Patent ID: 8261812

Claim:
A method of casting near-net-shape, rectangular strands from metal and a subsequent processing thereof into metal strips according to a DSC-method (direct strip casting) in a horizontal strip casting installation ( 1 ), comprising the steps of: providing a horizontally circulating metal conveyor belt ( 7 ) having a cooled bottom and a deflection roller ( 8 ) and on which a liquid cast product ( 4 ) solidifies to a pre-strip ( 5 ) during displacement thereof therealong, a melt feeder ( 3 ′) for casting a metal melt onto the conveyor belt ( 7 ), roller means ( 14 ) for feeding the solidified pre-strip under mechanical tension to a driver ( 16 ) after the solidified pre-strip leaves the conveyor belt ( 7 ); a pressure device ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) arranged above the cast product ( 4 ) in a region of the deflection roller ( 8 ) of the metal conveyor belt ( 7 ) which is located downstream in a casting direction, for applying an adjustable pressure from above to the cast product ( 4 ) solidifying into the pre-strip ( 5 ); pouring metal melt with a melt feeder ( 3 ′) on the conveyor belt ( 7 ); displacing the liquid cast product ( 4 ) along the conveyor belt ( 4 ), whereby the cast product ( 4 ) is solidified in a pre-strip; providing a pressure device ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) arranged in a region of an end of the metal conveyor belt ( 7 ) located downstream, in a casting direction of the strand, for applying pressure to the cast product ( 4 ) solidifying into the pre-strip ( 5 ) from above; providing a cooling device ( 17 , 19 , 19 ′) immediately behind the downstream, in the casting direction, end of the metal conveyor belt ( 7 ) in a region between the downstream end of the conveyor belt ( 7 ) and a first roller of the feeding roller means ( 14 ) for cooling a bottom of the pre-strip ( 5 ) as it leaves the conveyor belt ( 7 ) in order to compensate a suddenly reduced cooling of the bottom of the pre-strip ( 5 ) upon the pre-strip leaving the conveyor belt, whereby a backward arching of strip edges ( 6 ) is prevented; and feeding the solidified pre-strip under mechanical tension to the driver ( 16 ).