JPH11204081A - Compact fluorescent lamp and manufacture thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To mold a bulb with inexpensive glass and to provide a fluorescent lamp eliminating an unnecessary stem by softening, fusing, and closing a first opening end, and inserting a stem, sealing and closing a second opening end. SOLUTION: When a stepped U-shaped bulb with first and second straight parts 2 and 3 is used, an opening end can be closed without any stem even if a pinch sealing system is not adopted. In this fluorescent lamp, since an end requiring an electrode 11 can be closed using a stem 12, a bulb is formed without considering affinity of the electrode 11 with a glass, and inexpensive glass can be used. At an end not requiring the electrode 11, the end is closed without using stem. Therefore, cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts. Preferably, the first straight part 2 is heated, fused, and separated at a position separated from an opening end with a given distance the fused part is reshaped and closed by a burner frame.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a compact fluorescent lamp in which one of the open ends of a U-shaped glass bulb is closed by a stem and the other is closed without a stem, and a method of manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a compact fluorescent lamp in which a plurality of U-shaped glass bulbs are connected, for example, the center of a straight pipe is heated and softened to be curved into a U-shape, or the ends of two straight pipes are connected. After forming a U-shaped valve by closing it,
A fluorescent film is formed on the inner surface of the bulb by using a suspension obtained by mixing a phosphor and a solvent. As a method for hermetically closing the end of the U-shaped glass bulb (hereinafter referred to as "U-shaped bulb"), a pinch seal method or a stem method is adopted.

The pinch seal method is disclosed in, for example,
No. 267505 can be mentioned. FIG. 9 is an end sectional view showing a U-shaped valve by a pinch seal method. In this U-shaped valve, a first end 101 into which a lead wire 103 connected to one coiled filament is inserted and a second end 102 having nothing else are heated by a burner and softened and melted. Both ends are pressed by a pincher, and the contact surfaces are mixed and crushed and closed.

On the other hand, in the stem system, for example,
No. 51846 can be mentioned. Here, FIG. 10 is a sectional view in which both ends of a U-shaped valve are closed by a stem method. This is a U-shaped valve 1
The stems 112 and 113 are inserted into both open ends of the U-shaped valve 11, and then the peripheral portions of the stems 112 and 113 are heated by a burner along the open end of the U-shaped valve 1. It is welded to the opening and closed.

In view of this, a U-shaped fluorescent tube 121 is formed by closing the open end of the U-shaped bulb by such a pinch seal method or a stem method, and a plurality of these are connected to meander a discharge path. The compact fluorescent lamp 122 shown in FIG.

[0006]

However, such a conventional closing method described with reference to two examples of the pinch seal method and the stem method has the following problems.
That is, in the pinch seal method in which the lead wire is directly crushed and closed at the opening, the lead wire embedded in the crushed portion and the glass forming the U-shaped bulb must be familiar. For this reason, it is desirable to use inexpensive glass such as soda-lime glass for the U-shaped bulb, but it has been difficult to use the U-shaped bulb due to poor compatibility with the lead wire. Therefore, when the pinch seal method is adopted, U
Lead glass will be used to form the V-shaped bulb, but this lead glass is expensive and is not preferable from an environmental point of view. Also, when a lead wire that is familiar with soda lime glass is used, there is a problem that the lead wire side is costly.

On the other hand, in a stem system in which a stem having a lead wire is attached to an opening of a U-shaped valve, the lead wire and the U-shaped valve do not come into direct contact with each other. A U-shaped bulb could be formed from glass. However, in the stem system,
It was necessary to provide a stem only for sealing up to the end where no lead wire was provided, which reduced the yield and increased the cost, which was not desirable.

Further, in order to solve such a problem, both the stem system and the pinch seal system are used, and the end of the U-shaped valve on the side to which the lead wire is attached is sealed and closed by the stem, while the other end is closed. One can think of a valve that has been crushed and closed. However, if such a valve is assumed, the next problem is the manufacturing method for closing the valve. That is, it is conceivable to adopt a manufacturing method in which one end of the U-shaped valve is first closed by a pinch seal method, and then the other end is closed by a stem method.

However, according to these conventional methods,
Since the open ends of the U-shaped valve are formed so as to be aligned, for example, the end crushed by the pinch seal method protrudes from the other open end, and when the valve rotates when closing the other end by the stem method, The flame of the burner hits the closed end by the pinch seal method, and is heated again to generate distortion, which has an adverse effect such as lowering the strength or making a hole. Therefore, the valve is not closed using the stem system and the pinch seal system together, and one end is closed without the stem,
No U-shaped fluorescent tube with the other end closed by a stem has been made.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a compact fluorescent lamp in which one end of a U-shaped bulb is closed without a stem and the other end is closed with a stem, and a method of manufacturing the same.

[0011]

A compact fluorescent lamp according to the present invention is a U-shaped bulb formed in a substantially U-shape, wherein a first open end is softened and melted and closed, and the other second open end is closed. Is characterized by having a U-shaped fluorescent tube in which a stem is inserted and sealed and closed. Therefore, by adopting a U-shaped fluorescent tube in which one end of a U-shaped bulb is closed without a stem and the other end is closed with a stem, for example, the stem is inserted and sealed at the end where an electrode is required. On the other hand, since the other end, which does not require an electrode, is closed without a stem, the bulb can be formed from inexpensive glass, and the cost of the compact fluorescent lamp can be reduced by eliminating the need for an extra stem.

Also, the compact fluorescent lamp of the present invention is a U-shaped bulb wherein the first straight portion on the first opening end side is longer than the second straight portion on the second opening end side. The straight portion is circumferentially heated at a position away from the opening end by a predetermined distance, the opening end side is cut off at the boundary of the softened and melted circumferential portion, and the welding formed at the predetermined position of the first straight portion The part is shaped and closed with a burner flame, and the peripheral edge of the stem inserted into the open end of the second straight part is heated, so that the stem and the open end are welded and the U-shaped fluorescent light is closed. It is characterized by having a tube. Therefore, a compact fluorescent lamp in which one end of a U-shaped bulb is closed without a stem and the other end is closed with a stem, avoiding the problems in the combined use of the stem system and the pinch seal system as shown in the conventional example. It can be provided, the stem is inserted and sealed at the end where the electrode is needed, and the other end is closed without the stem, so that the bulb can be molded with glass of inexpensive material, and the extra stem can be provided. The cost can be reduced, for example, by eliminating the need.

Further, in the method of manufacturing a compact fluorescent lamp according to the present invention, the first straight portion on the first opening end side is substantially U-shaped so that the first straight portion is longer than the second straight portion on the second opening end side.
The U-shaped valve is rotated about the first straight portion as a center of rotation, and the first straight portion is circumferentially heated by a fixed burner at a position away from the opening end by a predetermined distance, and the softened and melted portion is heated. The opening end side is cut off at the boundary of the circumferential portion, and the welded portion formed at the predetermined position of the first straight portion is closed by shaping with a burner flame, and a stemless closing step is performed. The stem is inserted into the opening, the U-shaped valve rotates around the second straight portion as a rotation center, the peripheral portion of the stem is heated by the fixed burner, and the open end of the second straight portion and the stem are welded. And a closing step with a stem to be closed.

Accordingly, the tip is cut off, and the cut portion is further softened and melted with a burner at the cut length, and closed by leveling. Therefore, as in the conventional pinch seal method, the open end is crushed. According to the present manufacturing method, one end of the U-shaped valve is closed without the stem, and the other end is closed by the stem. It is possible to provide a compact fluorescent lamp that is closed with the fluorescent lamp. And, since the stem is inserted and sealed at the end where an electrode is required, and the other end is closed without the stem, the bulb can be formed of glass of inexpensive material, and no extra stem is required. For example, cost can be reduced.

In the method of manufacturing a compact fluorescent lamp according to the present invention, the closed end of the first straight portion closed in the stemless closing step is shorter than the open end of the second straight portion before closing by a predetermined dimension. And Therefore, when the stem inserted into the opening end of the second straight portion is sealed with the burner in the stem-equipped closing step, it is possible to prevent the other closed end, which has already been closed, from cracking due to the effect of the burner flame, and the like. Thus, a compact fluorescent lamp having high sealing properties can be provided.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a compact fluorescent lamp according to the present invention, in the closing step with the stem, the opening of the second straight portion is caused by a burner flame from a fixed burner inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a direction perpendicular to the second straight portion. And the stem are welded. Therefore, when the stem inserted into the opening end of the second straight portion is sealed with the burner in the stem-equipped closing step, it is possible to prevent the other closed end, which has already been closed, from cracking due to the effect of the burner flame, and the like. Thus, a compact fluorescent lamp having high sealing properties can be provided.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a compact fluorescent lamp and a method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the compact fluorescent lamp according to the present embodiment includes a U-shaped fluorescent tube 10 having one end closed by a stem and the other end softened and melted and closed without using a stem. Such a U-shaped fluorescent tube 1
In the case of No. 0, the stepped U-shaped valve 1 shown in FIG. In that case, for example, one end of two cylindrical glasses of a long tube and a short tube having different lengths are aligned, and the vicinity of the ends is heated and softened from the inside by a burner (not shown) inserted into each tube, and blown by a burner flame. The pipes are broken and the pipes communicate. Then, the end is further heat-softened from the outside by a burner and closed as shown in the figure, so that a stepped U-shaped valve 1 composed of a long first straight portion 2 and a short second straight portion 3 is formed. You. The U-shaped bulb 1 thus molded is washed with water on its inner surface and dried, and the phosphor is applied to the inner surface of the U-shaped bulb 1 and dried, and then put into a heating furnace to burn the phosphor onto glass. .

Thereafter, while the first straight portion 2 is closed, a stem 12 having a lead wire (hereinafter referred to as an “electrode”) 11 in which a coiled filament is connected to the second straight portion 3 is inserted and sealed. A sealed U-shaped fluorescent tube 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is formed. Therefore, a method of manufacturing the U-shaped fluorescent tube 10 will be described. U-shaped fluorescent tube 10
First, the open end of the first straight portion 2 is closed, and then the stem 12 is inserted into the open end of the second straight portion 3 and closed. As described above, in the U-shaped bulb 1 in which the phosphor is baked on the inner surface in the previous process, the first straight portion 2 is gripped by the rotating chuck, and rotates around the axis of the first straight portion 2. FIG. 3 is a simplified side view showing an end seal head for closing the first straight part 2 which constitutes a part of the manufacturing apparatus of the compact fluorescent lamp.

The end seal head 21 includes a rotating shaft 2
2 is rotatably supported by a stand 23 holding a bearing. A coaxial gear 24 is provided on the same axis as the rotating shaft 22.
2 is configured to be switched between transmission and release of rotation. A drive gear 26 to which rotational force is transmitted is meshed with the self-shaft gear 24. A holder 27 is fixed to the lower end of the rotating shaft 22, and an openable / closable valve chuck 28 is provided at the lower end. The valve chuck 28 is
As shown in the plan view of FIG. 4, a pair of substantially L-shaped hands 31, 32 are pivotally supported, respectively. The hands 31 and 32 are arranged such that one side thereof overlaps in the swinging direction, and one hand 32 is engaged with a guide lever 33 that moves so as to draw an arc around its support shaft 32a.
A support member 34 having a V-shaped groove is provided between the hands 31 and 32. And this valve chuck 2
8, when the first straight portion 2 of the valve 1 is gripped,
As shown in FIG. 3, the rotation shaft 22 and the first straight portion 2 are configured so that their axes coincide.

On the other hand, the present compact fluorescent lamp manufacturing apparatus is provided with a cutting chuck 29 for cullet cutting. FIG. 5 is a simplified side view of the cutting chuck 29. The cutting chuck 29 is vertically movable in parallel with the axis of the first straight portion 2,
It is configured to pull the tip of the gripped first straight portion 2 downward. Here, FIG. 6 is a plan view of the cutting chuck 29. The cutting chuck 29 is composed of a pair of swingable hands 41 and 42, and a V-shaped groove is formed inside a grip portion at the tip thereof.

Therefore, the stepped U-shaped bulb 1 is gripped by the valve chuck 28 of the end seal head 21 after the phosphor baking process as described above, and the process proceeds to the opening closing process. In particular, a stem-less closing step is performed after a stem-less closing step. U-shaped valve 1
The first straight portion 2 is sent between the hands 31 and 32 and hits the V-shaped groove of the support member 34. Then, both hands 31 and 32 swing inward, and the first straight portion 2 is fixed by the grip portion at the tip and the V-shaped groove of the support member 34. At this time, the axes of the first straight portion 2 and the rotating shaft 22 coincide. Therefore, when power is transmitted from the driving gear 26 to the self-shaft gear 24 and the rotation is given to the rotation shaft 22, the rotation is also given to the holder 27 integral therewith. The letter-shaped valve 1 will rotate.

In this stemless closing step, the rotating U
One burner 51 for closing the first straight portion 2 is provided for the V-shaped valve 1 as shown in FIG. The burner 51 is arranged so that a burner flame is emitted in a direction orthogonal to the first straight portion 2, and particularly, the height of the burner 51 is such that the closed end of the first straight portion 2 is the tip of the second straight portion 3 as described later. This is a position that is shorter by 1 to 2 mm. Here, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the U-shaped valve 1 showing a stemless closing step of the first straight portion 2,
(A) to (d) are shown in chronological order.

Therefore, first, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), the burner 51 heats a predetermined position of the first straight portion 2 to the rotating U-shaped valve 1 in a circumferential shape. Then, FIG.
As shown in (b), the first straight portion 2 heated by the burner 51 has a softened portion 2a formed circumferentially,
When the softened portion 2a is sufficiently melted, the tip 2
b is gripped by the cutting chuck 29 and is gradually pulled downward. The U-shaped valve 1 is a cutting chuck 2
The rotation of the distal end portion 2b gripped by 9 causes a twist to occur in the softened portion 2a, and the distal end is pulled downward, so that the middle portion of the softened portion 2a is gradually reduced in diameter.

When the cutting chuck 29 is lowered by a predetermined amount, the tip 2b of the first straight portion 2 is cut as shown in FIG. 7 (c). At this time, since the cutting portion 2c of the first straight portion 2 is cut by being twisted, the cutting portion 2c is closed without opening a hole at the cutting end. After that, the cutting portion 2c extending further downwards is
The stemless closing step of closing the open end without using the stem by heating with the burner flame is completed. In addition, the closed end 2d formed in this manner is such that its lower end position is about 1 to 2 mm more than the end of the second straight portion 3.
(= M) (see FIG. 8).

The U-shaped valve 1 after the stemless closing step has been completed is transferred to a stemless closing step, and is sent to a head (not shown), where the second straight portion 3 is gripped by a chuck, and the second straight portion 3 is held. The U-shaped valve 1 rotates around 3. Here, FIG.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the U-shaped valve 1 showing a closing step with a stem of the second straight portion 3. In this closing step with a stem, the U-shaped valve 1 rotating around the second straight portion 3 is heated to heat the second straight portion 3.
Burners 52 are provided. This burner 52
The burner flame is the open end of the second straight part 3 and the stem 1
The burner 52 is disposed so as to be focused at an angle of about 1 to 2 with respect to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the second straight portion 3 so that the peripheral portion of the second straight portion 3 is focused.

Therefore, a stem 12 having an electrode 11 and an exhaust pipe 13 is inserted into the opening of the second straight portion 3 of the U-shaped valve 1, and the U-shaped valve is centered on the axis of the second straight portion 3. 1 is rotated and the open end is heated by the burner 52. Then, the peripheral edge of the stem 12 and the opening end of the second straight portion 3 are welded and closed. As described above, in the closing step with the stem, the closed end 2d without the stem closed in the previous step glazes the burner flame, but the end position is shortened by about 1 to 2 mm, and the burner 52 is also closed by 1 to 2 mm. Since the angle of about ° is provided, the burner flame does not heat the closed end 2d, and there is no effect of causing distortion or the like. The U-shaped fluorescent tube 10 (FIG. 1) formed in this way is connected to a plurality of other U-shaped bulbs formed to form a compact fluorescent lamp having a meandering discharge path as shown in FIG. Is done.

Therefore, conventionally, it was difficult to use both the stem system and the pinch seal system, and it was not possible to close both ends by different systems. However, in the compact fluorescent lamp of the present embodiment, the first straight portion 2 and the second By using the U-shaped valve 1 that is different from the straight portion 3, the open end can be closed without a stem without using a pinch seal method. Further, in the compact fluorescent lamp of the present embodiment, since the stem 12 can be closed at the end where the electrode 11 is required, the bulb can be formed without considering the compatibility between the electrode 11 and the glass. It is sufficient to use an inexpensive material for the glass, and the end where the electrode 11 is not necessary is closed without using a stem, so that the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment,
The closed end of the first straight portion 2 is made shorter by 1 to 2 mm than the tip of the second straight portion 3, and the burner 52 for closing the second straight portion 3 is moved by about 1 with respect to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the second straight portion 3. Although they are arranged with an inclination of ２2 °, such numerical values are values that can be changed in design.

[0029]

According to the present invention, there is provided a U-shaped valve formed into a substantially U-shape, in which a first open end is softened and melted and closed, and a stem is inserted and sealed into the other second open end. With the configuration having a closed U-shaped fluorescent tube, a stem is inserted and sealed at the end where an electrode is required,
Since the other end is closed without the stem, the bulb can be formed of inexpensive material glass, and a compact fluorescent lamp that does not require an extra stem can be provided.

The present invention is also a U-shaped valve wherein the first straight portion on the first opening end side is longer than the second straight portion on the second opening end side, wherein the first straight portion extends from the opening end. Heated circumferentially at a position separated by a predetermined distance, the opening end side is cut off at the boundary of the softened and melted circumferential portion, and the welded portion formed at the predetermined position of the first straight portion is shaped by a burner flame. The U-shaped fluorescent tube was closed by being heated and heating the peripheral edge of the stem inserted into the open end of the second straight portion, and the stem was welded to the open end. So
One end of a U-shaped bulb can be closed without a stem, and the other end can be closed and closed with a stem, and a compact fluorescent lamp can be provided. Since the end is closed without the stem, the bulb can be formed of inexpensive material glass, and a compact fluorescent lamp that does not require an extra stem can be provided.

The present invention also provides a U-shaped valve having a substantially U-shaped configuration in which a first straight portion on a first opening end side is longer than a second straight portion on a second opening end side. The U-shaped valve is rotated around one straight portion as a rotation center, and the first straight portion is circumferentially heated by a fixed burner at a position away from the opening end by a predetermined distance, and the softened and melted circumferential portion is bordered. The opening end side is cut off, a stemless closing step in which the welded portion formed at the predetermined position of the first straight portion is shaped and closed by burner flame, and a stem is inserted into the opening of the second straight portion, and A stem-forming closing step in which the U-shaped valve rotates around the second straight portion as a rotation center, the peripheral portion of the stem is heated by the fixed burner, and the open end of the second straight portion and the stem are welded and closed; Because they have, and closes one end of the U-shaped valve without stem, it has enabled the production method that can provide a compact fluorescent lamp which is closed by there stem the other end.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a U-shaped bulb constituting a compact fluorescent lamp.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a U-shaped valve 1 before an opening is closed.

FIG. 3 is a simplified side view showing an end seal head for closing a long tube 2;

4 is a plan view showing a valve chuck 28. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a simplified side view of a cutting chuck 29;

6 is a plan view of a cutting chuck 29. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the valve 1 showing a stemless closing step.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the valve 1 showing a closing step with a stem.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view in which both ends of a U-shaped valve are closed by a pinch seal method.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view in which both ends of a U-shaped valve are closed by a stem method.

FIG. 11 is an external perspective view showing a compact fluorescent lamp.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 U-shaped bulb 2 1st straight part 3 2nd straight part 10 U-shaped fluorescent tube 11 electrode 12 stem

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A U-shaped valve formed in a substantially U-shape, wherein a first opening end is softened and melted and closed, and a stem is inserted and sealed into the other second opening end and closed. A compact fluorescent lamp having a U-shaped fluorescent tube. 2. The compact fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein the first straight portion on the first opening end side is longer than the second straight portion on the second opening end side. The first straight portion is circumferentially heated at a position away from the opening end by a predetermined distance, the opening end side is cut off at the boundary of the softened and melted circumferential portion, and formed at the predetermined position of the first straight portion. The welded portion was shaped and closed by the burner flame, and the peripheral edge of the stem inserted into the open end of the second straight portion was heated, so that the stem and the open end were welded and closed. A compact fluorescent lamp having a U-shaped fluorescent tube. 3. A substantially U-shaped valve in which a first straight portion on a first opening end side is longer than a second straight portion on a second opening end side. The U-shaped valve is rotated around the center of rotation, and the first straight portion is circumferentially heated at a position separated from the opening end by a predetermined distance by the fixed burner,
A stemless closing step in which the opening end side is cut off at the boundary of the softened and melted peripheral portion, and a welded portion formed at the predetermined position of the first straight portion is shaped and closed by burner flame; The stem is inserted into the opening of the straight part, the U-shaped valve rotates around the second straight part as a rotation center,
A method for manufacturing a compact fluorescent lamp, comprising a closing step with a stem in which a peripheral edge of a stem is heated by a fixed burner and an opening end of a second straight portion and the stem are welded and closed. 4. The method for manufacturing a compact fluorescent lamp according to claim 3, wherein a closed end of the first straight portion closed in the stemless closing step is shorter than an open end of the second straight portion before closing by a predetermined dimension. A method of manufacturing a compact fluorescent lamp. 5. The method for manufacturing a compact fluorescent lamp according to claim 3, wherein in the closing step with a stem, the fixed burner is tilted by a predetermined angle with respect to a direction perpendicular to the second straight portion. A method for manufacturing a compact fluorescent lamp, wherein an opening and a stem are welded by a burner flame.