Abstract: An apparatus is provided for continuously processing metal ribbon from ribbon spools of fixed capacity to form spools of processed ribbon. At a dispensing or wind-out reel a continuous metal ribbon is formed by alternately emptying spools from two different positions, joining the ribbon from alternately emptied spools, and replacing each empty spool with a full one while the other spool is being emptied. The continuous metal ribbon is provided to a processing station and, from there, is delivered to a collecting or wind-up reel where a pair of spools are alternately filled with processed ribbon and a full spool is replaced with an empty one while the other spool is being filled. A festoon tower provides a pair of elongated paths of independently variable travel length for ribbon moving, respectively, between the dispensing reel and processing station and between the processing station and collecting reel. This tower provides a continuous movement of ribbon to and from the processing station.

Abstract: A production line wherein extremely heavy and bulky commodities, such as metallic bands which are convoluted on reels and weigh up to and in excess of 20,000 lbs., are treated at several stations is provided with a first magazine at the receiving end, a second magazine at the discharge end and an intermediate magazine between two neighboring departments. The commodities are transported in the magazines by vehicles which are movable lengthwise as well as up and down to store the commodities at different levels or to withdraw commodities from selected compartments of the respective magazines. Additional vehicles in the form of cars, lifters, cranes or the like are provided to transport commodities from a preceding magazine, to stations which are adjacent to various machines of the production line, and from such machines to the next magazine, always at a level above or below the level of the production line.

Abstract: A production line wherein extremely heavy and bulky commodities, such as metallic bands which are convoluted on reels and weigh up to and in excess of 20,000 lbs., are treated at several stations is provided with a first magazine at the receiving end, a second magazine at the discharge end and an intermediate magazine between two neighboring departments. The commodities are transported in the magazines by vehicles which are movable lengthwise as well as up and down to store the commodities at different levels or to withdraw commodities from selected compartments of the respective magazines. Additional vehicles in the form of cars, lifters, cranes or the like are provided to transport commodities from a preceding magazine, to stations which are adjacent to various machines of the production line, and from such machines to the next magazine, always at a level above or below the level of the production line.