Patent ID: 7185523

Claim:
A process for hot or cold rolling metal strip ( 18 ) with a first reeling device ( 21 ) from which strip ( 18 ) with a defined strip original thickness is unwound, a rolling stand ( 12 ) comprising at least two working rolls ( 13 , 14 ) between which there is formed a roll gap ( 17 ) whose width is controllable, a second reeling device ( 31 ) for reeling-on strip ( 18 ) whose strip thickness is reduced relative to the original strip thickness, a first strip storage assembly ( 23 ) comprising a plurality of rolls between the first reeling device ( 21 ) and the rolling stand ( 12 ), and a second strip storage assembly ( 33 ) comprising a plurality of rolls between the rolling stand ( 12 ) and the second reeling device ( 31 ), wherein the rolls of the first and second strip storage assemblies for strip storage purposes are varied in their position relative to one another, the process comprising the steps of; guiding the metal strip ( 18 ) over at least one of the strip storage assemblies ( 23 , 33 ) in the form of an “S,” and in the course of the rolling process, controlling the movement of at least one of the rolls ( 24 , 25 , 34 , 35 ) of the strip storage assembly ( 23 , 33 ) to distort the “S” such that the length of the metal strip between running into and, respectively, running out of the strip storage assembly ( 23 , 33 ) is varied, wherein the step of guiding includes guiding the metal strip ( 18 ) over the strip storage assembly ( 23 , 33 ) in the form of an upright “S” with arches lying at different heights, and which at least partially overlap in a vertical projection.