This invention relates to a method of manufacturing metal strip which employs a strip caster.

It is known to cast thin metal strip in a strip caster, usually a twin-roll strip caster. Following casting, the strip has to be cooled and, downstream of the caster, the strip passes through a temperature control zone where the temperature of the strip is controlled. On leaving the temperature control zone, the temperature of the strip has to be within a band close to a predetermined temperature in order to achieve the required material condition and properties. During the start up of the casting process, the speed of the strip can vary dramatically whilst the strip temperature leaving the caster is relatively close to its steady casting temperature, hence, the strip temperature in the temperature control zone will also vary until steady state casting speed is achieved.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a method of manufacturing metal strip, strip cast in a caster passes continuously from the caster through a temperature control zone where the temperature of the strip is controlled and, from the start of the casting process to at least the time when steady state operating conditions are achieved, a part

of the strip between the caster and the temperature control zone is arranged to hang in a loop.

By arranging for a part of the strip to hang in a loop, the speed of casting and the speed at which the strip is passed through the temperature control zone can be adjusted relative to each other and the length of the strip hanging in the loop adjusts itself accordingly so that no detrimental tension is applied to the strip. The required temperature of the strip existing in the temperature control zone is achieved by adjusting any temperature control means, which can be cooling, heating, insulating or any combination thereof.

It is convenient for the metal strip to be coiled after it has passed through the temperature control zone. A close wound coil is best provided by the coiler exerting a tension to the strip. This tension must be resisted so that no detrimental tension is applied to the the strip exiting the strip caster. Sets of pinch rolls are provided to control the speed of the strip as it passes through the temperature control zone whilst the coiler pulls against them to provide adequate coiling tension. The present invention enables the casting speed and the coiling speed to be adjusted independently of each other until the temperature of the strip leaving the control zone is adjusted to the required temperature band.

To achieve better temperature control of the strip in the zone, it is desirable for the strip passing through the zone to be under longitudinal tension so that the material tends to be flat and more uniform heat treatment of the strip can be achieved. It is, therefore, necessary to position a first set of pinch rolls upstream of the temperature control zone so that the tension in the strip as it passes through the control zone is not transmitted to the strip hung in the loop.

Downstream of the control zone, there may be two further sets of pinch rolls arranged in tandem and, between these further sets of pinch rolls, the longitudinally extending edges of the strip may be trimmed, milled or otherwise conditioned. In addition, the strip may be slit into multiple strip widths. Optionally in addition, a rolling mill stand may be located between the sets of pinch rolls to provide a reduction on the thickness of the strip to provide strip in the required condition.

According to a second aspect of the invention, apparatus for manufacturing metal strip comprises a strip caster and a temperature control zone for controlling the temperature of metal strip passed therethrough, characterised in the provision of a first set of pinch rolls between the caster and the temperature control zone to enable the strip to hang in

a loop between the caster and the first set of pinch rolls.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, it will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of apparatus for manufacturing metal strip;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a strip line; and

Figure 3 is a plan of the strip line shown in Figure 2.

A twin-roll caster 1 is mounted on a platform 2 arranged above ground level and over a pit 3. The twin-roll caster includes a pair of rolls 4 arranged with their longitudinal axes horizontal. A temperature control zone, shown generally by reference numeral 5, extends away from the roll caster towards a coiling section 6. At the end of the zone 5 closest to the twin-roll caster there is a diverter roll 7 followed by a first set of pinch rolls 8, where at least one pair of the rolls of which can be used to steer metal strip passing between the rolls. Immediately before the coiling section 6 there are second and third sets of pinch rolls in tandem, indicated by reference numerals 9 and 10, respectively.

In use, strip material produced in the twin-

roll caster in a continuous process is hung in the form of a loop 12 in the pit 3 and then passes over the diverter roll 7 and into the first set of pinch rolls

8. Thus, between the outlet of the caster and the pinch rolls 8, the strip material hangs under its own weight. Between the pinch rolls 8 and 9 the strip material can be put under longitudinal tension by creating a resistance to rotation in the pinch rolls 8. This causes the strip material to lie flat in the temperature control zone 5.

Between the sets of pinch rolls 9 and 10 a different tension can be applied to the strip material by creating a resistance to rotation in the pinch rolls

9. In the region between pinch rolls 9 and 10 there is an edge conditioning unit 11 (see Figure 1) which can, for example, be an edge trim shear, or a grinding or milling machine. A slitting station may also be provided. Again, the fact that the strip material is under longitudinal tension enables the edge conditioning to be effected efficiently. From the pinch rolls 10 the strip material passes to one or other of a pair of similar coilers in the coiling section 6, only one coiler being shown in Figures 2 and 3. Strip tension for close coiling is achieved by creating a resistance to the coiler in pinch rolls 10.

The temperature control zone may comprise heat insulating hoods, e.g., ENCO panels, fitted over

the roller table to conserve heat in the cast strip or, alternatively, heat may be added to the strip material by way of electrical induction or gas heaters, or it can be removed from the strip material by way of water or water and air sprays. Part of the temperature control zone may comprise heat retention panels in order to allow the heat present in the casting to equalise across its width and, thereafter, to be followed by a cooling region in which cooling liquid is sprayed on to the strip material to obtain more uniform temperature control of the strip material across its entire width.

The present invention enables strip material of the correct metallurgical composition to be formed and this may be wound in tightly wound coils with "clean" edges.

A rolling mill 13 (see Figure 1) may optionally be positioned after the pinch rolls 9 and downstream of the edge conditioner to provide a degree of rolling to the strip material prior to it being coiled.

In order to start a cast, a coil of starter strip, which is thinner and narrower than that of the strip to be cast, is located at a coiler 6c and the outer end of the starter strip material is fed back through the pinch rolls 10 and 9 and through the temperature control zone and the pinch rolls 8 and into

the outlet end of the twin-roll caster. A loop of this starter strip is formed in the pit 3. The coiler and pinch rolls can then be operated so that the starter strip is tensioned to the correct values along its length and the molten metal introduced into the gap between the rolls 4 starts to solidify in contact with the starter strip. As the cast material is forced out from the twin roll caster, the length of the loop in the pit will increase whilst the coiler speed is also increased to follow that of the caster. The cast material leaving the loop in the pit passes through the pinch rolls 8, 9 and 10 and through the temperature control zone 5. As the leading end of the cast strip approaches the coiler section 6, it may be severed on the fly from the starter strip following the pinch rolls 10 and then connected on to a coiler of the coiler section 6.

Strip passing from zero tension to a tension part of a processing line can wander from side to side. This is not acceptable and it is overcome by the use of the pinch rolls 8 to steer the metal strip.