Abstract: A paper magazine including a magazine main body in which a photosensitive material is accommodated; a guide member for guiding the photosensitive material to a magazine opening through which the photosensitive material is delivered out to an exterior; at least one guide roller which is attached to the guide member so as to be freely rotatable, and which contacts a transverse direction end portion of the photosensitive material and guides the photosensitive material when the photosensitive material is delivered out to the exterior; and a cover which is supported at the magazine main body so as to be able to open and close an open portion of the magazine main body, and when the cover is closed, the cover is positioned so as to oppose the guide member with the photosensitive material being disposed between the guide member and the cover.

Abstract: A safety apparatus for use with a fiber processing unit having a plurality of rotating godet rollers. The apparatus includes a safety gate, positioned between an operator and the godet rollers, having a plurality of apertures through which a long-handled cutting tool may be extended. A plurality of guides mounted to the frame of the godet unit, each extending adjacent and substantially parallel to one of the godet rollers, limit the range of movement of the cutting tool to the proper position for cutting wrap from the godet rollers.

Abstract: A system for transporting film through photographic-type processing uses a pair of flexible belts which have grooves to receive and guide the edges of the film in loose frictional engagement, and a drive and support system for moving the belts and film through a processing step. The groove in the belts is larger than the thickness of the film such that a particular place on a film edge is not tightly contacted, yet there is enough contact, and varying points of contact along the film, so that over an extended length of film there is sufficient frictional engagement to control and transport the film. Multiple stage processes have separate belt-drive systems, with aligned take-up and unload zones wherein the belts are moved into or away from contact with the film, to effect automatic handoff of the film to succeeding stages. An accumulator is provided at the end of the process, to receive and hold the film(s) on a first in, first out basis.

Abstract: Apparatus for spreading a plurality of co-traveling web portions of a cut web such that a defined spacing is produced and maintained between the web portions. The apparatus includes a pair of spaced, perforated plates for permitting the application of sub-atmospheric air pressure to both sides of the traveling web portions to remove particulate matter from both surfaces of the web portions. The web spreading and particulate matter removing apparatus are connected to move as a unit while maintaining the spacing of the perforated plates from the web.

Abstract: A method of guiding a steel strip during its passage through a continuous strip treatment plant equipped with a series of treatment stations, wherein the travel direction and/or travel track of the strip can be adjusted as desired and/or the strip is turned over as desired for making it possible to carry out a visual inspection of the strip. The method includes introducing the strip into a strip turning tower and guiding the strip, similar to a vertical looping storage unit, over vertically spaced-apart upper and lower guide rollers in order to twist the strip from roller to roller by a certain angle, such that any desired twisting angle can be adjusted between strip entry and strip exit of the strip turning tower.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a liquid lubricant in a pattern to a face of a sheet workpiece has a support frame through which the workpiece is transported in a travel direction substantially parallel to its face, a plurality of axles in the frame extending along respective axes generally perpendicular to the direction and individually displaceable generally perpendicular to the direction and to the respective axes, and respective liquid-pervious rollers journaled on the axles about the respective axes. A liquid lubricant is fed to the rollers and respective actuators connected between the axles and the frame displace the respective rollers perpendicular to the direction and to the respective axes into and out of contact with the workpiece as same passes in the direction through the frame. A controller connected to the actuators individually controls and operates same to apply the liquid lubricant in the rollers to the workpiece in a predetermined pattern as the workpiece passes through the frame.

Abstract: Transfer storage buffer apparatus for interconnecting processing machines for the development and printing of continuous-strip photographic material includes a plurality of rollers arranged on a fixed upper carriage and a movable lower carriage, respectively, at such positions that the material is alternately conveyed over the upper and lower rollers. The lower carriage is driven in both its upward and downward movement by an actuatable and adjustable elevating mechanism in the form of a pulley arrangement. The pulley arrangement includes a bracket sliding vertically on a fixed vertical support and locked to a flexible continuous-transmission element, and a lower pulley and an upper pulley over which the continuous-transmission element extends. A motor supplies power to the elevating mechanism to control the force under which the lower carriage is moved, to thereby regulate the tension on the photographic material.

Abstract: Multiple pairs of pinch rolls are used to advance a rod product along a pathway following a continuously casting and rolling system. Each pinch roll pair exerts a force normal to the rod of less than the amount necessary to substantially degrade the yield strength characteristics of the finished rod. Multiple driven pinch roll pairs cooperate to advance the rod by compressive engagement and accomplish the work of one or two pairs of pinch rolls to minimize work hardening and/or plastic deformation, which can result in an increase in yield strength. Yield strength characteristics are thus improved while the continuous rod product is still advanced and guided at very high speed along a pathway from a horizontal to a vertical direction.

Abstract: A web of material, typically paper, metal or film and most commonly roll photographic plate material, passes between a first, driven, roller made from material with a high coefficient of friction, typically neoprene rubber, and a second, driven, roller made from material with a low coefficient of friction, typically metal or nylon. The high-friction drive roller (only) is positionally adjustable. The web is driven straight ahead, without appreciable undesirable steering or skew, over a broad range of adjustments of the separation, and the parallelism, between the two rollers. The web motion is responsive substantially to only the high-friction drive roller, and the web speed may accordingly be regulated, including so as to be maintained highly uniform, in response to the drive roller (only).

Abstract: This device is designed such that the differential tangential speeds V are variable at different points of a deformable flat film (1) or plate that moves along at least one drawing roller (3) rotating about an axis XX, said film (1) or plate moving in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the roller and resting on a generatrix G.sub.N of the roller. The roller (3) has a rotational speed N which is constant with time, while the distance G.sub.N C.sub.1 from the supporting generatrix G.sub.N of the film to the axis C.sub.1 of rotation of the roller is variable with time. The invention is applicable to the drawing of plastic films.

Abstract: An air bar web guide provides lateral adjustment of a running web passing through the guide so that the web exiting the guide is maintained in a constant lateral position. The path length of the web passing through the guide is maintained constant and does not vary from one edge of the web to the other edge. The guide includes a pair of idler rolls journaled for rotation about parallel axes and a pair of air bar guides also maintained parallel to each other. The air bar guides are mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the idler rolls to angulated positions when lateral adjustment of the web is required. A cam system driven by a linkage responsive to the angulated position of the air bar guides moves one of the idler rolls toward and away from the other idler roll to maintain a constant path length of the web passing through the guide system.

Abstract: In a tape alignment mechanism for overlapping two or more tapes with an alignment operation in a width direction, the tape alignment mechanism comprises an alignment member. For example, when a tape is fed through a roller member having a pair of flange portion of which interval of length is designed to be substantially similar to a width of the tape, the tape is aligned in a width direction. Further, an another tape to be overlapped with the tape is fed through the roller member, and thus, the two tapes are acculately overlapped.

Abstract: A film cabinet for storing and moving a continuous loop of film. The cabinet includes parallel rows of free-spinning rollers connected to the floor and ceiling of the cabinet, and a row of drive sprockets adjacent to the ceiling having teeth for engaging the perforated edges of the film. The film is moved throughout the cabinet around the free-spinning rollers by rotation of the single row of drive sprockets. The film also may be wound around at least one tension roller having a mercury activated switch adapted to disconnect power to the drive sprockets upon film breakage inside the cabinet. Transfer of the film between the cabinet and projector is accomplished by a directionally adjustable film transfer mechanism that ensures proper bending and twisting of the film during this transfer. Other aspects include a quick connect-disconnect roller attachment mechanism, and film guides located in the cabinet to prevent sagging of the film as it traverses, for example, the floor and ceiling of the cabinet.

Abstract: The invention is an improved spindle for guiding photographic film, paper and similar flexible materials subject to handling and transport in long rolls. The spindle is constructed of lightweight material, and features two pairs of curved shoulders, each of specific radius. The first shoulder supports the transported materials at opposing edges, and spaces the material away from the central portion of the spindle. The second shoulder protects the edge of the material, centers the material on the spindle, and guides the material to a centered position on the spindle in the event the material becomes inadvertently mis-centered.

Abstract: A label separating system for separating labels from a backing web after the labels have been printed is disclosed. This system utilizes the paper holding roller which is used for holding paper against the platen as it is printed and a separating roller upstream from the paper holding roller. A tractor feed upstream of the separating roller draws the backing web from the platen over the separating roller. A holding member is positioned to limit movement of the paper holding roller as the backing web is placed under tension by the tractor feed, thereby insuring that the backing web disposed between the platen and the separating roller is urged toward a line connecting the center of the platen and the center of the separating roller. This insures that the backing web is bent to a sufficient degree as it passes over the separating roller to cause separation of the label.

Abstract: To supply an arriving and delivered portion of a traveling web (1, 21, 31, 41, 81, 91, 101) to have the same side-orientation as the delivered portion, the web is passed about a first turning bar (2), then looped about a first deflection roller (3), and spanning the arriving portion of the web, about a second deflection roller (4) to be then turned again, selectively, by a second turning bar (5). Other web paths are possible, omitting the second deflection roller (4). Rather than using a single second deflection roller, smaller roller elements (FIG. 11: 16, 17) can be used, the second deflection roller, or the elements having effective diameters which are larger than the diameter of the first deflection roller.

Abstract: An intermittent web transport apparatus in a printing machine guides the web between two processing positions and through an intermediate festoon. Web alignment deviations from a nominal value are corrected by rotation of a pivotable frame that is positioned downstream of the festoon. A correction roller before the festoon effects a shifting of the web prior to its entry into the festoon.

Abstract: The guide roller apparatus in a rotary press using a paper roll includes: rotatable guide rollers; and a power transmission mechanism for connecting two or more guide rollers with each other in such a manner that at least one of the guide rollers is rotated at a circumferential speed different from those of the other guide rollers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drawing device. This device is designed such that the differential tangential speeds V are variable at different points of a deformable flat film (1) or plate that moves along at least one drawing roller (3) rotating about an axis XX, said film (1) or plate moving in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the roller and resting on a generatrix G.sub.N of the roller. The roller (3) has a rotational speed N which is constant with time, while the distance G.sub.N C.sub.1 from the supporting generatrix G.sub.N of the film to the axis C.sub.1 of rotation of the roller is variable with time. The invention is applicable to the drawing of plastic films.

Abstract: In an apparatus for processing a photosensitive sheet by passing it through processing solution in a tank, vertically spaced-apart roller units are disposed in the tank for normally feeding the sheet downward and then upward at opposite sides thereof, but capable of reversing the sheet when selected. The sheet is turned around a selected roller unit whereby the length of the path that the sheet travels through the solution and hence, the duration of processing time is variable.

Abstract: A magazine for storage of elastic supercalender rolls has two upright frame members each of which carries several tracks at different levels and reciprocable roll holders in the tracks. Chains are provided to move the holders between extended position, in which they are accesible for reception of rolls from a supercalender or from another location, and retracted positions in which the axes of stored rolls are located in a common vertical plane. Each holder on one of the frame members is located at the level of a holder on the other frame member. Movements of holders on one of the frame members are synchronized with movement of corresponding holders on the other frame member.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing photographic material to be developed, including at least one container provided so as to receive a processing liquid, a conveyor arrangement located in the container for conveying the material to be developed through the processing liquid, the conveyor arrangement including two reversing rollers and at least one conveyor belt endlessly revolving around the two reversing rollers, and an arrangement for retaining the material to be developed at an outer surface of the at least one conveyor belt, at least one of the two reversing rollers being displaceable in a conveying direction of the at least one conveyor belt.

Abstract: A film processing apparatus includes a housing and a pair of continuous belts disposed within the housing in a laterally spaced relationship. Guide rollers within the housing guide the belts about parallel serpentine paths through the housing. Drive rollers engaged with the belts drive the belts in synchronization about the paths through the housing. A film carrier card having attachment elements for selectably engaging the belts is provided, such that the film carrier card is transported through the housing by the belts.

Abstract: A roller guide system which includes at least a pair of rollers for feeding strips of material between predetermined maximum and minimum thicknesses therebetween is rotatably driven by means of a gear train. The rollers are rotatably mounted on upper and lower housing frames respectively for rotation about first and second parallel axes. The upper frame is slidably mounted on the lower frame for vertical movement relative thereto. Each of the rollers has a spur gear attached thereto for rotation along with its associated roller about said first and second axes, respectively, these gears being interconnected by intercoupling gearing. The center of the gear attached to the roller mounted on the upper frame is at the same level as the center of the gear which drives this gear when feeding strips of an intermediate thickness between said maximum and minimum thicknesses.

Abstract: A method of achieving an optimal balance of wrap angle, strike angle, and film driving force parameters in a roller transport film processor, and a film processor so constructed, are disclosed. Purposes are to optimize performance and to eliminate or attenuate pi line artifacts on processed film. The method includes the following steps: (a) determining empirically a relationship of strike angle as a function of wrap angle; (b) determining empirically a relationship of film driving force as a function of wrap angle; (c) preselecting a maximum allowable strike angle; (d) from the relationship of strike angle to wrap angle, determining a maximum allowable wrap angle corresponding to the maximum allowable strike angle; (e) preselecting a minimum practical wrap angle corresponding to a minimum practical film driving force; and (f) establishing horizontal centerline distances between rollers in the film processor to achieve a wrap angle between the maximum allowable wrap angle and the minimum practical wrap angle.

Abstract: An arrangement for wet processing webs of photographic paper includes a housing, a set of parallel driven shafts mounted in an upper portion of the housing, and a set of parallel driven shafts mounted in the lower portion of the housing. Each shaft carries first web-contacting rollers on its end portions and a group of second web-contacting rollers on its central portion. A band-engaging roller is arranged between each first roller and the corresponding group of second rollers. A first conveyor band is trained over the set of band-engaging rollers nearest one end of the respective shafts while a second conveyor band is trained over the set of band-engaging rollers nearest the other end of the respective shafts. The conveyor bands are provided with gripping elements which clamp webs of photographic paper entering the housing so that the conveyor bands can draw the webs through the housing.

Abstract: A film guide shoe for a film processor is supported on the shafts of two pinch rollers which are biased into contact with a turnaround roller. The guide shoe moves with the pinch rollers as the filmstrip passes between each pinch roller and the turnaround roller.

Abstract: In a business forms press and method wherein a wide, continuous web of paper is separated into a plurality of business forms width sections, a web separating unit provides pairs of bars for each web section, arranging the pairs of bars so that the axis of these bars is at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal direction of the press and at an obtuse angle to the path of the webs, arranging the pairs of bars so that their distance between the axis thereof and the angle of the plane through the axis of the respective pair of bars with the plane of the web entering the bars is such to provide lateral displacements of the different web sections from each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing an endless paper web folded in a large stack and for feeding the paper web to the printing unit of a high-speed printer, particularly a laser printer applying a removal force, at least above stack and in the removal direction behind the same and in front of the printing unit of the high-speed printer is positioned at least one guide roller. At least one of the guide rollers also serves as a deflection roller and for reducing the removal force and, consequently, prevent the risk of the paper web tearing. At least one deflection roller is provided with an additional continuous drive.

Abstract: A wet processing arrangement for photosensitive articles has a container for a processing bath. A rack is mountable in the container and includes a set of rollers which define nips for advancing photosensitive articles through the bath. A drive for the rollers is disposed inside the container. Means is provided to eliminate air bubbles which tend to form beneath the nips of the rollers as the rack is immersed in the bath.

Abstract: Present invention provides a photosensitive material processing apparatus having an outside unit, an inside unit and a photosensitive material transport unit, in which both the outside unit and the inside unit are so shaped as to be a complementary figure with each other and the inside unit can position in the outside unit. The photosensitive material transport unit having a plurality of rollers for transporting the photosensitive material in a sandwiching manner therebetween. The plurality of rollers are divided into two groups of which the first group is provided to the outside unit and the second group is provided to the inside unit. The inside unit can be pulled out with the second group rollers from the outside unit.

Abstract: A dewatering pump assembly including a rotatably supported reel about which a flexible conduit is wound and which passes from the reel through a driven roller assembly to be attached at one end to a hydraulically driven pump assembly which is lowered into a bore hole or the like. Hydraulic supply and exhaust lines pass through the conduit to the hydraulic motor of the pump assembly and the driven roller assembly includes a plurality of pairs of cooperating rollers arranged to arcuately bend the conduit and direct the conduit between the bore hole and the reel.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous development of photographic materials, particularly photographic plates, comprising between an input and an output terminal a series of a least two modules of vertical arrangement and a forwarding unit between each pair of the modules wherein each module includes passing rolls arranged along three vertical columns and a reversing roll in the lower part of the module connected to two of the columns, characterized in that the modules are arranged closely adjacent and separated by walls of cross-section forming in both modules a line crossing the tangential plane to the passing rolls which are arranged in two adjacent columns separated by the walls.

Abstract: An arrangement for the wet processing of photographic materials includes a container for a processing bath. A rack for transporting the materials through the bath is removably mountable in the container. The container has a longitudinally extending bottom wall as well as a pair of longitudinally extending side walls, and these walls are constituted by a one piece extrusion consisting of a synthetic resin. The extrusion is shaped to match the outline of the rack. The container further has a pair of injection molded end walls which likewise consist of a synthetic resin. The end walls are fused to the respective ends of the extrusion. The rack is divided into two sections to facilitate introduction of the rack into, and removal of the rack from, the container.

Abstract: A roller entry guide comprises a body with a pair of roller assemblies mounted on the body. The spacing between the assemblies is adjustable by a gear mechanism that induces relative longitudinal displacement between the body and the assemblies. Slides acting between the body and the assemblies produces a lateral component of movement to move the assemblies toward or away from each other while maintaining them parallel.

Abstract: In a roller transport assembly of a film processor, respective cross-over rollers for transferring the exposed film from one tank of processing solution to an adjacent tank of processing solution are positioned above the free surfaces of the solutions during normal operation. However, the cross-over rollers are immersed in the solutions during non-operation of the processor to prevent the residue of solution on the roller surfaces from oxidizing to form a viscous or solid deposit.

Abstract: A device for supplying a long length of a material such as a metal strip, wire, thread, and the like, having an accumulator between a material supply source which holds and supplies the material and a feeding mechanism which feeds the material to the following process. The accumulator is provided with first rollers pivotally mounted on a fixed bridge, and second rollers pivotally mounted on a movable bridge. The movable bridge moves up and down relative to the fixed bridge. The material supplied from the supply source is passed alternately over the first rollers and second rollers in such a manner that it is led straight up and down, and is then fed to the feeding mechanism. A controlling mechanism controls the material supply source to feed the material, or to stop the feeding, according to the position of the movable bridge.

Abstract: An apparatus for changing the direction of travel of a web-like material without inverting the front and rear surfaces of the web-like material is improved in that a plurality of guide rotors are disposed on each of a plurality of spiral curves along an imaginary conical surface so as to be rotatable about axes intersecting at right angles with the corresponding spiral curve on the imaginary conical surface, and a conical surface formed by an enveloping surface of these guide rotors is used as a traveling path of the web-like material, whereby shortcomings inherent in such apparatus in the prior art can be eliminated.

Abstract: A pair of transport rollers for transporting therebetween a tape or sheet material, such as film, for example in a wet processing device, in which one roller is cylindrical and another roller includes two outwardly converging conical end portions and a cylindrical intermediate portion, whereby two or more films can be transported by the roller pair simultaneously.

Abstract: A plurality of folding stages, in which each folding stage carries out a folding operation, in steps, are provided. The folding stages each have a folding roller pair (2, 2'. . . 5, 5'), one each roller being located above, and one below the web or superposed webs (6) to be folded. The folding roller pairs, except for the first, are formed with matching groove - ridge profile. The folding roller pairs are offset, in coordinates in space, with respect to the coordinates of a first roller pair which has cylindrical shape, such that the spacing of adjacent folding stations, e.g.

Abstract: To guarantee a permanent continuous delivery of sheets of material (12), packaging material, on packaging machines, sheet stocks (14) are formed, and these guarantee that the sheet of material 12 can be stopped temporarily in a region preceding them, without conveyance being interrupted in the region where it is conveyed further. During this time, the sheet of material (12) is drawn off from the sheet stock (14). A supply rocker (10) to form the sheet stock (14) is designed such that, in an initial position, the sheet of material (12) is free of deflections or loops.

Abstract: A paper web carrying apparatus is provided which combines a decurling apparatus, an edge sensing and compensating apparatus, a tension sensing apparatus and a slack edge compensation apparatus onto a single pivoting frame to increase the accuracy and lower the cost of directing paper web to a high speed sheeter. All of the components are either carried on the roller supporting pivot frame or an abutting support bracket.

Abstract: In the operation of a continuous-process annealing furnace for a steel strip of a continuous length which is guided through the high-temperature zones of the furnace by the upper and lower hearth rolls in an alternate up and down vertical movement, each of the hearth rolls having an end-tapered or crowned configuration to correct the meandering of the running strip, each of the hearth rolls is coupled with one or a plural number of straightly cylindrical auxiliary rolls in contact with the strip at a position close to the hearth roll. By virtue of the installation of the auxiliary rolls, the phenomenon of wrinkling or buckling in the steel strip can be effectively prevented without causing meandering and the effect is more remarkable when specific relationships are held among the values of the diameters of the hearth roll and auxiliary roll and the position of the auxiliary roll relative to the hearth roll.

Abstract: A film handling device for pulling out and forwarding a leader from a spool of film after the film has been removed from a film cartridge. The spool of film is held in a film guide having an arcuately formed rear portion shaped to receive the spool of film and a forward guide portion composed of straight sections converging towards a forwarding opening. A pair of film forwarding rollers are selectively engageable with the spool of film through cuts formed in the rear portion of the film guide. A detector positioned in the forward portion of the film guide detects the presence of the film leader. Before the presence of the film leader is detected, the film forwarding rollers rotate the spool of film in the film rewinding direction. Then, the direction of the rollers is reversed.

Abstract: In the production of metal- and other strip materials in continuous lengths and in several operations or processing facilities, such strip is wound into coils of finite length after each operation, then transported to the next operation and again welded into one continuous web, coil after coil.In order to avoid this wasteful practice a method and apparatus is disclosed which consists in feeding said strip emerging from one operation, without cutting it, directly into a variable capacity accumulator and feeding it out again from said accumulator into the apparatus of the following operation at the speed that such operation requires.

Abstract: A tape cartridge of the type including walls defining an enclosure in which a magnetic tape is directed along a tape guidance path adjacent an edge of the cartridge for access by a magnetic transducer further includes at least three pins bearing against one or both major surfaces of the tape in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the tape, an enlarged shoulder extending from each of the pins toward the tape to bear upon an edge of the tape and provide a containment force parallel to the plane of the tape and in a direction transverse to the direction of tape motion. The shoulders of the pins are arranged alternately along the tape path so that the shoulders of successive pins bear against opposite edges of the tape, and the planes containing the shoulders are spaced a distance equal to or less than the width of the tape to ensure contact between all of the shoulders and the tape edges and positive confinement of the tape in the direction transverse to tape motion.

Abstract: A tape roller has a plastic sleeve which is journalled between bearings formed in opposing walls of a plastic cassette housing. The wall is cored out around at least one of those bearings so that the bearing is supported only by bridges which bow outwardly to receive an oversize sleeve. Preferably there are two such bridges at the bearing, the thicknesses of which are about 20% that of the wall.

Abstract: A coupling device for transmitting torque from a first film transporting rack to a neighboring second film transporting rack in a developing machine has a first shaft extending outwardly from a sidewall of one of the racks, a second shaft which extends outwardly from one sidewall of the other rack and is movable into axial alignment with the first shaft, first and second gears on the respective shafts, and a sleeve having an internal gear which is in permanent mesh with one of the gears and is movable axially into and from mesh with the other gear. The sleeve has internal elastic prongs which extend into a circumferential groove of the shaft for the one gear when the internal gear meshes with the other gear.

Abstract: To provide for threading of paper webs to a folding apparatus (140), a plurality of paper webs (1-8; 77-84) are fed from respectively opposite sides to a plurality of deflection rollers directing the paper webs in a vertical combining plane (9). The deflection rollers are positioned in vertically staggered arrangement. The paper webs are positively fed by transport rollers (26-29; 53-56) or transport belts (110-113; 128-130), located on respective carrier plates (18, 19; 93, 94) which are movable towards or away from the combining plane and on which the transport rollers or belts are located, staggered, between the deflection rollers on the same side and so as to engage the deflection rollers on the other side of the combining plane, to provide for positive drive of paper webs and feeding to the folding apparatus (140) during threading, or upon tearing of a web, but permitting withdrawal laterally upon full-speed operation of the paper handling apparatus, for example the folder.

Abstract: Steel strip is continuously annealed while successively travelling through a heating, soaking, primary cooling, overaging and secondary cooling zone in an annealing furnace. In the overaging zone, an endless steel strip is allowed to run through a passageway that extends spirally from the entry end of the overaging zone to the point where overaging is completed, at a given distance in the direction of radius. The guide strip travels at the same speed as the steel strip being processed that is delivered from the primary cooling zone. On the entry side of the overaging zone, the strip being processed is laid over the guide strip so that the two strips spirally travel through the overaging zone side by side. The processed and guide strips running together are shifted out of the spiral passageway at the point where overaging is completed. Then, the processed strip is separated from the guide strip by shifting at least one of the two strips.