A twin-roll continuous casting machine, including a pair of rolls which rotate in directions opposite to each other and in which diameters of both ends along a roll axis direction of at least one of the rolls are larger than a diameter of a central part in the roll axis direction of the roll, and being configured such that
- molten steel is supplied between the pair of rolls to solidify the molten steel on a circumferential surface of each roll, thereby forming solidified shells,
- opposite end portions of the solidified shells are brought into pressure contact at a minimum gap portion, where a clearance between both rolls is minimal, to form a cast slab which has a solidified surface, but has an unsolidified molten steel remaining in a center,
- the cast slab is pulled out from the clearance between both rolls, and
- the cast slab is wound around the circumferential surface of one of the rolls by a predetermined contact arcuate length, then separated from the one roll, and withdrawn substantially in a horizontal direction in which a side of the cast slab wound around the one roll becomes an upper surface portion of the cast slab,
- the twin-roll continuous casting machine comprising:
- adjusting means for moving other of the rolls relative to the one roll to adjust a thickness of the cast slab;
- a plurality of first support rolls for supporting an upper surface portion side of the cast slab at portions extending substantially in the horizontal direction;
- a plurality of second support rolls for supporting a lower surface portion side of the cast slab at portions extending substantially in the horizontal direction;
- first bearers that rotatably support the plurality of first support rolls;
- and
- second bearers that rotatably support the plurality of second support rolls, the second bearers having a force for urging the plurality of second support rolls toward the cast slab to support the plurality of second support rolls in such a manner as to be movable in upward and downward directions in accordance with a change in the thickness of the cast slab,
- wherein when the other roll is moved relative to the one roll by the adjusting means to adjust the thickness of the cast slab pulled out from the pair of rolls, the plurality of first support rolls are maintained at a constant height by the first bearers, while the plurality of second support rolls are moved in the upward and downward directions by the second bearers in accordance with the change in the thickness of the cast slab, and
- the cast slab is transported, with the upper surface portion of the cast slab pulled out from the clearance between both rolls serving as a reference surface.