Tension take-up and speed control

Apparatus for controlling the tension and predetermined rate of movement of a continuous strip of elongated material being fed to or withdrawn from a processing station for processing at a predetermined processing rate, said apparatus comprising a first pivotable control arm having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first pivotable control arm being pivotable about a fixed pivot point, a second pivotable control arm having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second pivotable control arm being pivotably connected to said second end of said first pivotable control arm, and said second end of said second pivotable control arm being movable in response to variations in the difference between said predetermined processing rate and said predetermined rate of movement of said strip, biasing means interposed between said first and second pivotable control arms whereby upon pivoting of said second pivotable control arm about said second end of said first pivotable control arm said biasing means transmits only a portion of the movement of said second pivotable control arm to said first pivotable control arm, and speed control means for controlling said predetermined rate of movement of said strip in response to movement of said first pivotable control arm.