Apparatus for transporting, treating and storing articles

A production line wherein extremely heavy and bulky commodities, such as metallic bands which are convoluted on reels and weigh up to and in excess of 20,000 lbs., are treated at several stations is provided with a first magazine at the receiving end, a second magazine at the discharge end and an intermediate magazine between two neighboring departments. The commodities are transported in the magazines by vehicles which are movable lengthwise as well as up and down to store the commodities at different levels or to withdraw commodities from selected compartments of the respective magazines. Additional vehicles in the form of cars, lifters, cranes or the like are provided to transport commodities from a preceding magazine, to stations which are adjacent to various machines of the production line, and from such machines to the next magazine, always at a level above or below the level of the production line. The production line may be set up to anneal the commodities which are withdrawn from the first magazine prior to introduction into the first magazine, to thereupon roll the commodities in one or more passes, to trim the commodities, to subdivide the commodities, and to heat the commodities prior to storage in the second magazine from which the commodities are withdrawn for transport to inspecting, packing and/or other stations.