697,341. Transfer devices. SYLVANIA ELECTRIC PRODUCTS. Inc. Dec. 11, 1950 [Dec. 10, 1949]. No. 30277/50. Class 117 [Also in Groups XI and XXX] Apparatus for transferring tubular articles from one position to another, as in the manufacture of tubular electric lamps or fluorescent tubes (see Group XI) comprises a transfer arm 80 rotatable about a first axis disposed transversely of the length of the arm, and gripping jaws 68 mounted on the transfer arm 80 and rotatable about a second axis parallel with the length of the arm and arranged to engage a tubular article disposed substantially parallel with the arm, means being provided for rotating the gripping jaws about the said second axis in timed relation with the rotation of the transfer arm about the first axis and for releasing a tubular article from the jaws at the conclusion of the transfer operation. The apparatus described as employed in conjunction with means for sealing a succession of elongated glass tubes to lamp mounts carried in holders upon a rotary turret such as that described in Specification 625,409, [Group XL(a)]. A glass tube 12, Figs: 2 and 8, at a pick-up position 22 on a feed table 19 is grasped between the jaws 68, which are opened automatically, and the transfer arm 80 is swung through an arc of 90 degrees from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, to that shown in broken lines, and,at the same time the transfer arm is rotated about its own axis through 180 degrees to position the tube correctly relative to a mount carried by the sealing head 44 then located at the tube releasing position B, whereupon the jaws 68 are opened and the tube is received in the already opened jaws of the sealing head. The transfer arm 80 is tubular and rotatable about its own axis in a collar 1 which is keyed upon a shaft 2, and a bevel gear 3 secured upon the arm 80 near the collar 1 is engaged by a larger bevel gear 4 constrained for.limited rotary movement upon the shaft 2. A slidable push rod 62 which extends axially within the arm 80, throughout the length of the latter; and also extends through the collar 1 and shaft 2, projects outwardly so that in the vertical position of the arm 80 the projecting end of the rod 62 abuts against a cam-operated lever 60, thereby producing upward longitudinal movement of the push-rod and opening the gripping jaws 68 extending laterally relative to the arm 80 at its outer end. The jaws are pivotally mounted and are normally held closed by a spring connected between them. The jaws are opened to pick up the tubes individually from the table 19, Fig. 8, on to which they are rolled from an inclined shoot 21, a gate or escapement device being provided to admit one tube at a time from the supply to an intermediate position, and from there to the pick-up position. The escapement mechanism comprises two successively operated devices controlled by a single cam 33, Fig. 7 (not shown), on the shaft 2 and connected to bell-cranks 28, Fig. 8, which are pivoted at one side of the table frame, above one end of the tubes, and connected by long links 27, 32 to similar bellcranks above the other end of the tubes, each bell-crank providing pivotal support for a vertical rod 29 depending therefrom within. a guide strap 30. The rods 29 are thus caused to reciprocate vertically and, as they are raised, lateral fingers 31 thereon are lifted from the path of the tubes on the shoot 21, the timing of the separate movements of the two pairs of rods 29 ensuring the passage of one tube only. The 180 degrees axial rotation of the arm 80 is effected while the latter is between the 15 degrees and 75 degrees points of the 90 degrees arc which it describes, the bevel wheel 4 being then held against rotation, while the bevel wheel 3 travels around it until it meets an abutment 65 on the larger wheel 4. When the tube is in the position 12<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 2, its lower end is above an inclined cam track 50 and, with the holding jaws then opened, the tube is retained in a vertical position by the slight tension of a resilient finger 13' on the transfer arm 80<SP>1</SP> and slides down on to an electrode mount during the travel of the mount carrier from station B to station C, Fig. 1. The tube holders 45 of the lamp sealing head 44 then grip the tube and hold it in position for the sealing operation, whereupon the tube transfer arm makes a return stroke to pick up another tube.