Bridging a production interruption in a combined casting and rolling plant

Description

field of technology

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of combined casting and rolling plants and the production of a hot-rolled finished strip on a combined casting and rolling plant.

[0002] In a combined casting and rolling plant, a strand of continuous starting material, such as a slab or thin slab, is continuously cast from molten metal, typically molten steel. The strand is then finish-rolled in a finishing mill to form a hot-rolled finished strip. Continuous operation has proven particularly effective for the production of thin or ultra-thin finished strip. The strand produced in the continuous casting plant is rolled uncut in the finishing mill to form the finished strip, and the finished strip is cut for the first time either before or after the cooling section.

[0003] On the one hand, the present invention relates to a method for producing a hot-rolled finished strip in a combined casting and rolling plant, wherein in a continuous operation a strand of a continuous pre-material passes through a device for cutting and conveying out at a transport speed without being cut, and the pre-material is finish-rolled in a finishing rolling train to form the finished strip, then cooled, cut and stored.

[0004] On the other hand, the invention relates to a combined casting and rolling plant for producing a hot-rolled finished strip from a continuously cast starting material, comprising a continuous casting plant, a device for cutting and conveying out, having in the material flow direction a first shear, a lifting device and a pair of clamping rollers, a multi-stand finishing rolling train for finish rolling the starting material to the finished strip, a cooling section for cooling the finished strip and a storage device for conveying out the finished strip. State of the art

[0005] WO 2009 / 121678 A1 discloses a combined casting and rolling plant for producing hot-rolled finished strip. In continuous operation, an undivided strand of continuous pre-material passes through a cutting and conveying device at a certain transport speed, and the pre-material is finish-rolled into the finished strip in a finishing rolling mill. To bridge an interruption in a plant section downstream of the cutting and conveying device in the direction of material flow, the pre-material is first cut, then lifted, the following pre-material is cut into scrap pieces, and the scrap pieces are conveyed out. Subsequently, the pre-material blocking the downstream plant section is removed from the plant.

[0006] Similar methods and similar systems are also known from WO 2014 / 029544 A1 and DE 10 2013 213 418 A1. The preamble of claims 1 and 5 is based on KR 2013 0053110 A.

[0007] How the system and the method for bridging an interruption in a part of the system that is downstream of the device for cutting and conveying out in the direction of material flow must be modified so that even thick primary material with a thickness of > 30 mm, preferably ≥ 45 mm, can be separated quickly and reliably from subsequent primary material is not clear from the state of the art. Summary of the invention

[0008] The object of the invention is to modify an existing combined casting and rolling plant for producing a hot-rolled finished strip from a continuously cast starting material and an existing method for producing a hot-rolled finished strip in a combined casting and rolling plant in such a way that, in the event of an interruption in a part of the plant which is downstream of a device for cutting and conveying out in the direction of material flow, even thick starting material with a thickness of > 30 mm, preferably ≥ 45 mm, can be separated quickly and reliably from subsequent starting material (e.g. from the continuous casting plant or the roughing train).

[0009] Investigations by the applicant have shown that in existing combined casting and rolling plants, the lifting device in the cutting and discharge device would have to be very solid in order to be able to lift pre-material with a thickness of > 30 mm, preferably ≥ 45 mm. This solid design makes the walking beam very heavy, and the hydraulic cylinders also very large in order to lift the pre-material so quickly that a collision between the blocked pre-material and the pre-material coming from the continuous casting plant or the roughing mill can be reliably prevented. In addition, the volume flow required to extend the hydraulic cylinders so quickly increases significantly, which increases the costs for the hydraulic supply. Finally, the heavy design of the walking beam significantly increases its mass moment of inertia, which in turn would significantly increase the forces and pressures in the hydraulic system.

[0010] The procedural aspect of the inventive object is achieved by a method according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] Specifically, the solution is achieved by a method for producing a hot-rolled finished strip in a combined casting and rolling plant, wherein in a continuous operation a strand of a continuous raw material passes through a device for cutting and conveying out at a transport speed without being cut, and the raw material is finish-rolled in a finishing train to form the finished strip, then cooled, cut and stored, characterized in that in the device for cutting and conveying out, the following process steps are carried out in a downstream part of the plant in the direction of material flow in order to bridge a production interruption: a) Accelerating at least one cutting edge of a first shear, thereby initiating the cutting of the endless pre-material; b) Clamping the endless pre-material by a pair of clamping rollers, wherein the pair of clamping rollers is arranged downstream of the first shear in the material flow direction; c) Lifting the endless pre-material by a lifting device, wherein the lifting device is arranged between the first shear and the pair of clamping rollers in the material flow direction; d) Cutting off a strand section from the pre-material by the at least one cutting edge of the first shear; e) Lifting the strand section by the lifting device; f) Chopping up the pre-material passing through the first shear into scrap pieces by means of the first shear; g) Conveying out the scrap pieces;h) removing the strand section until the combined casting and rolling plant is ready for operation, wherein the lifting device has a two-part lifting arm with an inner section and an outer section, the outer section being articulated relative to the inner section, a lifting actuator for lifting the inner section of the lifting arm, and a pivoting drive for pivoting the outer section of the lifting arm; wherein, upon lifting the endless pre-material, the lifting actuator unfolds the inner portion of the lifting arm, and wherein, upon lifting the strand portion, the outer portion of the lifting arm is pivoted relative to the inner portion of the lifting arm and in the direction of unfolding of the inner portion of the lifting arm, whereby the outer portion of the lifting arm is further lifted.

[0012] In contrast to prior art processes, the cutting of the continuous pre-material is first initiated by accelerating at least one cutting edge of the first shear. The first shear can be, for example, a rotary shear, in which case the peripheral speed of the drums must be accelerated to match the transport speed of the pre-material. Only after the drums have been accelerated can the cut be made. After the cut is initiated, the continuous pre-material is clamped by a pair of clamping rollers. This measure has the effect of "kinking" the pre-material in the clamping zone of the pair of clamping rollers, which facilitates lifting the pre-material. The continuous pre-material is then lifted by the lifting device.Typically, the starting material is cut only after the continuous starting material has been lifted by the first shear, creating a separation between the strand section blocking the downstream plant section and the following starting material. Cutting off the strand section significantly reduces the tension in the strand section, allowing the strand section to be further lifted by the lifting device. The following starting material is cut into scrap pieces by the first shear, the scrap pieces are removed, and the strand section is removed until the combined casting and rolling plant is ready for operation again.

[0013] In order to avoid a collision between the following pre-material and the strand section, it is advantageous that the acceleration of at least one cutting edge of the first shear, the clamping of the endless pre-material and the lifting of the endless pre-material are initiated immediately after the production interruption occurs, preferably simultaneously.

[0014] By dividing the lifting arm into two sections, namely an inner section and an outer section, with the outer section being positioned in front of the inner section in the material flow direction when the lifting arm is not raised, and the outer section being articulated relative to the inner section, it is possible to unfold only the inner section of the lifting arm using a lifting actuator when lifting the endless pre-material. This significantly reduces the force or torque required for unfolding, allowing the lifting actuator to have a thin diameter. The "weak" design of the lifting actuator allows it to be extended quickly. During the subsequent further lifting of the strand section, the outer section of the lifting arm is pivoted clockwise relative to the inner section of the lifting arm, further raising the outer section of the lifting arm.When unfolding the inner section of the lifting arm, the swivel drive is preferably "pressureless" so that the outer section of the lifting arm requires no or negligible additional torque.

[0015] It is possible that raising the outer section of the lifting arm is only intended for thin material, where more strip storage capacity is required. In other words, when producing thick pre-material (e.g., with a thickness between 30 and 45 mm), it may be intended that only the inner section is raised during a production interruption, while the outer section is preferably kept depressurized.

[0016] Typically, after lifting the continuous pre-material, the inner section of the lifting arm forms an acute angle with the horizontal. After lifting the strand section, the outer section of the lifting arm is typically aligned parallel to the inner section of the lifting arm.

[0017] The aspect of the inventive object relating to the device is achieved by a combined casting and rolling plant according to claim 5. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0018] Specifically, the solution is a combined casting and rolling plant for producing a hot-rolled finished strip from a continuously cast starting material, comprising: a continuous casting plant, a device for cutting and conveying out, comprising a first shear, a lifting device and a pair of clamping rollers in the material flow direction, a multi-stand finishing mill for finish-rolling the starting material to the finished strip, a cooling section for cooling the finished strip and a storage device for conveying out the finished strip, characterized in that the lifting device comprises a two-part lifting arm with an outer section and an inner section, wherein the inner section is articulated relative to a support structure by means of a first joint and the outer section is articulated relative to the inner section by means of a second joint, a lifting actuator for unfolding the inner section, and a pivot drive for pivoting the outer section, in the direction of unfolding the inner section of the lifting arm, relative to the inner section of the lifting arm.

[0019] Preferably, the lifting actuator is a first hydraulic cylinder for lifting the inner portion of the lifting arm.

[0020] The swivel drive is also preferably a hydraulic cylinder, called a second hydraulic cylinder, which connects the outer section with the inner section of the lifting arm.

[0021] Preferably, the inner section (at approximately 100° relative to the outer section) has a mechanical stop so that the outer section moves against a stop during pivoting. This allows the rotary actuator to be designed to be particularly short and compact.

[0022] In a very compact and therefore advantageous embodiment, the second hydraulic cylinder is arranged substantially parallel to the inner section of the lifting arm.

[0023] Preferably, the outer section of the lifting arm comprises at least one, preferably cooled, tube oriented transversely to the material flow direction. When the lifting arm is not raised, the tube is arranged below the pre-material. The tube is aligned parallel to the transverse axis of the pre-material and has, for example, a horizontal axis of rotation. The tube can be either rigid, i.e., non-rotatable, or designed as a rotatable roller. The tube is cooled, for example, by a liquid coolant, such as cooling water.

[0024] It is advantageous if the first and second joints each have horizontal axes of rotation.

[0025] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the second joint is positioned below the pre-material when the lifting arm is not raised. This ensures that the strand section is carried upwards through the tube and the second joint when the lifting arm is raised, pulling the base of the pre-material away from the first shear.

[0026] To facilitate the removal of scrap pieces, it is advantageous to have a lowerable roller conveyor below the lifting arm when it is not raised. The lowerable roller conveyor can be raised and lowered using lifting actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders.

[0027] It is particularly advantageous if, when the lifting arm is not raised, a measuring roller is located above the feedstock transport line through the cutting and discharge device. The measuring roller is typically connected to a position measuring system for measuring the deflection of the feedstock. The tension in the feedstock can be measured via the measuring roller and the connected position measuring system, allowing the tension to be controlled by the electric drives of the stands of the subsequent finishing mill. Short description of the drawings

[0028] The above-described properties, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more readily understood in connection with the following description of several embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. Fig 1 a diagram of a casting-rolling combined plant with a device for cutting and discharging according to the state of the art Fig 2 a more detailed description of the device for cutting and discharging from Fig 1 Fig 3 a schematic elevational view of a device for cutting and conveying out of a casting-rolling combined plant according to the invention Fig 4a a detailed view of the device for cutting and conveying out Fig 3 with the lifting device 11 in the closed, ie not unfolded, state Fig 4b a detailed view of the device for cutting and conveying out Fig 3 with the lifting device 11 in the closed, partially raised and fully raised state Fig 5 a representation of the lifting arm of the lifting device from Fig 4a, 4b in the closed state with the lifting actuator Fig 6a ... 6da schematic representation of the different phases when lifting the lifting arm 28 of the lifting device 11 from the Figuren 3 bis 5 . Description of the embodiments

[0029] The Fig 1 shows a combined casting and rolling plant 1 for producing a hot-rolled finished strip, known from WO 2009 / 121678 A1. A continuous casting machine 2 produces a continuous slab or thin slab strand of a continuously cast starting material 3. The starting material 3 is supported, guided, and cooled in the curved strand guide of the continuous casting machine 2, so that the starting material 3 leaves the continuous casting machine 2 in a horizontal transport direction 7 on the roller table 4. The starting material 3 is then rough-rolled in a roughing train 5 and, in continuous operation of the combined casting and rolling plant 1, passes through a device for cutting and conveying out 6 in an undivided state, i.e., as a continuous preliminary strip. The preliminary strip is then heated to rolling temperature by a heating section 12 (e.g. an induction furnace), then descaled and finish-rolled in the finishing mill 14 to form the finished strip.Subsequently, the finished strip is cooled in the cooling section 15, then cut by the flying shear 16 and conveyed out of the combined casting and rolling plant 1 through the storage device 17, here two coiling systems.

[0030] In Figur 2 The device for cutting and conveying 6 is made of Fig 1 shown in more detail. If a malfunction occurs in a part of the plant downstream of the cutting and discharge device 6, a strand section 21 is cut off the endless preliminary material 3 by the first shear 9b, and the strand section 21 is lifted by the lifting device 11. The preliminary material 3 coming from the continuous casting machine 2 or the roughing train 5 is cut into scrap pieces 19 by the first shear 9b. The scrap pieces 19 can be picked up by a lowerable roller table 18 and are then conveyed out of the plant. In addition, it is possible to cut off longer preliminary material sections 10 by a second shear 9a - here a so-called pendulum shear - and to convey these out by means of a discharge device 8.

[0031] In Figur 3 1 shows a device for cutting and conveying out 6 for a casting-rolling combined plant 1 according to the invention. The second shear 9a is a pendulum shear, whereby pre-material sections 10 can be cut out of the endless pre-material 3 and conveyed out of the plant by means of the conveying device 8. The first shear 9b, on the other hand, is a drum shear with two drums. If a malfunction occurs in a plant part downstream of the device for cutting and conveying out 6, for example, a rise (usually only cobble (referred to as) in the finishing rolling mill, or a problem in the cooling section 15 or the storage device 17, the first shear 9b is accelerated immediately after the production interruption is detected, thereby initiating the cutting of the endless preliminary material 3. It should be noted that the drums of the first shear 9b do not rotate continuously, but must be accelerated from a standstill. Both drums carry cutting edges for cutting the preliminary material 3. Depending on the drive power of the first shear, the mass moments of inertia of the drums, and the transport speed of the preliminary material 3, the acceleration of the first shear 9a takes a certain amount of time. Thus, the preliminary material cannot be cut immediately after the production interruption is detected. Subsequently, the still endless preliminary material 3 is clamped by a pair of clamping rollers 23.The pair of clamping rollers, which can be hydraulically adjusted to the pre-material, is arranged downstream of the lifting device 11. By clamping the pre-material 3, the material is squeezed, making it easier to bend. The endless pre-material 3 is then lifted by means of the lifting device 11. Typically, a strand section 21 is cut from the endless pre-material 3 only after the pre-material 3 has been lifted, whereby the subsequent pre-material 3 is separated from the strand section 21. The cutting is performed by cutting 27 of the first shear 9b. When the lifting arm 28 of the lifting device 11 is not raised, a lowerable roller conveyor 18 is arranged below the lifting arm 28.

[0032] In Fig 4a the area between the first scissors 9b and the pair of clamping rollers 23 is made of Fig 3 shown in more detail. When the lifting arm 28 is not raised, the transport line 34 (English passline ) of the raw material 3, a measuring roller 26 is arranged, which is controlled by means of a Fig 5 The measuring system 33 shown measures the deflection of the preliminary material 3. The main drives of the subsequent finishing rolling train 14 can be controlled via the measuring roller 26 and the position measuring system 33, so that the preliminary material is almost tension-free in continuous operation between the roughing rolling train 5 and the finishing rolling train 14.

[0033] In Fig 4b The different phases of lifting the pre-material or strand section are shown in more detail. After accelerating at least one cutting edge of the first shear 9b and clamping the endless pre-material 3 by the clamping roller pair 23, first only the inner section 28b of the lifting arm 28 is lifted by means of a Fig 5 illustrated lifting actuator 29 (e.g. a hydraulic cylinder) from the non-raised initial position (see also Fig 6a ). As a result, the inner section 28b of the lifting arm 28 forms an acute angle of < 90° with the horizontal (see also Fig 6b ). The swivel drive 30, which is responsible for swiveling the outer section 28a of the lifting arm 28, remains pressureless during lifting, so that the outer section 28a is not aligned collinearly with the inner section 28b. This measure dramatically reduces the force or torque required to lift the pre-material 3. Typically, after the pre-material 3 has been cut off by the first shear 9b, the inner section 28b of the lifting arm 28 is raised further so that it forms a right angle to the horizontal (see also Fig 6c ). Only then is the outer section 28a of the lifting arm 28 pivoted by the pivot drive 30 in a clockwise direction or in the direction of the unfolding of the inner section of the lifting arm, so that the outer section 28a is aligned collinearly with the inner section 28b (see also Fig 6d ).

[0034] In Fig 5 the connection of the lifting actuator 29 to the lifting arm 28 as well as the measuring roller 26 and the position measuring system 33 are shown.

[0035] In Fig 6a The state of the cutting and conveying device 6 during continuous operation of the combined casting and rolling plant is shown. In this case, the lifting arm 28 of the lifting device 11 is not raised, and the transport line 34 of the pre-material 3 runs horizontally. After a production interruption has been detected in a plant section downstream of the cutting and conveying device 6, the cutting of the continuous pre-material 3 is initiated by the first shear 9b, and the clamping roller pair 23 is clamped (see the arrow next to the clamping roller pair, which represents the clamping).

[0036] In Fig 6b The pre-material 3 is already clamped by the pair of clamping rollers 23, and the inner section 28a of the lifting arm is raised. Since the pre-material 3 is still uncut, the cooled tube 20, which lies below the pass line when the lifting device 11 is closed, carries the pre-material 3 upwards. The swivel drive 30 is depressurized during the lifting process, so that the outer section 28a of the lifting arm is not collinear with the inner section 28b.

[0037] The Fig 6c shows the situation after the pre-material 3 has been cut by the first shear 9b. The cutting action results in a strand section 21 of the pre-material 3 that is essentially tension-free. After the cutting action, it is easily possible to completely raise the inner section 28b of the lifting arm 28, so that the inner section 28b of the lifting arm 28 forms an approximately right angle to the horizontal.

[0038] In Fig 6d the outer section 28a of the lifting arm 28 is Fig 6b The pivot drive 30 shown is pivoted clockwise, or in the direction of unfolding the inner section of the lifting arm, so that the outer and inner sections 28a, 28b of the lifting arm 28 are aligned collinearly. This raises the strand section 21 even further.

[0039] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited to the disclosed examples and other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. List of reference symbols

[0040] 1 Casting and rolling combined plant 2 Continuous casting machine 3 Starting material 4 Roller table 5 Roughing mill 6 Device for cutting and discharging 7 Material flow direction 8 Discharge device 9 Second shear 9 Bursting shear 10 Starting material section 11 Lifting device 12 Heating section 13 Descaling system 14 Finishing mill 15 Cooling section 16 Flying shear 17 Storage devices 18 Lowerable roller table 19 Scrap piece 20 Pipe 21 Strand section 22 Crane 23 Pair of clamping rollers 24 Lifting drive of the lowerable roller table 25 Drive rollers 26 Measuring roller 27 Cutting edge 28 Lifting arm 28a, 28b Outer section and inner section of the lifting arm 29 Lifting actuator 30 Swivel drive 31 First joint 32 Second joint 33Position measuring system 34Transport line, English Passline αAngle

Claims

1. Method for the production of a hot-rolled finished strip in a combined casting / rolling installation (1), wherein in a continuous operation a strand of an endless starting material (3) passes through a facility for cutting and outward conveying (6) at a transport speed in an uncut state, and the starting material (3) is finish-rolled in a finishing train (14) to form the finished strip, then cooled, cut and stored, wherein the following method steps are carried out in the facility for cutting and outward conveying (6) so as to bridge an interruption in production in a section of the installation which is downstream in the material flow direction (7): a) accelerating at least one cutting edge (27) of a first cutter (9b), thereby initiating the cutting of the endless starting material (3); b) clamping of the endless starting material (3) by a clamping roller pair (23), wherein the clamping roller pair (23) is arranged downstream of the first cutter (9b) in the material flow direction (7); c) lifting of the endless starting material (3) by a lifting apparatus (11), wherein the lifting apparatus (11) is arranged between the first cutter (9b) and the clamping roller pair (23) in the material flow direction (7); d) cutting off a strand section (21) from the starting material (3) by the at least one cutting edge (27) of the first cutter (9b); e) lifting of the strand section (21) by the lifting apparatus (11); f) cutting the starting material (3) that is passing the first cutter (9b) into scrap pieces (19) by means of the first cutter (9b) ; g) conveying the scrap pieces (19) outwards; h) removing the strand section (21) until the combined casting / rolling installation (1) is ready for operation again, characterized in that the lifting apparatus (11) comprises: - a two-part lifting arm (28) having an inner section (28b) and an outer section (28a), wherein the outer section (28a) is articulated with respect to the inner section (28b), - a lifting actuator (29) for raising the inner section (28b) of the lifting arm (28), and - a pivot drive (30) for pivoting the outer section (28a) of the lifting arm (28), wherein as the endless starting material (3) is lifted, the lifting actuator (29) unfolds the inner section (28b) of the lifting arm (28), and wherein as the strand section (21) is lifted, the outer section (28a) of the lifting arm (28) is pivoted with respect to the inner section (28b) of the lifting arm (28) and in the direction in which the inner section of the lifting arm is unfolded, thereby further raising the outer section (28a) of the lifting arm (28).

2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the acceleration of the at least one cutting edge (27) of the first cutter (9b), the clamping of the endless starting material (3) and the lifting of the endless starting material (3) are initiated immediately after the occurrence of the interruption in the production, preferably simultaneously.

3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that after lifting the endless starting material (3) the inner section (28b) of the lifting arm (28) includes an acute angle α, preferably < 90°, with the horizontal.

4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that after lifting the strand section (21) the outer section (28a) is aligned parallel to the inner section (28b) of the lifting arm (28).

5. Combined casting / rolling installation (1) for the production of a hot-rolled finished strip from an endless continuously cast starting material (3), preferably for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: - a continuous casting installation (2), - a facility for cutting and outward conveying (6) in the material flow direction (7) comprising a first cutter (9b), a lifting apparatus (11) and a clamping roller pair (23), - a multi-stand finish rolling train (14) for finish rolling the starting material to form the finished strip, - a cooling section (15) for cooling the finished strip and - a storage facility (17) for conveying the finished strip outwards, characterized in that the lifting apparatus (11) comprises: - a two-part lifting arm (28) having an inner section (28a) and an outer section (28b), wherein the inner section (28b) is articulated with respect to a support structure by means of a first joint (31) and the outer section (28a) is articulated with respect to the inner section (28b) by means of a second joint (32), - a lifting actuator (29) for unfolding the inner section (28b), and - a pivot drive (30) for pivoting the outer section (28a) in the direction in which the inner section of the lifting arm is unfolded with respect to the inner section (28b) of the lifting arm (28).

6. Combined casting / rolling installation (1) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the lifting actuator (29) is a first hydraulic cylinder for raising the inner section (28b) of the lifting arm (28).

7. Combined casting / rolling installation (1) according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the pivot drive (30) is a second hydraulic cylinder which connects the outer section (28a) to the inner section (28b) of the lifting arm (28).

8. Combined casting / rolling installation (1) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the second hydraulic cylinder is arranged substantially parallel to the inner section (28b) of the lifting arm (28).

9. Combined casting / rolling installation (1) according to one of Claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the outer section (28a) of the lifting arm (28) comprises at least one, preferably cooled, tube (20) aligned transversely to the material flow direction (7), wherein the tube (20) is arranged below the starting material (3) when the lifting arm (28) is not raised.

10. Combined casting / rolling installation (1) according to one of Claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the first joint (31) and the second joint (32) have horizontal axes of rotation.

11. Combined casting / rolling installation (1) according to Claim 10, characterized in that the second joint (32) is arranged below the starting material (3) when the lifting arm (28) is not raised.

12. Combined casting / rolling installation (1) according to one of Claims 5 to 11, characterized in that when the lifting arm (28) is not raised a lowerable roller table (18) is located below the lifting arm (28).

13. Combined casting / rolling installation (1) according to one of Claims 5 to 12, characterized in that when the lifting arm (28) is not raised a measuring roller (26) is located above the passline (34) of the starting material (3) through the facility for cutting and outward conveying (6).

14. Combined casting / rolling installation (1) according to Claim 13, characterized in that that the measuring roller (26) is connected to a displacement measuring system (33) for measuring the deflection of the starting material (3).