JPH0528917A - Sealing device for tubular bulb - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To better the weldability of a tubular bulb and to make it easy to eliminate thermal distortion of the bulb by making an electrode mount float up from a guide, softening an open end portion and a flare peripheral edge portion through heating using ring burners, and putting the mount in vertical motion so that a portion to be sealed is welded. CONSTITUTION:The evacuation pipe portion 7 of an electrode mount 3 and the external conductor of a lead wire 5 are passed through a mount guide 33 and the end portion of the evacuation pipe is made to abut on a stopper 36 and the flare portion inside face of the mount 3 is made to float up from the guide 33 and then chuck pawls 37, 38 are closed to support the mount 3. The outside diameter of the stem tube flare peripheral edge portion of the mount 3 is smaller than the bore of each open end portion 2 of a U-shaped glass tube 1. The end portion 2 of the tube 1 having a phosphor film formed on the inside face thereof is coveringly put over the mount 3 and positioned at predetermined height and supported by chucks. Next a rotary table 54 is moved and burners 32 are each ignited so that a junction portion between the end portion 2 and the peripheral edge portion 55 is formed and that the end portion 2 and the peripheral edge portion 55 are welded together.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bulb sealing device for manufacturing a bulb such as a fluorescent lamp, and more particularly to a sealing device for sealing an electrode mount at an open end of a glass tube. ..

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows, for example, JP-A-1-258341.
It is a sectional view showing the important section of the conventional sealing device shown by the gazette. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 is a glass tube bent in a U shape, and a phosphor coating is formed on the inner surface thereof. Reference numerals 2 and 2 denote both open ends of the U-shaped glass tube 1, and the respective electrode mounts 3 and 3 are sealed. The electrode mount 3,
The lead wires 5 and 5 are attached to the stem tube at 3, and the coil wires 6 and 6 are attached to the lead wires 5 and 5, respectively.
6 is formed so as to be supported. Reference numerals 7 and 7 denote exhaust pipes, which are used to exhaust the inside of the glass tube 1 after sealing the glass tube 1 and the electrode mounts 3 and 3.

Conventionally, as a device structure for sealing the electrode mounts 3 and 3 to both open ends 2 and 2 of the glass tube 1, a base 30 is provided, and the base 30 has a predetermined interval. The mount holders 33, 33 are attached with an interval.

The mount holders 33, 33 are inserted into the base 30 from above via the burner sleeves 31, 31 and ring burners 32, 32, and one end of the mount holders 33, 33 is fitted with a nut 35 via sealing rings 34, 34. , 35. The mount holders 33, 33 are arranged so that the upper ends thereof come into contact with the flares of the electrode mounts 3, 3. In addition, 3 provided on the base 30
Reference numerals 0A and 30A respectively denote gas supply ports, and the gas is supplied through the through holes 30B and 30B of the base 30 and the burner sleeves 31 and 3.
It is supplied to the ring burners 32, 32 after passing through between the inner circumference of 1 and the outer circumference of the mount holders 33, 33.

On the other hand, molded plates 36 are loosely fitted to the outer circumferences of the burner sleeves 31, 31 with the same mounting pitch. Then, the molding plate 36 has a molding recess 36 for molding the glass tube opening end portions 2 and 2 which have been softened by heating and welding the stem tube flare peripheral portions 45 and 45 to each other.
A and 36A are provided. The molding plate 36 is supported and fixed to a mounting base 37, and has a structure of vertically moving together with an operating shaft (not shown). Working axis is roller 41
Is operated up and down via the operating table 40.

Further, columns 43, 43 are attached to the base 30, and a valve chuck (not shown) is held by the columns 43, 43. The thus configured one is attached to, for example, the peripheral portion of the rotary table 44 of the machine.

In this state, the rotary table moves and the ring burners 32, 32 are ignited, the flare peripheral portions 45, 45 of the glass tube 1 and the electrode mounts 3, 3 are heated and softened, and the molding plate 36 is operated to perform molding. Welding is performed while forming the welded portion by the depression 36A. After being sealed in this way, the valve chuck is opened and the roller 4
Increase the amount of rise of 1 by a predetermined amount, close the valve chuck again to make the sealing part float from the mount holders 33, 33, and gradually cool the sealing part while waiting for the U-shaped glass tube to solidify from the valve chuck. Removed.

[0008]

However, in the conventional sealing device as shown in FIG. 6, however, glass lumps are generated in the molding portion, undesired thermal strain is generated, and product yield due to cracks is generated. There was a problem such as the decrease.

Further, it is necessary to have a function of lifting the welded portion from the mount holder for removing strain, which causes a problem that the apparatus becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tube sealing device having a high product yield and a simple heating and softening process.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a tube sealing device as follows.
That is, a valve chuck for supporting a glass tube having a downward opening end, a mount guide for positioning an electrode mount having a flare peripheral portion having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the opening end, and a opening guide for the opening end. A ring burner which is arranged at a position facing the opening portion and heats and softens the opening end portion and the flare peripheral edge portion, and the opening end portion and the flare peripheral edge portion are heated and softened by the ring burner with the electrode mount floating from the mount guide. And an exhaust pipe chuck capable of moving up and down to move a mount up and down to weld a planned sealing portion.

[0012]

With this construction, in the present invention, the open end of the glass tube and the peripheral edge of the flare are heated and welded evenly while conforming to each other.

[0013]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a fluorescent lamp sealing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the main part of the same embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of an essential part of FIG. 4, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory views of the same embodiment at the time of sealing.

In each of the drawings, 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 are parts equivalent to the parts with the same reference numerals in the conventional example shown in FIG. Reference numeral 55 denotes a flare peripheral portion having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the open end 2 of the glass tube 1. Reference numeral 30 denotes a base, and mount guides 33, 33 are attached to the base 30 at predetermined intervals.

The mount guides 33, 33 are inserted into the base 30 from above via the burner sleeves 31, 31 and the ring burners 32, 32, and one end portion (lower end in the figure) of the sealing rings 34, 34. Nut 3 through
It is fixed by 5,35. Note that 30A and 30A provided on the base 30 respectively indicate gas supply ports, and communicate with the through holes 30B and 30B of the base 30.
Gas passes through the through holes 30B, 30B and the burner sleeve 31,
It is passed between the inner circumference of 31 and the outer circumference of the mount guides 33, 33, and is supplied to the ring burners 32, 32.

On the other hand, below the mount guides 33, 33 with the same mounting pitch, exhaust pipe stoppers 36,
The exhaust pipe chuck claws 37 and 38 are arranged in parallel with each other. The exhaust pipe stoppers 36, 36 and the respective exhaust pipe chuck claws 37, 38 are supported and fixed to the elevating plate 39, and are structured to move up and down together with the operating shaft 40. The operating shaft 40 is vertically moved by a roller 42 via an operating base 41, and further via guide shafts 43, 43 provided on the base 30 and bearings 44, 44 provided on a lift plate 39. Reference numerals 45 and 45 are springs that press the operating shaft 40 downward. The lowering position of the operating shaft 40 is determined by the nut 46. Further, the exhaust pipe chuck claws 37, 38 are formed by integrally forming open / close pins 47, 47 and gears 51, 51 which are loosely fitted to bearings 48 provided on the elevating plate 39, and form a pair. And exhaust pipe chuck claw 3
The rollers 50 and 50 open and close the opening and closing pins 47 and 47 of the rollers 7 and 37 via the arms 49 and 49. 52
Is a spring for closing both exhaust pipe chuck claws 37, 38. Also, columns 53, 53 are attached to the base 30, and bulbs (glass tubes) are attached to the columns 53, 53.
A chuck (not shown) is held and attached to the peripheral portion of the rotary table 54.

Next, the operation of the embodiment having such a configuration will be described. First, the exhaust pipe portions 7, 7 of the electrode mounts 3, 3 and the lead wires 5, 5 are attached to the mount guides 33, 33.
The outer side of the exhaust pipe is inserted to bring the end (downward in the figure) into contact with the stoppers 36, 36, and the flanks of the electrode mounts 3, 3 are floated from the mount guides 33, 33 with the chuck claws 37, 38 is closed to support the electrode mounts 3, 3.

As described above, this electrode mount 3,3
The outer diameters of the peripheral portions 55, 55 of the stem tube flare are smaller than the inner diameters of both open ends 2, 2 of the U-shaped glass tube 1. Then, the two open ends 2 and 2 of the U-shaped glass tube 1 having the phosphor coating formed on the inner surface are covered and positioned at a predetermined height so as to cover the electrode mounts 3 and 3. It is supported by a chuck (not shown).

In this state, the rotary table 54 moves and the burners 32, 32 ignite, respectively, and the flare peripheral portions 55, 55 are opened from the glass tube opening end portions 2, 2 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the elevating plate 39 is moved up and down by the rollers 42 to be softened by heating and softened, and flare peripheral portions 55, 55 of the glass tube both open ends 2, 2 and the electrode mounts 3, 3 are heated.
The joint part with is molded and welded.

Regarding the stepwise heating from the glass tube opening end portions by making the outer diameter of the flare peripheral portions 55, 55 smaller than the inner diameter of the glass tube opening end portions 2 and 2, the glass tube opening end portions 2 can be heated stepwise. , 2 is closed at the other end (upper side in the figure), that is, is formed in a U shape, so that the burner flame enters the glass tube through the clearance between the flare outer circumference and the inner circumference of the glass tube opening end. Since the so-called chimney effect of sucking is not provided, the outer circumference of the flare and the wall thickness of the opening end of the glass tube are easily welded.

After being sealed in this manner, the inner surface of the welding portion and the flare portion are mounted on the mount guides 33, in order to remove thermal strain.
The U-shaped glass tube is removed from the bulb chuck after being solidified while being gradually cooled without floating from 33.

This embodiment is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 62-223941 and 59-201341.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-25833, which is an improvement of the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication
It is an improvement of the invention disclosed in No. 41. Although the sealing of both open ends of the U-shaped fluorescent lamp has been described, the present invention is of course applicable to the open ends of a bulb whose one glass tube end is closed.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, a flare peripheral portion having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the opening end is arranged in the opening end of the glass tube, and the flare portion inner surface of the electrode mount is mounted on the mount guide. With the ring burner, it is heated and softened from the open end to the flare periphery, and the electrode mounts are moved up and down, and the glass is welded while acclimatizing each other, resulting in good weldability and easy removal of thermal strain. A sealing device having a high yield can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part of an embodiment of a sealing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an essential part of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram at the time of sealing.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram at the time of sealing.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional sealing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 U-shaped glass tube 2 Glass tube opening end 3 Electrode mount 7 Exhaust tube 32 Ring burner 33 Mount guide 37 Exhaust tube chuck section 38 Exhaust tube chuck section

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A valve chuck for supporting a glass tube having a downward opening end, and an electrode mount having a flare peripheral portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the opening end within the opening end. Mount guide, a ring burner arranged at a position facing the opening end to heat and soften the opening end and the flare periphery, and an opening end by the ring burner in a state where the electrode mount is floated from the mount guide. A tube sealing device, comprising: an exhaust pipe chuck capable of heating and softening a peripheral portion of a flare and vertically moving an electrode mount to weld a planned sealing portion.