material flow of the hot thin slab.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The outline of the history of development of the present invention will 
hereunder be described prior to the description of the embodiments. 
As has been described hereinabove, the problem considered to be difficult 
about the method of decreasing the breadth or width of a thin slab may be 
broadly divided into the following items. 
(1) Bucklings tend to occur when the width is decreased by a large value 
because the ratio of thickness/width is small. 
(2) When the vertical type rolls are used in rolling, dogbones occur at 
portions adjacent opposite ends of plate width, the width spreads are 
caused by the subsequent horizontal rollings, whereby the efficiency of 
adjusting the breadth is lowered, so that the slab is formed into one 
having narrow widths at the forward and rear ends of slab, thus notably 
lowering the yield. 
Then, the inventors of the present invention have achieved the invention, 
based on the following points (1), (2) and (3), to be described hereunder. 
(1). The width of a thin slab is decreased while being given a curvature 
in the direction of conveyance of the slab, whereby a buckling load can be 
increased. 
As for the buckling, according to Euler's formula, an elastic buckling load 
W.sub.o is given by: 
##EQU1## 
where n is a coefficient determined by an end condition of a column, E a 
modulus of longitudinal elasticity, I a secondary moment of principal 
section, and l a length of a long column. 
Additionally, in the case of a plastic buckling, the modulus of 
longitudinal elasticity E in Euler's formula is substituted by a reduced 
modulus E.sub.r, whereby a plastic buckling load W.sub.p is given by: 
##EQU2## 
Now in comparison of the buckling loads between a plate member having a 
plate thickness t of 30 mm, a length (arcuate length) of 1570 mm and a 
section curved (.theta.=90.degree.) along a circle having a radius R 
(=1000 mm) as shown in FIG. 1A and another plate member being rectangular 
in section, having a plate thickness (vertical) t of 30 mm, a length 
(lateral) c of 1570 mm and a section equal in sectional area to the 
above-mentioned curved section as shown in FIG. 1B, the result is given as 
the ratio between the secondary moments of principal sections. If the 
secondary moment of principal section of the former is given as I.sub.1 
and that of the latter as I.sub.2, then the result is obtained by: 
##EQU3## 
On the other hand, 
##EQU4## 
In consequence, I.sub.1 /I.sub.2 .apprxeq.110, whereby it is found that the 
former (curved one) is by far larger in buckling load and not easily 
buckled. 
(2) A tension forwardly and rearwardly in the direction of conveyance of 
the slab is given to the thin slab, so that the width of slab can be 
decreased. 
Now, if the dimensions of the slab prior to being applied thereto with a 
tension are thickness (h.sub.o).times.width (b.sub.o) and length (l.sub.o) 
and the dimensions of the slab after a tension T in the direction of 
conveyance of the slab are h.times.b.times.l as shown in FIG. 2, then 
##EQU5## 
because the volume is constant. This leads to 
##EQU6## 
This means that, if distortions in the directions of the thickness, width 
and length are .epsilon..sub.h, .epsilon..sub.b and .epsilon..sub.l, 
respectively, then .epsilon..sub.h +.epsilon..sub.b +.epsilon..sub.l =0. 
Now, if the slab is considered to be isotropic, then .epsilon..sub.b 
=.epsilon..sub.h, and hence, 
##EQU7## 
According to the above, the value of decreased width .DELTA.b is given by: 
##EQU8## 
For example, when the slab is of a low carbon steel, b.sub.o is 1500 mm and 
the temperature is 1100.degree. C., if the tension is 3 kg/mm.sup.2, 
.epsilon..sub.l is about 0.05 from a stress-strain curve and the value of 
reducing the width .DELTA.b becomes about 37 mm. 
In other words, the tension is applied forwardly and rearwardly in the 
direction of conveyance of the slab, so that the effect of decreasing the 
width can be facilitated. 
(3) When the press work is conducted on press surfaces but not on circular 
outer surfaces as in the vertical type rolls, the deformation reaches the 
interior. Therefore, if the press work of the thin slab is conducted by 
press tools having pressing surfaces being almost planar in the widthwise 
direction of the slab, then the dogbones occur close to the center of the 
plate width. 
The present invention has been developed, being based on the 
above-described three points. The method of decreasing the width of a thin 
slab according to the first aspect of the present invention features that 
the thin slab being conveyed is curved at a predetermined portion thereof 
in the direction of conveyance of the slab, a tension is applied to the 
curved portion in the longitudinal direction of conveyance of the slab, 
and the slab is pressed at the curved portion in the widthwise direction 
thereof. On the other hand, the apparatus for decreasing the width of a 
thin slab according to the second aspect of the present invention features 
that the apparatus comprises: a turning roll for curving the thin slab 
being conveyed in the vertical direction with respect to the direction of 
conveyance of the slab; a tension applying device for applying a tension 
to the slab; and a press device for pressing the curved portion of the 
slab, which has been curved by the turning roll. 
Description will hereunder be given of the embodiments of the present 
invention with reference to the drawings. 
FIG. 3 shows an apparatus for working the method of decreasing the width of 
a thin slab according to the present invention, which is a first 
embodiment of the apparatus for decreasing the width of a thin slab 
according to the second aspect of the present invention. 
In FIG. 3, a hot thin slab 1, which has been produced by a continuous 
casting equipment, not shown, is directly or after being cast, cut in the 
longitudinal direction, or wound into a coil shape and inserted into a 
furnace, where it is heated. Thereafter, the slab 1 goes out of the 
furnace and is conveyed to an apparatus 2 for decreasing the width of the 
slab. Inlet pinch rolls 4 are provided in front of the width decreasing 
apparatus 2, while, outlet pinch rolls 5 are disposed at the back of the 
width decreasing apparatus 2, whereby the thin slab 1 is reliably 
delivered to the width decreasing apparatus 2 and conveyed to the 
succeeding process. 
The width decreasing apparatus 2 comprises: a turning roll 6 turning in 
contact at a contact angle .theta. with the thin slab 1; tension rolls 8 
(8A and 8B) as being a tension applying device, being disposed at a 
contact beginning and a contact ending portions, where the contact between 
the thin slab 1 and the turning roll 6 begins and ends, for pressing the 
thin slab 1 against the turning roll 6 to apply a tension to the thin slab 
1; and press tools 10 (Refer to FIG. 4) expandable and shrinkable in the 
widthwise direction of the slab along the outer surface of the turning 
roll 6. 
The turning roll 6 performs the function of holding the slab at a 
predetermined curvature. The tools 10 press the slab 1 in the widthwise 
direction of the slab in a state where the slab 1 is curved by roll 6 in a 
manner to be upwardly convex, so that the bucklings do not easily occur. 
As shown in FIG. 5A, a value of the tension applied to the slab 1 by the 
tension rolls 8 is set in accordance with the value .DELTA.b (a difference 
between a plate width b.sub.o on the inlet side and a plate width b on the 
outlet side of the thin slab 1). 
As shown in FIG. 4, the press tools 10 are disposed at opposite sides of 
the slab 1 in opposed relationship to each other, and each of opposing 
surfaces is formed by a plane 10A perpendicular to the direction of 
expansion and shrinkage of the press tool 10 (hereinafter referred to as a 
"perpendicular surface") and a plane 10B inclined outwardly in looking 
from the inlet of the slab (hereinafter referred to as an "inclined 
surface"). The press surfaces of the press tools 10 may be formed by a 
perpendicular surface 10A and an arc portion 10C as shown in FIG. 6. 
Furthermore, each of the press tools 10 is formed to have a thickness more 
than the plate thickness of the slab 1, and the bottom face thereof, i.e. 
the face opposed to the turning roll 6 is formed into a surface shape 
following the outer peripheral surface of the turning roll 6. Each of the 
press tools 10 is solidly secured to the forward end portion of a cylinder 
rod 13 of a cylinder 12. The cylinder 12 is operated to cause the press 
tools 10 to slide on the turning roll 6 and repeat the expanding and 
shrinking actions in directions indicated by double-headed arrows A in 
FIG. 4. 
The press tools 10 make the expanding and shrinking actions periodically. 
In FIG. 5, the shrinking action of the press tools 10 is indicated by 
solid lines and the expanding action is indicated by hypothetical lines. 
During the expanding action of the press tools 10, the slab 1 is adapted 
to advance in a direction indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 5A. 
Now, in FIG. 5A, when the inclination of the inclined surface 10B as being 
the press surface of each of the press tools 10 is .alpha., one side 
amplitude of the press tools 10 is a, and the press tools 10 are vibrated 
by sinusoidal waves of a frequency f, a mean velocity V of the slab 1 is 
given by: 
##EQU9## 
The amplitude a, frequency f and inclination .alpha. may be set in a manner 
suitable for the feed velocity of the slab by the inlet tension roll 8A 
and the slab feed velocity by the outlet tension roll 8B. 
Additionally, FIG. 5B shows the case where one side amplitude a of the 
press tools 10 is larger than the slab width decreasing value .DELTA.b/2. 
The shrinking action of the press tools 10 is indicated by solid lines, 
while, the expanding action is indicated by hypothetical lines. In that 
case, the velocity V of the slab 1 is determined by the feed velocities by 
the pinch rolls 4 and 5. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5A, even when the 
one side amplitude a of the press tools 10 is smaller than the slab width 
decreasing value .DELTA./2, the feed velocity for the slab 1 may be 
determined by the feed velocities of the pinch rolls 4 and 5. 
In the width decreasing apparatus 2 according to this embodiment, the slab 
1 cannot proceed during the shrinking action of the press tools 10 and 
proceeds during the expanding action of the press tools 10, thus making 
the intermittent actions. Therefore, in order to convey the slab 1 to the 
outlet side even when the slab 1 is not delivered from the slab width 
decreasing apparatus 2 (during the shrinking action of the press tools 
10), it is desirable to form loops 1A between the inlet pinch rolls 4 and 
the tension roll 8A and between the tension roll 8B and the outlet tension 
rolls 5, respectively. 
The following advantages can be offered by this embodiment. 
(1) The slab 1 is curved by the turning roll 6 to be upwardly convex and 
pressed in the widthwise direction by the press tools 10 in such a state 
as described above, whereby the buckling load becomes high, so that the 
width of the slab 1 can be decreased without being buckled. 
(2) A tension perpendicular to the width decreasing direction is applied to 
the slab 1, so that the width decreasing effect is high. 
(3) Differing from the example of the prior art, in which the rolling is 
conducted by the vertical type rolls, the slab 1 is pressed by the press 
tools 10 each provided with the plane (10A) perpendicular to the width 
decreasing direction or the plane (10B) almost similar thereto, whereby 
the dogbones occur close to the center of the slab, so that the width 
spreads are small when the horizontal rolling is conducted during the 
succeeding process, thus improving the efficiency of adjusting the width 
and the yield to a considerable extent. 
Additionally, the above embodiment has shown that the press tools 10 are 
operated by the cylinder 12 to perform the expanding and shrinking 
actions, however, the present invention need not necessarily be limited to 
this, and the press tools 10 may be operated by mechanical means utilizing 
a crank or the like to perform the expanding and shrinking actions. 
In the above embodiment, the surface of the turning roll 6 has been 
uniformly flat in the axial direction, however, the surface of the turning 
roll 6 may assume a concave crown in the axial direction to further 
improve the buckling preventing effect. Furthermore, if the surface of the 
turning roll 6 is ceramic-coated, then the heat resistance of the turning 
roll 6 can be improved and temperature of the slab 1 can be effectively 
prevented from lowering. 
FIG. 7 shows an apparatus for working the method of decreasing the width of 
a thin slab according to the first aspect of the present invention, and 
the second embodiment of the apparatus for decreasing the width of a thin 
slab according to the second aspect of the present invention. 
In an apparatus 22 for decreasing the width of a thin slab according to the 
second embodiment as shown in FIG. 7, in place of the tension rolls 8 (8A 
and 8B) in the first embodiment, pinch rolls 24 and 25 as being tension 
applying devices are provided at positions spaced apart from the turning 
roll 6 and in front and at the back of the turning roll 6. Further, 
loopers 27 are provided in front of the pinch rolls 24 and at the back of 
the pinch rolls 25, respectively, whereby, in each of the loopers 27, a 
looper support arm 29 is rocked about a pivot 30, so that a loop 1A can be 
adjusted. More specifically, during the shrinking action of the press 
tools 10, the looper support arm 29 is rocked in a direction indicated by 
an arrow C, whereby the slab on the outlet side is loosened, so that the 
conveyance of the slab to the succeeding process is not hindered. 
Since the other aspects are similar to those in the previous embodiment, 
detailed description will not be repeated. 
In this second embodiment, in addition to the effects (1)-(3) in the first 
embodiment, the slab on the inlet and outlet sides is not slackened by 
virtue of the loopers 27, so that such disadvantages are not presented 
that the loop 1A is enlarged to swing and sag. 
FIG. 8 shows the apparatus for working the method of decreasing the width 
of a thin slab according to the first aspect of the present invention, and 
the third embodiment of the apparatus for decreasing the width of a thin 
slab according to the second aspect of the present invention. 
An apparatus 32 for decreasing the width of a thin slab as shown in FIG. 8 
features that a buckling preventive jig 33 is provided directly upwardly 
of the turning roll 6, so that the slab 1 to be pressed by the press tools 
10 in the widthwise direction thereof can be urged against the turning 
roll 6. Since the other aspects are similar to those in the first 
embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention (Refer to FIGS. 3 
and 4), same reference characters are used to designate same or similar 
parts, so that the detailed description need not be repeated. 
This buckling preventive jig 33 is formed into a flat plate in looking from 
the outside, a surface thereof opposed to the slab 1 is formed into a 
surface matching the outer surface of the slab 1, whereby the slab 1 is 
urged from above by a cylinder 34. 
In this embodiment, the slab 1 to be pressed by the press tools 10 in the 
widthwise direction thereof is clamped in the vertical direction between 
the turning roll 6 and the buckling preventive jig 33, so that occurrence 
of buckling during press work can be reliably prevented. 
FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment of the apparatus for decreasing the width 
of a thin slab, in which the buckling preventive jig is of a turning roll 
type. 
This embodiment can offer the following effects in addition to the effects 
offered by the third embodiment. 
More specifically, the buckling preventive jig 33 is composed of the 
turning roll, whereby friction generated between the slab 1 and the 
buckling preventive jig 33 becomes very small as compared with the third 
embodiment, so that there will be no necessity for considering the wear of 
the buckling preventive jig 33 and a load acting on the cylinder 34 for 
causing the buckling preventive jig 33 to slide in the direction of 
conveyance of the slab. 
In consequence, the present invention is advantageous in that occurrence of 
buckling is prevented during the decrease of the width of the thin slab, 
so that the value of decreasing the width can be increased and the slab 
can be decreased in its width into one having a satisfactory section. 
Description will now be given of another embodiment of the present 
invention with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12. 
Referring to FIG. 10, a thin slab 102, which has been cast in a continuous 
casting equipment 101, is passed through a heat holding furnace 103, 
conveyed on a table 104, passed through pinch rolls 105, and is reliably 
supplied to a section of a width decreasing apparatus 107 according to the 
present invention. Pinch rolls 106 and 108 make free loops 115. Pinch 
rolls 109 feed the slab across table 110 and through a rolling mill 111. 
As may be shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 and as shown in FIG. 11, the main body of 
the width decreasing apparatus 107 principally includes: 
hydraulic jacks 113 each provided with a press tool 112 having a portion 
directly contacting the thin slab 102, which is divided into two including 
a tapered part and a straight-lined part (any other shape will do, only if 
it is almost planar) in the direction of flow of the material, for 
periodically actuating the press tool 112 to operate in a direction 
perpendicular to the direction of flow of the material (indicated by an 
arrow in the drawing); and 
housings 114 for receiving the press loads. 
In addition to the above, the width decreasing apparatus 107 includes a 
device (not shown) for controlling the position of the hydraulic jacks 113 
and a section of a reduction position setting device (a screw reduction by 
worms, for example) for determining the positions of the hydraulic jacks 
113 as a whole in accordance with a width b.sub.o of the thin slab 102 on 
the inlet side. Furthermore, the device for applying the vibrating action 
may be a mechanical one, but not the hydraulic type. 
FIG. 12 is an explanatory view illustrating the actions of the press tools 
112 and the thin slab 102. 
In FIG. 12, solid lines indicate a state where a width decreasing action S 
is completed. Subsequently, the press tools 112 are relieved to the 
direction of the opening by a value a of width decrease, and the slab 102 
is moved during action P from a point A to a point B by means of a slab 
push device. More specifically, the thin slab 102 proceeds intermittently. 
When the press tools 112 are vibrated by sinusoidal waves shown in FIG. 
12(C) of the width decrease a and a frequency f, a value of the mean 
velocity of advance .nu. is given by 
EQU .nu.=af/tan .alpha. 
In consequence, the values of a, f and .alpha. may be determined, so that 
the production can be satisfied. However, since the slab 2 makes the 
intermittent proceeding action during the width decreasing process as 
described above, loops 115 are provided at the inlet and outlet sides of 
the main body of the width decreasing apparatus 107 in order to perform 
the continuous conveyance of the slab 102 from the continuous casting 
equipment 101 on the inlet side and the continuous supply of the slab 102 
to a hot finish rolling equipment 111 on the outlet side. These loops 115 
can be formed since the slab is as thin as 30 mm, etc. The length of the 
loop 115 is a length while the slab 102 is stopping during the width 
decreasing process S. For example, if, in the aforesaid sinusoidal wave, f 
is 1 Hg and the velocity at the inlet side of the main body of the width 
decreasing apparatus 107 is 10 m/mm, then a net value may be 10 m/60 
(min).times.0.5 (sec)=0.084 m (84 mm). Even if a certain allowance may be 
added to the net value, the resultant value will not be so large, with the 
result that a free deflection of the thin slab, namely, a free loop should 
be sufficient. The formation of the free loops 115 is made by pinch 
rollers 106 and 108. 
Herein, a distance l provided for absorbing the flee loops between the 
pinch rollers (105-106, 108-109) and a height H of the free loops are 
sought by use of the following conditions and the formulae. While, the 
loop is sought on condition that the loop sags by a curve R as shown in 
FIG. 13. The following is the rough calculation thereof. 
If: 
a required loop length 90 mm 
dimensions of the hot thin slab 
thickness 30 mm.times.width 1500 mm 
E=1.5.times.10.sup.3 Kq/mm (1100.degree. C.) 
H=5 wl.sup.4 /384 EI (w: weight of a unit length of slab) 
R.theta.-2R sin .theta./2=90 (mm) 
H=R(1-C co .theta./2), 
then, 
l.div.5 m, H.div.570 mm. 
Even if a difference in the conditions of support at opposite ends are 
taken into account, there is not such a large difference. 
In consequence, an equipment compact in size can be brought to completion. 
According to the present invention, the reduction to a considerable extent 
and the width decrease of the thin slab is carried out to produce a thin 
slab having a satisfactory section by the press type width decreasing 
apparatus, so that the intermittency of the width decreasing actions can 
be absorbed by the free loops of the thin slab on the inlet and outlet 
sides. Hence, the present invention can offer such an advantage that the 
combination of the continuous casting equipment with the hot finish 
rolling equipment can be attained by a simplified arrangement.