Disclosed is a festooner and a method for buffering a strip, the festooner having a first set of buffer rollers and a second set of buffer rollers, wherein the first set of buffer rollers and the second set of buffer rollers define a meandering first buffer path between them, wherein the festooner further includes a first endless drive element for driving the first set of buffer rollers and the second set of buffer rollers. The festooner further includes a third set of buffer rollers and a fourth set of buffer rollers coaxial to the first set of buffer rollers and the second set of buffer rollers, respectively, defining a meandering second buffer path between them. The festooner further includes a second endless drive element for driving the third set of buffer rollers and the fourth set of buffer rollers.

Provided is a winding device capable of speeding up a winding operation while ensuring a winding quality. A feed roller feeds a sheet-like member. A take-up roller takes up the sheet-like member. Each roller guides transportation of the sheet-like member between the feed roller and the take-up roller. A sum of moments of inertia of each free roller is determined so that a variation in a tension applied to the sheet-like member is equal to or less than 16.7 [N/m].

Provided is a winding device capable of speeding up a winding operation while ensuring a winding quality. A feed roller feeds a sheet-like member. A take-up roller takes up the sheet-like member. Each roller guides transportation of the sheet-like member between the feed roller and the take-up roller. A sum of moments of inertia of each free roller is determined so that a variation in a tension applied to the sheet-like member is equal to or less than 16.7 [N/m].

Various apparatus embodiments include first, second, third and fourth shafts, and further include a first movable shaft having a first movable axis that is movable between a first axis position and a second axis position, and a second movable shaft having a second movable axis that is movable between a third axis position and fourth axis position. At least one linkage connects the first movable shaft to the second movable shaft. A motor linkage connects the at least one linkage to at least one motor for providing simultaneous movement of the first and second movable shafts.

Various apparatus embodiments include first, second, third and fourth shafts, and further include a first movable shaft having a first movable axis that is movable between a first axis position and a second axis position, and a second movable shaft having a second movable axis that is movable between a third axis position and fourth axis position. At least one linkage connects the first movable shaft to the second movable shaft. A motor linkage connects the at least one linkage to at least one motor for providing simultaneous movement of the first and second movable shafts.

Various apparatus embodiments include first, second, third and fourth shafts, and further include a first movable shaft having a first movable axis that is movable between a first axis position and a second axis position, and a second movable shaft having a second movable axis that is movable between a third axis position and fourth axis position. At least one linkage connects the first movable shaft to the second movable shaft. A motor linkage connects the at least one linkage to at least one motor for providing simultaneous movement of the first and second movable shafts.

Various apparatus embodiments include first, second, third and fourth shafts, and further include a first movable shaft having a first movable axis that is movable between a first axis position and a second axis position, and a second movable shaft having a second movable axis that is movable between a third axis position and fourth axis position. At least one linkage connects the first movable shaft to the second movable shaft. A motor linkage connects the at least one linkage to at least one motor for providing simultaneous movement of the first and second movable shafts.

An accumulation device is provided with a loading unit, a tensioning unit, an accumulation unit, and unloading unit and a controller. The tensioning unit comprises multiple fixed rollers capable of rolling, and movable rollers capable of rolling and arranged so as to be capable of moving with respect to the fixed rollers. Substrates are conveyed so as to move back and forth alternately between the fixed rollers and the movable rollers in a wrapped state, and a prescribed tensile force is applied to the substrates by a force acting on the moveable rollers in the direction away from the fixed rollers. The controller performs control so as to maintain the positions of the movable rollers in the tensioning unit constant.

An accumulation device is provided with a first roller group which comprises multiple first rollers that can rotate, and a second roller group which comprises multiple second rollers that can rotate and that can move in the direction towards or away from the first roller group. Substrates are conveyed alternately between the first rollers and the second rollers so as to go back and forth in a wound state, and the substrates are accumulated by relative movement of the first roller group and the second roller group in the direction away from each other. The second rollers are supported by a support member which is capable of moving relative to the first roller group, and are independently biased in the direction away from the first roller group by elastic members which are provided on the support member corresponding to each of the second rollers.

An accumulation device is provided with a first roller group which comprises multiple first rollers that can rotate, and a second roller group which comprises multiple second rollers that can rotate and that can move in the direction towards or away from the first roller group. Substrates are conveyed alternately between the first rollers and the second rollers so as to go back and forth in a wound state, and the substrates are accumulated by relative movement of the first roller group and the second roller group in the direction away from each other. The second rollers are supported by a support member which is capable of moving relative to the first roller group, and are independently biased in the direction away from the first roller group by elastic members which are provided on the support member corresponding to each of the second rollers.