Apparatus for the continuous casting of metals, especially steel, in a curved path, using a dummy bar

In this apparatus for the continuous casting of metals, including steel, in a curved path, moving guide means are situated in a region below the casting mould and can be moved in such a way that, during the casting operation, they occupy a rest position at a distance from the path of the cast bar, in which they cannot be reached by any splashes of molten metal in the event of the cast skin breaking. During the introduction of the dummy bar into the casting mould and during the withdrawal of the dummy bar, on the other hand, the moving guide means are moved into their operative position, in which they interact with the outer and/or inner sides of the dummy bar. In order to reduce the length of the dummy bar and hence the length of the continuous casting apparatus, at least one of the moving guide means which acts on the outer side and/or the inner side of the dummy bar in the operative position, is a reversibly driven roller (12), optionally toothed, which is arranged approximately halfway between the casting mould (1) and the withdrawal mechanism (2). The driven roller can be decoupled from its drive and can then also be used as an idling guide roller for the cast metal bar.