Method for managing a continuous in-line metal strip processing installation, and installation for implementing this method

A method for managing the feed of a new coil into a continuous inline processing plant of a band-type product, said plant being supplied with successive bands and including means for controlling the continuous running of the band (M) successively into an inlet section (1), an upstream accumulator (6), a processing section (7), a downstream section and an outlet section, the connection of the tail of a first coil (11) when completely unwound with the head of a next coil (11) being carried out in the inlet section of the plant in two successive stage cycles, respectively a first preparation cycle for preparing the ends, respectively tail and head ends of both bands, for the junction thereof and a second junction cycle for joining both facing edges of said ends,

• a method wherein the running of the band is stopped or, at least, slowed down in the inlet section (1) for a period of time necessary to carry out all the connection operations, and the processing section (7) is supplied, during the stoppage time, with a band length set aside beforehand in the upstream accumulator (6) for carrying on the process at a normal running speed,
• characterised in that joining the facing edges of the ends of both bands (M, M′) is performed in at least two portions of the inlet section (1), respectively a first portion (3) and a second portion (4), between which is located an intermediate accumulator (5) for setting aside a variable band length, and that the time period necessary to perform all the connection operations of both bands (M, M′) is divided into at least two time periods (T1,T3), respectively a first time period (T1) corresponding to the first preparation cycle and to a first phase of the second junction cycle of the facing edges of both bands (M, M′), and a second time period (T3) corresponding to a second phase of the second junction cycle, said both time periods (T1, T3) being separate by a time interval (T2) of variable duration corresponding to the running of the band length set aside in the intermediate accumulator (5).