Abstract: According to one aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for manufacturing transition structures including fiber threads embedded within a metal component. The system may include a supply of base sheet metal. The system may include a conveyor supported on a plurality of rollers and configured to move the base sheet metal in a production direction. The system may include a plurality of stages arranged in the production direction. Each stage may include a channel forming device configured to form a channel in the base sheet metal, a fiber inserting device configured to insert a portion of a fiber material into the channel, and one or more ultrasonic welders configured to consolidate a layer of metal foil over the fiber. The disclosure includes methods of using the system to produce transition structures and reinforced components.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thick polyimide film includes providing a first and second laminated structures. The first and second laminated structures are heated, and the heated first and second laminated structures are wound together to form a third laminated structure. The first polyamic acid gel film of the heated first laminated structure and the second polyamic acid gel film of the heated second laminated structure are overlapped and bonded together to form a third polyamic acid gel film. Two third laminated structures are wound together to form a fourth polyamic acid gel film. A dehydration ring-closure imidization reaction is applied to the fourth polyamic acid gel film by heating to obtain the thick polyimide film. A thick polyimide film manufactured by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible display device and a terminal, the flexible display device includes a casing, a roller assembly, a supporting layer, and a flexible display screen. An accommodating cavity is defined in the casing. An opening is defined in a side surface. The roller assembly is disposed in the accommodating cavity and comprises a first roller, a second roller, and a connecting member. Wrapping directions of the supporting layer on the first roller and the second roller are opposite. The flexible display screen is disposed on the supporting layer. The present invention reduces a risk of damage of the flexible display screen due to the stress.

Abstract: A toy device for dispensing stackable or rollable materials and related methods are described. The device has a housing arranged to contain a stack or roll of material and having a dispensing aperture. A manually actuated drive mechanism is provided by which a user can rotate a drive wheel of the drive mechanism. The drive wheel contacts and when rotated engages a portion of the material and to drive it through the dispensing aperture. A release mechanism is provided that can be moved to allow the material to be driven through the aperture. The drive mechanism can be actuated independently from the release mechanism.

Abstract: A cleaning assembly includes a handle assembly configured to grasp a moistened tissue. A drum is included within a dispensing unit to store the tissue. The dispensing unit selectively releases the tissue from the drum as an actuating assembly operates a lever between a first position and a second position. The drum is seated within the dispensing unit in communication with the actuating assembly in a manner such that the tissues are sealed and prevented from drying out. The seal is selectively broken to permit dispensing of the tissues. The cleaning assembly permits a user the ability to clean a potentially unclean surface without the need to physically contact any of the cleaning tissue, chemicals, or surface itself at any time. The user is separated from the potentially harmful surfaces and chemicals.

Abstract: Drive device for unwinding a reel of foil in an unwinding module of a stamping machine, having an inactive position, and an active position in engagement with the reel, and comprising: a belt, having an inactive configuration, and an active configuration for contacting a portion of the reel and driven by a driver of the module so as to unwind the reel, rollers, maintaining the belt in the inactive and the active configuration, a translatable roller, which engages the belt and compensates for variations in length when the belt moves from the inactive to the active configuration, and a biasing arrangement, attached to the roller and thereby keeping the belt tensioned in both the inactive and the active configuration, and the biasing arrangement is actuated and disengaged from the belt, to move the belt from the inactive to the active configuration and vice versa.

Abstract: A wallpaper handling device comprising a wallpaper support member having a first face for supporting a sheet of wallpaper and first and second sides extending therefrom; first and second clamps connected to the first and second sides respectively, each clamp comprising at least one clamping plate, the clamping plates of the two clamps extending inwardly towards each other over the first face, each clamp being adapted to be displaced between an open position in which the clamping plate is remote from the first face and a closed position in which the clamping plate abuts the first face so clamping a sheet of wallpaper between the first face and clamping plate.

Abstract: A dispenser for moist wipe material comprises a support member carrying a holder for a supply of material, a reservoir for a moistening fluid, a tank for dispensing moistening fluid into the fluid reservoir to maintain a desired level of fluid therein, a first roller disposed in the reservoir and having a first surface region dipping into the reservoir to a depth below said level, a means for driving the first roller to transport moistening fluid from the reservoir to material contacting a second surface region of the first roller spaced from said first region and a second roller for pressing the web of material onto the first roller.

Abstract: Continuous void-free uniform coatings are formed on filamentous articles by applying a voided or otherwise substantially uneven coating to at least some of the exposed portion of a filamentous article or to a rotating substrate. The filamentous article or substrate is passed through an improvement station containing a plurality of coating-wetted rolls that contact and re-contact the wet coating at different positions along the length of the filamentous article or rotating substrate, wherein the periods of the rolls improve the uniformity of the coating. For coatings applied to a rotating substrate, the uniform wet coating is transferred to the filamentous article. The final coating can be very thin, very uniform and completely or substantially void-free. The coating improvement can be quickly and easily obtained using low cost equipment.

Abstract: An adhesive layer is provided on a base material in the shape of an elongated film, powder particles are adhered thereon, and then other powder particles and media vibrated in a container are contacted with this adhesive layer. Next, the powder particles are embedded on the surface of the adhesive layer as a monolayer in which part of the powder particle protrudes, so as to form a laminate, and excess powder particles adhered to the laminate are removed. Therefore, a monolayer powder film, consisting of many powder particles embedded as a monolayer so that part thereof protrudes, is produced.

Abstract: Equipment for producing rolls of wound web material including a feed path for the web material, winding structure for winding the web material and forming the rolls, and along the feed path and upstream from the winding means, an applicator member for applying to the web material fed along the path a dry component of a component with a low liquid content of a liquid-based mixture, with which the wound web material is impregnated.

Abstract: Continuous void-free uniform coatings are formed on filamentous articles by applying a voided or otherwise substantially uneven coating to at least some of the exposed portion of a filamentous article or to a rotating substrate. The filamentous article or substrate is passed through an improvement station containing a plurality of coating-wetted rolls that contact and re-contact the wet coating at different positions along the length of the filamentous article or rotating substrate, wherein the periods of the rolls improve the uniformity of the coating. For coatings applied to a rotating substrate, the uniform wet coating is transferred to the filamentous article. The final coating can be very thin, very uniform and completely or substantially void-free. The coating improvement can be quickly and easily obtained using low cost equipment.

Abstract: For manufacturing a multi-layer structure with repeating layer sequences, a band-shaped carrier material is first partially separated into individual sections of a same size with connections capable of bearing remaining between the individual sections. After continuously applying at least one further material layer on the surface of the carrier material, the individual sections are completely separated by cutting or punching. The multi-layer structure is obtained by stacking the individual sections obtained in this way on top of one another, whereby intermediate layers can also be potentially inserted between two individual sections.

Abstract: Device and process for impregnating web with an impregnating agent. The device includes a coating device structured and arranged to apply the impregnating agent to the web and a wide nip calender located, with respect to a web travel direction, before the coating device. The wide nip calender includes a circulating jacket and a back pressure element arranged to form a wide nip. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A process for producing a donor sheet for a thin-film formation comprising: while transporting a sheet on which a light-to-heat conversion layer has already been formed, forming a transfer layer on the light-to-heat conversion layer and drying the transfer layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating a paperboard substrate includes an applicator for providing a metered amount of an aqueous polymeric coating to the paperboard substrate as well as dual smoothing bars to promote even distribution of the coating on the paperboard. The product exhibits enhanced barrier properties and printability at low coatweight amounts.

Abstract: An automatic wet towel supplying apparatus is disclosed. The automatic wet towel supplying apparatus comprises a housing, a casing, pulling means, cutting means, water supplying means and control means. The housing includes a cloth holding part for rotatably holding cloth in the form of a roll so that the cloth is pulled away and a towel storage chamber for storing wet towels for supply. The casing is fixed to the front portion of the interior of the housing by means of bolts so as to be easily removed from the housing. The cutting means includes a second motor, a rotary cutter rotated by the second motor, and a stationary cutter. The water supplying means is mounted in the housing, includes a water storage tank, a pump, a filtering unit and a nozzle, and serves to spray water on the cut towels.

Abstract: A coating spreading machine for spreading resin onto a printed layer film of a plastic tile is provided. The printed layer film is rolled up around a roller and then fed to the spreading machine. The spreading machine has a coating spreading device and a drying device; the spreading device includes a transmission wheel capable of turning, a steel wheel arranged under the transmission wheel, a nozzle and a pressing wheel arranged above the transmission wheel. The printed layer film is passed through between the transmission wheel and the pressing wheel, and then fed to the drying device. The nozzle ejects resin onto the transmission wheel; the resin is then spreaded even on the transmission wheel by means of the steel wheel. The resin spreaded on the transmission wheel is then coupled to the printed layer film by means of the pressing wheel. The printed layer film is thus applied with resin and can be coupled to a basic part of a plastic tile.

Abstract: Apparatus for coating both opposed major surfaces of an elongated strip article with paint, lacquer, lubricant or the like, using two facing coating heads respectively having lands, between which the strip is advanced. Liquid coating material, delivered to the strip surfaces through elongated slits formed in the coating heads immediately upstream of the lands, is dragged out on the moving surfaces as layers metered between the lands and the strip. A load is continuously exerted (by devices such as air cylinders) on at least one of the lands during the coating operation for urging the lands against the applied coating layers.

Abstract: A web coating apparatus includes a supply roll of web and a wind-up spindle for receiving a discrete length of the web. Fluid is discharged from a coating die in a direction toward the wind-up spindle to coat the web as the web is wound about the wind-up spindle. A variable speed pump directs fluid through the coating die at flow rate that is proportional to the speed of advancement of the web. The apparatus is particularly useful for coating discrete lengths of orthopedic splinting and casting tape that is packaged for single patient use.

Abstract: A coating apparatus comprises a carrier movable in a to-and-aft direction, a swing frame having a portion pivotably supported by the carrier, three pairs of bearings mounted to the swing frame, and three rolls journaled by the three pair of bearings, respectively. A drive unit includes three variable speed motors which include respective output shafts connected to the corresponding rolls through offset shaft couplings. The three rolls have respective axes which are connected to form an imaginary triangle. That portion of the swing frame which is pivotably supported by the carrier is located outside of the imaginary triangle. The imaginary triangle is moved back and forth when the swing frame is swung back and forth. The carrier is reciprocated to accommodate the reciprocating movement of the imaginary triangle.

Abstract: A method of coating at least one liquid medium onto a moving material web, in particular of paper or cardboard, in which method the material web is led either in a first mode of operation along a first treatment path or, in a second mode of operation, along a second treatment path, the material web being led along the first treatment path through a roll gap formed by a primary roll and a secondary roll for indirect coating of the liquid medium via the shell surface of the primary roll, or along the second treatment path over a region of the shell surface of the primary roll remote from the roll gap for directly coating the liquid medium onto the material web in the mentioned region of the shell surface of the primary roll, wherein the primary roll is driven in the one rotational direction in the first mode of operation and in the other rotational direction in the second mode of operation, and the respective general run-in and run-out direction for the material webs is substantially the same in the region of t

Abstract: A device for treating material webs includes first and second neighboring drying cylinders separated by an intermediate space. The intermediate space has a length substantially equal to about twice the diameter of the largest of the first and second cylinders. The device includes at least a first deflecting roll disposed in the intermediate space and in a path of a material web conveyed through the device. The device further includes at least a second deflecting roll disposed below a coating device and above the intermediate space. The second deflecting roll is adapted to feed a web of material upwardly into the coating device.

Abstract: A powder coating line for coating either coiled strip or pre-sheared and punched blanks is provided. In order to coat strip a catenary portion of the strip is suspended through a powder coating subsystem which includes a powder coating booth and a curing oven. The coated strip is the recoiled onto a rewind reel. In the alternative, the strip may be stopped and sheared at an input region and presheared blanks introduced to the powder coating subsystem. The blanks are placed on a belt conveyor, which transports them into the powder coating booth. The blanks are then passed in a conveyor through the powder coating booth and over for subsequent restacking. After passing out of the oven, and before coiled or stacking occurs, the strip or blanks pass through a quench and an air dryer. The powder coating subsystem can be incorporated into a larger pre-treating, cleaning, embossing or post-processing line.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for forming coreless paper roll products are disclosed. Coreless paper roll products are formed by slitting a paper web to form web segments having side edges. The web segments are then wound about an elongated winder shaft. During winding of the paper web, liquid is applied to the web segments only at the side edges thereof while maintaining the web segments free of liquid between the side edges. When the rolls are formed and stripped from the winder shaft, the openings located at the ends of the roll at the roll central aperture will be well defined and allow ready insertion of a dispenser spindle. All the material of the roll can then be dispensed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a re-inking device for multi-pass fabric ribbons or tapes wound on a spool. The device is for a fabric ribbon wound on a first spool, with means to mount the first spool to one side of a base and means to mount a second spool to the same side of the base at a position spaced from the first spool, means to connect the ribbon free end to the second spool to provide an unsupported ribbon length extending between the first and second spools, an ink reservoir mounted on the base and engageable by at least part of the unsupported ribbon length, and means to rotate the second spool relative to the base to effect winding of the ribbon from the first spool onto the second spool with concurrent ink transfer from the reservoir onto the ribbon. The invention also relates to a method of using the device for re-inking a fabric ribbon.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a multi-colored printing ribbon including a first printing station where one or more spaced transfer heads transfer a first color to selected portions of a web of base colored ribbon stock. A second printing station where one or more spaced transfer heads transfer a second color to said web interleaved with the first color to providing a serial, alternating color pattern. Control devices connected to both printing stations insure that the color segments are deposited in proper serial, spaced locations to prevent the colors from running onto each other. Also disclosed is a method for using such multi-colored ribbons to prevent counterfeiting or theft of various documents wherein at least some of the characters to be printed on such documents are printed in a predetermined sequence of colors.

Abstract: The wallpaper pasting apparatus characterized in that the wallpaper pasting apparatus is provided with a pasting roller and a pressing guide for pressing the wallpaper against the upper surface thereof, by a plurality of levelling plate means having edge wavy grooves for adjusting the thickness of the paste layer transferred onto the wallpaper.This apparatus has a simple structure and a light weight, and permits easy and accurate adjustment of the thickness of the paste layer.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying protective coatings to photographic films or papers in web or sheet form. More specifically, apparatus for applying protective coatings that are curable by actinic radiation is provided. The apparatus includes a feeding station for supplying film which may be either a feed spool or a sheet feeder for holding and supplying individual sheets of film. The apparatus further includes a conveyor for conveying the film through a coating station and a curing chamber to a receiving station which also may either be a take-up spool to receive coated cured film or a stacking device to receive a stack of individual sheets of film. The conveyor can either be a series of conveying spools or pulleys or an endless conveyor belt in the case of individual sheets of film. The coating station includes a coating roller having a pattern of grooves formed by winding wire onto the surface thereof or other pattern of surface indentations.

Abstract: A trough structure is arranged for directing and supporting a roll of wallpaper webbing therethrough to effect wetting or adherence of glue to the wallpaper structure. The trough structure includes a forward wall spaced from a partition wall, with the partition wall spaced forwardly of a rear edge portion of the side walls to define a roll support cavity to rotatably mount the wallpaper roll therewithin. A modification of the invention includes an applicator brush in association with a trough guide roll to apply a glue material to a bottom surface of the wallpaper webbing, and may further include a supply reservoir arranged for pressurizing and directing fluid glue interiorly of the trough structure through the associated applicator roll.

Abstract: A dispenser for containing and dispensing samples of a cosmetic product delivered by a roll of paper emerging from the dispenser in a predetermined sequence includes a housing for use with a C-shaped flange and a lid provided with a respective C-shaped flange juxtaposed with the flange of the housing having studs preventing the emerge of the paper above a predetermined length.

Abstract: A towel dispenser contains two rolls of paper. A bar on the front, when pushed, delivers a short length of wet towel and a short length of dry towel, simultaneously. It also guides the towel dispensed from one of the rolls through a bath of antiseptic hand-cleansing solution. It also releases the system to enable pulling an additional length of toweling from each of the two rolls. Upon release, either towel can be pulled out further manually to produce about ten more inches of towel. The toweling is delivered from both rolls simultaneously, but the towels are used in sequence, the wet towel first and the dry towel next.

Abstract: A gravure coating device and method for applying a coating to a first side of a traveling continuous web. A pair of spaced rollers support the web on the second side while a gravure roller located between the rollers tangentially contacts the first side of the web. A doctor blade is utilized to remove excess coating from the gravure roller while a nozzle is utilized to apply the coating material to the gravure roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a coating composition to one side of each of several surface type fastener tapes in order to establish the positive anchorage of interengageable hooks or loops on the other side of the tape. Included is a coating roller partly dipped in the coating liquid in an open top receptacle and extending across the fastener tapes traveling in parallel spaced relation to one another. Held against the surface of this coating roller, a doctor blade has several recesses defined in its scraping edge so as to be in register with the fastener tapes traveling in contact with the coating roller. Thus the doctor blade is effective to scrape off the coating liquid only from those parts of the coating roller surface which do not make contact with the fastener tapes, thereby precluding the possibility of the coating liquid from flowing over the selvages of the fastener tapes onto the other sides of the tapes carrying the hooks or loops.

Abstract: A gravure coating device for applying a coating to a first side of a traveling continueous web. A pair of spaced rollers support the web on the second side while a gravure roller located between the rollers tangentially contacts the first side of the web. A doctor blade is utilized to remove excess coating from the gravure roller while a nozzle is utilized to apply the coating material to the gravure roller. Specific structure for the nozzle is disclosed.

Abstract: A toilet roll dispenser, comprising a holder for a toilet roll, a medicament reservoir, and means operable selectively to apply medicament to a part of a surface of a toilet roll as it is dispensed.

Abstract: Dispensable medical electrodes formed as separable segments of an indefinitely long substrate are formed by applying to the substrate a longitudinally extending stripe of a conductive paint and by overlaying the painted stripe at periodic intervals corresponding to the separable segments with films of a conductive adhesive material which films generally traverse the width of the substrate. After conditioning the conductive adhesive films to a desired moisture content, the substrate is rolled spirally upon itself and stored in an electrode dispenser device. Two types of dispenser device are disclosed. In one type, the dispenser confines a humidity control solution which maintains substantially constant the moisture content of the conductive adhesive films. The second type of dispenser device confines an activating solution which is applied to the conductive adhesive films located on the electrode segments as the electrode segments are dispensed.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying glue to a wallpaper which is passed therethrough along a drive direction includes a frame which is adapted to hold glue, a glue application roller mounted on the frame, a rerouting roller in parallel with, and downstream of the application roller, as seen along the drive direction, and adapted to be in operative engagement with the glue application roller through the wallpaper, and a drive motor in direct driving connection with the rerouting roller.

Abstract: A dispensing device for perfumes or deodorants comprises a housing for a reel of mounting tape with tabs adhesively mounted thereon. The mounting tape extends to a member impregnated with the perfume or deodorant and is passed against the member for coating the upper tab surface. The mounting tape extends to and around a discharge member for redirecting the mounting tape through a sharp angle and to dispense the coated tabs through a discharge opening in the housing. A take-up reel is provided for winding the mounting tape. A thumb wheel moves the take-up reel and operates the dispenser.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing a liquid smoke impregnated casing comprising an unwind shaft adapted to have a roll of casing, a tension dancer roll to control the tension on the casing, an unwind roll brake co-acting with the unwind shaft and controlled by a dancer roll-operated regulator, edge guiding means to align the casing to a liquid smoke contacting means, a rewind shaft mounted with a roll core for rewinding the casing, side plates on the rewind shaft to align successive layers of the casing, means to spin the rewound roll of casing, and a rider squeeze roll for contacting the casing during the spinning of the casing.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying film coatings of material to electrical component bodies having axial leads includes adhesive tape for supporting the components in spaced relationship. A supply reel carries a supported plurality of such components. A shaft has a circumferential row of transversely oriented pockets for receiving component bodies whereby their leads are parallel. The shaft is oriented with respect to a lower reservoir providing liquid polyurethane, so that, as it rotates, sequential pockets pass through the liquid material, retaining menisci thereof therewithin. As the component bodies are received by the menisci retained pockets, underside portions of the components are coated with liquid material. A brush applies liquid material from a upper reservoir to upper portions of the carried bodies. The brush smooths the upper portions to avoid formation of globs or blobs thereon.

Abstract: Most ribbon re-inking machines are not clean and convenient to use. The present machine is relatively clean to use because the ink reservoir is normally kept oriented so that leakage does not occur. Thus, the reservoir has an inlet which is sealed once ink has been added while an inking roller fits in an outlet on the same side as the inlet. Thus ink can only flow onto the roller when the reservoir and whole machine is inverted for use. An air inlet is provided on the other side of the reservoir from the outlet and roller and that inlet is opened when the reservoir is inverted. Only then will ink flow during rotation of the roller when a ribbon is moved over it.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the completely automatic lacquering of strip-form materials, whereby at least one unwinding device is provided with a fast running positioning device, an application roller and an opposing pressure roller are designed in such a way that they grasp the strip-form material and push it centered through the dryer and through a guide device and a winding up device is provided with at least one receiving spool which catches the strip-form material and winds it up.

Abstract: A device for feeding sheets of wrapping material from a roll formed of wrapping material web to a packaging machine which discontinuously operates at consecutive cycles. The device includes a transversal cutter provided with cutter blades for cutting single sheets of wrapping material from the web which has a new leading edge after each cut, and at least one intermittent motion feeding group for feeding the web to the cutter. A first independent electric stepping motor drives the feeding group and is controlled by a programmable electronic control circuit which controls the stepping motor to drive the feeding group in accordance with a predetermined sequence of motions in synchronism with the cycles the packaging machine, including momentarily driving the feeding group backwards to withdraw and detach the leading edge of the web from the cutter blades.

Abstract: A ribbon machine which is capable of feeding ribbon to the inlet or feed opening of a ribbon cassette is improved by providing the ribbon machine with a support surface having a ribbon pathway thereon and at least two cassette adapters, each one of which can be positioned at one of a plurality of adapter positions on the support surface. The cassette adapters each are capable of holding at least one type of a variety of types of ribbon cassettes. Each of the adapter positions on the support surface includes a member capable of driving either an internal or external sprocket wheel or other drive wheel which feeds the ribbon into the cassette and a cassette adapter holding member which holds the cassette adapter at a particular adapter position. Each of the cassette adapters is constructed to include the capability of allowing the drive member at each of the adapter positions to interact with the cassette to feed the ribbon into the cassette.

Abstract: A wallpaper pasting machine comprises a tray for the paste, rollers for transferring paste to the paper and guide means extending across the tray for training the paper over the rollers. The guide means are engaged by resilient side wall portions of the tray and are removable by deforming the side wall portions. A cutting template for guiding the cutting of the paper is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying wallpaper which moistens prepasted wallpaper or applies paste to unpasted wallpaper and guides the paper as it is withdrawn from the roll and applied to the wall. The apparatus includes a base for rotatably supporting a roll of wallpaper and a frame attached to the base for supporting at least one pair of rollers for guiding the wallpaper through a trough partly filled with a liquid such as water or paste. The apparatus for use with paste has one roll in the trough of paste and a further roll for transfering paste from the roll to the paper.

Abstract: A laminate composed of a web of carrier material and a thick layer of contact adhesive thereon wherein the thick layer is composed of a series of thin layers of contact adhesive which are bonded together. Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for preparing the laminate. Using such methods and apparatuses, thick layers of contact adhesive may be simply and economically produced.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning and re-inking a fibrous printer ribbon carried on first and second reels and having foreign matter thereon comprising a frame, first and second pairs of rotatable spindles mounted in the frame so as to define parallel axes and capable of holding the first and second reels, first and second motors for rotating the first and second pairs of spindles, an elongated inking roller rotatably mounted in the frame between and parallel to the axes for contacting and applying ink to the printer ribbon, a metering roller rotatably mounted in the frame parallel to the inking roller for metering ink onto the inking roller, a trough disposed beneath the inking roller for containing ink and providing such ink to the inking roller, a reservoir capable of holding ink for supplying ink to the trough, an elongated brush rotatably mounted in the frame intermediate the second pair of spindles and the metering roller for contacting, forcibly removing the foreign matter and opening the fibers of the ribbon,

Abstract: Coating apparatus wherein a pretreated sheet metal ribbon passes from a supply coil successively through entry rolls, coating rolls, a curing oven, cooling apparatus, and tension rolls to a recoiler. The ribbon extends through the coating rolls and the curing oven as a long-span catenary. No looping facility is required. The apparatus incorporates novel leading end gripper means and trailing end gripper means for establishing and terminating the catenary in a manner which minimizes the unusable length of ribbon, that is, the uncoated leading end and uncoated trailing end of the processed ribbon. A method of initiating, maintaining, and terminating the catenary is disclosed.