Long strip material handling apparatus

An apparatus for transporting a long strip material between a first processing section, which includes first transporting means which transports said long strip material lengthwise at a first speed in said first processing section, and a second processing section wherein said long and narrow strip material is transported lengthwise at a second speed slower than said first speed, said apparatus comprising:

• second transporting means, comprising a pair of rollers and disposed before said second processing section, for grabbing said long strip material lengthwise, and for transporting said long and narrow strip material at a speed substantially equal to said second speed;
• a reservoir section, provided between said second transporting means and said second processing section for temporarily storing said long strip material in a loop therein;
• a guide member, disposed in said reservoir section, for guiding the leading end of said long strip material toward said second transporting means, said guide member being movable away from said leading end of said long strip material after said long strip material is grabbed by said second transporting means;
• a leader sensor for detecting whether said leading end of said long strip material has passed through said second transporting means and providing a signal accordingly;
• and
• speed changing means for changing a speed of said first transporting means as to transport said long strip material at said second speed in the absence of said signal from said leader sensor and at said first speed in the presence of said signal from the leader sensor.

An apparatus for transporting a long strip material between a first processing section, which includes first transporting means which transports said long strip material lengthwise at a first speed in said first processing section, and a second processing section wherein said long strip material is transported lengthwise at a second speed slower than said first speed, said apparatus comprising:

• second transporting means, comprising a pair of rollers and disposed before said second processing section, for grabbing said long strip material lengthwise and transporting it at a speed substantially equal to said second speed;
• a reservoir section, provided between said first transporting means and said second processing section, for temporarily reserving said long strip material in a loop therein;
• a guide member, disposed in said reservoir section, for guiding the leading end of said long strip material toward said second transporting means, said guide member being movable away from said leading end of said long strip material after said long strip material is grabbed by said second transporting means;
• a leader sensor for detecting whether said leading end of said long strip material has passed through said second transporting means and providing a signal accordingly;
• and
• speed changing means for changing a speed of said second transporting means so as to transport said long strip material at said first speed in the absence of said signal from said leader sensor and at said second speed in the presence of said signal from the leader sensor.

An apparatus for transporting a long strip material between a first processing section, which includes first transporting means which transports a long strip material lengthwise at a first speed in said first processing section, and a second processing section wherein said long strip material is transported lengthwise at a second speed slower than said first speed, said apparatus comprising:

• second transporting means, comprising a pair of rollers and disposed before said second processing section, for grabbing said long strip material lengthwise to transport it at a speed substantially equal to said second speed;
• a reservoir section, provided between said first transporting means and said second processing section, for temporarily storing said long strip material in a loop therein;
• a guide member, disposed in said reservoir section, for guiding the leading end of said long strip material toward said first transporting means, said guide member being movable away from said leading end of said long strip material after said long strip material is grabbed by said second transporting means;
• a leader sensor for detecting whether said leading end of said long strip material has passed through said second transporting means and providing a signal accordingly;
• and
• roller separating means for separating said pair of rollers of said second transporting means from each other when said long strip material passes between said pair of rollers in the absence of said signal from said leader sensor, and bringing the pair of rollers into contact with each other so as to grab said leading end of said long strip material therebetween after said long strip material has passed between said pair of rollers in the presence of said signal from the leader sensor.