METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING STRIP END

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for processing an end of a strip, in particular a metal strip (2), wound up into a coil (1), in particular for sampling and/or for inspection of the strip, with a winding device for unwinding the end of the strip. This device is characterized in that the winding device is formed as a coiler (9) with one or more rotatable coiler drums (10) for receiving the coil (1) and in that the coiler (9) is arranged on a transporting system (11), with which the coiler (9), and the coil (1) arranged on it, can be moved between various processing stations (3, 5, 6).

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus for processing an end of a strip that is wound into a coil, for example a metal strip, particularly for sampling and/or inspection of the strip, with a coiler for unwinding the end of the strip. In the context of the invention, “strip” refers particularly to a metal strip, for example steel strip. However, composite strips and/or laminated strips, which can be made of a metal-plastic composite for example are also included. Especially preferably, “processing the end of a strip” means a sampling and/or inspection of the strip. Rolled metal strips are usually wound into coils during production and consequently transported as a coil between different processing stations or processes. Transport systems for such coils are available for this purpose. In practice, a need exists to check and/or inspect the quality of the wound metal strip. For this purpose, it is customary to take a sample of the metal strip and thus remove a portion of predetermined length as a sample. To do this, it is necessary to remove the tape with which the wound coil is enclosed and thus held together, and then unwind the end of the strip from the coil. Devices for such inspection and/or sampling of strips are known from the prior art. In the known solutions, the coils are always unwound from a bottom roller station.

For example, WO 2006/111259 (or EP 1 888 284) [U.S. Pat. No. 8,096,158] describes a device for trimming the ends of or for separating test specimens from rolled strip that is wound into coils that comprises a shear and a first and second bottom roller whose parallel axes form a substantially horizontal plane, the coil being received by these bottom rollers with the coil axis aligned horizontally. A movable pressure roller is also provided. One of the lower rollers is also movable and designed to lift the outer surface of the coil. Moreover, one of the bottom rollers and the pressure roller are equipped with a rotary drive. The end of the strip is to always be fixed by one of the rollers to prevent unwanted unwinding of the coil. In order to take a sample, it is necessary to open the coil and pull a piece of the end of the strip off of the coil. In doing so, particularly in the case of relatively high-strength or even thick strips, substantial deformation work must be performed, since the removed end of the strip must be bent open and/or directed approximately straight in order to be fed to the shear or the inspection device. The narrower the bending radius, the greater the deformation that must be achieved. According to WO 2006/111259, it is purportedly advantageous to increase the free strip length between a support point of the coil and the coil opener while still allowing reliable guidance of the coil and of the end of the strip at all times during sampling. The increased free strip length between the remaining bottom roller and the pressure roller is intended to reduce the local deformation of the end of the strip without the risk of a unwinding or loosened coil.

Similarly, EP 2 688 691 [U.S. Pat. No. 9,770,748] discloses an apparatus for sampling metal strips that are rolled and wound into a coil comprising a coil turner and a separator for separating the sample from the metal strip, the coil turner having at least two rotatable supports, preferably trough rollers, arranged in the lower quadrant of the coil resting on the coil turner as well as an outer guide for the metal strip. The outer guide is intended to span over a part of the circumference of the coil of greater than 180° in the region toward the direction of unwinding of the metal strip behind the last support and be provided with the means for reducing friction of the metal strip on the inside of the outer guide.

Furthermore, EP 3 067 127 [US 2018/0021828] discloses An apparatus for inspecting and sampling a reeled coil of metal strip that has a support for the reeled coil, this support having at least two bottom rollers arranged next to one another that have parallel roller axes and onto which the coil is placed for storage. In addition to the inspection device, the apparatus has a sampler located opposite the inspection device relative to the support, so that the support is located between the inspection device and the sampler. The sampler is designed to take a sample of the metal strip at least if the metal strip is a thick metal strip.

While operating such equipment, it is necessary to remove the tape from the wound coil. Tape strippers for this purpose are known from practice in a wide variety of designs. For instance, EP 1 022 222 [U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,582] discloses such a device for removing tapes from objects, particularly coils, that are strapped with tapes, with a blade basket that can be placed on a coil with tape strapping with a blade carriage with a lifting and traction drive for the blade carriage, which can travel over the width of the coil and transverse to the tapes.

Taking the known prior art as a point of departure, the object of the invention is based to provide an apparatus for processing an end of a strip, particularly for the purpose of sampling and/or inspecting the strip, that is characterized by particularly safe handling and flexible use.

To attain this object an apparatus of this above-described type for processing an end of a strip, particularly metal strip, that is wound into a coil, the invention teaches that the coiler has a reel with one or more rotatable mandrels for receiving the coil and that the reel is on a conveyor that can move the reel, more particularly the coil carried thereby, between different processing stations. Especially preferably, such a device comprises a tape stripper, a processing device such as for example a sampler downstream from the tape stripper, and especially preferably a strapping tool that is downstream from the processing device, it thus being possible for the reel to travel between the above-mentioned devices (tape stripper, processing device, and, optionally, strapping tool). The processing device is for example a sampler and/or an inspection device. However, a processing device can also be understood to be a strip processing line.

The invention is based on the discovery that it is possible to achieve especially reliable and flexible processing and, in particular, sampling of a strip, particularly of a metal strip, if the coiler allowing the end of the strip to be unwound for inspection and optionally being cut off does not operate with bottom rollers, but rather has a reel. First, the use of a reel has the advantage that a high strip tension for rewinding the unwound end of the strip can be achieved. Moreover, the strip can be easily and reliably unwound (and optionally rewound) regardless of the coil weight and coil diameter, particularly if the reel, more particularly the mandrels, are height-adjustable. Since the metal strip can be easily and securely rewound, problems of “telescoping” that can occur in practice during winding on floor rollers are reliably avoided. Reels are known from the prior art in the design as coilers and/or uncoilers. In this respect, use can be made according to the invention of known constructions. The reel can be embodied with one or more (for example two) rotatable mandrels for receiving the coil. Preferably, a reel with two mandrels is used that engage in the ends of coil and support the coil on both sides. One or both mandrels can be rotationally driven. Alternatively, however, reels having only a single mandrel for the overhanging and hence only one-sided support of the coil can also be used. The mandrels can always be embodied as (dynamic) expanding mandrels or as (rigid) conical mandrels. It is of particular importance in the context of the invention that such a reel be provided as an auxiliary uncoiler, so to speak, on a conveyor with which the reel and, consequently, the coil arranged thereon as well can be moved between different processing stations, for example a tape stripper and a downstream sampler as well as a downstream strapping tool. The reel, more particularly its mandrels, are preferably height-adjustable, for example height-adjustable on the conveyor.

Especially preferably, the reel can be moved with the conveyor on a straight (linear) transport path between the stations. For this purpose, the conveyor is preferably provided with a trolley that can be displaced on rails, in which case the conveyor is preferably moved (linearly) in a conveying direction parallel to the coil axis. Alternatively, however, it also lies within the scope of the invention for the reel to be displaced on a curved or arcuate path. Rails or the like can also be used for this purpose. In a modified alternative embodiment, however, the conveyor can also be embodied as a pivot mechanism or rotation mechanism (for example with a turntable or the like) so that the reel is pivoted on a horizontal plane about a vertical axis and thereby moved between the processing stations.

The various processing stations, for example tape stripper, sampler, and strapping tool, can be spatially separate from one another, for which purpose known concepts can be utilized as well. With the aid of the coiler according to the invention, the coil can easily travel from station to station and the necessary respective processing steps can be done. It is especially advantageous in this regard that the coil can be reliably secured against unwinding by the mobile uncoiler during the entire transport operation and, especially preferably, until restrapping has been completed.

To this end, one or more pushers are especially preferably arranged on the conveyor, each of which has at least one adjustable pressure element, for example a pressure roller. The mobile uncoiler is thus equipped with one or more pushers, so that the coil is easily and reliably secured against unwinding during the entire transport operation. Preferably, a conveyor is provided with at least one first pusher, the at least one adjustable (first) pressure element having for example a pressure roller. In addition, a second pusher is especially preferably provided on the conveyor that has at least one adjustable (second) pressure element, for example a pressure roller, in which case this second pressure element is offset angularly from the first pressure element with respect to the coil circumference, for example by a circumferential angle of from 90° to 180°. The two pushers can be set up differently. For instance, the pressure elements (for example pressure rollers) can be positioned differently and/or dimensioned differently with respect to the coil axis. It is thus possible for example for the first pusher to have two juxtaposed, spaced-apart pressure rollers and for the second pusher to have only one (central) pressure roller. In this way, it is possible to use the respectively fitting pushers as a function of the position of the tape or tapes. In any case, reliable transporting of the coil is ensured with at least one pusher that can be displaced with the reel and hence the coil.

In a preferred development, an additional (stationary) pusher is provided near the processing device, for example near the sampler, that has an adjustable pressure element, for example a likewise adjustable pressure roller. This adjustable pressure roller arranged on the stationary pusher is preferably positioned so as to be offset from the aforementioned (displaceable) first and/or second pressure roller and also relative to the coil outer surface. This configuration has the advantage that the metal strip can be stabilized by this additional pusher against unwinding near the processing device, for example near the sampler, with the pressure element of this additional pusher being farther away from the processing device with respect to the coil outer surface or the strip length than the pressure elements of the pushers arranged on the conveyor, so that buckling and hence plastic deformation near the pushers during the unwinding of the end of the strip can be prevented or minimized. Such a pusher can also be optionally “non-stationary” or at least attached to the conveyor. The described advantages are of particular interest in the processing of coils that spring open in a highly elastic manner in order to avoid damage to the strip material. Overall, the inventive design is characterized by a high degree of flexibility and variability. To wit, metal strips of different thickness and strength can be used, preferably strips in a thickness range of from 1 mm to 25 mm. The invention is also characterized by a high degree of flexibility in terms of the strip material used, so that an apparatus can be provided that is universally usable. Especially preferably, however, the apparatus is to be usable inter alia for thick, high-strength steel strips.

The conveyor preferably has the above-mentioned trolley, which is preferably equipped with a height-adjustable support frame on which the mandrels are arranged. The height adjustment allows for flexible handling of the coil, so that the coil can be removed from a treatment station near the tape stripper and subsequently transported to the vicinity of the sampler. There, it can easily be raised to the desired height. Structurally speaking, this height adjustment can for example be achieved by pivoting. For this purpose, the support frame can be pivotal about an axis on the chassis, with the axis being preferably parallel to the coil axis and consequently parallel to the preferred conveying direction of the coils (in the case of a linear conveying direction).

Furthermore, the invention optionally proposes that the processing device, for example the sampler, have a lower strip guide and/or an upper strip guide. The lower strip guide and/or the upper strip guide can be preferably height-adjustable and/or pivotal. Such strip guiding devices or strip guides enable proper guidance of the strip during unwinding from the coil into the vicinity of the sampler and, there, particularly into the vicinity of the separating device that is provided (for example strip shear). This is because the tape is unwound from the coil by the uncoiler to the extent that the end of the strip reaches near the separating device in order to enable a strip portion of predetermined length to be cut off as a specimen. During uncoiling, the strip is thus unwound to a free strip length, particularly relative to the pusher on the coil. In order to ensure uncontrolled unwinding and reliable guidance near the sampler, one or more strip guides are provided. By virtue of the possibilities for adjustment, these strip guides can be adapted to the particular circumstances and, in particular, to the properties of the strip (elasticity or strength, thickness, etc.), so that flawless strip guidance is always achieved. In addition, an adaptation to corresponding coil thicknesses is performed by these adjustable strip guides.

The lower strip guide can also be used for peeling the end of the strip from the coil by having the coil travel with the uncoiler against the outer edge of the lower strip guide.

The upper strip guide can be equipped with friction-reducing means, for example rotating guide rollers.

Moreover, the possibility exists of a strapping tool being downstream from the processing device (for example sampler) in the conveying direction, in which case the coiler can be transported by the conveyor into the vicinity of this strapping tool, so that the coil can be restrapped with tape after removal of the sample. Optionally, an additional eye strapping tool can then also adjoin such a strapping tool. Such eye strapping tools are also inherently known from the prior art.

All in all, a device is provided that is variable and flexible, so that strips with different properties ranging from thin to thick and soft to hard can be properly processed. The auxiliary uncoiler used allows for a high strip tension for rewinding. The problems of telescoping during winding are reliably avoided, not least because the strip length to be rewound is short. The coil is secured against unwinding during the complete transport operation until it is fully strapped by the mobile uncoiler. Plastic deformations of the strip during unwinding can be minimized by the design according to the invention and, in particular, the different arrangement of the pressure rollers. Unwinding and winding can be carried out properly independent of the coil weight and coil diameter. With the aid of the raisable and lowerable uncoiler and/or with the raisable and lowerable mandrels, the leading end of the strip can be peeled off the coil flawlessly with soft or hard strips. Another advantage lies the fact that coils can be transported in parallel over the rails in the event of malfunctions of the apparatus. After all, the conveyor does not travel on the transport path of the coils near the tape stripper and the strapping, but rather on a transport path arranged parallel thereto that is defined for example by separate transport rails. In the event of a malfunction, the reel can be pivoted completely upward for example so that there is the possibility of transporting coils between the sampler and the mobile uncoiler via the usual coil transport.

The invention also is a method of processing the end of a strip, particularly metal strip, that is wound into a coil using the device of the described type. This method is characterized in that the coil is taken off by the reel and moved by the conveyor between different processing stations. Preferably, the coil is taken off by the reel and the tape is first removed with a tape stripper. Subsequently, the coil is moved into the vicinity of the sampler, where the end of the strip is unwound by the reel and a portion of the end of the strip is cut off to serve as a specimen. Thereafter, the end of the strip is rewound with the reel and the coil is transported to the vicinity of a strapping tool and restrapped there with tape.

The end of the strip is first fixed to the wound coil with a pusher and then the tape is removed, the coil is then transported (together) with the pusher fixing the end of the strip to the vicinity of the processing device, for example the sampler, and the end of the strip is unwound there with the reel.

The possibility exists of the end of the strip being fixed with an additional stationary pusher and subsequently released near the first and/or second pusher, with the end of the strip being unwound in the meantime or afterward.

With regard to the other essential aspects and options of the method according to the invention, reference is also made to the description of the drawing.

The invention is explained in further detail below with reference to a schematic drawing, which illustrates only one embodiment. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of an apparatus according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is section B-B through the apparatus according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is section A-A through the apparatus according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section through the apparatus according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section from the apparatus according to FIG. 2, and

FIG. 7 is a simplified perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention.

The figures show an embodiment (or apparatus) for processing an end of a strip (preferably metal strip) that is wound into coils 1. The invention here is an apparatus for strip sampling and/or inspection. The metal strip 2 is thus wound into coils that are strapped with tape in order to prevent unwinding of the strip.

The apparatus shown has a stripper 3 for taking off the strapping tape. A processing device in the form of a sampler 5 is downstream from this strapping tape stripper 3 in a conveying direction. This sampler 5 can cut a strip portion of predetermined length from the metal strip 2 as a specimen. A strapping tool 6 is downstream from this sampler 5 in the transport direction T and serves to bind the coil again with strapping tape. The coils are delivered to the strapping tape stripper 3 by a conveyor 7 (schematically indicated) that can for example be a walking beam conveyor. A treatment station 8 near the strapping tape stripper 3 serves for deposition of the coil near the tape stripper 3.

In order to take a sample near the sampler 5, it is necessary to unwind the metal strip 2 by a predetermined amount after removal of the strapping tape so that a portion of the end of the strip can be cut off. For this purpose, the apparatus according to the invention comprises a coiler for unwinding the strip, this coiler being according to the invention a reel 9. Here, this reel 9 has two rotating mandrels 10 for picking up the coil 1. The reel 9 is on a conveyor that can move the reel 9 and the picked-up coil 1 between the individual processing stations. In the illustrated embodiment, this conveyor has a trolley 11 that can be move (in the linear conveying direction T) on rails 12. These rails 12 flank and are parallel to the conveying direction of the coil defined by the walking beam conveyor. The trolley 11 can thus be displaced in the conveying direction T that is parallel to a coil axis. The trolley 11 has a chassis 13 that can travel on the rails 12 for example via rollers 14 rotatably mounted on the chassis 13. Moreover, the transport trolley 11 has an adjustable support frame 15 on which the reel 9 or its mandrels 10 are mounted. Here, this support frame 15 is height-adjustable. This is achieved structurally in that the support frame 15 is mounted on the chassis 13 so as to be pivotal about an axis 16 that is parallel to the coil axis and hence parallel to the conveying direction T. By virtue of the relatively long lever arm, this pivoting movement about the axis 16 substantially enables the reel 9 attached to the support frame 15 to be height-adjusted, and hence on the coil 1 attached thereto as well.

Two displaceable actuating arms 17 are also mounted on the support frame that carry the mandrels 10 of the reel, so that, during movement of the actuating arms 17, the mandrels 10 are moved along the coil axis, so that the mandrels 10 can be extended into the coil 1 and pulled out of same. Appropriate actuators are provided for this purpose which need not be discussed in any further detail. In addition, one or both mandrels 10 are equipped with rotary drives that also need not be discussed in any further detail.

Here, one or more pushers 18, 19 are mounted on the conveyor and/or to the transport trolley 11, particularly on the support frame 15 of the transport trolley 11 here, so that the pushers 18, 19 can be raised and lowered with the reel 9 and hence with the coil 1 and also move with the entire trolley 11.

In the illustrated embodiment, a first pusher 18 is provided that has two adjustable pressure rollers 20 (as a double roller). In addition, a second pusher 19 is provided that has an adjustable pressure roller 21. The pressure roller 21 is offset angularly from the pressure roller 20 and/or pressure rollers 20 on the coil surface, so that the pressure rollers 20 on the one hand and 21 on the other hand exert pressure on the coil at different angularly offset positions and are used as alternatives. The pushers 18, 19 are each equipped with a drive for pressing the respective roller against the coil. The pusher 18 and the optional pusher 19 can reliably handle the coil and, in particular, can stabilize the coil during the entire transport operation to prevent unwinding of the strip after the strapping tape has been removed. This will be discussed later.

In addition to the pushers 18, 19 that travel with the coil, a stationary pusher 22 is provided in the embodiment that also has a movable pressure roller 23 and a corresponding actuator for moving the roller 23. This pressure roller 23 of the stationary pusher 22 is also offset from the first pressure roller 20 and the second pressure roller 21 about the surface of the coil. With this additional pusher 22, the process of unwinding during sampling is optimized. This will be discussed below as well.

The sampler 5 has a rack or frame 24. Moreover, a separation device, for example a shear 25, is provided that can cut a portion from the end of the strip as a specimen. Furthermore, a lower guide 26 and an upper guide 27 are attached to the rack 24 that are used to guide the strip or the end of the strip during unwinding and, optionally, winding. At least the upper strip guide 27 is height-adjustable and/or pivotable on the rack 24.

The apparatus according to the invention works as follows:

The coil 1 to be processed and/or sampled is transported by the walking beam conveyor (shown schematically) into the vicinity of the strapping-tape stripper 3 and deposited there in the treatment station 8. The coil 1 is still stabilized with the tape against unwinding. The coiler is now moved with the trolley 11 on the rails 12 into the vicinity of the tape stripper 3. For this purpose, the support frame 15 has been raised lifted by drives or lifters 28, so that the coiler and/or reel 9 can be positioned above the coil 1 in the treatment station 8. The support frame 15 is then lowered, and the mandrels 10 of the reel 9 are engaged in the coil 1 or the coil center hole. Thereafter, at least one of the pushers 18, 19, more particularly both pressure rollers 20, 21 thereof, are pressed radially against the coil and the tape can then be removed by the tape stripper. The possibility exists of previously positioning the coil, more particularly the strip end of the coil 1, in an appropriate orientation by means of the reel 9. Incidentally, it is possible to use the support arms 15 and hence the height adjustability of the conveyor to position the coil in an appropriate angular and vertical position to the tape stripper 3.

In any case, the coil is secured by the pushers 18 or 19 against unwinding after the removal of the strapping tape.

The coil can now be transported in this stabilized state with the aid of the displaceable conveyor into the vicinity of the sampler 5. In addition, the coil 1 can be lifted by the height-adjustable support frame 15 to the desired height near the sampler 5 to a height dependent on the coil diameter, thus making perfect positioning readily possible for different coil diameters.

After the coil 1 has been positioned in an appropriate position relative to the sampler 5, the end of the strip can be unwound to the desired extent by the uncoiler or the reel 9, so that the strip 2 is guided into the sampler and, there, particularly near the separating device/shear 25. During this unwinding of the end of the strip, it is possible to variably position and adjust the end of the strip and the coil with the height-adjustable support frame 15. In addition, the possibility exists of appropriately positioning the strip guides 26, 27, particularly in a variable manner during the process. Here, the upper strip guide 27 can be both height-adjusted and pivoted for this purpose. The height of the strip guide 27 can be adjusted on a guide frame 30 by a drive and pivoted about an axis 29. These variable setting options enable the apparatus and process to be adapted to the strip properties. For instance, it is possible to respond to the elasticity or hardness and hence to the degree of springiness of the strip.

The process can be further optimized by the above-mentioned additional stationary pusher 22 with the pressure roller 23. It is thus possible, in particular, to first place this pusher or pressure roller 23 against the coil as soon as the coil has been positioned in the correct position in front of the sampler. Subsequently, it is then possible to lift off the pusher 18 and/or the pusher 19, so that the coil is now stabilized against unwinding only by the pressure roller 23. However, this pressure roller 23 is located on the outer surface farther from the end of the strip than the pressure rollers 20, 21, so that the strip springs up over a greater free length of strip. This has the advantage that plastic deformation in the course of unwinding during advancement of the end of the strip can be avoided or reduced.

After the end of the strip has been advanced sufficiently, a desired strip portion can be taken as a specimen that then falls into a receptacle 31.

Subsequently, the strip can be rewound with the reel 9, particularly to the extent that the end of the strip is stabilized against unwinding with one of the displaceable pushers 18, 19. The trolley 11 with the coil 1 attached and secured thereto can be moved away from the sampler into the vicinity of the strapping tool 6. There, restrapping is performed with one or more (new) tapes. The pushers 18, 19 can then be released, and the strapped coil can be placed into a treatment station and then further processed or further transported, for example by a conveyor (for example a walking beam conveyor), which is also not shown.

The advantages of the invention have been explained with reference to the figures in connection with a sampler. However, the mobile uncoiler according to the invention can also be used in other applications. Moreover, it is alternatively possible for the trolley to move not on a straight path or along a straight conveying direction, but alternatively also on a curved or arcuate transport path. Furthermore, it is alternatively possible to rotate or pivot uncoiler from one station to the next. Such options are not shown in the figures.

With the apparatus according to the invention, differently dimensioned strips or coils can be processed in a wide variety of configurations. The outer diameter of the coils can for example be 1200 mm to 2500 mm, preferably 1400 mm to 2200 mm. The inner diameter of the coils can for example be 500 to 800 mm, preferably 610 to 762 mm. The coil widths can for example be 500 mm to 2500 mm, preferably 700 mm to 2200 mm. The thickness of the metal strip can for example be 1 mm to 30 mm, preferably 1.5 mm to 25 mm. It can be metal strip, particularly a steel strip, for example a hot-rolled steel strip. The temperature of the strip can be up to 650° C. during processing.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing an end of a strip, wound into a coil the apparatus comprising a coiler for unwinding the end of the strip, wherein

the coiler has a reel with one or more rotating mandrels for receiving the coil and

the reel is on a conveyor with which the reel and the coil attached thereto can be moved between the individual processing stations.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a tape stripper,

a processing device, downstream from the tape stripper, and

a strapping tool downstream from the processing device between which the reel can be displaced along a conveying direction.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor has a trolley that can be displaced on rails preferably displaced a conveying direction parallel to the coil axis.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reel is vertically shiftable against or on the conveyor.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the trolley has a chassis movable along rails and a support frame attached to the chassis in a height-adjustable manner and on which the reel is mounted.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the support frame is pivotal on the chassis about an axis that is oriented parallel to the coil axis.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a first pusher with at least one adjustable pressure element on the conveyor on the support frame thereof.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a second pusher with at least one adjustable pressure element on the conveyor on the support frame thereof, and offset angularly from the pressure element of the first pusher on the coil outer surface by an angle of from 90° to 180°.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

an additional stationary pusher with an adjustable pressing element near the processing device so as to be offset from the pressure elements of the first pusher or of the second pusher relative to the coil outer surface.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing device has a lower strip guide or an upper strip guide that is height-adjustable or pivotable.

11. A method of processing an end of a strip wound into a coil, with an apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coil is received by the reel and moved by the conveyor between different processing stations.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the coil is taken off the reel and the tape is first removed by a tape stripper, the coil is then moved into the vicinity of the sampler where the end of the strip is unwound with the reel and a portion of the end of the strip is separated as a specimen, and, thereafter, the end of the strip is rewound with the reel and the coil is transported to the vicinity of a strapping tool and strapped there with tape.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the end of the strip is first fixed to the coil with a pusher and then the tape is removed, that the coil is then transported with the pusher fixing the end of the strip to the vicinity of the processing device, for example the sampler, and that the end of the strip is unwound there with the reel.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the end of the strip is fixed by the additional stationary pusher and subsequently released with the first or second pusher, and the end of the strip is then unwound.