An arrangement for treating photographic paper bands which run in parallel paths has at least one treatment station in which the bands are transported with a predetermined speed and treated, winding spools for winding the bands after treating in the treatment station and located downstream of the treatment station, drives for driving the winding spools independently of the transportation of the bands in the treatment station and with a speed exceeding the speed of transportation of the bands in the treatment station, an accumulating station for accumulating the bands between the treatment station and the winding spools so that a loop of the bands is formed in the accumulating station, and a switch for switching the drive on and off in dependence upon a size of the loop of the bands in the accumulating station.