PURPOSE: To automatically deliver the starting edge of a strip-shaped material from waiting position onto a shift conveyor with high efficiency by installing a centering means which is equipped with a waiting transmission part for transmitting a driving power when the transfer conveyor is shifted to a rear limit and centers the strip-shaped material of the festoon to be formed between the shift conveyor and waiting conveyor when the former is shifted forward.

CONSTITUTION: When a waiting conveyor 1 is operated, a shift conveyor 31 which shifts to a rear limit transmits a driving power through a waiting transmission part 5, and travels in synchronization with the waiting conveyor 1. When the shift conveyor 31 shifts forward, the festoon 52 of a strip-shaped material 51 is formed in the gap between the waiting conveyor 1 in separated state. Then, a centering means 53 performs cenetering in the direction of width tor the strip-shaped material 51 of the fastoon 52. Therefore, the starting edge part of the strip-shaped material 51 on the waiting conveyor 1 is transferred onto the shift conveyor 31 without being deformed, and can be transferred automatically with high efficiency.