US2459513A

US2459513A - Apparatus for making spiders for electric lamps

Info

Publication number: US2459513A
Application number: US674337A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr John Flaws
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1946-06-04
Filing date: 1946-06-04
Publication date: 1949-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 1966-01-18
Also published as: GB623945A

Description

Jan. 18, 1949, J. FLAWS, JR 2,459,513

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPIDERS FOR ELECTRIC LAMP.

Filod- June 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l lnven torz John Haws JT.,

His Ai' bovneg.

Jan. 18, 1949.

J. FLAWS, JR

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEIDER-S FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 4, 1946- lnvervlror'. John FLaws Jr. .10 m HIS A tio Patented Jan. 18, 1949 APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPIDERS FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS John Flaws, Jr., East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application June 4, 1946, Serial No. 674,337

16 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for making the filament supporting spiders of incandescent lamps, and more particularly to apparatus for making a spider on a stem for such lamps by forming buttons in a vitreous arbor extending therefrom and then inserting support wires in said buttons.

Certain rough service and higher voltage incandescent lamps, as well as many other lamps, require a spider with a multiplicity of support Wires for properly holding the filament where a very rugged or positive support must be provided or a longer more complex filament must be supported. In such cases, it is usually preferable that the filament be held by a spider formed by support wires extending radially from a plurality of buttons in a centrally disposed arbor within the lamp and that said support wires and buttons be spaced at intervals along the length of the arbor. The manufacture of such spiders is particularly difficult because of the complexity of the spider and of the operations necessary to form buttons along the length of the arbor. Prior to my invention, it was thought spiders of this type could be made in automatic apparatus only when the arbor was formed from a glass cane rod and not from a glass tube which permits more simplified stem manufacture.

One object of my invention is to provide automatic apparatus for making accurately formed spiders for incandescent lamps, the apparatus and support wires by the apparatus for making them. i

Still another object of my invention is to provide automatically operated apparatus for making a spider on a vitreous tubular arbor extending from a lamp stem, the apparatus being characterized by means for preserving the opening through the full length of the arbor during the formation of a plurality of buttons along its length. The use of a tubular arbor permits a more simplified stem makin procedure but presents difficulties in a multiple button spider in that 2 air must not be trapped in the arbor. Any air trapped within the spider arbor would be slowly dissipated into the lamp bulb and would result in materially reducing the efficiency and shortening the life thereof.

Still other objects and advantages of my apparatus will appear in the following detailed description of the species thereof shown in the drawing.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of the series of work stations through which the lamp stem is conveyed in the course of the making of a spider; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of lamp stems in various steps in the making of the spider; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the arborupsetting and the inserting apparatus at the work station indicated at B, Fig. 1, with a stem held in operative relation thereto by the head of a conveyor which carries said stem to each of the work stations; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the movable arbor-holding jaw assembly of the conveyor head; Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the movable jaw-supporting bracket along line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the movable jaw-positioning means in the course of adjusting the jaw-supporting bracket.

The species of my apparatus shown in the drawing performs its spider making operations at the work stations of a series through which lamp stems l are advanced in regular indexing motions in very much the same manner as disclosed in my United States Patent 1,907,532. The lamp stem I is supported by a head 2, shown in detail in Fig. 3, which is preferably representative of one of the heads of a conveyor like that disclosed in my aforesaid patent and which is, when presented at each work station, adapted to position said stem properly at operative relation to the spider making apparatus thereat.

As shown in Fig. 3 the lamp stem l is gripped and supported through the jaws 3 and 4 which engage the exhaust tube 5, and the jaws B, 1 and 8, 9 which engage portions of the tubular arbor 10. Of the exhaust tube engaging jaws 3 and 4, jaw 3 is a stationary member attached to sleeve 1 I which, in turn, is gripped and held by a portion of the conveyor bracket l2, and jaw 4 is a movable member pivoting on said sleeve H and actuated through the upstanding post 13 which engages spring l4 and the arm 5. The bracket l2, as disclosed in my patent hereinbefore referred to, provides the means of supporting and advancing the complete conveyor head 2, the jaws 3 and 4 of which are caused to grip and hold the stem l by the uncoiling pressure of the spring i4 against post IS. The spring 54 also engages the stud 16 extending from the jaw 3 and is made ineffective, when it is desired to open the jaws 3 and 4, by means (not shown) engaging and rotating arm which is fastened to shaft l1 pivoted within theisleeve l l.

The arbor-holding jaws 6, l and 8, '9, which are very similarly constructed, have the additional function of aligning the stem I and the arbor lfl within the head 2 during the various .steps in the making of the spider and are disposed vertically of each other so as to engage .the portion of said arbor Hi directly adjacent the .stem press it and an end portion of said arbor I0, respectively. A comparison can be made with the lower jaws 8 and 9 (Fig. 4) for a more detaileddisclosure of the shape and operating means of the jaws 6 and l, which jaws 6 and "I engage the arbor it through the tip portions 19 and 20 and which pivot about the post 12! extending downwardly from the bracket .22. The jaws .6 .and l grip the arbor i=9 with the pressure exerted by the torsion spring 23 which .is located about a second post 24 extending downwardly from the bracket22 and which :exerts its influence therein through .the :lever .25, pin .25 .and links 2.! and .23. Collars (not shown) upon the posts 2! and .24 prevent verticalmovement of the jaws .6 and 1 since the bracket .22 is clamped tightly to the sleeve H .and is not capable of movement. The lower :arbor holding ,jaws 8 and 9 (Figs. '3, 4 and 5) which engage the .arbor .10 through the tip portions .ZS-andSB are pivoted on the bushing 3! on ;a lower portion of the post 24 and are under the control of the lever .32 which is mounted on a bushing .33 on a lower portion-of post 24 and is connected thereto through the pin 34, links .35 and 36 and

pins

31 and 38. A torsion spring 39 surrounding a portion of the .lever 32 andengagingrsaid lever 32 and post 40 influences said lever .32 :so that the jaws -8 and 9 grip the arbor ill. The jaws 8 and 9 and the actuating means therefore @form acsingle unit mounted on the bracket Jl-l inasmuch as bushings .31 and 33 are both press fitted into openings in the bracket 41. Therlower extremities of the posts .2! and 24 which are engaged bythe bushings .31 .and 33, respectively, are reduced in section as .shown in Fig. 4 to reduce the iri-ction betweenthese parts and prevent binding thereof during the changes in temperature and consequent expansion and contraction thereof.

Vertical .adj ustmentrof the lower arbor-holding jaw assembly and, accordingly, of jaws .8 and 9 does not take place .until midway in :the making :of the spider and the assembly remains at a fixed position on the posts 24 :and 24 due to the engagement .of the friction block 42 (Fig. 5) carried within a passage in bracket "4'! with post .2l. The vfriction bl'ock42 is pressed against the post 2i by the expansion force'of the spring 43 and extends through an opening in the bushing 3i. The relative :positions of .allxparts of the conveyor head 2 and the=stem J as they appear in Fig. 3 .are the positions of these parts at the start of the cycle of operations .of my spider making apparatus. In certain instances, it may .be @desirable that the stem l be received .by the conveyor head 2 directly from steminaking apparatus, Whereas in other instances, the-conveyor head 2 maybe a part of the stem making apparatus and may .bring the stem 1 into operative relation of my spider making apparatus in the regular course of its movement.

burners 44 and :45 directedragainst a restricted length of the arbor ll adjacent the jaws 8 and l. The effect of the flames is to soften a very limited portion of the arbor ill to a plastic and workable condition. The lower arbor-holding jaws 8 and *9 keep the end portion of the arbor Hi from sagging or otherwise-.moving from alignment and position .in the, conveyor head 2 during the present interval of operation.

Succeeding operations of my apparatus occur at station B, the next work station taken by the conveyor head 2, wherein the plastic portion of the arbor I0 is upset to form an enlargement or button 46KB, Fig. 2) and then is impaled by a plurality of support wires 41 to afifix said wires 4?! thereto. Thelupsetting operation results from an upward movement of the rod 48 (Figs. 2 and 3) firom a position below the course of travel of the stem ,1 and almost wholly within the head 49 of the inserting apparatus and first carries the pointed mandrel 50 on the upper end of the rod 48 "through the ;open end of the arbor Hi to a position within the plastic portion. The continuing movement of the rod '48 causes the capped end 5:! 20f :the .rod 48 to butt against the end of the arbor ill and push the end portion within .the jaws -.8 and 9 up through said jaws 8 .and .9 .sufiiciently .to upset the plastic portion into the button 46 shown. Thepointed mandrel 5.0 functions both :to prevent the closing on" of the opening through the arbor l6 adjacent the button 46 and vto assist in holding and retaining I inalignment that portion of the arbor Ill beyond the support wires 41 to the button 46 by means of a plurality of rams 52 extending radially about the head 49. "The rams 52 are spaced at sixty degree intervals about -.one side of the arbor l0 and are :moved from horizontal to vertical positions about pivots (not shown) within the head 49 0f the apparatus'by manipulation of the bars :Operation of rod 48 and the bars 53 is brought about by means (not shown) in combination with similar :means for actuatingthe conveyor :and other parts of the machine and is of well known construction .One preformed support wire 41 ;is inserted into the :button 46 by each ram 52 which carries said wire 41 within *V notches in end .fianges and 'which grips it with the pressure exerted :by the block 54. The wire rods 55 on cpposite sides of the ram 52 permit the support-wire-holding blocks '54 to .be moved within the end flanges of the ram 52 to grip or release the support wires 41 as desired. When the insertion operation, which places support Wires '4'! in "the Vertical plane of each ram 52 and perpendicular to the extent of the arbor id, is .completedytheholding blocks 54 are separated from the .support wires 41 sufficientlyto clear the free end and pig-tail thereof and are swung out and down .to their former position. The rod 48 and mandrel .50 .are then lowered from con- .tact with the arbor in freeing the stem I of all apparatus permanently located at stationB and completing the cycle of operations of the apparatus at said work station.

The immediately succeeding group of four work stations are occupied by apparatus essentially like that in the group of four work stations just described and. provide for the formation of a second button 56 (D, Fig. 2) and the insertion of other support wires 5'! in said second button 56 in a manner of operation duplicating that performed by said apparatus. The button 56 in this instance is formed in an intermediate portion of the arbor I I! which is first heated by flames from the burners 58 and 59 (C, Fig. 2) at the three stations indicated at C, Fig. 1, and which is then upset into said button 56 and impaled by the support wires 51 at the station indicated at D, Figs. 1 and 2. A pointed mandreliifl is introduced into the end of the arbor III to a position within the heated plastic portion during the upsetting operation to prevent the passage therethrough from closing off. In this instance the upsetting operation is performed by the upward movement of rod 6| which functions as the support for the mandrel B0 and which slides the lower end portion of the arbor I0 up in the jaws 8 and 9. The length of the mandrel 69 is such that its pointed end is properly positioned when the rod 61 is in operative relation to the end of the arbor II]. The insertion of the support wires 51 is performed by the rams 62 which are provided in sufiicient number and at positions to cause support wires 51 to be inserted at sixty degree intervals about the full periphery of the button 56.

The particular spider being made in the present instance requires that still another operation be performed on the arbor ID. However, the jaws B and 9 are located at a position along the end portion of the arbor III which would cause themto interfere and function improperly in such operation. The two upsetting operations which have taken place at stations B and D have shortened the arbor I 0 to such an extent that the jaws 8 and 9 lie relatively near the end thereof so that it becomes desirable to move said jaws 8 and 9 up along the arbor ID to the position they appear in G, Fig. 2. This repositioning operation takes place at station E where the push rod 65 (Figs. 1 and 6) is raised up against the roller 65 on the arm 6'! extending from the bracket 4! of theconveyor head I and is caused to push said bracket M and the jaw assembly compris ing jaws B and 9 up on the posts 2| and 24 as permitted by the friction block 42. The push rod 65 is actuated through the link 68 and lever 69 and takes a motion within portion of the stationary frame in which it is held determined by the change in contour of the portion of the cam 'II engaged by the roller I2 on the end of lever 69. The spring I3 which also extends from a portion of the frame (not shown) biases the lever 69 so that the roller I2 follows all changes in the periphery of the cam II which, in turn, is preferably rotated by the same mechanism actuating the conveyor so as to be in synchronism therewith. An adjustable end portion I4 of the push rod which can be screwed in or out. permits the length of said rod 65 and the effective length of movement transferred to the jaw assembly to be adjusted.

The succeeding operations performed on the stem I are again those of heating and upsetting a portion of the arbor I0 and the inserting of support wires therein which operations occur during the movement of the stem III through 6 the four stations indicated at F and G (Fig. .1). In this particular instance the end of the arbor I II is heated by burners I5 and I6 on opposite sides of the first three stations (F) in the manner of previous. heating operations. The upsetting and insertingoperations occur at station G and are introduced by an upward motion of the rod TI (G, Fig. 2.). which rod TI first advances the pointed mandrel I8 into the end of the arbor if] and then engages and pushes against said end sufiiciently to upset it into the button 19. Rams 80, which are disposed radially about the rod 17, swing up from theirpositions on the inserting head 8| to impale the ends of the support wires 82 into the button "I9 thereby completing the manufacturing operations of the apparatusand the manufacture of the spider. The indexing movement of the stem I and conveyor head 2 from station G occurs after the withdrawal of the rod I? from engagement with the button I9 and the rams 89 from the support wires 82. I

The stem I which now supports a complete spider is removed from the conveyor head 2 at station H (Fig. l), the next in its course of movement, and in moving to said station prepares for said operation by causing the arbor-holding jaws 6, I and 8, 9 to open. The indexing movement carries the

rollers

83 and 84, (Figs. 3 and 4) on the jaw actuating levers 125 and 32 against the stationary cam 85 which iswcontoured so as to cause said

levers

25 and 32 to be moved. against the resistance provided by the springs 23 and. 39 respectively and separatesaid jaws 6, I and 8, 9. The cam 85 is mounted on the frame (not shown) of the machine adjacent station H and continues to engage the

rollers

83 and 84 and to hold thejaws 6, land 8, 9 in the open position while the head 2 Eat said station. The stem I is finally released from the conveyor head 2 at station H by an adjustment of the arm I5 (Fig. 3) which causes the jaws 3, and 4 to separate. The adjustment to arm I5 is made by a rotation of the arm 86 (Fig. 1) about the pivot pin 81 extending from the frame (not shown) of the machine which motion carries said arm 86 into engagement with arm I5 and is similar to that of corresponding apparatus in combination. with the conveyor disclosed in my United States patent hereinbefore referred to.

The stem I now has integral therewith a spider comprised of a tubular arbor III with three spaced enlargements or

buttons

46, 56 and I9along its length and definitely placed groups of

support wires

41, 51 and 82 respectively extending from said enlargements or buttons. In the course of other usual lamp manufacturin operations the spider will support a filament which will be draped about the

support wires

41, 51 and82 and will be placed in an exhausted or gas filled bulb or envelope which will cause the complete length of the arbor ID to be exhausted .or gas filled.

Before the conveyor head I is again brought into operative relation to the apparatus described. in a succeeding cycle of operation, it is caused to take work station I where the lower arbor holding jaws 8 and 9 are adjustedvertically to another position and another work station (not shown) where a stem I is placed therein. The adjustment of the lower arbor-holding jaws 8 and 9 is made by the lever 88 which is turned about the pin 89 held by the frame (notshown) so as to be brought into engagement with the top of the roller 66 (Fig. 3) on bracket 4| and through still further movement caused to lower said bracket 4I down on posts 2| and 24, The extent of this adjustment establishes the position taken by the jaws '8 and 9 along the arbor H1: at the start of the cycle of operation and is determined by the proportions of the particular spider being manufactured. Various different adjustments of the position of the lower arbor-holding jaws. 8 and 9 may be made at station I and during the formation of the spider, in this particular instance taking place: at station E, inv order to'permit the apparatus to make" differently constructed spiders. The stem I is introduced into the conveyor head 2at some station (not shown) where jaw openin apparatus corresponding to the cam 85- and the arm 86 at station H are provided.

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

1. Apparatus for forming a spider on avitreous arbor extending from a stem comprising a head having jaws for gripping and supporting a stem and having movable jaws readily adjustable with respect to said first-mentioned jaws for holding and positioning an end portion of an arbor extending from the stem, burners and means for heating and then upsetting a. portion of the arbor to form a button, means engaging the head for adjusting the position of the movable jaws with respect to the said first-mentioned jaws to reposition said movable jaws along the arbor, and means for heating and thereafter upsetting another portion of the arbor to form a button, and means mounting said head. and said burners and upsetting means for bringing them into operative relationship.

2. Apparatus for forming a spider on a vitreous arbor extending from a stem comprising a con"- veyor head adapted to move to a series of work stations, said head having jaws for gripping and supporting a stem and having movable jaws readily adjustable with respect to said first-men" tioned jaws for holding and positioning an end portion of an arbor extending from the stem, burners and means positioned at workstations for heating and then upsetting a portion of the arbor to form a button, means engaging the head at another work station for adjusting the. posi tion of the movable jaws with respect to the other jaws of the head to reposition said. movable jaws along the arbor, and means positioned at still other work stations for heating and up setting another portion of the arbor to form a button.

3. Apparatus for forming a spider on a vitreous arbor extending from a stem comprising a conveyor head adaptedv to move to a series of work stations, said head having jaws for gripping; and supporting a stem and having movable jaws readily adjustable with respect to said first-mentioned jaws for holding and positioning an end portion of an arbor extending from the stem, burners positioned at a work station. forheating a restricted intermediate length of the arbor, means located at a workstation and engaging. the end of the arbor for moving the unheated end portion held by the movable jaws longitudinally therethrough to cause the heated portion to be upset into the form of a button, means engaging the head at another work station for adjusting the position of the movable jaws with respectto the other jaws of the head to reposition said movable jaws along the arbor, and means positioned at still other work stations for heating and upsetting another portion of the arbor to form a button.

4. Apparatus for forming a spider on a viterous arbor extending from a stem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to a series of work stations, said head having'jaws for gripping and supporting a stem and having movable jaws readily adjustable with respect to said first-mentioned jaws for holding and positioning an end portion of an arbor extending from the stem, burners and means positioned at work stations for heating and upsetting a portion of the arbor to form a button and for immediately thereafter, while the button remains plastic, inserting support wires therein, means engaging the head at anotherv work station for adjusting the position of the movable jaws with respect to the other jaws of the head to reposition said movable jaws along the arbor, and means positioned at still other work stations for heating and upsetting another portion of the arbor to form a button, and for immediately thereafter, while the button remains plastic, inserting support wires therein.

5. Apparatus for forming a spider on a vitreous arbor extending from a stem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to a series of work stations, said head having jaws for gripping both a stem and an arbor extending therefrom to support and properly align said stem and arbor therein and having movable jaws separated from the arbor holding jaws and readily adjustable with respect thereto for holding an end portion of the arbor, burners and means positioned at work stations for heating and then upsetting a portion of the arbor to form a button, means engaging the head at another work station for adjusting the position of the movable jaws with respect to the other jaws of the head to reposition said movable jaws along the arbor, and means positioned at still other work stations for heating and upsetting another portion of the arbor to form a button.

6. Apparatus for forming a spider on a vitreous arbor extending from a stem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to a series of work stations, comprised of jaws for holding and positioning a stern, supporting means for the jaws having a post extending therefrom, movable jaws slidably mounted on the post for gripping the end portion of an arbor extending from the stem and frictional'means engaging the post and the movable jaws to cause the movable jaws to remain at a position taken along said post, burners and means positioned at work stations for heating and then upsetting a portion of the arbor to form a button, means at another Work station for adjusting the position of the movable jaws along the post to slide and reposition said movable jaws along. the arbor, and means positioned at still other work stations for heating and upsetting another portion of the arbor to form a button.

7. Apparatus for forming a spider on a vitreous arbor extendin from a stem comprising a conveyor head, adapted to move to a series of work stations, comprised of a pair of. jaws for gripping and supporting. a stem, sup-port means for the jaws having two posts extending therefrom, an assembly slidably mounted on the posts having a bracket engaging said posts, having a pair. of jaws mounted thereon for holding and aligning an end portion of the arbor within the head and having frictional means carried by the bracket and engaging one of said posts for causing the assembly to remain at a position taken along said. posts, burners and means positioned at work stations for heating and then upsetting a portion of the arbor to form a button, means at another. work. station engaging the bracket or the movable assembly tor adjustingthe position thereof along the posts to reposition the second movable jaws along the arbor, and means positioned at still other work stations for heating and upsetting anotherportion of the arbor to form a button.

8. Apparatus for forming a spider on a vitreous arbor extending from a stem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to a series of work stations, said head having jaws for gripping and supporting a stem and having movable jaws readily adjustable with respect to said firstmentioned jaws for holding and positioning an end portion of an arbor extending from the stem, burners and means positioned at work stations for heating and then upsetting separated portions of the arbor to form buttons at intervals along the length thereof, means engaging the head at another work station for adjusting the position of the movable jaws with respect to the other jaws of the head to reposition said movable jaws along the arbor, and means positioned at still other work stations for heating and upsetting another portion of the arbor toform a button.

9. Apparatus for forming a spider on a vitreous arbor extending from a stem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to a series of work stations, said head havin jaws for gripping both a stern and an arbor extending therefrom to support and properly align said stem and arbor therein and having movable jaws separat ed from the arbor-holding jaws and readily adjustable with respect thereto for holding an end portion of the arbor, burners and means positioned at work stations for heating and then upsetting separated portions of the arbor to form buttons along the length thereof, means engaging the head at another work station for adjusting the position of the movable jaws with respect to the other jaws of the head to reposition said movable jaws along the arbor and means positioned at still other work stations for heating and upsetting another portion of the arbor to form a button.

10. Apparatus for forming a spider on a tubular vitreous arbor extending, from a stem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to a series of work stations, said head having jaws for gripping and supportinga stem and having movable jaws readily adjustable with respect to said first-mentioned jaws for holding and psitioning an end portion of a tubular arbor extending from the stem, burners at a work station for heating a restricted intermediate length of the arbor, means located at a work station for moving the unheated end portion of said arbor longitudinally to upset the heated portion thereof into a button, a mandrel in combination with the last mentioned means movable through the open end of the arbor and into the heated portion thereof during the upsetting to preserve an opening therethrough, means for moving the mandrel to and from operative relation to the arbor, means engaging the head at another station for adjusting the position of the movable jaws alon the arbor, means positioned at still other work stations for heating and upsetting another portion of the arbor to form a button, and means in combination with the lastmen tioned means for preserving an opening through the arbor during the upsetting operation thereof.

11. Apparatus for forming a spider on a tubular vitreous arbor extending from a stem comprisin a conveyor head adapted to move to a series of work stations, said head having jaws tion with the last-mentioned means movable through the open end of the arbor and into the heated portion thereof during the upsetting to preserve an opening therethrough, means for moving the mandrel to and from operative relation to the arbor, means positioned at other work stations for heating and upsetting an end portion of the arbor to form a button, a second short mandrel in combination with the lastmentioned means movable through the open end of the arbor and into the heated portion during the upsettin to preserve an opening therethrough, means for moving the shorter mandrel to and from operative relation to the arbor, means engaging the head at another station for adjusting the position of the movable jaws along the arbor, means positioned at still other Work stations for heating and upsetting another portion of the arbor to form a button, and means in combination with the last-mentioned means for preserving an opening through the arbor during the upsetting operation thereof.

' 12. Apparatus for forming a spider on a tubular vitreous arbor extending from a stem comprisin a conveyor head adapted to move to a series of work stations, said head having jaws for first-mentioned jaws for holding and positioning an end portion of a tubular arbor extending from the stem, burners at a work station for heating a restricted intermediate length of the arbor, a movable rod located at a work station for butting against the end of the arbor and pushing the unheated end portion longitudinally through the movable jaws toupset the heated portion into a button, a mandrel mounted on the end of the rod and moved through the open end of the arbor and into the heated portion by the upsetting movement of the rod to preserve an opening therethrough, means engaging the head at another station for adjusting the position of the movable jaws along the arbor, means positioned at still other work stations for heating and upsetting another portion of the arbor to form a button, and means in combination withthe lastmentioned means for preserving an opening through the arbor during the upsetting operation thereof.

13. Apparatus for forming a spider on a tubular vitreous arbor extending from a stem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to a series of work stations, said head having jaws for gripping and supporting a stem and havin movable jaws readily adjustable with respect to the unheated end portion longitudinally through the movable jaws to upset the heated portion into a button, a mandrel mounted on the end of the rod and moved through the open end of the arbor arse-me and intothe heated" portion by the upsetting movements of" the rodto preserve an opening therethrough, means engaging the head at another stationfor adjusting the position; of the movable"- jaws along the arbor, burners located at another station for heating an end portion of the arbor; a second movablerodlocatedat a work station for pushing against the end of the arbor to upset the heated portion intoa button, and a second short mandrel mounted on the'end' of the second rod-and moved" intothe open end of the arbor and into the heated portion by the-upsetting motion ofsai'cl' second rod to preserve an opening through the arbor and button.

14; Apparatus for'fol'minga spider-on a-tubularvitreous arbor extending from a stem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to a series of work stations, said head having jaws forgrippingand supporting a stem and having movablejawsreadily adjustable with respect to said first-mentioned jaws for holding and positioning an end portion of a tubular arbor extending from the stem, burners at a work station for heating a restricted intermediate length of the arbor, a movabl'e rod located at a workstationfor-butting against the end of the arbor and pushing the unheated end portion longitudinally through the movable jaws to upset theheated portion into a button, a mandrel mounted on the end of the rod and moved through the open end of the arbor and into-the heated portion by the upsetting movements of the rod topreserve an opening therethrough; a plurality of movable rams radially disposed about the movable rod for inserting a plurality of support Wires in the buttondireotly after theformation thereof 'while it"remains' heated andis: still plastic; means engaging thehead at another station for adjusting the positionofthe movable jaws along thearbor, burners-lbeated'atanother'station for heating an endp'ortion of the arbor, a second movable rod located at awork' station for pushing against the end of the arbor'to upset the heated portion into abutton, a second' s-hort mandrel mounted' 0n the end: of the second rod and moved into the open end" of the arbor and into the heated portion thereof. by the upsettingmotion of said. second rod to preserve an opening through the arbor andbutton', and a pluralityofmovable rams radiallydisposed about the second: rodfor insertin i a; plurality'of: support wires inthe lastementioned button directly aftentheformatiorr thereof while it, remains :heated andplastim 15., Apparatus for forming aispider'. on-a hollow vitreous arbor: extending from a stem; comprising a conveyor: head; adapted to move to a series of work stations, said head having jaws for grip:- ping and. supporting a stem, and having movable jaws: readily adjustable with respect to said firstmentioned jaws for. holding and positioning: an end portion of a tubular arbor extending from the stem, means in each of succeeding groups of. work stations for' heating, upsetting; and then inserting support wires in portions of the arbor, themeans ineach succeeding group engaging a portion ofthe arbor located progressively nearer the end thereof, and having additional means preserving the opening through the arbor during the upsetting operation and comprised in each instance in. burners for heating a restricted longitudinal portion of. the arbor, a rod for pushing against the end of the arbor to upset the heated portion into a button, a mandrel mounted on the end of the rod and moved into the open end andv heated portion of the arbor by the movements thereof for preserving an opening through the buttonv and a plurality of movable rams radially disposed about the rod for inserting a plurality of support wires in the button directly after the formation thereof while it remains plastic; and: means engaging the head prior to its: movement through the last-mentioned group of stations for adjusting the position of the movable jawswith respect to the other jaws thereof to: reposition saidv movable jaws along the arbor and cause: the proper function thereof during subsequent-operations of the means-in said group.

16:; Apparatus for forming a spider on. a vitreous arborextending; from-a stem comprising a head having. jaws for" gripping and supporting the stem and also having; movable jaws readily adjustable with respect to the first-mentioned jaws for holding and positioning an end portion at the-arbor, means for successively heating and upsetting longitudinally spaced portions of the arbor, and, means mounting said movable jaws for movement; relative to said first-mentioned jaws to reposition said movable jaws along the arbor during an interval between the successive operations of said heating and upsetting means.

JOHN FLAWS, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,663,550 Higgins Mar. 27, 1928 1,698,321 Sta-udenmeier et a1. Jan. 8, 1929 1,907,532 Flaws May 9, 1933