US2284089A

US2284089A - Glass tube reshaping apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2284089A
Application number: US300382A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence E Hahn; Salo John
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1939-10-20
Filing date: 1939-10-20
Publication date: 1942-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 1959-05-26

Description

May 26, 1942.

A C. E. HAHN ErAL Guss TUBE @summe APPARATUS Filed oct. 2o, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 inventors:

Clarence E. Hahn,

John S lo, .,wff

Their Attorney.

' May 26 1942- c. E. HAHN ErAL Guss TUBE RESHAPING;A1=P'ARATUS Filed oct. 2o) 19:59

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 s Vl h. yc HJ w OHM. een Vmhw new Wm m T C May 26, 1942 c. E. HAHN E1-AL 2,284,089

l GLASS TUBE RESHAPI'NGAPPARATUS Filed Oct. 20, 1939.. 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 5j \x\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\64 8 E m TheivAttprney.

`MayA 26, 1942. c. E. HAHN Erm,

. GLASS TUBE RESHAPINGAPPABATUS Filed ot. 2o, 1959 4 sheets-sheet 4 lrwerwtor' Clarence E. Hahn, Y John SeLQ, b5 Their Ator'neg'.

Patented May 26, 19`42 GLASS TUBE RESHAPING APPARATUS Clarence E. Hahn, Euclid, and John Salo, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application october 2o, 193s, serial No. 300,382 '7 claims. '(01.149-1) Our invention relates to apparatus for reshaping the ends of vitreous tubing and more particularly to automatic apparatus for reduc-y ing both ends f a vitreous tube simultaneously.

The principal object of our invention is to provide automatic apparatus for reshaping the carrier as they are mounted on and keyed to the y ing relatively large size tubi-ng such as that used for the containers or envelopes for certain types of electric incandescent lamps and discharge lamps. Lamps of these types are manufactured in various-lengths, and for purposes of economy it is desirable that a single apparatus accommodate allot these lengths. -Because of comprising our invention'; Fig. 2 vis a vertical section through said apparatus along line 2 '2 of Fig. 1 inthe direction indicated, and with portions of the turret broken away to disclose tube gripping means, burners, and reshaping means at one end thereof; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of feeding and positioning -means for the tubes; Fig. 4 is a section through one head of the turret, one of severalmovable burners, and means foractuating said burner along line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an end view of actuating means for the movable burners at one end of the tubes; Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the shaping means along line 6- 6 of Fig. 2; Fig. '1 is a corresponding side'elevation of the movable (rightlassignee of the present invention.

horizontal shaft I3 which provides indexing motion.

As shown in Fig. 1, the right end of the shaft I3 is supportedyon the ball bearing I4 in the housing I5 which rests on the rigid bed I6, and the left end of saidshaft I3 is mounted in a similar manner in the largerrhousing I1 which is attached to the opposite end of the bed I6. In this particular instance, each head (indicated generally at II' lin Fig. 2) of the turrets II and I2 (which together may be termed a carrier) has associated therewith a roller I8 on thea spider. I9 on the end of the shaft I3 within thef larger housing I1, and the indexing motion is brought about by a portion of the cam 20 which shifts said roller Il. Between indexing motions, a uniformly shaped portion of the cam 20 extends between two of the rollers I8 and holds the tur- Afor their -rets or carrier II, I2 in position. Such an indexing means is shown more in detail in Patent 2,021,001, 'J. F. Donovan et al., assigned to the Movement of the cam 20, as well as all other parts of the apparatus, is under the control of a central driving means consisting of' the shaft 2| which in turn is driven from the shaft 22 through the gears 23 and 24. Shaft 22 is preferably turned by an electric motor (not shown) enclosed within the bed I6 through the belts 25 and the pulley In their regular order of movement,` the heads Il' are first indexed into station A at which the` vitreous tubes I0 are fed thereinto. In this particular instance, the tubes I0 are of uni" -form diameter from end to end and are supshaped supporting bars 2l which are attached to the housing I1 and the movable brackets 29 surrounding the -housing I5 and resting on the bed I6. The plates 30 on the outer sides of the rails 21 keep the tubes I0 from shifting endwise and roughly position said tubes I0 in the heads.

As the heads are indexed from station A, the tube III is first positionedlongitudinally in the turrets Il and I2, and is then engaged by gripping means thereon. The positioning of the tube I0 occurs as one end is carried against the resilient roll 28', in this instance made of sponge rated a lesser distance than the length of the' mounted levers 35.

rubber, and is pushed against the stationary stop 23' adjacent the opposite end of said tube |3 thereby. The roll 23' and thev stop 23' are held Ain a fixed position by means attached to the housings |1 and 23 respectively and are sepatube I3 so that the resiliency of the roll 23 must take up the additional length thereof. The gripping means of the turrets and I2 comprises the jaws 3| and 32 which constitute portions of the heads and are closedl on the tube I3 by movement of the roller 33 away from the high part 33' cf the stationary cam 34 surrounding the shaft |3. These jaws 3|- and 32 are' heldv in slide ways in the 'turrets below the cover plate 35, and are actuated through` the pivotally levers 35 engages the slide 31 on which roller 33 is mounted, andthe other end of each of 4levers 35 engagesv one of said jaws 3| and 32 One end of each of said through the blocks 33. The blocks 38 slide in mounted over the clitral opening in the cover plate 35 encloses the rollers 33 and the major part of the cam 34 which is prevented from turningtherewith by a bar 42 attached at one end to.

'the bracket 43 on 'the bed I5 and at the other end to the bracket 29. The cam 34. is supported by the shaft |3 which it engages through the ball bearing 44 (Fig. 4).

No operations take place at station B, and it is not until the tube I3 is` indexed into station C that the ends thereof are heated by flames from the stationary circular burners 45 at either end. The burners 45, appearing in Figs. 1 and 2, *are mounted beyond the ends of the tube III on pins extending from a circular disc 45 which in turn is mounted on one end of a tube 41 held by a'bracket 43 on either bracket 23 or housing |1. The combustible gas mixtureenters the burner 45 from a source (not shown) through the pipe 43. To prevent the heat transferred to the disc 45 from being in turn transferred to the machine, cooling water is lcirculated through the tube 41 from pipe 55 to pipe 5|.

The heat from the burners 45 is not suicient tosoften the vitreous tube l5 in the short time interval allowed, and the next two indexing movements carry Vsaid tube I0 into stations D from the tubes.

a hallowed-out ring-shaped body portion 54 (Fig. 4) having a series of jets or openings 55 at an'angle to the Atube I5, and a cover plate 55- which closes oi the chamberv conducting the combustible gas mixture to the .iets 55. The

body 54is mounted on three pins 51 extending is provided at both ends for their operation. At`

either end the supporting spindle 53 for each

burner

52 or 53 is mounted in the ball bearings 5| and 52 in a single cross head 53 which is fastened to the lower side of the slide 54. This construction enables the

burners

52 and 53 to be moved to and from their operating position about the tubes I3, as vthe slide 54 has V grooves 54' (Fig. 5) at opposite sides which engage the ball bearings 55 held in the V grooves 55' of stationary gibs 56. The motion of the slide 54 is timed with' the indexing motions of the turrets and I2 by means of the cam 51, (Figs. '1 and 2) on the cam shaft 53 which is driven by the main-drive shaft 2| through the

bevel gears

53 and 13 and is the result of. either the opening or closing of the electrical circuit to the solenoid 1| o'f each burner-moving mechanism. -The solenoid 1|as shown, is mounted beyond the ends of the bars 12-12,'located over each of the gibs 55, on the composite rubber and end of the apparatus as shown in Fig. '7. The

burners

52 and 53 are of identical construction and, in order to avoid heating and softening more of the end portion of the tube l5 than is to be reshaped, are made so that they can be'movedover the end of said tube |3. -In said position,

block 15 on the adjacent end of the slide 54 I and functions only when the

burners

52 and 53 are to be pulled from their loperating position to allow the tubes |3 to be indexed.

When the

burners

52 and 53 are carried into operating position, the circuit to the solenoids 1| is broken by a change in shape of the cam 51 which shifts the roller 11 and the arm 13, causing the switch 13 to be actuated, said switch controlling both solenoids 1|. The spring 33, which extends from a well 3|' in the` fastening 3| on the forward end of the slide 54 tothe cross'farm 32 extending between the bars 12, now expands and moves the slide 54. 'I'he said spring 35 surrounds a rod 33 which extends from the cross arm 32 and slides in said fastening 3|. Since the movement of the slide 54 is quite rapid, a dash pot is provided in the block 15, and a piston 34 resting against-the spring 35 and blocking the opening, is caused to strike the cross arm 32 when the limit of motion is reached. The air behind the piston 34 is bled out through the passage 35. The return movement of the slide 54 and the

burners

52 and 53 occurs as the switch 13 is closed and the armature 15 is drawn into the solenoid 1 As shown, the spindle 53' supporting each

burner

52 or 53 has an axial passage 31 therein which communicates with the chamber distributing the Acombustible gas to the iets 55 through the

pasthe burners

52 and 53 direct flames-back toward Y the ends of said tubes I3 in a direction away names is aorded in this manner and better heating action results as they do not meet and disturb each other.

In each case, the burner (52 or 53) comprises More definite control of the'

sages

33 and 33 located, respectively, in a flange 53 on spindle 53V and in the pins 51. The passage 31 terminates in a cap 3l on the end of said spindle 53, which cap is connected by the pipe 3| w the source ofthe combustible gas. In addition. two

other passages

32 and 33 are provided 4in the spindle 53 for conducting cooling water to and Lfrom the chamber 34 located between a flange 53' 5) and draining through pipe 99 respectively to u service the cooling means.

Since considerable heat is transferredI to the turrets II and I2, each is cooled by the circulation of water in the passage in the outer face thereof between the dotted lines |00' and |00" in Fig.' 2. The cooling water is conducted to and tions as the operating means for the rolls I|8in that it positions the rod |3| which engages the actuating levers I32'for each of the slides H9. 'I'he levers |32 are mounted on a pin |33 passing through a slot in the spindle I|'| in which they are located and engage slide II9 and rod |3I through the blocks |34. The slide |28 does-not engage rod I3I directly, but through ball bearing |35 which' permits said rod I3| to turn with the spindle ||1. Once the roll II5 has entered the end of the tube |0and the rolls II 8 have moved from the passage |00 in each instance by'pipe connections on opposite sides lof the inside face of the turret-which in turn is connected through a flexible hose |0| and pipe nipple |02 to either ofthe longitudinal passages |03 and |04 in the shaft I3. The passages |03 and |04 (Fig. l) extend the full length of the shaft I3 and terminate in the grooves |03', |04' `in the right end thereof which are lserviced by the apertures |06 and |01 in the stationary block |05. rTheblocll: |05 is a stationary member connected to the water supply through pipe |05 and to a drain through pipe |01, and is held in place on the shaft |3 by the cap |08.

'To assure uniform heating by the

burners

52 and 53, each is rotated by means of the gear |09 attached to the back of the` ange 59' on the spindle 59. The gears |09-|09 of each pair of

burners

52 and 53 mesh together and are driven through a stationary wide-face gear IIO mountedon the drive-shaft III of the speed reducer over the portion of the rim of said tube I0 to be reshaped, the motion -oi! slides |22 and |28 in a forward direction stops and a backwardI movement of the slide |28 occurs. This motion pulls the rolls `I I8 radially `inward against the tube I0 which is pressed against the center roll I I5 and takes the form shown. At this time, the rolls ||8 are being rotated'about the tube I0 by motion of the spindle I I1 which is driven from the shaft l I |36 (Figs. l and 2) through the spur gears |31 and |38. The shaft is heldA by the bracket driven by the electric motor through a pair of speed reducing gears (not shown) contained within said housing. This construction causes |I2 carried by the electric motor |I3 which in 35 turn is mounted on the plate II4 bridging the gap between the bars 12. The width of gear I|0 is suiilcient to permit one of the gears |09 tomesh with it when the burners52 and 53 are advanced and retarded, so that they are rotating at all times.

The heat transferred to the ends of the tube I0 at stations C, D and E is sullicient to bring them to a plastic state and,'when said tube |0' is indexed into station F, shaping means work said ends to the form desired. The shaping means, which is duplicated at both ends of the apparatus,

is shown in Figs. 1, 2. 6 and 'I and comprises a centrally positioned roll I|5 and three rolls |I8 from the end of the tube lo. The spin me ||1 6 lrides in the ball bearings |20 and |2| in the slide |22 and is moved into operating position bycam |23 on the cam shaft 58 which engages'the roller |24 extending from the lower part of said slide |22. /Slide ways are provided for slide |22 by ball bearings |25 at both sides which ride in grooves in slide |22; and gibs |28 held by the'bracket |21 which is attached to the housing I1 andencloses the cam |23.

At the moment the rolls I I5 and I I8 are moved into operating relation to the tube I0, the slide |28 which is located directly behind slide' |22 is also moved forward by the caml |29 which it engages through the roller |30. The slide |28 funcspaced thereabout. Roll II5l is mounted on the l u the entire periphery of the end of the tube I0 to -be treated in a like manner and, together with the other apparatus which assures positivealignment of the shaping means with tube I0, causes said end portions to be uniformly end concentrically formed. In the return of the-shaping means, slide |28 is first moved forward to separate the outer roils I I9 from the tube I0 and then both slides |22 and |28 are moved backward together to carry the rolls II5 and ||8 out of the path of movement of the tube I0.

The next indexing movement of the turrets II and I2 carries the tube I0 into station G which is provided to allow the ends thereof to cool, and the succeeding indexing movement carries ,said tube |0 into station H where it is released by the jaws 3| and 32 and drops from said turrets II and I2. The indexing motion carries the roller 33 of the jaw operating means onto a second raised portion 33" of the-cam 34 which actuales the jaws3I and 32. In this particular instance,

the reshaped tube lmfaus onto the moving belt a 0 bed I6. The housing 29 is clamped to the bed I6 Since it is desirable that the end of the tube I0 about by connecting the turret I2 to said housing 29 by means of the ring |46 on said housing 2! which overlaps the collar I 41 on said turret I 2. A series of openings in the shaft I3 leading to the passages |03 and |04 therein permits the cooling means for the turret I2 to .be attached thereto at various places. The unused openings are plugged by easily removable plugs which do not interfere with the adjustment of the turret I2.

-Figs. 2 and 8 illustrate the overlapping construction of the ring shaped plate 4I of the turret I2 which causes the cam 34 to move longitudinally on shaft I3 when the position of the turret l2 is adjusted.

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

1. Apparatus for reshaping thev ends of a vitreous tube comprising gripping means for holding and positioning the tube, a carrier for supporting said gripping means and advancing said tube into each ofa plurality of stations in turn, burners located at a plurality of stations for heating the ends of the tube to a plastic condition, independoperative relation to the corresponding tube end as it is indexed into the station occupied by the burner, means for rotating said last-mentioned burner to cause it to heat the ends of the tube evenly, and means located adjacent said carrier at a succeeding station for reshaping said ends.

2. Apparatus for reshaping the ends of a vitreous tube comprising a carrier having heads at spaced intervals thereon, means for indexing said carrier to advance said heads to a plurality of stations in turn, means for introducing a tube in said heads at one of .said stations, means located' along the path of movement of said. heads for positioning the tubes longitudinally therein comprising a stop member adjacent one end of a tube in one of said heads and a resilient'roll'in ythe path of movement of the opposite end of said tube for pushing said tube against said stop member.

3. Apparatus for reshaping the ends of a vitreous tube comprising a plurality of turrets mounted in spaced relation along a horizontal axis, corresponding gripping means I in alignment with each other on said turrets for supporting and holding a tube intermediate its ends so that said ends project freely therefrom, means. for index-- ing said turrets corresponding amounts to advance the tube toa plurality of stations in turn, and means located adjacent said turrets for heating and reshaping the freely projecting ends of the tube at said stations.-

4. Apparatus of the class described for simultaneously reshaping both ends of vitreous tubes comprising a rotatably mounted carrier having means-at its periphery for gripping a tube intermediate its ends so that the ends of the tube project freely therefrom, means for indexing said carrier to carry the tube through a definite path of travel, heating and reshaping mechanisms arranged adjacent the path of travel of oneend of said tube to heat and reshape saidend, means for actuating said reshaping mechanism, fixed support means carrying said heating and reshaping mechanisms and said actuating means, and a second set of heatingand reshaping mechanisms arranged adjacent' the path of travel of the other end ofsaid tube to heat and reshape it with actuating means for said secondmentioned reshaping mechanism Vwholly independent of the actuating means for'the firstent actuating means for moving at least one of said burners at each end of the tube to and from set of heatingand reshaping mechanisms and its associated actuating means so as to be bodily movable toward or away from the first-mentioned support means and the mechanisms carried thereby. l

5. Apparatus of the class described for simultaneously reshaping both ends of vitreous tubes comprising a rotatable carrier mounted on a' shaft and having means at its periphery .for grip- .ping a tube intermediate its ends so that the ends of the tube project freely therefrom, means for indexing said carrier to carry the tube through a definite path of travel, heating and reshaping mechanisms arranged adjacent the path of travel of one end of. said tube to heat and reshape said end, means for actuating said reshaping mechanism, iixed support means carrying said heating and reshaping mechanisms and said actuating means, and a second set of heating and reshaping mechanisms arranged adjacent the path of travel of the other end of said tube to heat and reshape it with actuating means for said second-mentioned reshaping mechanism wholly independent of the actuating means for the first-mentioned reshaping mechanism, and movable support means slidable alongside the said shaft and carrying the second-mentioned set of heating and reshaping mechanisms and ,turrets having corresponding aligned gripping means at their .peripheries for holding a tube intermediate its ends so that the ends of the tube project freely therefrom, one 'of said turretsbeing fixed to said shaft and the other beingslidable along' said shaft, with means for securing said slidable turret to said shaft, means for indexing said carrier to carry the tube through a definite path of travel, heating and reshaping mechanisms arranged adjacent the path of travel of one end4 of said tube to heat and reshape said end, means for actuating said reshaping mechanism, `xed support means carrying said heating and reshaping mechanisms and saidv heat and reshape it with actuating means for said second-mentioned reshaping 'mechanism wholly independent of the actuating means for the mstmentioned reshaping mechanism, and movable support means slidable alongside said 'shaft and also connected to the adjacent slidable turret and carrying the second-mentioned set of heating and reshaping mechanisms and its associated actuating means so as Vto be bodily movable toward or away from lthe first-mentioned support means and the m carried thereby.

'1; Apparatus of the class described for simui- Y ytaneously reshaping both ends` of vitreous tubes mentioned reshaping mechanism, and .movable comprising a carrier mountedto rotate on a` horizontal axis and having mensat its periphery for gripping a tube intermediate its ends so that the' ends of the tube projectfreely therefrom, said gripping means securely-holding said y tubev against rotation 'about its-own axis, means for indexing said carrier to .carry the through a definite path 'of travehduplicatesets l of burners and reshaping mechanisms arranged adjacent the paths of travel o! the ends of saidtube, each oi' said'sets of burners comprising a ring-type burner with its jets arranged to project a conical name, means for reciprocating said burner to move it over and slightly beyond the adjacent end o! the habe after the tube has been indexed into a position opposite the burner to cause the iiame from the burner to be directed members, and means for reciprocating said' forming members to move them into engagement with the adjacent end ofthe tube to reshape it.

CLARENCE E. HAHN. JOHN sano.