Patent ID: 7398716

Claim:
A method of processing a tube, said method comprising the steps of: rotating a mandrel disposed at a work station, moving a first portion of the tube into a the work station, said step of moving the first portion of the tube into the work station includes the steps of rotating the tube about its longitudinal central axis at the same speed as the mandrel while the tube is spaced apart from the mandrel and moving the mandrel and tube into a telescopic relationship while rotating the mandrel and tube at the same speed, cutting the first portion of the tube into a first plurality of sections while rotating the tube and mandrel, receiving a scrap section which is disposed on an end of the first portion of the tube at a scrap receiving location, receiving sections of the first portion of the tube other than the scrap section at a second receiving location which is separate from the scrap receiving location, moving a second portion of the tube into the work station while rotating the tube and mandrel at the same speed, cutting the second portion of the tube into a second plurality of sections, and directing the second plurality of sections to the second receiving location which is separate from the scrap receiving location.