A belt for supporting strips of deformable material includes a flexible central band. One or more strips are placed onto the band. Variable-configuration air chambers are arranged along edges of the band. The air chambers, when inflated, may have upper and lower surfaces that are substantially flat and substantially parallel to the band. An apparatus for using the belt includes a storage coil, a take-up winding, and first, second, and third devices. A first part of the belt is wound onto a reel of the storage coil with a first tension. A second part of the belt is wound onto a beam of the take-up winding with a second tension greater than the first tension. The first devices vary the first and second tension, the second devices keep the air chambers in the first part of the belt inflated, and the third devices rotate the reel and beam.