US2237186A

US2237186A - Sealing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2237186A
Application number: US276822A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank J Malloy
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1939-06-01
Filing date: 1939-06-01
Publication date: 1941-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 1958-04-01
Also published as: GB538542A; FR865936A

Description

April 1941- F. J. MALLOY sumac Agnm'rus 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 DE H M-MQMQQ.

Filed June 1, 19:59

I clzmxmmlm m Inventor- Frank J. Mal log,

Hi5 Attorney. I

F. J. M LLQY s-mlme Arnnuus Filed June 1, 19:59

April 1, 1941'.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor: Frank J. Malle His Attorneg.

Ap 1, 1941- F. J. MALLOY Sumac Aznanus Filed June 1. 19,39.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ava-"1 B fig/0.

Invehtorr Frank J. Mal I0 April 1, 1941. MALLQY 2.231186 sumac Arnauus Filed June 1, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet s I InvenEor: Frank J. Malloy.

His Attorney.

Patented Apr. 1, 1 941 SEALING APPARATUS Frank J. Malloy,

or to General of New York Application June 1,

22 Claims.

My invention relates to scaling methods and apparatus generally, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for sealing together vitreous members or bodies forming an enclosure for an incandescent lamp or the like. The apparatus also preferably includes means for clearing said enclosure of air and contaminating gases. Still more particularly, my invention relates to apparatus for welding or sealing the preformed vitreous reflecting and refracting sections forming the enclosure or bulb of a lamp of the type disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,148,314, issued February 21, 1939, to D. K. Wright and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

Electric lamps of thetype disclosed in the above-mentioned patent comprise a pressed vitreous section which supports a filament or other light source and has a very definite interior shape, usually parabolic, with a reflecting coating thereon adapted 'to redirect the light from the filament in a definite manner. Over the mouth of the reflecting section, which has the form of a cup and constitutes one portion of the bulb, is sealed another vitreous cover or lens section constituting the other portion of the bulb and usually provided with light-refracting media or panels for concentrating or diflusing the light in a definite manner. To retain the advantages of this form of construction, the vitreous sections (cup and cover glass) must be sealed together satisfactorily while positively positioned with reference to each other, without injury to the reflecting coating or other parts of the lamp.

One object of my invention is to provide apparatus for automatically sealing the cover glass to the cup in a satisfactory manner at a relatively high rate of speed. Another object is to provide apparatus in combination with the aforesaid apparatus for pre-heating the cover glass. Another object is to provide apparatus for positioning thecover glass with relation to the cup and forming the seal in a uniform shape during the sealing operations. vide apparatus for re-positioning the cover glass withrelation to the cup after the sealing operation to work the seal so as to relieve it of strains and to separate certain contacting but unsealed positioning surfaces on said cover glass and lens. These cooperating positioning surfaces are provided for the purpose of correctly positioning said co er glass and cup relatively to one another d ing the sealing operation, and are subsequently separated to obviate the tremendous strains which would otherwise be built up during the Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assign- Electric Company, a corporation 1939, Serial No. 276,822

Another object is to procooling and contracting of the said cover glass and cup.

Another object of a method and apparatus for protecting the reflecting coating on the inner surface of the cup during the sealing operation. This operation consists in flushing and filling the lamp enclosure with an inert gas at the start of the sealing operation so as to protect the heated coating from the atmosphere, and is equally useful in the sealing of blown vitreous bulbs having a refleeting coating thereon.

Still another object of my invention is to provide apparatus for clearing the lamp enclosure of whatever atmospheric and gas and vapor contamination it contains, directly after the sealing operation and preferably during the annealing of the lamp. This operation is preferably performed bvflushing the enclosure with an inert gas, such as nitrogen, during the period said enclosure is heated, and has the advantage that the contamination driven from the lamp parts by heat, is withdrawn lamp fllled with agas which prevents further contamination even after the said lamp is re;

moved from the sealing machine. tures and advantages of my invention I from the following detailed description of a species thereof, and from the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sealing machine comprising my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the cover glass pre heating turret along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the-sealing turret and a portion of theframe of the machine along line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view oi the holders of the heads of the machine with the cup partly. positioned therein and the preheating burners of station B of the turret shown in proper relation thereto; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cover glass positioning means at the sealing station E; Fig. 6- is a diagrammatic Other fea'-.

perspective view of actuating means for the and other means 10 is a side elemy invention is to provide therefrom and the will appear] I actuating means tively long arm vation, partially broken away, of burners and seal reshaping means at station .1; Fig. 11 is an end view of said means; Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the cover glass repositioning means at station K; Fig. 13 is a plan view of the vertical adjusttrolling the engagement of the adjusting means.

The machine disclosed in the drawings, automatically performs all functions required to seal the vitreous cover glass or lens 23 to the cup or reflector section 2| shown in section on a larger scale in Fig. 3, and in its preferred form provides a plurality of heads 22 (Fig. 1) on a separate turret 23 for carrying said cover glasses 23 to and from pre-heating means. The motion of the turret 23 is in a counterclockwise direction and advances each of the heads 22 in turn, into station A which permits an operator located adjacent thereto to place one of the cover glasses in each head. As shown in Fig. 2, each cover glass 23 is placed in a head 22 so that a positioning shoulder or embossment 24 rests on the asbestos pads 25 on the three equidistantly spaced arms of the holder 23 which in turn is mounted on the hub 21. In order that the cover glass 23 can be rotated at other stations taken by the head 22, the hub 21 is mounted on the ball bearings 23 and 29 carried by the spindle 33 which is held by the flanged bushing 3| carried by the turret 23. The support for the turret 23 is provided by a second turret 32 (Figs. 1 and 3) directly below the former which provides a plurality of supporting standards 33 at regular intervals, and which is indexed as a unit therewith.

Fdllowing a definite period at station A, the head 22 is advanced to station E andin so doing carries the teeth 34 on the hub 21 into engagement with the chain 35 which causes it to be rotated. The chain is introduced into the path of movement of the said teeth 34 of the hub 21, by the idler sprocket 33 and extends nearly completely around the machine, engaging, in turn, the teeth of the hubs 21 of the succeeding heads 22 (some of which are broken away from Fig. 1) before again passing onto a second idler sprocket 31 adjacent station 0'. The

sprockets

33 and 31 separate the chain 35 from the heads 22 during their stay at stations A and C, so that said heads 22 are not turning at these stations, and direct said chain to and from the driving sprocket 33. Sprocket 33 is fastened to the shaft 33 which is mounted in the bracket 43 extending upward from an underlying portion of the frame 4| of the machine and is driven by the electric motor 42 through worm gears 43 and 44. Both the

sprockets

33 and 31 are supported by bracket 43, although the latter is mounted on the relato the mid portion of said arm 45.

The rotating movement of the heads 22 causes in each of the lower banks 43 to provide the necessary heat.

Common manifolds

43 and 53 are provided for supporting and. supplying the combustible gas mixture to each of the burners of the

banks

41 and 43 respectively at each station, and separate manifolds (not shown) extending nearly around the machine in the usual manner, are preferably provided for supplying the gas and compressed air of said mixture. The parts of the heads 22 are protected from the heat by the asbestos plate 5| mounted over the turret 23, and the plates 52 mounted over the lower portions of the holders 26. An asbestos plate 53 is also mounted below the turret 23 to protect it somewhat from the sealing means located below.

Station 0' is the unloading station and the pre-heated cover glass 23 is taken from the head 22 at this point and fed into the lower sealing portion of the machine.

The insertion of the cover glass 23 into the sealing portion of the machine, however, follows the introduction of the cup or reflector section 2|, since said cover glass must be rested there- K ,on, and isperformed manually following the insertion of said cup into the head 54 at station A. The insertion of the cup is also performed manually and consists in resting the cup on the holder 55 (Figs. 3 and 4) which is, at this station, raised above the other apparatus of the head 54, as shown in Fig. 4. The holder 55 is mounted on the upper'end of the hollow-i,

spindle 55 ment of the shoe with the highest part of the track 53. In placing the cup 2| on the holder 55, the said cup is carried down between the fingers 53 thereof in such a manner that the exhaust tube 63 extendwhich is now supported by engageing therefrom is threaded over the end of the metal tube GI and enters the passage 52 in said holder 55 and the spindle 53, and three lugs 33 located at unequally spaced intervals on the 45 extending therefrom, and the former is carried by the yoke 45 attached the upper and lower banks of

burners

41 and 43 and four burners are included ineach of the upper banks 41, and three burners are included under side of the periphery of said cup 2| are rested on the upper ends of said flngers 53. Additional lugs 32'-52' are located on each side of each of the three lugs 53. The proper orientation of the cup 2| to cause the lugs 33 to fall on the fingers 53 is brought about by turning said cup 2| until the three unequally spaced cuplike metal terminal elements 54 on the under side thereof fall into three openings 55' in the holder 55 and the proper lug 33 drops between the 10- cating stops 53' attached to the sides of one of the fingers 53. The cover glass 23 is then placed over the mouth of thecup 2| in a position determined, in a vertical direction, by the engagement of the annular shoulder or embossment 24 with the annular recessed reference seat 35 of the cup 2|, the correct angular relationship of the cover glass to the cup and the terminal elements being predetermined by matching protuberances and depressions (not shown) in said embossment 24 and seat 35. The filament 33, having been previously'located correctly with respect to the interior reflecting surface 31 and the recessed seat 35, automatically takes a dellnite position with reference to thevarious parts of the cover glass 23.

The sealing head 54, of which the holder 35 and the spindle 55 are a part, is automatically in- 1 dexed from station A to station B, after the interval allowed for the feeding operations, by

- movement of the turret 32 which is mounted on the hollow colinnn 33 at the center of the machine. The said turret 32, which, as shown, is

51 on thelower end thereof -drive means (not shown),

' flows through the openings 85 sage 92 in the block 98 and metaltube 6l.

mechanism engaging the is of conventional design and is not shown. The

M spindle 56 is located within a sleeve ll carried by 3 the turret 32,

and, until advanced from station A, is kept from rotating by the roller I2 on the 1 pulley 13 on the lower end of said sleeve I l, which roller engages the ways of the track I4 indicated therewith in Fig. 3. The sleeve II is locked to the spindle 56 through a key (not shown) entering a longitudinal groove in said spindle 56 so that both must be turned as a unit and are kept from rotating at station A to allow the operator to turn and adjust the cup 2| with respect to the holder 55 and spindle 56. The indexing movement of the head 54,

brings the pulley 13 into engagement with moving belt 15 which causes it to rotate. The belt 15, as shown in Fig. 1, enters this portion of the machine from the idler pulley l6 and extends on around the pulleys 18 of the other heads 54 thereof until it is drawn oiI to a driven pulley l1 opposite station P. J Idler pulley I6 corresponds to idler pulley 18, which receives the belt 15 from the driven pulley 11, in that it is mount-' ed on a portion of the frame 4| and redirects said belt I5 to said idler pulley 16. The driven pulley I1 is fastened to a shaft 19 also supported by the frame 4| and is operated through said shaft 19 and the usual form of gear and chain engaging the main drive shaft of the machine located below the turret 82 along the dot-dash-line 88.

The indexing movement from station A to B also repositions the cover vertically as the spindle 56 is lowered by the movement of the shoe 51 on the end thereof down a sloping portion of the track 58 to the horizontal level 58' shown in Fig. 3, and causes the flushing and filling of the space enclosed by said cover glass and cup with an inert gas by adjustment of the rotary valve 8| at the center of the machine. The repositioning of the cover glass 28 and cup 2| locates these parts in correct operative relation to the upper and lower banks 82 and 88 (Fig. l) of preheating burners at station B which burners, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 respectively, are set so as to reach all parts of the cover glass 28 and cup 2|. The repositioning motion also carries the opening 84 in the spindle 56 into alignment with the opening 85 in the sleeve 1| so that the inert gas can be introduced into the opening 62 in said spindle 56 and into the space enclosed by said cover glass 28 and cup 2|. The function of the inert gas at this and immediately succeeding moments of operation 'when the cup 2| is heated, is to protect the reilecting coating 61 on the interior thereof from the oxidizing eifect of the atmosphere. In this instance nitrogen gas is used and the source thereof is connected to an aperture corresponding to that shown at 86 in the lower half 81 of the rotary valve the upper half 89 thereof, which is connected to the head 54 through the-pipe 98. The gasJeaving the pipe 98 enters a chamber 9| in a portion of the turret 32 surrounding the sleeve H and sleeve II and spindle 56, to the longitudinal passage 62 therein, which conducts it to the pasglass 28 and cup 2|.

however, carries theroller 12 beyond the end of the track 14 and block 93 closes the upper end of the passage 62 and supports the metal tube 6| which enters the cup 2| a short distance so as to keep the influx of gas separate from that escaping down the exhaust tube 68 of said cup 2| in the space about the metal tube 6|. The gas passing out the exhaust tube 68 flows up the opening in the holder 55 and between the cup 2| and the top of said holder 55 which offer very little resistance thereto. The pre-heating operation performed at station B by the upper and lower banks 82 and83 of burners, corresponds to the pre-heating operations carried on at stations C and D which are performed by duplicate banks of burners and like said operation, are coupled with the entrance of nitrogen into the cup 2| through the rotary valve8l. In each instance an aperture corresponding to aperture 86 is provided in the lower half 81 of the rotary valve 8| which rests on the frame 4| and which is held in a fixed position by the head of the screw 94 extending thereglass 28 is pre-heated still further to a temper- 8| aligned with the aperture 88 in ature that is still somewhat below the softening temperature thereof, and the cup 2| is pre-heated ,to an extent limited by the destructive effect of said heat on the reflecting coating 61 of aluminum, for instance.

Station E is the next station into which the head 54 is indexed in its regular order of movement and is the first of a series at which the" actual sealing operations take place. In the course of movement of the head-54 to this station E, the shoe 5'! on the end .of the spindle 56 passes down the inclined portion 58" of the track 58, causing said spindle 56 and the holder 55 to be lowered until the angular under surface 2| of the edge of the cup 2| rests on the ring-shaped holder 91 and supports said cup. At the limit of movement of the spindle 56, the shoe 5'! passes beyond the end of th track 58 and is supported by the engagement of the flange 98 thereon with the arms 99 extending from the sleeve 11.. This motion of the spindle 56 is more than is required to place the cup 2| on the ring-shaped holder 91 and it carries the fingers 59 down into recesses in said ring-shaped holder 91 so that all portions of the holder 55 are separated slightly from the cup 2 I. The positioning lugs 63-62 on the cup 2| fall into the notches 91 in the ring-shaped holder 91 but do not rest thereon. The holder 91 also functions as acentralizing means .for the cup 2| as the more oblique sides of said cup engage said holder 91 when .ofi center so it automatically shifts into place.

The ring-shaped holder 91 is mounted on the bracket I88 on the standards |8| carried by the arms 99 of sleeve II, which in turn engages the turret 32 through the ball bearing I82. Before the head 54- is moved into station E, the cover edge or flange H4 of said cover glass engages the and 86 in said top flange vI83 on the positioning roller I83 and j the cover glass is pushed back to the correct position as the head 54 revolves. The roller I83, as

The shown in Figs-=1, 3 and 5, is rotatably mounted on I of the head .54 are lowered I55 which turnsssaid arm I about the pin I01.

"The pin I01, inturm-is held by the arm I05 and is attached to the-fixed bracket I03 which extends upward around theturret32 from the frame 41 by the block I I0. The holder 51 in each instance positions the roller I03 so that no variations can exist in the accuracy of the positioning thereby.

The indexing movement of th head 54 to station E only interrupts the flow of nitrogen to the cup 2I momentarily as the aperture 35 in the lower half 51 of the rotary valve comes into ali nment with the aperture 58 in the upper half when said station is reached, and the opening 54' comes into alignment with the opening 55 at the new position of the spindle 55.

Following the indexing of the head 54 to station E, the manifolds I I I and I I2 at opposite sides until the flames from the plurality of burners -I I3 carried by each, are directed onto the peripheral edge or flange N4 of the cover glass 20. All parts of the apparatus are then located as shown in Fig. 3 and the heating interval is continued until just before the head 54 is again indexed when the manifolds III and H2 and burners 3 are raised to clear the lamp and head 54. The manifolds III and H2 are supported by the pipes H5 and H5 respectively. which are attached to and extend through the bracket Ill and which are, although not shown, connected to a source of combustible gas mixture in the usual manner by a flexible hose slipped over the ends thereof. The bracket 1, is attached to the rod 5 which is slidably mounted in the bracket I05 and which is caused to actuate the burners M3 by movement of the arm H5 shown in Fig. 6, connected thereto by the link I20. Thearm II! in turn is fastenedto shaft I2I supported by the bracket I22 extending from the frame H and is actuated by the duplicate shaft I2I of similar means at the next station F taken by the head 54 to which it is connected through universal'joint I23. In order that the red I I3 and the burners I I3 do not turn and swing from their positions, said rod H8 is held in place by the arm I24 which slidably engages the stud I25 extending from the bracket I09.

.The next indexing movement of the turret 32 carries the head 54 into station F and results in the flange II4 of the cover glass 20 being heated still further by burners (not shown) attached to the manifolds I25 and I21. This combination of burners is a dupiioate of those at station E and the manifolds I25 and I21 are lowered and raised prior .to the next indexing motion to carry the burners to and from operating relation to the cover glass 20 by rotation of the shaft I2I (Fig. 6) at this station in the same manner as at sta tion F. The shaft I2I is connected to a duplicate shaft I-2I at the next succeeding station G by the universal joint I25, and is operated therefrom.

The next succeeding indexing movement of the head 54 brings it into station G and below two different sets of burners I30 and I3I which are mounted on the manifolds I32I33 and I34I35 respectively, as shown in Fig. 7. The manifolds I32, I33,"I34 and I35 are supported by the pipes I35, I31, I35 and I35 respectively, which are attached to the bracket I40 and are carried down into operative relation to the cover glass 20 and cup 2I by movement, of said bracket I40. The bracket I40 is mounted on a rod I4I which is held in a vertical position by the bracket I42 and, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9, is operated by the lever I43 to which it is connected by the link I44. The lever I43 functions as the operating means both for the burners at this station and those at ad- Joining stations as it is attached to the shaft I2I at this station which is coupled to a similar shaft at. the other stations. Said lever I43 is itself actuated by the lever I45 which is connected thereto through the link I45 and engages the ways of the cam I41 through the roller I45. The lever I45 tums-about the pin I45 whichis carried I41 is turned by the main cam complete revolution bewhereas the cam shaft |5I and makes one tween like intervals of each indexing period. The flange II4 of the cover glass 25 receives the full heating eflect of the burners I35 in the manner of the burners at the preceding stations and, together with the burners I3I which are directed against the rim of saidflange H4 and the cup 2|, rapidly cause it to soften. The metal rollers I52, which are brought down onto the flange H4 at the same time that the burners I30 and I3I are positioned, apply pressure both downwardly and inwardly to the softened flange Il44 causing all portions of said flange II4 to be pressed down against the edge of the cup 2I and into intimate contact with the entire edge. The said rollers I52, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, are rotatively mounted on the arms I53 on the opposite ends of the beam I54 which is pivoted on the pin I55 and is actuated through the rod I55 to which said pin I55 is fastened by the block I51. The rod I55 is fastened to the lever I58 which is pivoted on the pin I55 carried by the bracket I40 in such a manner that the weights I50 on one end thereof partially counter balance the said rod I55 and parts mounted thereon so that the rollers I52 press against the cover glass 20 with the desired pressure. At the limit of downward movement of the rollers I52, the end of the screw I5I carried by the lever I55 butts against the bracket I40 and prevents further movement. The movement necessary to lower the rollers I52 onto the cover glass 20 and to raise them therefrom at the end of the period of operation, is caused by the vertical movement of the bracket I40 as said movement carries the lever I58 up into engagement with the roller I52 carried by the arm I53 extending from the bracket I42, causing the lever I50 to turn about pin I55. This construction causes the rollers I52 to be raised and lowered a greater amount than the burners I30 and I3l and provide greater clearance therebelow.

The sealing of the flange II4 of the cover glass 20 to the cup 2I usually takes place at station H, the next succeeding station, and is brought about by the additional heat produced by the fires of burners attached to the manifolds I54 and I55 which correspond to the burners I3I and manifolds I34 and I35 at statidn G. As'in prior instances, the burners are movedto and from operative relation to the cover glass 25 and cup 2I between indexingmovements by means comprising the bracket I55, the rod I51, lever I55 (Fig.6)

I which is connected to the cor'-- and the shaft I2 responding shaft joint, I55. Only 20 is to be sealed to I2I at'station G by the universal the'flange II4 of the cover glass the periphery of cup 2 a t the sealing operation is not completed in tion to the peripheries of the cover glass 25 and cup 2| which are now fused together and form what is hereinafter referred to as theseal "I. The burners I18 are mounted on the manifolds I12 and I13 which are connected to the bracket I14 on the upper end of the rod I15 by the pipes I18 and I11 respectively, and are moved to and from position by vertical motion thereof. The

j rod I15, as shown in Fig. 6, is actuated through a lever I18 and a shaft I2I, which is connected to duplicate means at station H through the universal joint I18. The heating effect of the flames from the burners I18 assists both in finishing of the seal I'll and in keeping itheated so that it can be reshaped by the rolls I 88 which are caused to move in thereagainst while the head 54 is at this station. The rolls I88 are attached to the arms I8I which are pivoted on the pins I82 carried by the beam I83 and are caused to'swing in against the seal by the weights I84 which are located on the outer ends of the rods I85 extending from said arms I8I. The rolls I88 round out the edge of the seal and reduce it to a uniform diameter determined by the position of the stop screws I88 which extend from the beam I83 and which are engaged by the inner ends of the rods I85 at the limit of motion of the rolls I88.

a As clearance must be provided to allow the lamp and head 54 to index, the beam I83 and rolls I88 are separated from the lamp and raised before the head 54 is indexed out of this station. These movements are brought about by the vertical movement of the bracket I14 which is connected to the lever I81 through the link I88 and during the first portion of said movement causes the lever I81 to turn about the pin I 89 so as to engage the inner ends of the rods I85 and swing the arms I8I and the rolls I88 away from the lamp. The pin I89 is fastened to the rod I88 supporting the beam I83 through the block I9I and further movement of the bracket I14 carries the head of the screw I82 on the lever I81 against said rod I88 lifting the beams I83, the rolls I88 and other means attached thereto, up-

, w-ard away from the lamp. The rod I88 is held by the arm I93 which is in turn pivotally mounted on the pin I94 extending from the bracket I85 and when lifted, turns said arm I83'aboi1t said pin I84. The lower position of the arm I83 which aligns the rolls I 88 with respect to the lamp, is

determined by the position of the screw I98 extending from the bracket I85 which limits the rotation of the arm I93 in one direction. The

bracket I85 is a fixed member being attached to the frame of the machine and has the extensions I81 at opposite sides of the arm I93 to keep it p and the means attached thereto in alignment with the head 54.

All operations required to seal the cover glass 28 and the cup 2I together and to form the seal "I are now complete except for the operations taking place at station K. At this station (K) the seal IN is stretched and worked to partially relieve it of strains, and the cover glass 28 is repositioned to cause the annular locating shoulder or embossment 24 to be separated from the annular reference seat 55 of the cup 2I, so that additional strains are not produced in the seal I when the lamp cools. Both operations are produced by an upward movement of thecover glass 28 following an upward movement of the spindle 55 which causes the cup 2I to be supported by the fingers 58 of theholder 55 and also causes the positioning of the ring I 98 or other stop means at a definite distance from a portion of the cover glass. The repositioning of the .05 of an inch.

spindle 56 takes place ,as the head .54 is moved into station K as the shoe 51 on the lower end thereof then engages and rides upaninclined portion (not shown) of the track 58. a

As shown in Fig. 12, the'ring I98 is rotatably mounted, through straps I98 and collar I88',- on.

the lower end of the rod I 98 and is held in a raised position during the indexing intervalby the' collar 288 on the upper end of said rod I99, which collar rests on the blocks 28Iand 282 surrounding the adjacent portion of said rod I88. When the lamp is properly positioned below the ring I88, the blocks 28I and 282 are lowered by movement of the lever 283 which engages a groove 284 in each through the roller 285, and

the weight of the rod I88 and ring I98 carries said ring I88 down into engagement with the peripher-al flange II4 on the cover glass 28. The lever 283 is pivoted on the shaft 286 and is actua-ted through the rod 281 which, as shown in Fig.

14, is connected to the lever 288 actuated by the cam 289 on the main cam shaft I5I. A spring 2I8 extends between the lever 288 and a portion of the frame (not shown) and turns said lever- 288 about the, shaft 2 carriedby the bracket 2I2 (only, partially shown) extending from the frame so that the roller 2I3 thereon engages the cam 289.

The lowering movement of the blocks 28I and 282 is greater than that required by ring I98, and it separates said blocks 28I and 282, which are held in place about the rod I89 by the plate 2 carried by the lever 283, from the collar 288 on' the upper end thereof. In this manner the ring I98 is positioned with reference to the flange II4 of each cover glass 28 indexed into station K, irrespective of the position thereof,. and a known movement upward of the ring and the rod I98 will spa e the ring a definite distance from the cover glass 28 (or its flange H4) in every instance. Such a movement of'the ring I98 and rod I88 is produced, after the blocks 28I and 282 are caused to grip said rod I99 tightly by pressure exerted thereagainst, by the jaws 2I5 and 2I6 (Figs. 12 and 15) which are pivoted on the pins 2I1 extending from the lever 283 and which engage said blocks 28I and 282 through the rollers 2I8. The jaws 2I5 and 2I6 are caused to close on the said blocks 28I and 282 by the movement of the wedge 2 I8 from between the rollers 228 carried by the outer ends thereof,

roller 228 thereon engages the cam 223. The

upward movement of the blocks 28I and 282 and the ring I88 is brought about by the lever 283 which is actuated the required amount by a' change in shape of the cam 288 and is followed by the gripping jaws 2I5 and 2I6 which are pivoted on the pins 2 carried by said lever 283 and which are located in the ways provided by the plate 228 attached thereto.

The distance of, movement of the ring I98 represents the amount ofdisplacement desired of the cover glass 28 and is usually of the order of work the seal "I in a manner to relieve some of This movement is sufficient to locating shoulder 24 from the reference seat 55 more than they will move toward each other when. the seal I1! and the main portion of the cover glass 20 and cup 2! cool and contract. The locating shoulder 24 and the reference seat 85 position the cover glass 20 with respect to the cup 2! during the sealing operation, but being adjacent the seal portion I1! and not heated to nearly as high a temperature, do not contract as much as the seal l1! and must be separated to allow the seal IT! to contract fully. The direction of contraction of the main portions of the cover glass 20 and cup 2 also draws the locating shoulder 24 and reference seat 55 toward each other so as to make it desirable to separate them.

In some instances it is also desirable to deflnitely limit the upward movement of the arm 203 to accurately position the ring I38 because of play in the operating system therefor. In such instances a stop screw 230 is mounted on the arm 203 and an arm 23! which is mounted on the shaft 232 carried by the bracket 233 extending from bracket 222 is moved into position above said screw 230 to prevent excess motion. The arm 23! is operated through the shaft 232 which is connected through the arm 234, rod 235, arm 236 (Fig. 14), shaft 231, arm 238 and rod 233 to the lever 224. The regular movements of the lever 224 are such that the first adjustment thereof turns the wedge 2!9, allowing the jaws 2!5 and 2 It to close and a later adjustment thereof moves the arm 23! into position.

The upward movement of the cover glass 20 carrying it into contact with the ring I38 or other stop means, is brought about by the introduction of additional gas pressure into the lamp under preferably 100 mm. of mercury pressure, and is brought about by the adjustment of .the valve 240 (Fig. 14). The valve 240 is comprised of a movable portion 24! which is connected to a lever 242 by the rod 243 and which is turned by movement of the cam 244 on the main cam shaft with respect to roller 245 carried by the lever 242. The spring 245 which extends between said lever V 242 and a portion of the frame (not shown) causes the said lever 242 which is mounted on the shaft 2!! to keep the roller 245 against the cam 244. The supply of the gas, nitrogen in this case, under the desired pressure is connected to the movable portion 24! of the valve 240 through the pipe 24'! and at this time an aperture leading thereto is carried into alignment with an aperture in the body 248 of the valve connected to the pipe 249 so that the gas passes therethrough. The pipe 249 in turn is connected to an aperture of the lower half 81 (Fig. 3) of the rotary valve 8! in alignment with the aperture 88 in the upper .half 88 thereof leading to the head 54 at this station and gas flows into the lamp through the system comprising the pipe. 90, the chamber 3!, the aperture 85, the aperture 84" in alignment with the aperture 85 at this position of the spindle 56, and the passages 83 and 82 in said spindle 56 and the tube 5!, respectively.

. The gas passes into the lamp'with'such rapidity that a pressure is built up therein, even though ,it escapes through the exhaust tube 60 in the space surrounding the metal tube 8! and passes outof the head 54 between said lamp and the holder 55. After a relatively short interval the valve 240 is closed and the discharge of gas from the lamp rapidly reduces the pressure therein to atmospheric, whereupon the arm 23! is swung out of position above the screw 230 and the ring !88 is raised. The raising of the ring I38 is brought about by additional upward movement of the lever 203 while the friction blocks 20! and 202 are still gripping the rod I53 tightly and it is not until the ring I88 is to be lowered that the jaws 2!5 and 2l6 are separated and the collar 208 drops down into contact with said friction blocks 20! and 282.

In addition to the operations required in relo-.

cating the cover glass .20, still another operation takes place at station K. This operation consists in the first annealing operation of a series brought about at this station and each of the five following stations L, M, N, O and P by the flames from the upper and lower banks 25! and 252 of burners located thereat. Figure 1 does not show these banks 25! and 252 of burners at station K clearly, as the upper bank 25! lies between stations K and L and the lower bank 252 lies radially outward from said station K and below a portion of the cover glass repositioning means. The indexing movement of the lamp from stations K to L again causes the head 54 to be raised to the same position it is located during the pre-heating of the lamp so that the cup 2! is carried higher above the holder 81 and can be reached more easily by the annealing fires. The motion of the spindle 58 is caused by the engagement of the shoe 5! on the lower end thereof with a second inclined portion of the track 58 carrying it up onto a portion parallel to that at 58' (Fig. 3). Although these banks 25! and 252 of burners at stations K, L, M. N, O and P direct a considerable quantity of heat onto the lamp, it loses heat more rapidly than it gains and gradually drops in temperature until further annealing is not required when station Q is aperture 88 in the upper half 89 and the realignment of the aperture 84 in the spindle 58 with the aperture 85 in the sleeve I! at this position of the spindle 55, and completely clears the lamp of all gases and vapors other than the flushing gas used. Some of thcse gases and vapors were contained in the cover gla'ss'20 and cup 2! until driven out by the heat of the sealing operation, and flushing the lamp at this moment prevents said gases from being absorbed again as the lamp cools.

Station Q is the unloading station and the final station in the cycle of operation of the machine which is completed by a raising movement of the spindle 55 during the indexing motion of the head 54 into said station. The indexing motion carries the shoe 5! on the end of said spindle 58 up an inclined portion of the track 58 to the highest portion thereof opposite stations Q and A so that the lamp is raised above the holder 01 and can easily be removed from holder 55 without danger of touching the hot mechanism. The flushing gas remains in the lamp and protects it from contamination prior to final exhausting and gas filling thereof.

What I claim as new and-desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

cover glass resting .thereon with a peripheral edge a cover glass resting thereon of an annular portion of in contact with said cup edge, a carrier for supporting said head and advancing it into each of a plurality of stations in turn, means located at one of said stations for pre-heating the whole of said cup and cover glass, and means located at a succeeding station for intensely heating the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass to cause them to be fused together;

2. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a head for supporting a vitreous cup with its peripheral edge uppermost and a cover glass resting thereon with a peripheral edge in contact with said cup edge, a carrier for supporting said head and advancing it into each of a plurality of stations in turn, means located at one of said stations for pre-heating the whole of said cup and cover glass, means located at a succeeding station for intensely heating the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass to cause them to be fused together, and means at another succeeding station for heating the whole of said cup and cover glass to reduce the rate of cooling thereof and cause them to be annealed.

3. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a head for supporting a vitreous cup with its peripheral edge uppermost and with a peripheral edge in contact with said cup edge, said head having a ring-shaped holder engaging substantially the whole of an annular portion of said cup adjacent its edge, a carrier for supporting said head and advancing it into each of a p1urality of stations in turn, and means located at one of said stations for fusing the peripheral edges of the cup and cover glass together.

4. A sealing machine 'of the character described comprising a head having a holder for supporting a vitreous cup with its peripheral edge uppermost and a cover glass resting thereon with a peripheral edge in contact with said cup edge, said head comprising also a second ring-shaped as the. head rotates,

ring-shaped holder engaging the portion of said cup adjacent its edge, a carrier for supporting said head and advancing it into each of a p1u-' together,

holder adapted to engage substantially the whole said cup adjacent its edge, a carrier for supporting said head and advancing it to each of a plurality of stations in turn, means located at one of said stations for pre-heating the whole of said cup and cover glass,

means located along the path of movement of said head for causing a relative vertical movement between said holders to cause the said cup to be rested on the said second ring-shaped hold er, and means located adjacent the. path of movement of said head for fusing the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass together.

5. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a head for supporting a vitreous cover glass, a carrier for supporting said head and advancing it along a predetermined path, means located along said path for pre-heating said cover glass, a second carrier for supporting and advancing said first carrier, a second head mounted on said second carrier for supporting a vitreous cup with its peripheral edge uppermost so that it supports a cover glass transferred from the said first-mentioned head and rested on said cup with the peripheral edge of said cover glass in contact with said cup edge, and means located 7. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a head for supporting a vitreous cup with its peripheral edge uppermost and a vitreous cover glass rested thereon with a peripheral edge in contact with said cup edge, a carrier for ad vancing said head into each of a plurality of stations in turn, means located at one of said stations for heating the peripheral edge of said cover glass to render it plastic, means for pressing the said plastic edge tightly into intimate contact with the peripheral edge of said cup during rotation thereof, and means adjacentthe path of movement of said head for fusing the I said edges of said cup and cover glass together.

8. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a rotatable head for supporting a vitreous cup with its peripheral edge uppermost and a vitreous cover glass rested thereon with a peripheral edge in contact with said cup edge, a carrier for supporting said head and advancing it into each of a plurality of stations in turn. I

means located at one of said stations for rotating said head and means also located at said station for heating the peripheral edge of said cover glass, a vertically disposed roller having an oblique face also located at said station, means for moving said; roller down against the outer edge of said cover glass to cause it to be pressed downward and inward into intimate contact with at a station into which the said second-mentioned head is advanced for fusing the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass together.

6. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a head for supporting a vitreous cup peripheral. edges of said cup the edge of said cup during rotation thereof, and

means adjacent the path of movement of said head for fusing the said edges of said cup and cover glass together. I I

9. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a rotatable head for supporting a vitreous cup with its peripheral edge uppermost and a vitreous cover glass'rested thereon with a peripheral edge in contact with said cup edge,

a carrier for supporting said head and advancing it into each of a plurality of stations in turn, heating means located at one of said stations for fusing the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass together, means at another of said stations for rotating said head, and means also at said last-mentioned station engaging'the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass and reducing them to a predetermined uniform size and shape during the rotation of the said head. 10. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a rotatable head for supporting a vitreous cup with its peripheral edge uppermost and a vitreous cover glass restedthereon with a peripheral edge in contact with said cup edge, a carrier for advancing said head into each of a plurality of stations in tum,'heating means located at one of said stations for fusing the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass together, rolls located at said station, and means for moving said rolls laterally against the said and cover glass at opposite sides thereof to cause said peripheral edge, a carrier for supporting said head and advancing it into each of a plurality of stations in turn, means located at one of said stations for heating the peripheral edge of said cover glass to render it plastic, means for pressing the said plastic edge tightly into intimate contact with the peripheral edge of said cup during rotation thereof, heating means located adjacent the path of travel of said head for fusingthe said edges of said cup and cover glass together, means for rotating said head during said fusing operation andmeans operable to engage the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass to reduce said edges to a predetermined uniform size and shape during the rotation of said head.

12. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a rotatable head for supporting a vitreous cup with its peripheral edge uppermost and a vitreous cover glass rested thereon with a peripheral edge in contact with said cup edge, a carrier for supporting said head and ad vancing it into each of a plurality of stations in turn, means located at said stations for heatin and working the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass during rotation thereof to cause them to be sealed together, and means for first lowering said last-named means into operative relation to said head and to the cup and cover glass thereon and then raising it therefrom between advancing movements of said head from station to station.

13. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a head for supporting a vitreous cup having a reflecting coating on the interior thereof with the peripheral edge of said cup uppermost and supporting a cover glass at its peripheral edge, a carrier for supporting said head and advancing it into each of va plurality of stations in turn, means at one of said stations for pre-heating the whole of said cup and cover glass, means at said station operable in combination with said head and the carrier for causing the atmosphere enclosed by said cover glass and cup to be replaced with an inert gas to protect the'reflecting coating on said cup, and means located at one of said stations for fusing the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass together.

14. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a head for supporting a vitreous cup having a reflecting coating on the interior thereof with the peripheral edge of said cup uppermost and supporting a cover glass at its peripheral edge, a carrier for supporting said head and advancing it into each of a plurality" of stations in turn, means at one of said stations for pre-heating-the whole of said cupand cover glass, means at another station for fusing the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass together, means at a succeeding station for heating the whole of said cup and cover glass to reduce the rate of cooling and cause them to be annealed, and means at the pre-heating and annealing stations and operable in combination with said head and carrier for causing the atmosphere in the enclosure formed by said cover glass and cup to be replaced and to flush the said enclosure so as to protect the reflecting coating onsaid cup and clear said enclosure of injurious gases and vapors.

15. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a head for supporting a vitreous cup having an exhaust tube depending therefrom with the peripheral edge of said cup uppermost and supporting a cover glass-at itsperipheral edge, a tube attached to the head and arranged to extend upwardly within said exhaust tube and into the said cup, a carrier for supporting said head and advancing it into each of a plurality of stations in turn, means operable in combination with said head and carrier for causing an inert gas to be conducted through said second-mentioned tube into the enclosure formed by said cover glass and cup to expel the atmosphere therein through the space between the said second-mentioned tube and said exhaust tube, and means adjacent the path of travel of said head for fusing the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass together.

16. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a head including a hollow spindle having a holder thereon for supporting a vitreous cup with the peripheral edge of said cup uppermost and supporting a cover glass at its peripheral edge, the interior of said spindle being in communication .with the interior of said cup, 9. carrier for supporting said head and advancing it into each of a plurality of stations in turn, means located at one of said stations for fusing the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass together, means operable in combination with said head and carrier for causing a gas to be introduced through the interior of said spindle into the enclosure formed by said cover glass and cup under sumcient pressure to cause a relative movement between said cup and cover glass to thereby stretch the plastic sealed edges thereof and cause some strains to be removed therefrom and the said cover glass to be repositioned..

- 1'7.'A sealing machine of the character described comprising a head including a hollow spindle having a holder thereon for supporting a vitreous cup with the peripheral edge of said cup uppermost and supporting a cover glass at its peripheral edge, the interior of said spindle being in communication with the interior of said cup, a carrier for supporting said head and advancing it into each of a plurality of stations in turn,'means located at one of said stations for fusing the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass together, means operable in combination with said head and' carrier for causing a gas to be introduced through the interior of said spindle into the enclosure formed by said cover glass and cup under suflicient pressure to cause a relative movement between said cup and cover glass to thereby stretch the plastic sealed edges thereof and cause. some strains to be removed therefrom, and means for limiting the movement of said cover glass with respect to said head to definitely reposition it.

18. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a head for supporting a vitreous cup with its peripheral edge uppermost and supporting a cover glass at its peripheral edge, a carrier for supporting said head and advancing it into each of a plurality of stations in turn, means located at one of said stations for fusing the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass together, stop means located at a succeeding station above said head, means-for first lowering a a vertically disposed spindle carrying said stop means into contact with the peripheral edge of the cover glass in said head and then raising it a definite distance therefrom, andv pressure to raise said cover peripheral edge into engagemeans to thereby stretch the t the enclosure formed by said cover glass and and advancing it into each of a plurality of stations in turn, means at one of said stations, for pre-heating the whole of said cup and cover glass, means located along the path of movement of said head for causing said first-mentioned holder to be lowered to transfer said cup to the said ring-shaped holdelzgmeans at another station for sealing the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass together, means operable in combination for causing a gas to cup and cover glass to 8 8 118 terminal elements projecting from said cup to definitely orient the cup, a ring-shaped holder on said head adapted to receive said cup and support it adjacent its periphery and having a notch at its edge arranged the edge of said cup, and means for lowering said spindle to carry the cup down into engagement with said ring-shaped holder so that said lug ens ges said notch.

21. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a movable carrier, a head on said carrier for supporting a vitreous cup with its peripheral edge uppermost and a vitreous cover glass rested thereon with a peripheral edge in contact with said cup edge, said head comprising a holder-at to engage a lug on its upper end for supporting said cup and a ring- :haped holder therebelow adapted to receive said cup and support it adjacent its periphery, means for rotating said head about the axis of said spindle, means adjacent the path of travel of said head for preheating said cup and cover glass, means for subsequently causing said spindle to move downward to carry the holder thereon down within said ring-shaped holder and rest the cup thereon. means for then intensively heating the peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass to soften them, vertically disposed rollers mounted above the path of travel of said head, means for moving said rollers down against the edge of said cover glass to press it into intimate contact with the edge of said cup, reshapingfrolls mounted adjacent the path of travel of said head, and means lfor moving said rolls laterally against the edges of said cup and cover glass to reduce them to a predetermined diameter and shape.

22. A sealing machine of the character described comprising a movable carrier,- a head on said carrier for supporting a vitreous cup with its peripheral edge uppermost and a vitreous cover glass rested thereon with a peripheral edge in contact with said cup edge, said head comprising a vertically disposed spindle carrying a holder at its upper end for supporting said cup and a ringshaped holder therebelow adapted to receive said cup and support it adjacent its periphery, means for rotating said head about the axis of said spindle, means adjacent the path of travel of said head for preheating said cup and cover glass, means for subsequently causingf said spindle to move downward to carry the holder thereon down within said ring-shaped holder and rest the cup thereon, peripheral edges of said cup and cover glass to soften them, vertically disposed rollers mounted above the path of travel of said head, means for moving said rollers down against the edge-of said cover glass to press it into intimate contact with the edge of said cup, reshaping rolls mounted adjacent the path of travel of said head, means for moving said rolls laterally against the edges of said cup and cover glass to reduce them to a predetermined diameter and shape, a stop member located above the path of travel 01' said head, means for positioning said stop member a small predetermined distance above the cover glass in said head, and means for causing a gas to be introduced into the enclosure, formed by said cover glass and cup under suflicient pressure to raise said cover glass into engagement with said stop means to thereby stretch theplastic sealed edges and cause the cover glass to be repositioned.

FRANK J. MALLOY.

means for then intensively heating the-