Device and Method for Thermal Treatment of a Metal Strip

A plant for continuous heat treatment of a metal strip (6), comprising:

• an annealing furnace;
• an over-ageing chamber (11) configured to be heated and positioned after the annealing furnace,
• a plurality of deflector rolls for guiding the metal strip (6) positioned in the over-ageing chamber (11) vertically spaced apart from one another (12, 12′, 13, 13′) configured so that the metal strip (6) passes through the over-ageing chamber (11) in a meandering path, wherein
• at least one of the deflector rolls (12′, 13′) can be moved in a vertical direction to alter a length of the metal strip (6) in the over-ageing chamber (11), thereby altering a time of retention of the metal strip (6) in the over-ageing chamber (11),
• the at least one movable deflector roll (12′, 13′) is supported or secured in a particular position with a roll support (19, 19′) that is accommodated in a housing (32);
• and
• the roll support (19, 19′) can be run into the over-ageing chamber (11).

A method for continuous heat treatment of a metal strip with an annealing furnace and a subsequent over-ageing chamber (11), comprising:

• guiding the metal strip (6) in a meandering path over deflector rolls (12, 12′, 13, 13′) spaced vertically apart from one another in the over-ageing chamber (11),
• moving at least one of the deflector roll (12′, 13′) in a vertical direction in the over-ageing chamber (11) to change a length of the metal strip (6) present in the over-ageing chamber (11), which thereby sets a retention time of the metal strip (6) for heat treatment in the over-ageing chamber (11), wherein
• the at least one movable deflector roll (12′, 13′) is supported or secured in a position by a roll support (19′),
• the roll support (19, 19′) is accommodated in a housing (32), and
• the roll support (19, 19′) can be run into the over-ageing chamber (11).