Abstract: A cluster tool module for dry process cleaning of substrates. A substrate process reactor body assembly includes a gas inlet and gas outlet on opposing sides of a ceramic reactor body. A linear xenon flash lamp in a light bar provides a UV source for uniform distribution over a substrate by use of a light filter. Infrared heating is also provided by a plurality of infrared lamps in the light box. A moisturizer is provided for safe introduction of water vapor into the gas flow.

Abstract: A method of shrinking a foamed sleeve onto a tapered wall container which includes moving containers through a predetermined path, subjecting the containers to infrared heat applied by directing air past infrared heaters against the containers as they are moved in the predetermined path and progressively applying additional heat to the containers as they are moved in the predetermined path by first directing heat at the maximum container diameter and progressively applying the heat toward the minimum container diameter. In a preferred form, the heat is applied by directing heated air against the containers. In one form, the containers are rotated progressively in the predetermined path while the additional heat is applied. In another form, the containers are moved without rotation in a predetermined path while the additional heat is applied along the sides of the path.

Abstract: An apparatus for flame treating an exterior surface of a plastic container such as a barrel includes a carriage mounted on a frame for rotatably supporting a plastic container, a first treatment station attached to the frame for flame treating a facing end of the container and a second treatment station attached to the frame for flame treating the sides of the container. The carriage is attached to a cable driven by a first actuator for moving the carriage from a starting position for loading the container onto the carriage past the first station to the second station and back to the starting position. The carriage, a burner at the second station and a roller for rotating the container at the second station are all adjustable for accommodating various diameter containers.

Abstract: A shrouded rabble includes a blade having an active face and a backface with a shroud extending from the backface along a lower edge of the blade. The rabble is suspended above a perforated hearth for urging charge materials on the hearth from one location to another in response to relative rotation between the hearth and the rabble. The action of the rabble on the charge materials causes breakdown of the charge materials and accumulation of fines on the perforated hearth. The shroud defines a shroud chamber behind the blade and screens charge materials from the shroud chamber to expose accumulated fines on the perforated hearth. The charge fines thus become fluidized in an upflowing heating gas and exit the shroud chamber through at least one opening in the shroud, facilitating the flow of heating gas through the perforated hearth and into the charge materials. The opening may simply comprise one end of the shroud being open, or it may include a plurality of holes in the shroud itself.

Abstract: A rotary oil seal gas purge system for a rotary carburizing furnace, having a rotatable hearth in a furnace chamber containing a high carbon-potential furnace atmosphere comprising an endothermic carrier gas enriched with a hydrocarbon gas, features gas purge ports located adjacent to the oil seal(s) of the hearth for injecting non-carbon-enriched endothermic gas to purge the high carbon-potential furnace atmosphere from the area adjacent the seal(s) and prevent carbon precipitation into the seal(s). Also disclosed is an oil seal management system for a rotary carburizing furnace including a settling tank for accepting seal oil from the furnace oil seal(s), a pump supply tank for receiving oil from the settling tank, a pump for pumping oil from the pump supply tank through a heat exchanger and to the furnace oil seal(s), and a centrifuge for cleaning seal oil coming from the heat exchanger before returning it to the pump supply tank.

Abstract: A pocket wheel furnace having a furnace housing provided with a heat source in the side walls to project heat upon the components requiring heat treatment. The components are loaded into the pockets on the wheel at a first station and travel through the projected heat for the time needed to reach the heat treatment temperature before reaching a discharge station where the components are moved to a quench station. The travel time in the furnace is predetermined and is substantially equivalent for all components in a batch thereof.

Abstract: An oven-apparatus for flaming the interior and exterior surfaces of a container for removing nonkosher oils, fats, dirt, and the like, which apparatus has a main housing defining a tunnel through which are conveyed containers to be flame-treated, and a first flame-burner capable of developing a substantially vertically-oriented exposed flame for flame-treating the interior surface of a container, and a second flame-burner capable of developing a horizontally-oriented flame for flame-treating the exterior surface of a container. The apparatus also has a conveyor for conveying a plurality of containers to be flame-treated adjacent to the first and second flame-burners. A turntable lifts and rotates the container while the two flame-burners' flames treat all of the surfaces of the container.

Abstract: A process for koshering relatively large metallic containers used to store and transport kosher foods includes the steps of washing and rinsing the interior of the container to remove surface oils and greases, treating the interior surface of the container with a rust inhibitor, flame treating the interior surface to drive off any impregnated oils, greases or dirts and, optionally, spraying the interior of the container with a kosher epoxy/phenolic compound and thereafter curing the compound by the application of heat. The resulting container may be used to store and transport food stuffs certified to have been prepared in accordance with the kosher dietary laws. An oven for carrying out this process is also disclosed.

Abstract: An oven-apparatus for koshering container or drum lids made of metal. The oven-apparatus has a substantially hollow interior through which are conveyed the lids after having passed through a bath, with the lids being conveyed through the hollow interior in a semicircular or arcuate path, with the entrance being positioned directly in-line with the exit of a conventional bath for initially washing the lids clean. The same conveyer system that conveys the series of lids through the bath is also used for conveying the lids through the oven-apparatus. After having passed through the oven-apparatus of the invention, the lids are conveyed in the conventional manner substantially parallel to but in the opposite direction by which they were conveyed through the bath. Within the hollow interior of the oven-apparatus, there are provided a pair of flame-burners. One flame-burner is mounted at a first corner of the housing of the oven-apparatus at an acute degree angle with respect the center line of the main housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous furnace for shaping one of the faces of blanks of optical lenses to a desired profile by heat sagging of the blanks on suitably profiled jigs with the concomitant action of a vacuum.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement of high thrust burners with control systems for a heating furnace which heat metal or similar product, in order to erase developing cold skid marks. The location of these burners is specified, transversely and longitudinally as well as their position with the product face. This invention considers the flow of gases inside of the furnace and the necessary burner characteristic required for the application of these burners to the developing skid marks and the reasons for the specifications. The burners are required to be such that the maximum available heat in the flame is applied at the spot required in order to heat those spots at a faster rate than the cooling effect of the water cooled parts, which are the initial causes of the cold spots. Moreover, it is specified as to the control systems and to the part in which they play in the operation of the skid mark erasure burners.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous furnace for the heat treatment of articles, more particularly ceramic pipes. The continuous furnace comprises an upper part which is stationary in the conveying direction, can more particularly be raised and lowered and comprises the furnace crown 11, 12, 13, and a lower portion which can move in the conveying direction and comprises at least the furnace bottom. The lower portion is made up of a plurality of carriages 4 which are disposed close one after the other and each bear on an underframe 9 a portion of the furnace bottom 16 and at one end an end face partition 17 subdividing the furnace space into individual chambers. During the heat treatment the articles 24 to be treated remain on the carriage 4, thus eliminating the need for expensive devices for transferring the articles from one conveying means to another conveying means.

Abstract: Apparatus and methodology for rounding the bristle tips of twisted wire brushes. Each twisted wire brush is mounted in a carrier by means of a spindle which permits the brush to be rotated along its longitudinal axis. The melting of the synthetic bristle tips takes place in a heated chamber which includes one or more heated cylindrical cavities which may extend over a portion or the whole of the length of each brush. When the carrier approaches the chamber, the chamber is lowered over the carrier so that each of the individual brushes is inserted into a heated cavity. When inserted in the cavity, the brush is rotated on the spindle while it is heated. The rotation and heating causes the individual bristle tips to melt into a rounded ball without adhering to each other. Thereafter, the heating chamber is raised, the carrier is indexed, and the process is repeated.

Abstract: Expansion of granular or particulate material is effected by supplying such material, for instance slate chips, at a charging zone CZ of a kiln 10, to the upper surface of a rotating annular hearth 12 so as to lie thereon in a uniform layer up to about three chips in thickness. The hearth 12 is rotating in the direction of the arrow 96, and the chips face thereon just after a preheating zone PHZ. The chips are carried successively through a treatment zone TZ wherein they are subjected to heat from regenerative burner arrangements 68, 70 and 64, 66 beneath hood 44, to a discharge zone DZ whereat they are loosened by a reciprocating rake 80, 82 and are blown off the hearth 12 and into a receiver 88 by air jets from radially directed nozzles 78 supplied by way of a manifold 76. The kiln, and its manner of use, enables expansible material, such as slate chips, to be substantially fully expanded and thereby achieve a product, suitable for use as a lightweight aggregate, of minimum possible density.

Abstract: Apparatus for compressing against each other for bonding by use of a granule clamp the I and C bars which comprise the O bars from which head cores may be cut, includes a rotating frame so that the angular orientation of the O bars may be changed after embedding them in the granules. This allows bonding glass rods to be placed in the interior openings of the unbonded O bars and then by rotating the frame, cause the glass rods to fall into a position adjacent to the interior edge of the flux gap, and at the same time keep the plane of the flux gaps normal to the axis of the granule clamp's pressure die. When heat is then applied to the unbonded O bars, gravity draws the bonding glass into a fillet adjacent the interior edge of the flux gap.

Abstract: An oven for preheating glass containers in which the containers are moved through the oven on a conveyor with the conveyor moving at a linear speed that is in excess of the permitted speed of the container movement. This permits the containers to produce a "gear effect" rotation of the containers that are guided on the conveyor by side rails that are spaced apart a distance greater than the container diameter. A source of heated air is directed against the shoulder of the container by an adjustable nozzle and another nozzle is directed against the heel so that these areas of the container will be preheated so that the shrinking of a plastic label about the container will be uniform.

Abstract: A random access oven system including an oven, a vestibule, a loading conveyor, and a cooling conveyor. A plurality of load carriers, arranged in one or more tiers, are translated within the oven by one or more drive chains, in response to remotely generated commands. Loads to be treated in the oven are queued on the loading conveyor and are supplied to the vestibule in response to remotely generated commands. Any desired load carrier may be brought to a position adjacent the vestibule where the load carried by the carrier may be transferred to a conveyor within the vestibule, or a load within the vestibule may be transferred to the load carrier. After exiting the oven following heat-treatment, a load within the vestibule may be transferred onto the cooling conveyor. After a desired cooling period, each load on the cooling conveyor may be transferred out of the inventive system, for example to an adjacent conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved furnace oven for drying and firing porcelain dental workpieces. It has a plurality of worktables which can be inserted at a desired sequence into the muffle of the furnace oven. The workpiece to be processed is placed on, or prepared on one of the supports, the arm of such support is swung into a position beneath the opening of the muffle and lifted into the muffle. The furnace is of the vacuum type, and can be preprogrammed. It is possible to provide furnaces of this type where a number of programs can be prepared according to the number of supports and thus time is saved between the end of one firing cycle and the start of the next one with a new workpiece.

Abstract: Bulk materials containing volatile constituents are calcined in a two-stage process comprising a first heating stage at de-volatilizing temperature but below calcining temperature during which the material is turned over and mixed to accelerate its bulk heating rate without substantially accelerating local heating rate. The first heating stage is followed by a second heating stage at calcining temperature. A rotary hearth furnace adapted for the above process is divided into outer and inner connecting annular heating zones and has rabble means for turning over and mixing the charge in the outer zone and rabble means for transporting the charge through both zones.

Abstract: At least two successive assemblies are formed by respective walking beams and actuatable independently of one another to advance articles through an oven, with a respective hydraulic jack connected to each of the assemblies for horizontally displacing each assembly. A respective pump is connected to each of the jacks in a respective circuit having two sides, with a respective nonreturn valve provided on one of the sides of each of the circuits between each jack and the respective pump. A pair of distributors are provided in the other side of one of the circuits between one of the jacks and the respective pump, with a respective distributor provided in each of the sides of the other circuit between another of the jacks and the respective pump, and hydraulic lines connecting the distributors of the circuits.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for annealing an ion-implanted semiconductor sample duces the deleterious side effects otherwise associated with the process. A semiconductor sample, fabricated, for example, from indium phosphide or gallium arsenide, is set upon the fingers of a carrier which is displaced to the interior of an elongate furnace having its internal temperature maintained at the proper annealing temperature. Next, the fingers are rotated and the sample is placed on a number of razor blade-like edges extending up from an internal rack. The carrier is withdrawn and the sample is quickly brought to the annealing temperature for the precise period of time usually no more than 20 seconds. After the exact annealing period, the carrier is reintroduced and the fingers are rotated to lift the sample from the rack and the sample is withdrawn.

Abstract: A walking beam furnace comprises a hearth formed by fixed and walking beams disposed with their axes in the feed direction. Both the walking beams and the fixed beams are divided at positions spaced apart in the feed direction into sections, and each section of each beam is staggered relative to the adjacent section. As a result, the material to be annealed comes into contact with the cooled fixed beams at different positions at each of the conveying pauses and temperature balancing takes place at the points of contact.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to an installation for the heat treatment of cylindrical bodies, in particular pipes, of ceramic material. During the treatment, the pipes are dried, heated and sintered, and subsequently cooled, in successively arranged chambers.During transportation through the drying zone, the heating zone and the cooling zone, as well as in heat treatment during sintering, the objects are turned about their own axis independently of the transportation rate, so that they are not only evenly heated, but a possible deformation is also prevented. This type of transportation and heating with possible heat exchange between the individual zones makes possible a rapid heating-up without detriment to the cylindrical bodies, and thus a short design length of the installation. Above all, the sintering zone, which must consist of high-value, ceramic material due to the high temperatures, can be kept very small.

Abstract: When pipes 8 are rollingly conveyed through a furnace along parallel rails 7, any lateral migrations of the pipes are periodically corrected by movable stops 18 which are extended inwardly in unison to abut the pipe ends and re-center them. The stops are mounted on elbowed arms 14 articulated about axes 15 disposed beneath the furnace bed together with fluid control cylinders 16 for the arms, thus providing unobstructed access around the side walls 2 of the furnace. The pipes roll over elevated slide runners 11 during their lateral re-centering by the stops, thereby avoiding the wear and abrasion of the rail crowns.

Abstract: A furnace for heating cylindrical charges, in particular billets, rods and tubes, features a transportation facility with a conveyance device which feeds the charges in the longitudinal direction through a treatment chamber, the cross-sectional shape of which is closely similar to that of the charge; the transportation device also features a jacking device which supports the charge such that, regardless of the charge diameter, the longitudinal axis of the charge is always at the same level in the treatment chamber. Situated in the walls of the treatment chamber are nozzle outlets which direct a heated jet of gas radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the charge and onto the surface of the charge. The feeding of circulating hot gas to the supply channel for the nozzles takes place from both ends of the treatment chamber. A ventilator is situated above the mid point along the length of the treatment chamber and blows out both inlets to the feed channels.

Abstract: A vertical furnace for heat-treating a semiconductor is disclosed which is capable of effectively and safely accomplishing the heat-treating of a semiconductor. The vertical furnace includes a furnace section which is open at the lower end thereof to allow a boat for supporting a semiconductor thereon to be introduced and removed through the lower open end with respect to the furnace section. Also, a vertical furnace is disclosed which is adapted to effectively prevent a semiconductor from being polluted by dust in an operation space.

Abstract: Thermoplastic preforms are heated in preparation for the blow molding of bottles therefrom in a tunnel (1) provided with infra-red radiators (13). Supports (19) for the preforms (17) move along the longitudinal axis of the tunnel while revolving. The enclosed space formed by the tunnel is connected to an exhaust blower (16) that draws in air through a longitudinal slot (3) in the bottom of the tunnel, through which the preforms extend, to thereby prevent the necks (18) of the preforms from becoming hot and deforming.

Abstract: The problem of distortion in the shape of the vessel by simultaneous heating and rolling at high temperatures is remedied by adding shape retaining, firing rings to the vessel. Firing rings are rings spacedly attached to the periphery of the vessel to maintain the vessel out of direct contact with the rotating means while the vessel is heated to glass firing temperatures. Usually two rings are used, however, more than two may be utilized if desired. The rings extend a sufficient distance from the vessel side so that distortion of the vessel during glassing and rolling is prevented. Typically, the rings extend outward from the vessel wall a distance of from about 2 inches to about 18 inches and, more preferably, from about 4 inches to about 12 inches. The firing rings are loose fitted, or mounted, over the vessel exterior and preferably are positioned near or at the knuckle radius or radii of the vessel.

Abstract: A top-fired, lifting or walking, hearth-type furnace includes an upstream preheating zone and a downstream primary heating zone. Stock, such as billets or ingots, to be heated is passed sequentially through the preheating zone and primary heating zone. Each zone has therein support members for supporting the stock. The support members of the preheating zone are at a level higher than the support members of the primary heating zone, with a step therebetween, whereby hot flue gases in the preheating zone circulate upwardly around the support members therein and the stock supported thereby. A lowering and lifting apparatus is located at the step to transfer stock from the support members of the preheating zone to the support members of the primary heating zone.

Abstract: An oven and method for cooking food products. The oven comprises an elongated housing having an inlet for food products to be cooked in the oven and an outlet for emitting cooked food product from the oven, together with means for heating a gaseous cooking medium in the housing for cooking the food products therein, and a plurality of vertically tiered endless conveyors for passing the food product back and forth through the housing during the cooking process, whereby an oven taking less floor space for a predetermined flow path extent of cooking various food products, is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for moving and thermally conditioning generally cylindrical containers in which the structure provides for movement of the containers about their axes and provides for a predetermined heat flow relative to the containers to change the temperature of the containers by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A furnace for heating pipes each having an upset portion at least at one of its opposite ends includes a housing defining a heating chamber filled with high temperature gas, and a conveying apparatus for sequentially conveying the pipes in the housing in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the pipes. A blowing device is provided on one side of a path of the upset portion, and a waving plate is provided on the other side of the path, whereby the upset portion, when passing through a space between the blowing device and the plate, is heated locally by the high temperature gas blown out from the blowing device and also by the reflected high temperature gas and radiant heat from the plate.

Abstract: The preform (1) for the production of hollow articles by blow-moulding possesses a profiled false neck (4) provided with a circular toothed collar (6), and during the thermal conditioning of the preform for the purpose of final blowing, the preform, held loosely by idling holding rollers (8) (9) at the level of the profiling of its false neck (4), is caused to rotate about its longitudinal axis by a toothed drive member (13) which cooperates with the circular toothed collar (6).

Abstract: Parisons are passed along a plurality of heating boxes for heating them to a temperature desired for blow molding. Individual radiators are switched off in groups to obtain varying temperatures along the axial direction of the parisons.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for heat setting side walls of biaxially oriented thermoplastic resin containers to reduce shrinkage of the container and container treated by the process. Heating is by infrared radiation while shielding portions of the container. The apparatus comprises container handling systems to provide a fully automated system capable of being incorporated in present container production lines.

Abstract: This relates to a heating system and process for reheating preforms prior to delivering the preforms to a blow molder. The heating system utilizes different types of heating units, one of which will heat the preform wall more highly at the interior surface and the other of which will heat the preform wall at the exterior surface. By effectively controlling the heat input to a preform from each heating unit and by controlling the outputs of the different heating units in combination, the desired temperature profile through the preform wall may be obtained substantially without any time in the oven being provided for heat equilibration and at the same time a maximum heating effort may be effected to produce the necessary heating of a preform within a minimal time and more uniformly than heretofore possible.

Abstract: Apparatus for turning bottles and the like during exposure to a jet of hot gas or other heat source. Bottles are individually passed by an air cylinder gate and travel to a drive wheel and a spring loaded idler, where they are trapped by a second air cylinder gate. The drive wheel turns the bottle over a predetermined revolution while the bottle face is exposed to heat. The bottle is then permitted to exit by retraction of the second air cylinder gate. A pneumatic assembly controls gate operation, along with mechanical actuation to prevent bottle entrapment in the heating area.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat-treating pipes comprising a furnace chamber for accommodating a plurality of pipes as arranged in parallel, a chain conveyor disposed in the furnace chamber for transporting the pipes in a direction at right angles to the axes of the pipes, and a plurality of stopper means for stopping the pipes intermittently at suitably spaced-apart positions in the path of transport by the chain conveyor and causing each of the pipes to rotate about its own axis in cooperation with the chain conveyor. Since the pipe is intermittently stopped and rotated about its own axis during heat treatment, the pipe is free of thermal deformation to an elliptical shape. Pipes can be heat-treated in succession in a small space, therefore with a very high efficiency. The motion of the chain conveyor is utilized for rotating the pipe without necessitating any additional device for the rotation.

Abstract: In a pass-through sintering furnace for sintering a succession of ceramic tubes fed lengthwise through the furnace and rotated as they pass through the furnace, the tubes, when heated in the furnace, are kept apart by pushing each tube into the furnace at one end and pulling it out from the other end. The pulling speed is less than the pushing speed to ensure uniform firing throughout the length of the tube, allowing for shrinkage as the tube is fired, but is sufficient to hold the pulled tube clear of the next following tube so as to obviate any pushing against the end of a hot tube.

Abstract: Clay pipes and the like are fired in a kiln through which they are conveyed by a pusher conveyer as individual articles, instead of being carried on cars or in containers. In the main firing zone of the kiln the pipes roll along a surface to maintain roundness and ensure uniform heating. In the preheating zone of the kiln the pipes are carried by carriers of the conveyer without rotating. The pipes may also be carried without rotating in the final cooling zone of the kiln.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a transfer mandrel on whose top portion a thermoplastic resin parison is mounted and which is rotatably engaged with the peripheral portion of a rotary table. The apparatus is arranged along the peripheral portion of the rotary table adapted to rotate oppositely to a heating means. The apparatus comprises a cooling block having a cavity through which cooling water flows and a concave surface opposing to the transfer mandrel which has a profile conforming to the cylindrical portion of the transfer mandrel, means for adjusting the position of the cooling block, and a spring which pushes a surface portion opposite said concave surface of the cooling block.

Abstract: Plastic bottle blanks (1) are rotated and conveyed neck down through a rotary thermal heating station (3), and neck up to a transfer station (5) and through a blow molding station (4), thus making it possible to simultaneously hold the blanks by their necks during the entire treatment and to easily remove the finished hollow bottles by gravity.

Abstract: Clay pipes and the like (3) are fired in a kiln (1) through which they are conveyed by a pusher conveyer (2, 4) as individual articles, instead of being carried on cars or in containers. In the main firing zone of the kiln the pipes (3) roll along a surface (6) to maintain roundness and ensure uniform heating. In the preheating zone of the kiln the pipes are carried by carriers (5) of the conveyer without rotating. The pipes may also be carried without rotating in the final cooling zone of the kiln.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a treatment compartment having a heat radiation source and a conveying mechanism. The conveying mechanism comprises a load-bearing belt conveyor having a belt supporting products, and two pairs--upper and lower--of chain conveyors extending along the borders of the belt of the load-bearing conveyor and said chain conveyors being located within the treatment compartment. Each conveyor carries discs arranged to engage the borders of the belt on either side thereof, with the discs being displaced relative to one another.The apparatus is preferably used for a treatment of food products, especially sausage products to impart better taste qualities to the product and to improve the external appearance.

Abstract: A substrate carrier assembly is described which employs a frame, a plurality of rollers, a plurality of substrate carrier rings, captively held within the frame and a carrier support track. The substrate carrier assembly provides support and constraint to a plurality of substrate members, while the substrate members are coated with a thin evaporated layer. The physical configuration provided insures that a uniformly thin metal layer is formed over the substrate member.

Abstract: Apparatus for ultraviolet drying and/or curing of freshly applied solvent-free ink on three-dimensional articles such as containers. Baskets for carrying the articles are swivelly mounted at spaced locations on an endless conveyor. The conveyor pathway has a bend or loop when viewed in elevation, the shape of which is determined by a drum or sprocket. A tubular ultraviolet lamp is arranged, preferably in the crook of the bend or loop, parallel to the axis of curvature of the bend or loop. The baskets are of perforate construction, preferably comprising wire strips in planes which intersect along lines parallel to their respective swivel axis. The lamp irradiates a predetermined sector of each passing article in the course of displacement over the bend or loop; shadows falling on the articles due to nonperforate portions of the baskets move continuously along the predetermined sector so that no spot on the predetermined sector is constantly obstructed from the ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: A rotary hearth for a kiln assembly in which the refractory material-bearing portion of the hearth is supported by a metal frame from below and is contained peripherally by a refractory buttress secured to the frame. In the preferred form of the invention, the refractory buttress comprises a lower layer of slightly circumferentially spaced buttress block and an upper layer of refractory rim tiles interlocking with the buttress blocks. The hearth is free of metal structural components in regions of high heat and thus free from the problems of cracking and jamming associated with assemblies of the prior art.

Abstract: A heated soaking furnace, a chamber for preheating cold steel pieces in communication with said soaking furnace, means for transferring a portion of the heat from the furnace to the chamber, means for moving the steel pieces through the chamber to preheat the steel pieces and means for conveying the steel pieces from the outlet of the chamber to the inlet of the furnace.

Abstract: A method for making plastic containers comprises the steps of heating an axially subdivided area of a tubular parison to a temperature higher than that of the remaining axially subdivided portion prior to forming the container in a mold. Apparatus for accomplishing such heating includes a furnace provided with an endless conveyor and an auxiliary heater along a certain portion of the path of the conveyor.

Abstract: The roller track for moving large pipes through a tempering furnace includes two pairs of relatively closely spaced, resiliently mounted rollers disposed in the end zone of the furnace, where any portion of the pipe passing through is hot and has minimum strength on account of the heating.