US2661101A - Machine for turning fluorescent lamps and other elongated devices end for end - Google Patents

Description

D. MULLAN El AL MACHINE FOR TURNING FLUORESCENT LAMPS AND Dec. 1, 1953 OTHER ELONGATED DEVICES END FOR END 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 14, 1951 LAMP T NING INVENTORS Pfl/V/EL Maui/V H060 3/7062.

Dec. 1, 1953 D. MULLAN EI'AL 2,661,101

MACHINE FOR TURNING FLUORESCENT LAMPS AND OTHER ELONGATED DEVICES END FOR END Filed March 14, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS I D/FW/EZ Mull/9N HUG BHUEB.

Dec. 1, 1953 D. MULLAN EI'AL MACHINE FOR TURNING FLUORESCENT LAMPS AND OTHER ELONGATED DEVICES END FOR END 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 14, 1951 INVENTORS D/l/V/EL Ml/Llfl/V All/G0 .B/N/EE.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1, 1953 MACHINE FOR TURNING FLUORESCENT LAMPS AND OTHER ELONGATED DE- VIOES END FOR END Daniel Mullan, Hillside, and Hugo Bauer, Newark,

N. J., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 14, 1951, Serial No. 215,603

14 Claims.

This invention relates to the turning of fluorescent lamps, and other elongated electrical devices, end for end, as after one end has been processed.

The principal object of our invention, generally considered, is to provide a machine which takes a fluorescent lamp from a holder, reverses its position end for end, and returns it to said holder.

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine usable, for example, in connection with an automatic base threader to swing a fluorescent lamp bulb, while at an indexed position, around 180 and return it to the same bulb holder.

A further object of our invention is to provide a machine which, after the lower end of the envelope for a fluorescent lamp has been processed, grips said envelope, removes it from the processing machine, turns it 180 end for end, and replaces it on said machine for processing the other end of said envelope.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts, will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the scale drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, with parts in section on the line IIII of Figure l in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the turning machine, on the line III-III of Figure 4, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line IV--IV of Figure 3, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the line V--V of Figure 3, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line VI-VI of Figure 3 in the direction of the arrows.

There is a machine, covered by the Mullan et al. application, Ser. No. 219,606, filed April 6, 1951, containing a reference to the present case, and which threads bases automatically on first one end and then the other of fluorescent lamp envelopes. In order that said machine shall be fully automatic, we have provided a machine embodying the present invention for reversing the positions of such envelopes by turning them end for end after a base has been threaded on one end, so that one may be similarly threaded on the other end.

After such envelopes have had their base applied or threaded thereon, but before said bases are cemented in place, the lead wire portions which project through and beyond the hollow contact pins are bent over the ends of said pins to prevent the bases from slipping oi? the respective ends of the lamps. These lamps are then processed to cement the bases in place thereon. After this has been done, they are transferred, one by one, to a machine embodying the invention described and claimed in the Mullan application, Serial No. 215,602, filed simultaneously herewith. As the lamps are transferred to the machine, the operator pulls down on the leads extending beyond the contact pins of each lower base, and fits each lamp into holders on the machine. The machine indexes .said lamps from station to station, trimming off the top or bottom lead wires flush with the ends of the contact pins, and then trimming off the remaining bottom or top lead wires also flush with the ends of said contact pins.

Each lamp then passes to a position station '7 where the ends of the lower contact pins are coated with flux. Each lamp then passes to a position station 9 where the leads in the lower ends of said lower pins are soldered to the pin ends. The machine of the present invention then, at station 13, for example, automatically reverses each lamp one by one, that is, turns it end for end, and at the fluxing station 17 and soldering station 19 operations are repeated at the then lower ends of the lamps. The lamps are, after any desired processing, removed one by one in finished condition.

General apparatus to, from the contact pins 24 of which project leads not yet connected thereto.

A frame 25 is used for supportingsaid conveyor with said lamps, together with drive means 26, described in detail in the Mullan application 'previously referred to, for causing movement of said conveyor to index said lamps one by one from station to station. Mechanism 2'! is used for trimming the lead wire portions which project beyond the ends of the contact pins of said lamps while held upright, or with their axes vertical, as they are positioned on said machine. There is, used mechanism 28 for fiuxing the ends of the contact pins at the bottoms of said lamps, mechanism 29 for then soldering the lower ends of said fluxed pins, and automatic lamp-turning mechanism 3|, here specifically described and claimed, for effecting a reversal of the position of each lamp. There is used mechanism 32 for fluxing the then lower end of each lamp, and mechanism 33 for soldering the then lower end of each lamp.

The conveyor 34 has been described in detail in the Mullan application, previously referred to,

so it is only necessary to say that it comprises a table 35 which may be in the form of a channel member with the web at the top and flanges projecting downwardly, said table desirably being supported from a base 36. Upstanding from the table are pedestals 31, all being united to an upper channel member 33.

The lamps are held by means of a series of noras disclosedin detaiLinthe Mullan application referred to, sothatv thecontact pins on the base are received therein and it. is insured that the supported lamp is, oriented about, its vertical axis in a position.wherelits contactpins lie in planes. perpendicular to. the. direction of. the. lamp movement, so that. they. are properly positioned for the desired processing operations.

Each channelmember 39. carries rollers.45 and 46 pivoted thereto, the. former of which travels. in a' pedestal-carried track member. 41, andthe latter of. which rides in a correspondin lower roove in a similar pedestal-carried track member 48. This means that each channel member is supported for travel on an upper track member 41. and prevented from. ettingv out of an uppergroove. thereof bya lower roller ridingin a, lower groove of a, lower. track member 48. These track members extendalong the front and back of the machine. At both ends, the channel members 39 and their carried lamps are supported by chains 49 and 5|. The lamps may travel from one end-to theother along thefront-and to the backof the machinethela'mps being loaded, say at Station 2 and unloadedafterdesired.-

processing.

'Each channel member. 39 is also provided-with a pair of spring-actuated grippin hooks or lamp holder arms 52, shown most clearly in Figures 3 and 4, and so shaped that a lamp maybe pushed therebetween into engagement with shock absorbing bumpers 53, inset into the lamp holder body 54. The bumpers may beformed of Transite or other suitable material having some resilience to prevent breakage of the lamp when inserted'v into place. The arms 52are pivoted to thebqdy' member 54, as indicated at 55, and urged into engagementwithom another by a spring 56 extending between pin portions 5'! thereof.

The body 54' of each. holder is secured to the re-.

spectivebhannel 39 "in any desired manner, as

4 by means of bolts (not shown). Movement of the arms 52 toward one another to an undesired extent is prevented by engagement thereof with portions of the lamp holder body 54. The lower ends of the lamps rest in the socket members 4| which also serve as height locators.

The conveyor 34 and lamp turning machine 3| are both driven from a single source of power, such as an electric motor (not shown), as through reduction gearing as by means of a chain passing over sprocket wheel 58 on drive shaft 59. The drive shaft carries at one end a cam 6| in which rides a roller 62 on a lever 63, pivoted at 64 to the frame of the machine. The free. end of the lever 63 is connected to link 65 by pin 66, the other end of the link being connected to a crank 61 by pin 68. The crank 61 is mounted on a vertical shaft 69 carrying sprocket wheels over which the chains 49 and 5| pass. The series of channel members 39 are connected to the chains 49 and 5| as by means of angular clips 1| and 12. All of this construction is more fully described in said Mullan application, previously referred to.

The shaft 69 also carries a ratchet 13 engaged by a pawl 14 connected to the crank 61 by pin 15, whereby reciprocation of the link 65, ateach revolution of the shaft 59, turns the shaft 69 suificiently to move, through. the chain of mechanism more fully described in the application previously referred to, each lamp-supporting channel from one station. to thenext. A pawl 76, pivoted to the table and spring biased toward the ratchet 73, is provided to hold said ratchet in a station position whilethe crank 61 is being returned preparatoryto makingthe next indexing movement.

The shaft 59 may alsocarry a sprocket wheel 1! over which a chain.'|8 passes to a corresponding sprocket wheel!!! on shaft 8|. Theshaft-M may likewise carry. a sprocket wheel over which a chainSZpa-sses to drive sprocket wheel 83. on shaft 84 of the lamp-turning machine 3|. The shaft 84 may alsocarry a sprocket wheel over which a chain 85 passes to a sprocket wheel 86 on cam shaft 81 of said turningmachine. Other suitable positive drive meansfor the lamp-tuming machine may be substituted.

Details of lamp turning machine All of the operations of the lamp turningpart 3| of the whole machine are controlled in synchronism with the operation of the conveyor'part 3 4 of the whole machine by meansof a slideoperating cam 88 and a lamp-turning cam- 89, both cams being secured to the shaft 81, pivotally mounted in the frame 80 of the machine. The slide-operating cam 88 effects the reciprocation of the lamp turning shaft 9|, whilethe lamp-turning cam 89 effects the rotation of said shaft. Protuberances 92 and 93 on the periphery of one cam, such as thatdesignated 88, effect opening of the lamp holder jaws 94 and 95 through reciprocation of the rod 96. A cover 19 is desirably provided for the machine.

Generally speaking, there are three movements which have to be provided for to accomplish the lamp turning operation. These-movements are:

(1) The horizontal reciprocation of the lampturning shaft 9|.

(2) The rotation or turning of said shaft 9| about its axis, and

(3) The horizontal reciprocation of the jawopening rod 96. In order to prevent overrunning of the rotation operation, there is also provided a brake device 9'! which introduces a desired amount of friction into the mechanism.

The reciprocation of the lamp-turning shaft During operation of the machine, turning of the cam 89, which receives roller I09 of the slide actuating cam lever 98, thereby efiects oscillation thereof. Said lever is connected to the frame by pin 99, with its free end acting on connecting rod II]! by means of pin I92. The other end of the connecting rod I! is linked to a depending portion I03 of a carriage I94 by means of pin I95. This carriage I94 whose base III) is mounted to slide between the frame 80 and slide ways II3, mounts the back portion of the shaft 9!. It also serves to reciprocate said shaft by including between bearing portions I06 and I0! thereof, the breaking device 9'! and a turning collar I 98. The braking device collar or brake drum 99 is prevented from movement on the shaft 9! by means of set screw I09, while the turning collar is prevented from such movement by means of set screw III. The shaft 9| passes through a longitudinally stationary bearing II4 rotatable in split bushing secured to a pillow block II2 on the frame 89 of the machine, and is aligned in its sliding and turning in said hearing by the carriage I04. This means that turning of the cam 88 effects reciprocation of the shaft 9i through bearing I I4 held by pillow block II2, while the actuating carriage I94 is guided on the frame by slide ways I I3.

The rotation of the lamp-turning shaft While the shaft 9! is being reciprocated, as previously described, it is also turned by the cam 89 acting on roller II5 carried by lever IIG connected to the frame 89 by pivot pin III. The lever H6 is bifurcated at its end, as indicated at II8, to receive swivel block H9. The latter receives pin I2! extending from lamp-turning rack I22. This rack engages pinion I23 secured to bearing H4 and not only transmitting turning motion to shaft 9! by means of key I24 secured to said bearing and received in elongated keyway I25 in said shaft, but also through extension turn key I29. The latter is secured to and extends longitudinally from bearing H4. The key L The reciprocation of the jaw-opening rod The jaw-opening rod 95 is reciprocated to open the lamp holding jaws 94 and 95 during the in-- ward movement thereof to take a lamp from the lamp holder arms 52, draw it outwardly therefrom, turn it end for end, and again after replacing said lamp in said holder arms. The first movement is effected by the protuberance 92, and the second by the protuberance 93, both desirably disposed on the periphery of cam 38, engaging roller I29 on bell crank lever I21. As it is desired to open the jaws 94 and 95 only when at or near the positions shown in full lines in Figure 3, rearward movement of the carriage I94, to which the bell crank lever is pivoted, does not affect the desired operation. The upper arm I28 of said lever is bifurcated to straddle rod 96 and a rod shifter collar I29, acting between receiving 4 flanges thereof. The collar I29 is adjustably secured to said rod by nut I3I.

The other end of the rod 96 carries racks I32 and I33, extending from the jaw-opening rack holder I34, connected to said rod by means of pin I35. These racks respectively engage pinions I36 and I39. Pinion I39 is fixed on shaft I38 carrying the left hand jaws 94 and as viewed in Figure 1, while the pinion I39 is fixed on shaft I 49 carrying the right hand jaws 94 and 96 as viewed in said figure. The shafts I38 and I49 are pivoted in turning head I4! desirably secured in properly aligned position to hub I49 by set screws I59. The hub I49 is connected to shaft 9!, as by means of key I54.

The respective jaws are urged to lamp-gripping engagement by means of springs I42, the ends of which respectively engage upstanding projections I43 and I4! on said jaws, so that the normal position of the jaws is closed. They are only opened when moved to grab a lamp from holder arms 52 on the conveyor 34 or to return said lamp to said arms. In order to minimize shock to such a lamp during the taking and replacing thereof, as well as prevent longitudinal slipping of said lamp in said jaws, each jaw desirably has a pair of plugs I45 of rubber, or other suitable shock-absorbing material, set thereinto and held in place by means of plug holders I46.

The brake for the lamp turning shaft The carriage I94 of the machine has secured thereto a pair of brackets I41, each of which receives a turning brake shoe I48 pressed against the collar 99 held by the screw I09 by means of a spring I5I. The compression of each spring is adjusted by a set screw I52 acting on a spring engaging block I53. This means that at all times during turning of the shaft 9!, movement is opposed by frictional action of the brake shoes, obviating undesired overrunning.

Operation There are eight phases in the operation of the lamp turning mechanism, represented by the correspondingly-numbered arrows of Figure 3. The first phase may be considered as when the lamp holder jaws 94 and 95 are moved forward to grip a lamp. This is accomplished by the cams turning through the are designated I in Figure 3, moving the jaws inwardly toward the lamp a distance indicated by the arrow I. As this is accomplished, the jaws are opened and closed about a lamp 2| by the peripheral cam portion 92 at the top of the slide-opening cam 88. At this time there is no motion imparted by the lampturning cam 89 to its lever H6. The position of the parts at the end of phase I is shown in full lines in Figures 3 and 4.

Phase 2, as the cams turn through the are designated 2 involves no other motion. Phase 3, when the cams are turned through an arc designated 3, means a withdrawal of the lamp to extreme outer position through the distance designated by the arrow 3. At the same time the lampturning cam 89 pulls down on its lever H9 and twirls the lamp holding jaws 94 and 95, starting to reverse the position of the lamp end for end.

Phase 4 is where the lamp moving jaws 94 and 95 are moved forward toward the holder on the machine, at the same time completing the reversal of the lamp end for end. Phase 5 involves a pause or hesitation in the operations, while during phase 6 the lamp is moved back to the position illustrated in full lines, forcing the jaws aast m or arms 52 on the machine open, to replace the lamp 2| in reverse position. At the end of said phase, the jaws 94 and 95 are released. In phase lthe slide-opening cam'BBcauSes a returnof' said jaws, as indicated by the arrow 1. Said jaws St and 535 are closed during said return movement, as well as reversed to initial position. Phase 3 is a dwell period like phases '2 and 5.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that we have devised a machine which automatically removes a fluorescent lamp or other'elongated object from another machine or part of the whole machine in which it is being processed, reverses it end for end,'and restores it to said'processing machine or part in which initially held. Although a preferred embodiment of our invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that the turningmachine 3| may be used in other applications where an"elongated or double-ended device is to be moved from a processing machine, turned end for end, and restored to said machine. Also other modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a machine for processing fluorescent lamps, a conveyor indexing from station to station, means on said conveyor for holding, while performing operations onthe lower end portion of, a series of said lamps with their axes vertical and subject to forcible removal, and means at one of said stations for automatically removing each lamp from its holding means, reversing it in .position and returning it to said holding means for the performance of similar operations on the other end portions, said means comprising auxiliary apparatus driven in synchronism with said machine and including a frame, a carriage slidable on said frame, ,means for effecting desired sliding of said carriage, a shaft mounted to turn in, and carrying means to prevent relative longitudinal movement with respect to, said carriage, a pillow block mounted onsaid frame, a bearing carrying said shaft and turning in said block, a pinion secured to said bearing, means also secured to said bearing for turning said shaft with said pinion while allowing independent reciprocation, gripping means carried by said shaft, and means for operating said gripping means to approach a lamp, grasp and withdraw it from its holding means, twirl it abou'ta horizontal a'xisto reverse position, and return 'it to its holding means. '2. In a machine for cooperating with another machine processing fluorescent lamps, in which other machine said lamps are'arrang'ed' in""a series and resiliently held subject "to forcible removal, with their axe's'vertical and indexed from station to station, two pairs of jaws springbiased to closed position, each jaw being mounted on the end of a shaft, a pinion on each shaft, a hollow lamp-turning shaft on which said jaw shafts are mountedand extend transverse thereto, a jaw-opening rod reciprocable in said lampturning shaft, racks engaging said pinions and operable by said rod to open said jaws, 'a 'cam shaft, a pair of cams mounted on said shaft, means for turning said cam shaft in synchronism with the operation of said processing machine, a carriage in which said lamp-turning shaft is rotatable, collar means on said shaft to cause it to reciprocate with said carriage, one of said cams operating a lever link-connected to said carriage, causing the latter and said shaft to reciprocate a movable rack, a bearing through 7 which said lamp-turning shaft passes, a'pinion sec red o sa d bearin a key of} Sai bea n and movable in an elongated key-way 'insaid shaft, a 'lever -operable by said other cam-[to cause turning of said pinion and shaft atdesired positions, one of said cams having protuberances, a bell crank lever connected to said jaw-opening rod so as to open said jaws to receive a lamp at a desired time and again open said jaws torelease such a lamp'at a desired time; the cams/being soshaped and protuberance; so related thatthe lamp-turning shaft moves'in 'as a lamp is indexed at a station, its jaws open and close about said lamp, said lamp-turning shaftthen retracts drawing said lamp out of its holding means where indexed, turning it' end for end, moving it back to the same holding'means', whereupon said jaws are again released'arid the shaft again retracts, during which last motion the jaws are reversed in position ready for the'ne xt operation.

3. In a machine for processing fluorescent lamps, a conveyor indexing from station testation, means on said conveyor for resiliently holding a series of said lamps with their axes vertical and'subject to forcible removal, and means at a reversing station for automatically 'removing eachlamp from its holding means, reversing it position and returning it" to said holding means, said means comprising a frame, a shaft inounted in said'frame, alpair of cams mounted on said shaft, means for driving said cam shaft in synchronism with said conveyor, a carriage slidable on said frameand disposed 'aboveslaid earns, a hollow shaftturnable in said carriage but not slidable relativdthereto, a Ia'Inp' -turning head mounted on the end of said hollow shaft, a pair of shafts extending parallel to one another 'and'transverse 'to "said hollowshft, "a 'jaw mounted on each end of each shaft, and cooperating with the jaw at the corresponding end of the" other shaft,"spring means urging the jaws of each pair toward one'an'othe'rfa' pinion on the intermediate'portion'of eacl'i'of'said Saw shafts, a jaw-opening rod reciprocablnn said hollow 's'haft',a'pairof racks'secured 'toan end of "said jaw-opening rod'and meshing with said pinions, 'so that as said rod is reciprocated'said jaws are opened against the force'of their springs, a collar secured tothe other end' o'f'saidrod, a bell-crank lever,'me'ans'pivoting said bell-crank leveron sa'id carriage, a-collar on said rod engaged by'one arm of said bell-crank lever, one of said cams having protuberancesengaging the other arm of said bell-crank lever for reciprocating'the rod in said shaft at times when his desired to open saidjaws, a pillow block mounted on said frame, a bearing rotatable therein and through which said hollow shaft passes, a pinion secured 'to an end of said bearing, a rack'ineshing with said pinion, a lever pivoted on said frame and operated by one of same cams to reciprocate said rack and thereby oscillate said pinion, a key on said bearing engaging an elongated keyway in said hollow shaft for transmitting rotary motion from said pinion to said shaft, and means transmitting longitudinal motion to said carriage and hollow shaft comprising a lever mounted on said frame, a roller thereon engaged by said other cam, and a connecting rod betweenthe free end of said lever and said carriage, the cams being shaped and the protuberances positioned so that as a lamp is indexed at the reversing station the hollow shaft reciprocates toward it, the jaws carried thereby are opened and closed about said lamp, the hollow shaft is retractedpulling said lamp from its resilient holding means, turning it end for end, and replacing it in said holding means.

4. In a machine for processing one by one each of elongated objects, a conveyor for resiliently holding such objects in a series and subject to forcible removal, and means for turning them end for end, and replacing them in reversed position on said conveyor comprising a frame, a shaft mounted in said frame, a cam mounted on said shaft, means for driving said cam shaft in synchronism with movement of said conveyor, a carriage slidable on said frame and disposed above said cam, a hollow shaft carrying means for holding one of said objects, turnable in said carriage but not slidable relative thereto, a lever mounted on said frame, a roller thereon engaged by said earn, a connecting rod between the free end of said lever and said carriage, said cam being shaped so that it reciprocates said hollow shaft toward and away from said conveyor as desired for effecting the purpose, turning mechanism for said hollow shaft, and another cam also mounted on said cam shaft, operably connected to said turning mechanism, and shaped so that it turns said hollow shaft as desired for the puruse.

p 5. In a machine for taking one by one each of vertically-positioned elongated objects resiliently held in a series on a conveyor and subject to forcible removal, turning them end for end, and replacing them in reversed position on said conveyor, a frame, a shaft mounted in said frame, a cam mounted on said shaft, means for driving said cam shaft in synchronism with movement of said conveyor, a carriage slidable on said frame toward and away from said conveyor and disposed above said cam, a hollow shaft carrying means for holding one of said objects, said hollow shaft being turnable in said carriage but not slidable relative thereto, a pillow block mounted on said frame, a bearing rotatable therein and through which said hollow shaft passes, a pinion secured to an end of said bearing, a rack meshing with said pinion, a lever pivoted on said frame and operated by said cam to reciprocate said rack and thereby oscillate said pinion, a key on said bearing engaging an elongated keyway in said shaft, a collar on said shaft formed with an outwardly opening notch, and an extension turn key on said bearing slidable in said notch, and together with said key serving for transmitting rotary motion from said pinion to said shaft, the cam being shaped so that as an object is indexed at a predetermined station, after being removed from said resilient holding means, it is reversed end for end before being returned thereto.

6. In a machine for taking one by one each of vertically-positioned elongated objects resiliently held in a series on a conveyor and subject to forcible removal, turning them end for end and replacing them on said conveyor, a frame, a shaft mounted in said frame, a cam mounted on said shaft, means for driving said machine and conveyor in synchronism, a hollow shaft slidable and turnable with respect to said frame, a lamp-turning head mounted on the end of said shaft, a pair of shafts mounted in said head, extending parallel to one another and transverse to said hollow shaft, a jaw mounted on each end of each shaft of said pair and cooperating with the jaw at the corresponding end of the other shaft, spring means urging the jaws of each pair toward one another, a pinion on an intermediate portion on each of said jaw shafts, a jaw-opening rod reciprocable in said hollow shaft, a pair of racks secured to an end of said jaw-opening rod and meshing with said pinions, so that as said rod is reciprocated said jaws are opened against the force of their springs, a bell crank lever pivoted to means moving longituclinally with said hollow shaft, a collar on said rod engaged by one arm of said bell crank lever, and protuberances on said cam engaging at desired times the other arm of said bell crank lever for reciprocating said rod and opening said jaws against the force of their springs, so that one of said elongated objects may be gripped in said jaws and released therefrom at desired times.

7. In a machine for taking one by one each of vertically-positioned elongated objects resiliently held in a series on a conveyor and subject to forcible removal, turning them end for end and replacing them in said holding means, a frame, a shaft mounted on said frame, a carriage slidable on said frame, abutment portions on said carriage, means for effecting desired sliding of said carriage, a hollow shaft turnable in said carriage but not slidable relative thereto, objectgripping elements carried by said hollow shaft, means for turning said hollow shaft, said hollow shaft carrying a collar in engagement with one abutment portion and a brake-drum collar in engagement with another abutment portion of said carriage, and means to prevent overrunning of turning movement of said hollow shaft, comprising a. pair of brackets mounted on said carriage, a brake shoe in each bracket, a spring urging each brake shoe from said bracket toward the brake-drum collar, and means for adjusting the compression of said springs.

8. In a machine for processing fluorescent lamps, a conveyor indexing from station to station, and means at one of said stations for automatically removing each lamp from its holding means, reversing it in position and returning it to said holding means, said means comprising a frame, a shaft mounted on said frame, a cam mounted on said shaft, means for driving said cam shaft in synchronism with said processing machine, a carriage slidable on said frame and disposed above said cam, a hollow shaft carrying means for holding one of said lamps, turnable in said carriage but not slidable relative thereto, a lever mounted on said frame, a roller thereon engaged by said cam, and connecting rod between the free end of said lever and said carriage, said cam being shaped so that it reciprocates said hollow shaft toward and away from said conveyor as desired for correspondingly moving said lamps, and means for effecting desired turning of said hollow shaft.

9. In a machine for processing fluorescent lamps, a conveyor indexing from station to station, means on said conveyor for resiliently holding a series of said lamps with their axes vertical and subject to forcible removal, and means at a reversing station for automatically removing each lamp from its holding means, reversing it in position and returning it to said holding means, said means comprising a frame, a shaft mounted in said frame, a cam mounted on said shaft, means for driving said cam shaft in synchronism with operation of said processing machine, a carriage slidable on said frame toward and away from said conveyor and disposed above said cam, means for effecting desired sliding of said carriage, a hollow shaft carrying means for holding one of said lamps, said hollow shaft being turnable in said carriage but not slidable relative thereto, a pillow block mounted on said frame, a bearing rotatable therein and through which said hollow shaft passes, a pinion secured to an end of said frame and operated by said cam to reciprocate said rack and thereby oscillate said pinion, a key and aneXtension turn key on said bearing respectively engaging an elongated keyway in said shaft and a notch in the collar on said shaft, for transmitting rotary motion from said pinion to said shaft, the cam being shaped so that as a lamp is indexed at said reversing station, it is after removal from said conveyor reversed end for end before being returned thereto.

10. In a machine for processing fluorescent lamps, a conveyor indexing from station to station, means on said conveyor for resiliently holding a series of said lamps withtheir axes vertical and subject to forcible removal, means at one of said stations for automatically removing each lamp from its holding means, said means comprising a frame, a shaft mounted in said frame, a cam mounted on said shaft, means for driving said cam shaft and conveyor in synchronism, a hollow shaft slidable and turnable with respect to said frame, means for effecting desired sliding and turning movements of said hollow shaft, a lamp turning head mounted on the end ofsaid shaft, a pair of shafts mounted in said head, extending parallel to one another and transverse to said hollow shaft, a jaw mounted on eachend of eachshaft of said pair and cooperating with the jaw at the corresponding end of the other shaft, spring means urging the jaws of each pair toward one another, a pinion on an intermediate portion of each of said jaw shafts, a jaw-opening rod reciprocable in said hollow shaft, a pairof racks secured to an end of said jaw-opening rod and meshing with said pinions, so that as said rod isreciprocated said jaws are opened against the force of their springs, abell crank lever pivoted-to means moving longitudinally with said hollow shaft, a collar on said rod provided with flanges between which one arm of said bell crank lever extends, protuberances on said cam engaging at desired times the other arm of said bell crank lever for reing a series of said lamps with their axes vertical and subject to forcible removal, means at one of said stations for automatically removing each lamp from its holding means, reversing it in position and returning it to said holding means, said means comprising a frame, a shaft mounted on said frame, a carriage slidable in said frame, means for effecting desired sliding of said carriage, a hollow shaft turnable in said carriage but not slidable relative thereto, said shaft I01" that purpose carrying a collar in engagement with one abutment portion and a brake-drum collar in engagement with another abutment portion of said carriage, and means to prevent overrunning of turning movement of said hollow shaft, comprising a pair of brackets mounted on 12 l r said carriage, a brake shoe in each bracket, a spring urging each brake shoe from said bracket toward the brake-drum collar, means for adjusting the force exerted by said springs, and lamp-gripping elements carried by, and means for efiecting desired turning of, said hollow shaft.

12. Mechanism for reciprocating a hollow shaft, rotating it, and operating gripping means at one end thereof, comprising a frame, a carriage slidable on said frame, said shaft being mounted to turn in said carriage and carrying collar means engaging bearing portions of said carriage to prevent relative longitudinal movement between carriage and shaft, a pillow block mounted on said frame, a bearing carrying. said shaft and turning in said block, a key and a pinion secured to said bearing, said key engaging an elongated keyway in said shaft, and means for operating said-gripping means comprising a rod slidable in said shaft, a cam shaft, means for effecting desired sliding of said carriage, comprising a cam on said shaft, a lever operated thereby, a link connecting said lever to said carriage, a rack engaging said pinion, another cam on said cam shaft for reciprocating said rack, and protuberances on one of said cams for reciprocating said rod with respect to said hollow shaft.

7 13. Mechanism for reciprocating a hollow shaft and operatinggripping means at one end thereof, comprising aframe, a carriage slidable on said frame, said shaft carrying collar means engaging bearing portions of said carriage to prevent relative longitudinal movement between carriage and shaft, a bearing on said frame .carrying said shaft, and means for operating said gripping means comprising a rod slidable in said shaft, a cam shaft, a cam on said shaft, a lever operated thereby, a link connecting saidlever to said carriage, and protuberances on said .cam for reciprocating said rod with respect to said hollow shaft.

-14. Mechanism for reciprocating a shaft and simultaneously rotating it, comprising a frame, a carriage slidable on said frame, said shaft being mounted to turn in said carriage and carrying collar means engaging bearing portions of said carriage to prevent relative longitudinal movement between said carriage andshaft, a pillow block mounted on said frame-a bearing carrying said shaft and turning in saidblock, a key and a pinion secured to said bearing, said key engaging an elongatedkeyway in said shaft, a rack engaging said pinion, a cam shaft, camson said shaft for respectively reciprocating said carriage and rack lever operated by said carriage earn,

and a link connecting said lever and carriage.

DANIEL MULLAN.

HUGO BAUER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,136,275 Roehrich Apr. 20, 1915 1,440,288 Gray Dec. 26, 1922 1,498,824 Weymerskirch June 24, 1924 1,783,642 Ferguson Dec. 2, 1930 2,102,613 Cole Dec. 21, 1937 2,139,403 Cole Dec. 6, 1938

Images