US1593825A

US1593825A - Automatic bulb-feeding device

Info

Publication number: US1593825A
Application number: US729053A
Authority: US
Inventors: Higgins John Joseph
Original assignee: Westinghouse Lamp Co
Current assignee: Westinghouse Lamp Co
Priority date: 1924-07-30
Filing date: 1924-07-30
Publication date: 1926-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 1943-07-27

Description

July 27 1926.

J. J. HIGGINS AUTOMATIC BULB FEEDING DEVICE Filed July so, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 aNvENToR J-OHN J. HIGGINS |l lil I inl Illxl 'LTTORNEY July 27 1926.

J. J. HIGGINS AUTOMATIC BULB FEEDING DEVICE mmll. n ..0 L

INVENTOR uoH/v u. maa/Ns BZ/M ATTORNEY atented July 27, 1926.

iaasas lJOHN .TOSEBH HIGGNS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T WESTING- HOUSE LAMP COMPANY, .A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIEC EULB-FEEDING DEVICE.

vApplication filed July 30, 1921i. Serial No. 729,053.

rlhis invention relates to machines for manufacturing incandescent electric lamps, particularly to mechanism for transferring a lamp part from one position to another. An object of the invention is to provide a device for the expeditious and accurate transfer of a lampbulb from a tray to a lamp-makin@ machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and effective bulb transfer mechanism which may be applied to a lampmaking machine for the automatic disposition of lam bulbs therein.

@ther ob]ects and advantages will be apparent as the description proceeds.

ln the manufacture of incandescent elec-. tric lamps, it is desirable to eliminate Vas'far as possible all manual operations and to this end, the present inventionprovides a mechanism which may be applied to one type of `machine employed in the manufacture of such lamps. y

'.lhe machine to which the present invention is applied is known in the art as a seal ing-in machine; that is, a machine in which the mount is sealed to the bulb portion. The lamp bulbs have heretofore been applied to the .sealing-in machine by a manual operation, the operator having to perform the function of inserting a lamp mount in a socalled sealing-in head and subsequently positioning a lamp bulb over the mount, after which the sealing-in operation is performed.

ln the present invention,l lamp bulbs are initially positioned in a tray provided with a plurality of tracks or slots. This tray is then disposed in an inclined position adjacentto an apron or conveyor provided with pockets adapted to coincide with the several slots. The lamps are fed by gravity and enter the slots, after which they are moved to a predetermined position by the conveyor. The conveyor may be positioned in a given operating relation to a sealing-in machine and a transfer or lifter arm is provided to oscillate between the conveyor and sealingin machine to transfer a bulb from the conveyor to said machine.

Coordinating mechanism is arranged to operate the conveyor in proper timed relation to the sealing-in machine so that when a head thereof is in its proper relative position with respect to the conveyor, the transfer arm will operate to lift a bulb from the conveyor and transport it to position in the sealingin head. 4

The invention embodies novel constructional features which will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in Which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention applied to a sealing-in machine, part of the structure being broken away to show certain operation mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1; y

lFig. 3 is a detail view ofthe transfer arm with portions of the spindle and operating mechanism in section;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional ldetail of mechanism for stopping sealing-in heads in given positions, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of an end of thel transfer arm having gripping jaws.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates a sealing-in machine which may be of any of the well known types. AdjacentLo the sealing-in machine is positioned a conveyor 11 of the endless type, rotatable upon shafts 12 and 13. The conveyor may comprise a flexible belt 14C having a plurality of pockets or carrier-members 15 suitably secured thereto and adapted to be moved with the belt 14. 'lhe pocketsmay be arranged to be positioned in alignment with slots 16 of a hopper or tray 17. rllhe tray may bev suitably supported at an angle to effect a downward movement of bulbs 18, slidably disposed in the slots. 'lhe bulbs may thus enter the pockets 15 when thepockets are positioned adjacent to the slots. l` he conveyor may then be moved by mechanism to be hereinafter described until a. bulb is positioned in a predetermined position with respect to a sealing-in machine. This position is indicated in the drawing bv the letter A.

lIt will be appreciated that when a tray* is iilled with bulbs and a plurality of bulbs equal to the number of slots inthe tray have been removed by the conveyor, the empty pockets of the conveyor following the filled pockets will receive a bulb from the first slot with which it becomes aligned. The same operation will'occur when the next emptypocket-reaches the first slot and this operation will be repeated until the Erst slot has been emptied after which the BUI . this type andthe same has,

remaining slots will be emptied in like manner. As a bulb is moved by the conveyor to' position, indicated in the drawing by the letter A, means aie provided for raising the bulbl vertically to bring the upper portion thereof suiliciently above the pockets to be grasped by a transfer arm. This means may comprise an inclined surface 20 (see Fig. 2) supported on a platform 21 properly arranged with respect to the mov* ing conveyor so that an end of a bulb will traverse the inclined surface and, as the conveyor is moved, the bulb will be lifted. A guard member 21 may be provided to close the ends of the pockets 15 as they are moved to position bulbs for removal by a transfer arm 22 arranged to oseillate upon a sleeve or shaft, to be hereinafter described, be-

tween the conveyor and a sealing-in machinel for the transfer of a lamp bulb to the liitter.

The sealing-in machine may include supporting table or structure 23 upon which a spider or conveyor 23" is rotatably mounted. The spider may have a plurality of sealingin heads 24 radially disposed thereon and mounted on shafts 24', spaced at intervals in hubs 24. These heads may be movable in a circular path with the spider which is operated intermittently through the agency of a Geneva movement comprising the usual slotted disk 25 (see Fig. 1) which is secured to a shaft 26 to which the conveyor is also fastened. The disk 25 is operated intermittently by the usual driving arm 27 which may be mounted on a shaft 28 to which a worm wheel 29 .is secured. Said worm Wheel may be in mesh with la worm 31 secured to a shaft 32 which may be operated through the action of any suitable type of pin clutch Which permits one revolution of the shaft for each actuation of the clutch. Such clutches are common in machines of therefore, not been illustrated. The shaft 32 may be provided with a beveled gear 33 disposed in mesh with another gear 34 secured to an end of a shaft 35. The opposite end of this shaft may be provided with a beveled gear 36 in mesh with a beveled gear 37 at one end of a shaft 38. The opposite end of this shaft may be provided with a beveled gear 39 disposed in mesh with a beveled gear 41 secured to an end of a shaft 42. The shaft 38 may extend beyond the gear 39 and be provided with a beveled gear 44 disposed in mesh With a gear 45, at the end of a shaft 46, which shaft may be carried in a suitable bearing Aand provided with a beveled gear 47 in mesh with another beveled gear 48 secured to the vertical shaft 13 constituting the driving shaft of the conveyor. An intermittent movement of the conveyor is etfectedthrough the various gearing just described which may be connected to a suitable source of power as for example a motor ltioned.

It will be noted that inasmuch as the shaft 32 is permitted to make a complete revolution for each actuation of a clutch, the shaft`46 which drives the conveyor anl the shaft 42 will also make a complete revolution. Gearing of the required ratio may be provided to translate motion to the conveyor and move thesame a given distance to position the pockets 15 in alignment with the slots 16 with each actuation of the spider 23 of the sealing-in machine. The shaft 42 may be secured to a barrel cam 49 which comprises means for effecting an oscillatory movement of the transfer arm 22. Mechanism for eifecting this movement includes a segment 51 pivoted on a pin 52 at the under side of a frame or other structure as indicated in Fig. 2. The segment is provided with a downwardly projecting stud 54 disposed in a sinuous groove 55 of the cam 49. The groove 55 is so disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 42 that a complete rotation of the cam results in an oscillation of the segment 51.

To eifect an oscillatory movement of the arm 22, a shaft or sleeve 5 (see Fig. 3) upon which a portion of the operating mechanism of the arm is mounted is slidably connected to a toothed-disk 56 disposed in mesh with the toothed portion of the segment 5l. The toothed-disk 56 is provided with a key 57 (see Fig. 3), movable in a key-way 58 formed longitudinally in the sleeve 50, thus providing for the slidable movement of the sleeve through the disk 56 and at the same time be rotatable therewith. 'A bearing arm or bracket 56 may be provided to support the disk 56 which in conjunction with the frame-work 53 of the machine prevents vertical movement of the disk.

In addition to an oscillatory movement of the transfer arm, it is necessary to effect a vertical reciprocation thereof in order toA bring the jaws 59 downwardly about the spherical portion of a bulb and to move the jaws from about the bulb when a bulb has been deposited in a sealing-in machine. The jaws may open by reason of the potential energy of a )usb-rod connected therewith and hereina ter more fully described. Means for closing the jaws may comprise a lever arm G0 pivoted at one end in a depending bearing 61, secured to the framework 53 of the machine.

The arm 60 may be positioned and shaped to engage with an end 62 (see Figs. 2 and 3) of a push-rod 63 movable vertically in the sleeve 50. The arm 60 may be provided With a pin 64 positioned in contact with a face 65 of a cam member 66 secured to the shaft 42. The effective cam surface may be energy, effect a movement of certain elements to be later described to open the aws.

l rlhe sleeve which carries the transfer arm may be rotatably supported in a guidebearing 66 and a collar 67 may be provided to limit the downward movement of the sleeve. The collar may be adjustable along` the sleeve and held in position by a suitable set-screw. The transfer arm may comprise a carrier member 68 secured at one end to the sleeve 50 and may terminate in a multiple-bearing block 69.

A plurality of bell-crank levers 71 may be journaled in bearings provided in the block 69 with one of each of the arms of the cranks depending and having the jaws or grippingfaces 59 secured thereto.

The opposite arms of the bell-cranks 71 are connected to links 72 pivoted in bearings 73 in a movable-head 75. rlhis head may be provided with ears 76 having pins 77 secured therein and adapted. to engage with a double-forked end 78 of av lever 79 pivoted in a bearing 81 integral with the carriermember 68. The opposite end 82 of the member 7 9 is forked to embrace the pushrod 63 between collars 83 and 84; A ver-` tical reciprocation of the push-rod will thus cause the jaws 59 to be opened or closed as 'the head 75 is raised and lowered.

For the purpose of maintaining the proper relative positions yof the head 7 5 and the bearing block 69, the bloclr is provided with a centrally located guide pin 85 arranged to enter an aperture 86 in the head 75, thus maintaining 'the proper operating relation of the parts during the opening and closing cf the jaws when the push-rod 63 is reciprocated through. the rotation of the shaft 42.

As the transfer arm 22 is moved from one position to another it is raised and lowered to bring the jaws 59 about a bulb to lift the same and to deposit the bulb in the sealing-in head. The vertical movement of the arm may be effected through the shaft 42 upon which the barrel-cam 49 is mounted.

A cam-member 87 having-a cam-face 88' may-be secured upon the shaft 42 adjacent the barrel-cam and may engage with a pin 89 (see Fig. 1), fastened to and projecting from an arm 91 pivoted at 90 on the bearing 61 which also carries the arm 60 for actuating the push-rod 63. rlChe free end 92 of the "arm 91 may be forked and adapted to embrace a flanged collar 93 secured to the sleeve 50. An oscillation of the lever 91 will cause the transfer arm to be lifted and lowered in accordance with the effective cam-surface 88 which may be so formed that as the shaft 42 revolves and the mechanism is actuated to oscillate the transfer arm, the transfer arm will be lifted from one position and lowered to the other position and vice versa.

lit will be noted that the cam 66 is positioned to operate the lever 60 in conjunction with a cam-surface 88 of the cam 87. rlhus, when the transfer arm is lowered to posi tion the gripping jaws about a bulb at position A, a movement of the shaft 42 to actuate the cam 87 will also actuate the cam 66 vto lift the lever arm 60 to engage the push-rod 63, thus bringing the jaws 59 in contact with the bulb. The cam 66- is so arranged that the push-rod will be engaged by the lever during the operation of the camsurface 88 to raise the transfer arm and as .the cam-surface permits the transfer arm to be lowered to position a bulb in sealing-in machine, 4the, cam 66 also permits the lever` varm 66 to-be disengaged from the push-rod 63. Upon a release of the push-rod, it will, by reason of its potential energy, drop, causing a movement of the member 79 to open the jaws, leaving the transfer arm free to be again raised 'and moved to grip another bulb at `position A.

The oscillatory movement of the transfer arm is governed by the barrel-cam which may be 'provided with a neutral portion to permit a rotation of the shaft 42 when the transfer arm is positioned with thejaws 59 directly over a bulb receiving or depositing position. 42 may, therefore, cause the jaws to move vertically to either receive or deposit a bulb.

The sealing-in head 24, as illustrated, may include the usual bulb adapter 94 having faces to receive and adjust a bulb in proper vertical alignment when the bulb is dropped into the adapter. lt will be understood that by reason of the construction of the sealing-in head, it is not necessary that the transfer arm operate to move a bulb to the final position inthe adapter, but that the jaws may release a bulb when it has been vertically adjusted over the adapter to permit the bulb to drop therein. The bulb adapter generally comprises a semi-circular plate having 'ends 95 and 96 secured in suitable posts 95 and 96 of the sealing-in head.

The heads may be stopped in given positions when the conveyor comes to rest at the stationary stages. Any suitable meansy A partial movement of the shaft i' mounted on a post 97 secured to a stationary portion 98 of the supporting structure of the machine. A helical spring 99 having one end secured to the post is positioned to normally press upon an 'extension 101 of the arm to hold the same in the path of a pin 102 upon the' under surface of a sheave 103 fastened to the lower end of shaft 24 of the head 24. The sheave 103 may be frictionally driven by a belt 104 common to this type of machine. When the conveyor stops, the head will obviously keep rotating until the pin 102 engages the arm 96 at which time the relative rotation of the Ahead will be terminated and the belt will slip upon the sheave 103. The sealing-in head 2a may therefore be stopped to position the adapter in a given position to facilitate the insertion of a bulb. lVhen the conveyor again moves, a relatively great force will be applied to the arm 96 causing it to tilt in opposition to the spring 99 and permit the head to pass and again be rotated by the belt.

Various types of stop devices are employed for temporarily terminating the rotation of the head ina given position and the one shown is merely an example of such mechanism.

In practice, the present bulb transferring device may be readily applied to the well known type of sealing-in machine. In this type of machine, the operator first inserts a lamp mount which is indicated in Fig. 2 by the reference numeral 105; This lamp 7 mount constitutes the internal structure of a lamp and is of a very delicate character, consisting of an arbor consolidated with glass flare and exhaust tubes upon which are mounted the fine filament wire.

When an operator has positioned a mount in the sealing-in head, it is necessary that considerable skill vand care be exercised in the .application of the lamp bulb over the mount 4 to its proper position in the adapter of the head. The transverse area occupied by the filament portion of the mount is almost equal to the area within the neck of the bulb and it will be appreciated that the bulb must be inserted inv a downward, even and careful manner so as not to disturb the mount. The sealing-in operation, therefore, required operators selected for their accuracy and dexterity in the handling and positioning of the bulbs.

It will be appreciated that operators of the above character are not always available and it often requires considerable time and is a costly procedure to train an operator until the necessary degree of skill is attained.

The present bulb transfer mechanism eliminates the manual performance of the bulb inserting operation v.for the sealing-in of a bulb. Mechanism embodying the present invention may be properly positioned and supieasas i ported with respect to a sealing-in machine and the hopper of tray 17 thereof may be loaded with bulbs or blanks. The operator may insert a mount into the holder of the sealing-in head, at which time the transfer yarm 22 will be in position to remove a bulb from position A of the conveyor.

As the sealing-in machine is indexed to make a partial revolution, the transfer arm will begin to lift a bulb and carry it to 'the sealing-in head and position the bulb over the mount and in the adapter, and the transfer arm will then return to position A to grasp another bulb. When the operator indexes the machine to move another sealingin head to. position to receive a bulb, the conveyor will also be put in operation to position a bulb beneath the transfer arm.

The movement of the conveyor may be at a sutliciently low rate of speed so that a bulb is moved to position A during the time the transfer arm is oscillated to carry a bulb from the conveyor to the sealing-in machine. As the transfer arm is depositing a bulb in the sealing-in machine, it will be obvious that another bulb is being positioned by the conveyor ready to be received by the transfer arm upon its return.

It will be readily understood that the several mechanisms may operate continuously and that it willonly be necessary for the manual application of bulbs to, the hopper. After a bulb has been sealed-in or other operations performed thereon by the sealingin machine and it reaches the loading stage, the operator may remove it and'place a lamp mount in the head, which is then ready to receive another bulb. l

Although a device has been shown to stop the rotation of a sealing-in head at the stage in which it receives a bulb, it willy be understood that it is contemplated to deposit the bulb in the head during a rotation thereof. In sealing-in machines of the type to which the present invention is shown applied, the head is rotated during certain stages, as when the heat is applied to ,the bulb, but in the intermediate stages. the'driving mech'- anism is removed and the head rotates merely by reason of its inertia. Thus the speed of rotation of the head is obviously greatly reduced when the head reaches the position for the deposit of a bulb and in fact only a slight rotation of the head occurs at this time, making it possible to drop the bulb in place to be centered by the adapter.

The present mechanism is thought to be an advanced step in the art, inasmuch as it provides for an automatic performance of operations which were heretofore accomplished by long experienced and skilled operators. The accuracy and positiveness with which themechanism operates brings it in keeping with the standards of production and reduces the cost of manufacture.

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention is shown and described herein, it is to be understood that other modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lamp making machine comprising sealing-in mechanism, means for automatically positioning a bulb, means for securing said bulb and means for transporting said bulb to` said sealing-in mechanism;

2. A lamp making machine comprising sealing-in mechanism, means forpositioning a bulb, a hopper having` bulbs therein, means for moving a bulb from said hopper to a predetermined position, means for se'- curing said bulb and means for -transporting said bulb to said sealing-in mechanism.

3. A lamp making machine comprising sealing-in mechanism, means for positioning a bulb, a hopper for holding a plurality of bulbs, means for removing a bulb from said hopper 'and a transfer arm for depositing said bulb in said sealing-in mechanism.

Ll. A lamp making machine comprising sealing-in mechanism, means for positioning a bulb, a hopper for holding a plurality of bulbs, an endless conveyor for removing said bulbs from the hopper and means for transporting said bulbs to said sealing-in mechanism.

5. In combination, a lamp making machine and a transfer mechanism for electric incandescent lamp bulbs comprising a support for a plurality of bulbs, means for removing bulbs singly from said support to a predetermined position and means for transporting said removed bulbs to said lamp making machine.

6. In combination, a lampmaking machine and a transfer mechanism for electric incandescent lamp bulbs comprising a support for a plurality of bulbs, means for removing bulb-s from said support to pre-- determined positions and mea-ns for transporting said bulbs to said lamp making machine.

7. A transfer mechanism for incandescent electric lamps comprising a hopper for holding a plurality of bulbs, a bulb-conveyor, means for feeding bulbs to said conveyor and means for removing bulbs from said conveyor.

8. A transfer mechanism for incandescent elec-tric lamps comprising a ho-pper for holding a plurality of bulbs, a bulb-conveyor, means for -feeding bulbs to said conveyor and means yfor removing bulbs individually from said conveyor.

9. A transfer mechanism for incandescent electric. lamps comprising a hopper for holding a plurality of' bulbs, a bulb-oonveyor, means for vfeeding bulbs to said con'- veyor, means for elevating said bulbs with 11. A lamp making machine comprising a sealing-in mechanism, a gravity feed hopper, a bulb co-nveyor to receive bulbs fed from said hopper and a transfer arm for transporting bulbs from said bulb conveyor to said sealing-.in mechanism. 1

12. A lamp making machine comprising a sealing-in mechanism, a gravity feed hopper, a bulb-conveyor to receive bulbs from said hopper, a transfer arm having jaws to grip a bulb when in said conveyor and means for actuating said arm to transport a bulb to said sealing-in mechanism. i

13. A lamp making machine comprising a sealing-in mechanism, a gravity feed hopper, a bulb conveyor to receive bulbs from said hopper, a transfer arm having jaws to grip a bulb in said conveyor, means for aetuating said arm to transport a bulb from said conveyor to said sealing-in machine and means for releasing said bulb for deposit in said mechanism.

14. A lamp making machine comprising a sealing-in mechanisma hopper for holding a plurality 'of bulbs, means for feeding bulbs from said hopper, an endless conveyor to receive bulbs, means for actuating said conveyor intermittently to position bulbs, a transfer arm, gripping jaws on said arm, means for actuating saidarm to secure a positioned bulb by said jaws and means for moving said arm to remove said .gripped bulb from said conveyor for deposit in said sealing-in mechanism.

15. A lamp making machine comprising a.

sealing-in mechanism, a hopper for holding a plurality of bulbs, means for feeding bulbs from said hopper, an endless conveyor to receive bulbs, means for actuating said conveyor intermittently to position bulbs, a transfer arm, grippingv jaws on said arm, means for actuating said arm andjaws to secure a positioned bulb, means for kmoving' said arm to remove said gripped bulb from said conveyor for deposit in said sealing-in mechanism and means for actuating said jaws to release said bulb.

16. A lamp making machine comprising a carrier having a plurality of sealing-in heads mounted thereon, bulb-adapters incorporated in said heads, a hopper for holding a plurality of lamp bulbs, means for removing bulbs from said hopper and means for applying bulbs to said adapters.

17. A lamp making machine comprising a carrier having a plurality of sealing-in beads mounted thereon, bulb-adapters in,-

corporated in said heads, a hopper for holding a plurality of lamp bulbs, a bulb-conveyor for removing bulbs from said hopper, a transfer arm for transporting bulbs from said hopper for deposit in said adapters.

18. A lamp making machine comprising a carrier having a plurality of sealing-in heads mounted thereon.,`bulb centering members incorporated inysaid heads, a hopper for holding a plurality of bulbs, means for feeding bulbs from said hopper, a bulb-conveyor to receive bulbs fed from said hopper,

' a transfer arm having jaws, means for actuating said jaws to grip a bulb in said conveyor and means for moving said arm to transport said gripped bulb from the conveyor for deposit in one of said centering members. v

19. A lamp making machine comprising a carrier having a plurality of sealing-in heads mounted thereon, bulb-adapters incorporated in said heads, a hopper for holding a plurality of lamp bulbs with their longitudinal axes in vertical positions, means for feeding said bulbs while in said vertical position, means for receiving and moving said vertically positioned bulbs to predetermined positions, a transfer arm having jaws, means for actuating said jaws to grip a bulb, means for moving said arm to transport said bulb while maintained vertical to said carrier.

20. A- lamp making machine comprising a carrier having a plurality of sealing-in heads mounted thereon, adapters to receive bulbs incorporated in said heads, a hopper for holding a plurality of lamp bulbs with their longitudinal axes vertical, means for feeding said bulbs by gravity while in their vertical positions, a conveyor for receiving and moving vertically positioned bulbs and means for transportin the bulbs and depositing while still vertical in said adapters.

21. A lamp making machine comprising a hopper for a plurality of lamps, a bulbconveyor, a. rotary carrier, a plurality of sealing-in heads mounted on said carrier, a bulb transfer arm, means for actuating said conveyor and carrier synchronously and intermittently to position a bulb and a sealing-in head in given relative positions and mea-ns for actuating said arm to transfer a bulb from said conveyor to one of said heads during a stationary stage of said carrier and said conveyor.

22. A lamp making machine comprising a hopper for a plurality of lamp bulbs, means for feeding lamps from said hopper, a bulb-conveyor to receive and remove bulbs from said hopper, a rotary carrier, a plurality of sealing-in heads mounted on said carrier, means for synchronously Aactuating said bulb-conveyor and said rotary carrier to position a bulb and a sealing-in head in given relative positions and means for transporting a'bulb from said conveyor to one of said heads.

28. A lamp making machine comprising a hopper for a plurality of lamp bulbs, means for feeding lamps from said hopper, a bulb-conveyor toI receive lamps from said hopper, a carrier having a plurality of sealing-in heads mounted therein, bulb-adapters associated with said heads, means for synchronously and intermittently actuating said conveyor and said carrier to position a bulb and an adapter in given relative positions and means for transferring said bulb to said adapter.

24. A lamp making machine comprising a hopper for a plurality of lamp bulbs, means for feeding' lamps from said hopper, a bulb-conveyor tov receive lamps from said hopper, a carrier having a plurality of sealing-in heads mounted thereon, bulb-adapters associated with said heads, means for synchronously and intermittently actuating said carrier and said conveyor to bring a bulb and a sealing-in head in given relative positions, a transfer arm ada ted to oscillate between said conveyor an said carrier, means upon said arm for gripping a bulb and means for actuating said arm to transport said bulb to one of said adapters during a stationary stage of said conveyor.

In testimonyl whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of July, 1924.

JOHN JOSEPH HIGGINS.