The combination of (a) a multi-step method for processing a continuous steel strip in a line and (b) a solid lubricant application procedure incorporated in-line with said strip processing method between steps thereof, for applying, to said steel strip, as alternatives, either a wax or polymer material, each of which forms a transparent film of solid lubricant on the steel strip, wherein said strip-processing method comprises the steps of:
- performing at least one processing step at an upstream location;
- performing at least one processing step downstream of the location of said upstream processing step;
- said strip having a strip speed in the upstream processing step and a strip speed in the downstream processing step;
- moving said steel strip in a downstream direction during said processing steps;
- and synchronizing the speed of the moving steel strip in said downstream processing step with the strip speed employed in said upstream processing step;
- said strip having a strip temperature as it undergoes processing;
- said combination comprising performing said lubricant application procedure in-line with said strip-processing method, between said upstream and downstream processing steps;
- said lubricant application procedure comprising the steps of:
- providing said line with both (a) a capability for applying a film-forming wax material, as a liquid, and (b) a capability for applying a film-forming polymer material, as a liquid;
- applying one of said film forming materials, as a liquid, to said moving steel strip while the other material remains unapplied;
- said material-applying step being capable of applying, as alternatives, either said wax material or said polymer material;
- providing said line with a capability for adjusting the temperature of said moving steel strip upstream of said material-applying step;
- said upstream temperature-adjusting capability constituting (i) a non-emission heating technique or (ii) a chilling technique employing a refrigerated cooling medium, or the capability of employing techniques (i) and (ii) alternatively;
- providing said line with a capability for adjusting the temperature of said strip dollstream of said material-applying step, using a non-emission heating technique;
- providing said line with a capability for adjusting the temperature of said strip downstream of said material-applying step, using a chilling technique employing a refrigerated cooling medium;
- sensing the temperature of said moving steel strip upstream of said material-applying step;
- employing said upstream temperature-adjusting capability selectively (1) in response to the particular film-forming material that is applied or (2) in response to said upstream temperature sensing step or (3) in response to a combination of (1) and (2) to subject said strip to (a) heating or (b) cooling or (c) neither (a) nor
- sensing the temperature of said moving steel strip downstream of said material-applying step;
- adjusting the temperature of said moving steel strip downstream of said material-applying step either (a) by using said non-emission heating technique while said chilling technique remains unemployed or (b) by using said chilling technique while said non-emission heating technique remains unemployed;
- synchronizing the speed of said moving steel strip during said lubricant application procedure with the strip speed employed in said strip-processing steps without substantially diminishing the speed normally attained in said strip-processing steps in the absence of performance of said lubricant application procedure, said normally-attained speed being at least 200 ft./min. (61 m/min.);
- taking time to perform said material-applying and temperature-adjusting steps;
- limiting the time available for performing said material-applying and temperature-adjusting steps, as a result of said speed-synchronizing step;
- and constraining the performance of said material-applying and temperature-adjusting steps to accommodate to the time limitations imposed by said speed-synchronizing step;
- the performance of said temperature-adjusting steps being constrained by the employment of one or more of said non-emission heating technique and said chilling technique.