Abstract: A number of tubes that are about to be welded, or have already been welded, are positioned on a table. The seam of each tube is welded by a laser welding unit. While one tube is being welded, it is possible to load the other positions of the table with tubes for welding and/or to unload tubes that have already been welded. This makes it possible to obtain optimum utilization of the laser welding unit. A sensor is used to detect the positioning of the welding edges and a tube is rotated if necessary to properly position the tube for welding.

Abstract: Above containers transported on a conveyor, the apparatus is provided with a continuous revolving belt, which has perforations. These are in communication via passageways with fixed fluid couplings and the drive to the belt is set so that they move in step with the containers along the conveyor path. Thus, by simple means, a connection is provided between the moving containers and the fixed fluid couplings, and the system is suitable for high conveying speeds.

Abstract: On a distributor head for distributing gas samples removed from bottles requiring inspection to the connections for two mass spectrometers, the feed passageways form alternative paths. These different paths are contained in a replaceable part or a switchable valve arrangement. This allows easy changeover from operation with two mass spectrometers to operation with one mass spectrometer, so facilitating servicing of the mass spectrometers.

Abstract: A disk-like sampling head is arranged above a linear section of a conveyor path with a continuous flow of bottles. The sampling head is rotatable about an axis oriented transverse to the conveyor path, and preferably the axis is a horizontally-oriented axis. Rotation of the sampling head is synchronized with the continuous flow of bottles. The apparatus is particularly simple and inexpensive.

Abstract: Two destacking tables and two can body forming stations are provided, the latter forming cylindrical can bodies from the metal sheets stacked on the destacking table. These can bodies are subsequently conveyed along the feed axis to the welding station, which welds the longitudinal seam of the can bodies. The provision of two destacking tables and two can body forming stations enables these elements to operate at the cycle rate of the welding station. This permits welding to be effected with an increased cycle rate, with reliable feeding of the can bodies despite this.

Abstract: Two destacking tables and two can body forming stations are provided, the latter forming cylindrical can bodies from the metal sheets stacked on the destacking tables. These can bodies are subsequently conveyed along the feed axis to the welding station, which welds the longitudinal seam of the can bodies. The provision of two destacking tables and two can body forming stations enables these elements to operate at the cycle rate of the welding station. This permits welding to be effected with an increased cycle rate, with reliable feeding of the can bodies despite this.

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: The retaining element is extended from a carousel disk in the plane of the disk and holds a bottle to be retained by the carousel essentially only at one point (T). The retaining element can be provided with an easily exchangeable finger part thus permitting quick and easy adaptation to different bottle sizes. As the retaining element swings out against the bottle without touching it during the swinging action, there is no risk of damage to the bottle.

Abstract: To detect contamination in used PET returnable bottles, they are fed to a first testing station which takes a gas sample from each bottle. This first testing station tests for the presence of heavy contamination. Heavily contaminated bottles are identified as dirty. The bottles are then fed to a second testing station which takes gas samples from the clean bottles and tests them for contamination with a lower detection threshold. Bottles detected here as contaminated are removed, as are the bottles which fail the first test. The two-stage process allows testing with greater sensitivity while maintaining a high bottle throughput.

Abstract: According to the process of the invention, optical inspection of a translucent article, in particular optical inspection of a concave bottom of a container, in which the article is positioned between a radiation source and an image recording apparatus and an image of the article is recorded and processed, is improved by placing at least one optical correction element in the paths of rays between the radiation source and the image recording apparatus to correct ray paths causing undesired dark or black spots on the image, so that such dark or black spots are prevented or brightened in order that an adequate image for satisfactory image-analysis is produced.

Abstract: To detect contamination in used PET returnable bottles, they are fed to a first testing station which takes a gas sample from each bottle. This first testing station tests for the presence of heavy contamination. Heavily contaminated bottles are identified as dirty. The bottles are then fed to a second testing station which takes gas samples from the clean bottles and tests them for contamination with a lower detection threshold. Bottles detected here as contaminated are removed, as are the bottles which fail the first test. The two-stage process allows testing with greater sensitivity while maintaining a high bottle throughput.

Abstract: Two sheets (10,14) are removed simultaneously from the sheet stack (1). While one sheet (10) is already in the transfer position, from which it is introduced into the conveyor line by two feed rolls (7,8), a first suction element (20) seizes the next sheet (14) from the stack (1). This sheet is moved along the curve a into the now vacated transfer position. A second suction element (30), which is no longer needed to hold the first sheet (10) there, moves to the stack (1) to seize the next sheet (15) and bring it to the transfer position, while the first suction element moves back to the stack. In this way, destacking can proceed at a faster rate than hitherto.

Abstract: The can body to be welded in a welding station is shaped by gradually bending flat metal sheets zone by zone along a linear conveying route until the can body has been shaped. This linear conveying route at the same time leads to the welding station. In this manner can bodies can be produced and welded at a fast rate.

Abstract: For testing bottles in particular by mass spectrometric analysis, gas samples are removed simultaneously from several bottles by means of probes. The gas samples are fed in succession and in a predetermined sequence to a mass spectrometer by a distributor unit. In this way, a single mass spectrometer is sufficient for testing a number of bottles thus substantially reducing costs in terms of money, maintenance and calibration time.

Abstract: Can bodies (1) rounded around an arm (16) are taken over by endless conveying tracks (30;50). These are each guided over guide devices (32;52) and a drive wheel (33;53) and each comprise a run parallel to the arm (16) in order to convey the can bodies (1) along the arm (16) in the direction of a welding station (70). The guide devices (32;52) are mounted on track carriers (26;46) and form, together with these and the associated conveying track (30;50), units adapted to the length of the can bodies and interchangeable as a whole. These units are each secured to a sliding carriage (22;42) which is adjustable at least substantially radially to the arm (16).

Abstract: In order to hold the longitudinal edges (12, 14) of a can body (10) which are to be butt-welded together contiguous with one another on the way to a welding apparatus (52), the can body (10) is moved past a magnet (40) by means of which the longitudinal edges (12, 14) are magnetized with opposite polarity. The two poles (N.sub.S, S.sub.N) of the magnet (40) each have a supporting surface (42, 44) for a conveyor belt (36) which conveys can bodies (10) one behind the other from a guide member (22) to the welding apparatus (52).

Abstract: A catch carrier (28, 28'), on which a pair of conveying catches (30) is pivotally mounted, can be reciprocated along a guide (32). Catch carrier (28, 28') and conveying catches (30) are each connected, by a flexibly resilient band (42; 62), to a sheave (44; 64) which can be rotated backwards and forwards. The two sheaves (44, 64) are so arranged and their rotary movements are so phase-displaced in relation to one another that the bands (42, 62) push the catch carrier (28, 28') and the conveying catches (30) for each working stroke, then pivot the conveying catches (30 ) into an inoperative position and pull them back together with the catch carrier (28, 28'). In regions in which at least one of the bands (42, 62) is wrapped round them, the two sheaves (44, 64) are surrounded by guide members which prevent the bands from yielding under normal loading.