Abstract: Apparatus for preparing two tubes to be welded together at their ends and for placing the ends in opposed, abutting relationship for welding. The apparatus includes means for annealing a portion or length of each tube, and means for stretching the portion or length of each tube for straightening purposes after it is annealed. In addition, the apparatus includes means for severing an end portion of the annealed length of each tube to provide two annealed tube ends for abutting and welding together. Further, the apparatus includes means for forcing the abutting ends of the tubes together in a manner that will upset the material of the tube ends during welding.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking stackable workpieces in a plurality of side-by-side vertical columns. The apparatus includes a stacking head transversely movable on a frame, and a conveyor attached to the head for directing individual workpieces to the head. The head has downwardly extending arms that are peripherally spaced from each other a distance corresponding to the breadth of the workpieces for receiving the workpieces one upon the other, for accumulating the workpieces and for releasing the accumulated workpieces for vertical fall to a horizontal surface located below the arms and head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating plastic liners from metal closures is disclosed which includes a liquid nitrogen precooler for chilling closures with liners therein, a hammermill for impacting the chilled closures to liberate the liners from the closures, a tumble barrel for separating large pieces of closures from the plastic liners and the small pieces of closures, and a high-tension electrical separator for separating the small pieces of closures from the plastic liners.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for inspecting a series of can ends as they come off a forming press wherein the can ends are carried on a continuous belt which moves them through the forming press and then past a light source and a light detecting means which senses any light passing through each of the can ends as they are presented seriatim to the light source and sensing means. The light source is fixedly positioned on one side of the continuous belt and the sensing means is fixedly positioned on the other side of the belt. An extensible bellows, sealed against the light sensing means, is connected to a ram on the forming press which extends and contracts the bellows into and out of light tight sealing engagement with each of the can ends as it is presented for inspection. The light source and the light sensing means are both activated when the bellows is in light tight engagement against a can end to expose one side of the can end to light and sense whether any light passes through such can end.