GB586704A - Improvements in and relating to lamp sealing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

586,704. Making electric lamps. BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON CO., Ltd. Dec. 15, 1944, No. 25213. Convention date, Dec. 15, 1943. [Class 39 (ii)] In a lamp sealing machine comprising a sealing head having means for holding the bulb in .a vertical position a spindle for supporting the mount in sealing relation to the bulb, and means for advancing the head through a plurality of stations where flames from burners are directed against the rim portions, means are provided at one of the fusing stations for causing to press the parts upwardly to form a seal, the spindle being retracted when the head leaves the station. As shown each head comprises a spindle 15 having a socket 17 into which is fitted a hollow section 18 which carries a flare mount support 20 which is hollow to allow for the accommodation of an exhaust stem and lead wires. A hollow support rod 22 is connected to an exhaust system through a hole in a boss 25 and an annular space 26 between spindle 15 and a sleeve 13. The tube 50 is held in a vertical position by a suction holder 23 comprising a gripping portion 32 fitted with a rubber gasket 31. A hand operated slide valve connects the chamber 32 to the exhaust system or alternatively to the atmosphere. Each head, which is fitted with a driving pulley 14 and is rotated by a belt 60, is moved round intermittently in a counterclockwise direction. At stations A, B, J and K the rotation of the heads is stopped by a bar 75 which engages a pin 81 in the pulley 14. This bar is held in position by a spring loaded dog 78 which allows it to open and the head to turn for an extra revolution if the pin 81 strikes the bar too fiercely. A tube and a mount 51 having no exhaust tube are loaded at B and are heated by fires 52 and 53 at stations C and D. At station E a tappet 16 on spindle 15 engages a roller which is fixed to a pivoted arm having a counterweight at the opposite end. This raises the spindle 15 and forces the tube and mount together, the fires being such that they are fused together. On leaving this station the spindle drops to its original position and at station F it encounters a roller pivoted to a bracket which again raises the spindle and forces the flare and mount together. At station G a further sealing fires are encountered and after leaving this station the spindle engages a track 76 which lifts the spindle during travel to the annealing station H, since the lead wires are resilient and the mount tends to tip when not supported. Suitable fires at station H control the rate of cooling. The bulb is removed at station J and at station K a flared mount with exhaust tube is placed on the head, the bulb is reversed and the process repeated until at station A the bulb is unloaded. As the flare mount has an exhaust tube this supports it against tipping and the track 76 is not required.