GB242303A - Process and machine for the manufacture of incandescent lamps, thermionic valves and like apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

242,303. General Electric Co., Ltd., (Assignees of Patent Treuhand Ges. f³r Elektrische Gl³hlampen). Oct. 31, 1924, [Convention date]. Making lamps.-The stems and internal parts are sealed into the bulbs, and the bulbs are exhausted and, if required, gas-filled, and finally sealed off, while travelling continuously in a single path. In the machine described, the stems and bulbs are mounted in carriers which are arrested in the positions 1 - - 24 during each revolution of the machine table, the exhaust tubes being connected by rigid tubes to a central valve disc b connected to the pumps and gas supplies. In the position 1, the piece of exhaust tube remaining from the lamp finished in position 24 is ejected by compressed air, and new parts are assembled in position 2. The exhaust tube is gripped in a rubber cylinder l, Fig. 3, when its ends are compressed between metal blocks l<1>, l<2> by the downward movement of links m having pins m<2> engaged in cam slots in a rotatable cap m<4>. This is rotated by a clutch n, which is lifted as it rotates by a pin n<3> running in a cam slot. Jaws l<4> pivoted to the block l<2> are closed by wedges as the block descends and grip the exhaust tube. At the loading position a bulb is placed in a fork i, Fig. 7. which has been raised and held in the raised position by a detent i<3>. At the next position, the bulb is pulled down to enclose the stem by a pawl p<2> carried by a rod p<1>. The cap g<4> of the exhaust-tube holder is raised by a roller g<6> running on a cam track g<7> to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3, to support the stem foot h during the sealing-in operation. The sealing-in burners q<1> are mounted on a fork q, Figs. 2 and 8, adapted to be rotated by gearing r, r<2> until arrested by a cam-operated detent, a screw q<7> enabling the height of the burners to be adjusted. When a stem has been sealed in, the bulb is raised in position 9 to stretch the glass at the seal. The surplus ring k<1>, Fig. 3, of glass severed from the mouth of the bulb passes between fingers u, Fig. 2, which crush it. From positions 11 to 23 the sealded-in bulb traverses an arched tunnel x in which it is kept hot while being exhausted and, if required, gasfilled. Before entering the tunnel, hooks w<2>, w<3> bend up the leading-in wires to protect them from the sealing-off burners. If a defective bulb arrives at position 11, its failure to exhaust properly causes a gas-valve y to operate to feed a burner y<10> which seals off the bulb. Sound bulbs travel on unsealed to the finishing pumps. At position 24 a radially moving fork z, Fig. 11, supports the bulb while it is sealed-off by burners z<1>, a hook z<5> removing the leading-in wires from the heated zone,