Apparatus for pulling forward or holding back moving metal strips

In apparatus for exerting a drag upon a moving metal strip, said apparatus comprising two oppositely disposed endless conveyor chain systems, each of said systems comprising conveyor chain means extending around an endless path, at least one chain wheel for controlling the movement of each of said chain means around said path, said chain means of each of said systems including a plurality of coupled roller units, and first guide means for guiding said roller units along a straight drag-applying zone of the endless path in each of said conveyor chain systems with the drag-applying zone having an inlet end and an outlet end relative to the moving metal strip, said apparatus further comprising means mounting said systems with said drag-applying zones of each of said systems being adjacent each other and means for clamping said strip between said roller units of said systems in said drag-applying zones to allow said systems to exert said drag thereon, the improvement comprising second guide means in each of said systems, said second guide means guiding said roller units along another zone of the endless path extending from the outlet end to the inlet end of said drag-applying zone, said second guide means extending in the direction of the endless path between the inlet and outlet ends of said drag-applying zone thereof and said second guide means being curved along the full extent thereof in the direction of the endless path from the outlet end to the inlet end of the drag-applying zones, said first and second guide means guiding said chain means around each of said endless paths, and said second guide means located at the outlet end of said drag-applying zone providing guidance for said chain means and being free of driving engagement with said chain means.