GB2024074A

GB2024074A - Apparatus for automatically welding pieces of soldering tape to the contact rings of incandescent lamps

Info

Publication number: GB2024074A
Application number: GB7923033A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: ZAKLADY WYTORCZE LAMP ELEKTRYC
Current assignee: ZAKLADY WYTORCZE LAMP ELEKTRYC
Priority date: 1978-07-03
Filing date: 1979-07-03
Publication date: 1980-01-09
Also published as: SU999959A3; CS223965B2; HU183049B; NL7904952A; GB2024074B; PL118154B2; NL169248C; DD144839A5; NL169248B; DE2926625A1; PL208134A1

Abstract

Apparatus for automatically welding solder strip to the contact rings of incandescent lamps, comprises a rotary head 1 having ring holders 2. The head rotates intermittently through several work stations. The first work station I comprises a vibrating ring container 5, a ring separator 6 and a ring feeder 7. The final work station VI is equipped with a device 41 for removing rings from the holders. The apparatus also includes two inspection work stations II and IV having holder presence detection indicators 20 arranged to switch off welding current when no ring is present in a holder, and two tape welding work stations III and V for cutting and welding strips of tape solder to the contact rings. Each welding station has a pair of tape welding electrodes 24, a tape cutting mechanism 25, a mechanism 26 for pressing the tape against the bottom electrode, a mechanism 27 for withdrawing tape, and a spool 28 containing tape. Each holder 2 is turned in steps through one full revolution along each revolution of the head 1 by means of four roller mechanisms which individually turn each holder through 90 DEG . <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for automatically welding pieces of soldering tape to the contact rings of incandescent lamps This invention relates to apparatus for automatically welding pieces of soldering tape to the contact rings of incandescent lamps, and more particularly halogen filled lamps in order to permit soldering of the rings to the lamp caps.

Tools are known for manually welding soldering tape pieces to the contact ring projections of halogen lamps, which tools are equipped with vertical welding electrodes, the bottom one of which is stationary and the top electrode being arranged to be depressed by means of a foot pedal. Adjacent the electrodes, a device is provided for holding a ring and includes a grip lockable in two positions every 180 . This grip has two clamping arms and is located on an arm which successively occupies three positions. In the first position of the arm, the contact ring is manually inserted, in the second position, the soldering tape is welded to the ring projections and, in the third position, the tape is cut off at the edge of the ring projections.Simultaneously with turning of the arm manually from the second position to the third position, the soldering tape is unwound from the spool. The vertical grip axis and the vertical straight line determined by the rod electrodes lie in a vertical plane determined by the flat spool, whereas the tape unwound from the spool moves in a direction perpendicular to the vertical grip axis and vertical straight line determined by the electrodes. The cutting blade is actuated by a manual lever. Upon completion of one welding and cutting step, the ring holder with the same ring is turned through 180 so as to present the second projection of this ring in the correct position for the welding and cutting operations. The output of such tools for mass production of halogen lamps is unsatisfactory. Moreover, labour expenditure is very high.Such tools also do not ensure sufficient accuracy when manually cutting the tape close to the edges of the ring projections, thus rendering further operations in the manufacture of the lamps difficult and resulting in increased consumption of soldering tape.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus for automatically and, consequently, more efficiently, welding soldering tape pieces to the internal surfaces of the contact ring projections, as well as for auto matically cutting off the welded tape pieces close to the edges of the projections.

The invention consists in apparatus for automatically welding pieces of soldering tape to the projections of a contact ring for an incandescent lamp, comprising a rotary head having ring holders and arranged to revolve intermittently with respect to work stations disposed on a table adjacent the periphery of the head, wherein there are provided a first work station having a ring container with a spiral track, a ring separator and a ring feeder, a final work station having a device for removing rings from the holders, the number of ring holders being at least equal to the number of said work stations, two work stations for welding the tape, each of which is equipped with a pair of welding electrodes, a tape cutting mechanism, a spool for tape, a mechanism for pressing the tape against a bottom one of said electrodes, and a mechanism for withdrawing excessive tape, at least one inspection work station before each welding station, each inspection station having detecting means for detecting the presence of rings in the holders connected to a memory controlling a welding current switch, between said first work station for delivering the rings and the first inspection station, means for turning each holder through 90 , and between the first and second welding stations, means for turning each holder through 1 80'.

Each pair of welding electrodes may operate substantially in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the head and is reciprocable between two positions with respect to the ring holders. Each pair may be actuated by means of a cam located on the main drive shaft of the apparatus and the brackets supporting the electrodes may either be mounted stationarily, or slidably relative to the ring being welded and be driven by means of a servo-motor.

The detecting means for detecting the presence of rings in the holders may comprise electromechanical indicators. These may include a double-arm lever, one arm of which is arranged to detect the presence of a ring and the other of which is arranged to actuate a microswitch. This indicator lever may be operated by a cam on the main drive shaft of the apparatus and its arms are preferably disposed at right angles.

The present invention enables a three fold increase in the output of prepared rings for the assembly of halogen lamps and reduces labour costs due to the fact that all mechanisms of the apparatus operate fully automatically. The pieces of soldering tape welded to the rings are cut to smaller tolerance and the consumption of the tape is thereby reduced.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment, Figure 2 illustrates a metal ring of a halogen lamp with pieces of soldering tape and shows a plan view and cross section of the ring, Figure 3 is a plan view of the vibrating ring container, Figure 4 is a side view of the ring separator, Figure 5 is a side view of the welding electrodes in the welding positions and also illustrates the mechanism for pressing the tape onto the bottom electrode, Figure 6 is a side view of the tape cutting mechanism, and Figure 7 is a side view of the indicator for detecting the presence of rings in holding grips.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the apparatus comprises a disc-shaped rotary head 1 having twelve rotatable holders 2 for contacts rings 3 mounted about the head.

Each holder is fitted with two gripping arms which grip a ring 3 under the action of a spiral spring surrounding the arms. The head 1 rotates intermittently about a vertical axis and stops at twelve stations whilst advancing the rings through six work stations comprising operating devices fixed to a stationary table 4 adjacent the circumference of the head 1.

The first station I contains a vibrating ring container 5, ring separator 6 and ring feeder 7. The container 5 has a spiral track 8 with two longitudinal cut-outs 9 in its end portion, this end portion forming three strips for supporting the rings 3. The width of the cut-outs 9 is such that the ring projections 10 (Fig. 2) freely enter them under the vibrating action of the container.

The end portion of the track 8 at the outlet of the container 5 has only one central strip 11 extending to the outside of the container 5 via the ring separator 6. This separator is made in the form of a chute for slidably guiding the rings along the strip 11 (see Fig.

4). The shape and dimensions of the cross section of the through portion of the chute correspond to the shape and dimension of the rings and, in consequence, ensure stabilised movement of these rings and the required positioning of the rings in relation to one another. At the bottom portion of the chute the separator 6 has a double-arm lever unit supporting two separating rods 12, which alternately enter the transverse holes 1 3 in the bottom portion of the chute. The spacing between the holes 1 3 and between the separating rods 12 correspond to the distance between the successive holes in rings 3 falling down the chute. At the separator chute outlet there is a ring feeder 7 in the form of a rotary arm 14.This arm has two working positions, the first one being at the separator chute outlet and the second being in direct contact with a holder 2. Arm 14 has a circular groove with a guiding wedge for introducing the falling rings into the groove and is also fitted with catches for supporting the rings by means of a spring 1 5. These catches are terminated with expansion cams 1 6 which are temporariiy inserted into the hole 1 7 of the feeder cantilever 1 8. Under the feeder arm 14 there is a member 1 9 for supporting the ring during its motion towards a holder 2.

Between the first station I and the first inspection station II, there is a roller mechanism for revolving each holder 2 through 90 .

An electromechanical indicator 20 is mounted in the station II for detecting rings in the holders 2. This indicator (see Fig. 7) includes a double-arm lever 21, one arm being arranged to detect the presence of a ring in the adjacent holder 2, and the second arm being oriented at 90 relative to the first arm and being arranged to actuate a microswitch 22 when there is no ring in the adjacent holder.

The microswitch 22 is connected to a mechanical memory 23 mounted on the table 4.

The first welding station Ill is fitted with a pair of welding electrodes 24, a mechanism 25 for cutting-off the soldering tape, a mechanism 26 for pressing the tape against the bottom electrode, a mechanism 27 for withdrawing excessive tape, and a spool 28 of tape. The electrodes 24 operate in a vertical plane containing the axis of rotation of the head 1, and each of these electrodes 24 is reciprocable between two positions relative to the holders 2. When in its working position, the end of the bottom electrode is situated under the top projection 10 of the ring 3 supported in the adjacent holder, whilst the end of the top electrode presses against to the top face of this projection. The spool 28 of soldering tape is fastened to the table 4 by means of a bracket.The tape unwound from the spool 4 moves between the electrodes 24 along the edge of the bottom electrode against which it is pressed by the tape pressing mechanism 26. The pressing member 29 of this mechanism has a concave pressing surface in order to prevent the tape from coming off the edge of the bottom electrode.

The electrodes 24 are reciprocated by means of a cam mounted on the main transmission shaft of the apparatus. Adjacent the electrodes 24 is the tape cutting mechanism 25 which has a vertical frame 30, top and bottom slides 31, 32 mounted in the frame 30 for reciprocating movement, a vertical shaft 33 slidably mounted inside the frame 30, a top lever 34 for transmitting the motion of the vertical shaft 33 to the top slide 31, as well as bottom lever 35 for transmitting the motion of the shaft 33 to the bottom slide 32. Mounted on each slide is a horizontal shaft 36, one end of which is provided with a vertical blade 37 and the opposite end with the lever 38 having a roller 39 guided along a stationary cam 40 attached to the side portion of the frame 30 and having a shape adapted to operate the blades 37 so that they cut the tape as close as possible to the edge of the ring projection 10. After cutting of the tape, the portion of the tape disposed between the edge of the projection 10 and the end of the bottom electrode is withdrawn by mechanism 27 which is driven by means of a lever and is located between the electrodes 24 and the spool 28. As a result during the next movement of the electrodes 24 towards a holder 2, the end of the tape is again introduced under the ring projection 10 together with the end of the bottom electrode.

Between the first welding station ill and the second inspection station IV there are two rest stations of the head 1. In each of these rest stations there is a roller mechanism for revolving the adjacent holder 2 through 90 . The second inspection station IV is equipped with an electro-mechanical indicator 20 as described above, for detecting the presence of rings in the holders 2.

The second welding station V is designed for welding the tape to the second projection 10 and is indentical to the first welding station Ill. Between the second welding station V and the last workstation VI there are two rest stations of the head 1, in between which the last roller mechanism for revolving the holders 2 through 90 is located. The last workstation has a device for removing the rings from the holders by means of an appropriately shaped sliding surface. Between the last work station VI and the first station I there is one rest station of the head 1.

In operation of the apparatus, rings 3 from vibrating container 5 fall down the chute of the separator 6, and are separately introduced into the holders 2 by means of the separating rods 1 2 and the arm 14 of the feeder 7.

When initially fastened in a holder both projections 10 of a ring are oriented vertically.

The first rotation of each holder 2 through 90 prepares the ring for welding of the tape to one ring projection 10, this being effected at the first welding station Ill. Welding of tape to the second projection 10 of the same ring is effected at the second welding station and requires rotation of the associated holder 2 through 180 . The last rotation of the holder 2 during each revolution of the head 1 prepares the holder for removal of the ring supported therein and for introduction of the next ring. Indicator 20 for detecting the presence of rings in the holder controls switching off of the welding current to the electrodes 24 when there is no ring in an individual holder. The mechanism located at the workstations are driven by means of cams mounted on the main drive shaft so as to achieve synchronized operation of the different mechanisms.

Claims

1. Apparatus for automatically welding pieces of soldering tape to the projections of a contact ring for an incandescent lamp, comprising a rotary head having ring holders and arranged to revolve intermittently with respect to workstations disposed on a table adjacent the periphery of the head, wherein there are provided a first work station having a ring container with a spiral track, a ring separator and a ring feeder, a final work station having a device for removing rings from the holders, the number of ring holders being at least equal to the number of said workstations, two workstations for welding the tape, each of which is equipped with a pair of welding electrodes, a tape cutting mechanism, a spool for tape, a mechanism for pressing the tape against a bottom one of said electrodes, and a mechanism for withdrawing excessive tape, at least one inspection work station before each welding station, each inspection station having detecting means for detecting the presence of rings in the holders connected to a memory controlling a welding current switch, between said first work station for delivering the rings and the first inspection station, means for turning each holder through 90 , and between the first and second welding stations, means for turning each holder through 180 .

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein between the second welding station and said final workstation there is a roller mechanism for turning each holder through 90".

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the end of the spiral track of the ring container has two longitudinal cutouts having a width permitting the projections of the rings to be introduced therein, said cutouts forming three strips for supporting the rings, and said track at the outlet of said container forming only one central strip which extends outside said container.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ring separator comprises a chute for guiding the rings discharged therealong and along said one central strip, the said chute being provided with two separating rods mounted on a common lever and arranged alternately to enter holes in the bottom portion of said chute, said chute being adapted to ensure stabilized motion of the rings and the required positioning thereof in relation to one another, and the distance between said separating rods and between the holes in the bottom portion of the chute corresponds to the distance between successive holes in the rings falling into the feeder.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the ring feeder is in the form of a rockable arm movable between two positions, one of which is disposed at the outlet of the ring separator and the other is in contact with an adjacent ring holder, said arm having a groove with a wedge for the introduction of rings into said groove and catches for supporting the falling rings, said catches being terminated by expansion cams temporarily introduced into the hole of a bracket of the feeder, with the member for supporting the rings being movable towards the adjacent holder disposed under said rockable arm.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each pair of welding electrodes operates substantially in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the head, each of the electrodes is rockable between two positions relative to the holders, soldering tape unwound from the tape spool is movable between the welding electrodes towards the adjacent holder and towards the electrode working plane by means of a mechanism for pressing the tape against the bottom electrode, and the pressing member of said mechanism has a concave pressing surface.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein each pair of welding electrodes is actuated by means of a cam situated on the main drive shaft of the apparatus, the brackets of each pair of electrodes being fixed in the associated workstation.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein each pair of welding electrodes is driven by means of a servo-motor, the brackets of each pair of electrodes being mounted in the associated workstation so as to be slidable towards the adjacent holder.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mechanism for cutting the tape comprises a frame, top and bottom slides reciprocably mounted in the frame, a first shaft slidable mounted within the frame, a top lever transmitting the motion of the shaft to the top slide, a bottom lever transmitting the motion of the shaft to the bottom slide, a second shaft mounted on each slide and having a blade and a lever engaged with a cam surface on the frame and adapted to actuate the blade so as to cut the tape close to the edge of the ring projections.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the detecting means comprises a double-arm lever having one arm arranged to detect the presence of a ring in the adjacent holder and the other arm arranged to control a microswitch, said double-arm lever being actuated by a cam of the main drive shaft of the apparatus.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotary head comprises twelve ring holders and twelve stations, and wherein between the first and second welding stations there is provided means for turning each holder through 180 and comprising two roller mechanisms which respectively turn each holder through 90 , said mechanisms being located at successive stations.

12. Apparatus for automatically welding pieces of soldering tape to the projections of a contact ring for an incandescent lamp, constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.