Method and device for the continuous production of a rolled metal strip from a molten metal

1. A process for continuously producing a rolled metal strip from a metal melt comprising

from the metal melt, forming a cast, undivided metal strip with an initial strip thickness of less than 20 mm and with a strip width; passing the strip along a path;

roll deforming the cast, undivided metal strip until the strip reaches a final strip thickness; and

prior to the roll deforming, passing the metal strip through a strip diversion located upstream in the path of the metal strip from the roll deforming, wherein the strip diversion is performed at a distance of between 1.0 and 10.0 times the width of the strip upstream of the roll deforming.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the strip diversion is performed at a distance of 1.5 times to 5.0 times the strip width upstream of the roll deforming.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the metal strip is formed by introducing the metal melt into a strip casting device and forming the metal strip of the first thickness in the strip casting device, wherein the metal strip is roll deformed in a rolling stand, and the strip diversion is upstream of the rolling stand.

4. The process of claim 3 , wherein the initial strip thickness is between 1 mm and 12 mm.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein between the strip diversion and the roll deforming, the method comprising holding the metal strip under a strip tension of between 2.0 MPa and 15 MPa.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein between the strip diversion and the roll deforming, the method comprising holding the metal strip under a strip tension of between 4.0 MPa and 8.0 MPa.

7. The process of claim 3 , further comprising recording actual lateral diversion of the metal strip from a predetermined strip-running direction on the path and controlling the position of actuators of the strip diverting device as a function of the measured lateral diversion.

8. The process of claim 7 , further comprising recording the actual lateral diversion at a location close to the location of the strip diversion of the metal strip.

9. The process of claim 5 , further comprising holding the metal strip under a strip pretension at a region of the path upstream of the strip diversion.

10. The process of claim 3 , further comprising holding the metal strip under a strip pretension at a region of the path upstream of the strip diversion.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the strip pretension is set by the intrinsic weight of the metal strip hanging down in a loop.

12. The process of claim 10 , wherein the strip pretension is produced by applying a braking force in the opposite direction to a strip running direction along the path.

13. The process of claim 3 , further comprising a strip-running centering aid located upstream or downstream of the location of roll deformation and at a distance from the location of the strip diversion corresponding to 1.0 times to 10.0 times the strip width.

14. The process of claim 3 , further comprising a strip-running centering aid located upstream or downstream of the location of roll deformation and at a distance from the location of the strip diversion corresponding to 1.5 times to 5.0 times the strip width.

15. A startup method for an apparatus for continuously producing a rolled metal strip wherein

the apparatus on which the method is performed comprises a strip casting device for producing a cast metal strip with an initially cast thickness of less than 20 mm; at least one rolling stand downstream along a path of the strip from the strip casting device and adapted for in-line roll forming of the cast, undivided metal strip, the rolling stand including a roll nip defined by and between working rollers and the nip being openable and being closeable to form the nip; a strip diverting device arranged between the strip casting device and the rolling stand for influencing the strip running direction of the metal strip along the path upstream of the rolling stand; a centering aid for centering the strip along the path; and a strip coiling device for winding up the rolled metal strip after it passes the rolling stand;

the method comprising:

after the metal strip exits the strip casting device, passing the strip along the strip path through the apparatus and threading the strip into the strip coiling device substantially at a strip running velocity along the path;

the rolling stand including the roll nip that is then open between the working rollers thereof, and the strip running velocity corresponding to a casting rate of the strip casting device;

setting a controlled strip tension between the strip diverting device and one of the strip running centering aid disposed along the strip path upstream of the rolling stand, or the strip running centering aid connected downstream of the rolling stand, or the strip coiling device;

either simultaneously or subsequently providing a controlled strip diversion to the metal strip at a distance upstream of the rolling stand on the path of the strip, and applying the diversion to the metal strip while the strip is under tension, at a distance upstream of the rolling stand on the path of 1.0 times to 10.0 times the width of the strip;

thereafter setting the working rollers of the rolling stand to form a roll nip which corresponds to the final strip thickness; and

matching the rolling speed to the casting rate from the casting device.

16. The startup method of claim 15 , wherein the controlled strip tension between the strip diverting device and the strip coiling device or a strip centering aid is at a value of between 2.0 MPa and 15 MPa.