Abstract: An apparatus for handling a pair of sheet metal workpieces to be welded is provided that includes a first workpiece holder, a second workpiece holder, at least one backing element, and at least one squeeze roller. The first and second workpiece holders are positioned so that an edge of one of the pair of sheet metal workpieces is in contact with, or separated a gap from, an edge of the other sheetmetal workpiece. The backing element is disposed on a first side of the sheet metal workpieces, and the squeeze roller is disposed on a second side of the sheetmetal workpieces opposite the first side. The squeeze roller is substantially aligned with the backing element. The squeeze roller is formed as a body symmetrical in rotation. Force selectively applied to the squeeze roller will cause plastic deformation of one of the pair of sheet metal workpieces and thereby cause the deformed sheet metal workpiece to extend into the gap.

Abstract: To follow and inspect a common edge between two sheet metal blanks which are to be welded together, a line pattern is projected across the edge by a projector and is imaged by a camera. The image captured is analyzed in order to derive from the trace of the lines information on the gap between the blanks, or on the track of the edge. The pattern projected has several lines with different light intensities. When the photographed image is processed, it is then possible—even if there is variation in the reflection characteristics of the sheet metal blanks—to select a line which is neither too faint nor too bright in the image obtained and which can therefore be used for meaningful analysis.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling a pair of sheet metal workpieces to be welded is provided that includes a first workpiece holder, a second workpiece holder, at least one backing element, and at least one squeeze roller. The first and second workpiece holders are positioned so that an edge of one of the pair of sheet metal workpieces is in contact with, or separated a gap from, an edge of the other sheetmetal workpiece. The backing element is disposed on a first side of the sheet metal workpieces, and the squeeze roller is disposed on a second side of the sheetmetal workpieces opposite the first side. The squeeze roller is substantially aligned with the backing element. The squeeze roller is formed as a body symmetrical in rotation. Force selectively applied to the squeeze roller will cause plastic deformation of one of the pair of sheet metal workpieces and thereby cause the deformed sheet metal workpiece to extend into the gap.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling a pair of sheet metal workpieces to be welded is provided that includes a first workpiece holder, a second workpiece holder, at least one backing element, and at least one squeeze roller. The first and second workpiece holders are positioned so that an edge of one of the pair of sheet metal workpieces is in contact with, or separated a gap from, an edge of the other sheetmetal workpiece. The backing element is disposed on a first side of the sheet metal workpieces, and the squeeze roller is disposed on a second side of the sheetmetal workpieces opposite the first side. The squeeze roller is substantially aligned with the backing element. The squeeze roller is formed as a body symmetrical in rotation. Force selectively applied to the squeeze roller will cause plastic deformation of one of the pair of sheet metal workpieces and thereby cause the deformed sheet metal workpiece to extend into the gap.

Abstract: To test a bottle for contamination, the bottom of the bottle is laterally illuminated with a measuring light beam from a source. This measuring light beam is deflected, as if in a waveguide, in the ring of residual liquids at the bottom of the bottle. Light reemerging from the residual liquid is imaged on a detector by an imaging lens. The detector measures the spectral composition of the deflected light and compares this with theoretical values which should be yielded by the liquid with which the bottle was last filled. If deviations from the theoretical values are excessive, the bottle is rejected. The process described provides a simple way of determining whether a multi-trip bottle has contained an extraneous liquid.

Abstract: On a bottle testing apparatus which has a plurality of sampling tubes which can be lowered into the bottles, the said tubes are individually detachable for cleaning. Hence they can be quickly and easily replaced with clean tubes. In addition, an adaptor is provided by means of which a cleaning fluid can be passed through the pipes of the apparatus.

Abstract: According to the process, each returning bottle is examined for the presence of a predetermined level of fatigue damage. If this level has been reached, the bottle concerned is marked with a mark enabling further trips of the bottle to be counted. When the count has reached a predetermined value, that is when the bottle has undergone the predetermined number of fillings, the bottle is removed upon its next return. It has been found that the life of the bottle can be anticipated with high accuracy in this way, thus enabling bottles to be withdrawn from circulation before failure occurs.

Abstract: In a laser layout, a rapid photodiode is coordinated with a fully reflecting mirror of a laser, the output signal of which is compared in a comparator with a reference voltage that may be set on a potentiometer, so that if the power density detected in the resonator of the laser by a photodiode exceeds the reference voltage, the laser is deactivated to protect a frequency doubling crystal by actuating a Q-switch and/or a shutter.