US3033241A - Heater working machine and method - Google Patents

Description

May 8, 1962 J. M. SM ITH 3,033,241

4 HEATER WORKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Dec. 30, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 VENTQR F g- 4 JAMES SMITH figs BY @M W /40 ATTORNEY May 8, 1962 J. M. SMITH 3,033,241

HEATER WORKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Dec. so, 195'; 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JAMES M. 5mm liltq'g 5 BY 7frath/ A'ITORNEY y 8, 1962 I J. M. SMITH 3,033,241

HEATER WORKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Dec. 30, 195'? 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 M I62 226 24 r m 252 234 g I 2/2 2/4 2/0 WWII!!! I lm a we mm o \l I I! i E 05 I84 132d A92 n4: Maze Q I My 6 INVENTQ 4/1/1455 M. sM/n/ BY 2/4451 ATTORNEY y 8, 1952 J. M. SMITH 3,033,241

- HEATER WORKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Dec. so, 195'? 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 liZd Q INNIIINIIIIIN iiiiiiiiiiimm y INVENTOR JAMES M. SMITH BYWM-x m ATTORNEY J. M. SMITH 3,033,241

9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 30, 1957 I &v E V 208 206- 206 a E /90 Eu 7 l -n L08 gym/11g I94 BY Ma Ma ATTORNEY May 8, 1962 J. M. SMITH HEATER WORKING MACHINE AND METHOD 9 SheetsSheet '7 Filed Dec. 50, 1957 INVENTOR JAMES 4151mm BY 71% W A'ITORNEY May 8, 1962 J. M. SMITH 3,033,241

HEATER WORKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Dec. 30, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 ENTOR 114,145. 41. [I'll 1 BY WMZIM M ATTORNEY May 8, 1962 J. M. SMITH 3,033,241

' HEATER WORKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Dec. 50, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVEN;2R (bi/5 M. 5M]

ATTORNEY United States Patent Quail 3,033,241 HEATER WORKING MAGHINE AND METHGD James M. Smith, Emporium, lia., assignor, by mesue assignments, to Syivania Electric Products Inc., Wilmin ten, Del, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 30, 1957, tier. No. 706,058 22 Ciaims. (El. 140--71.5)

The present invention relates to an improved machine and method for the manufacture of heaters for vacuum tubes, and in particular to an improved method and apparatus for processing a heater winding preparatory to final insertion in the cathode sleeve of a vacuum tube.

The heater for an indirectly heated cathode of a vacuum tube usually includes a number of folds or lengths of heater wire having a refractory coating which folds or lengths are bundled for insertion into the sleeve of the cathode, with the two terminal or end portions of the heater wire extended through the cathode sleeve and positioned for connection to an appropriate source of heater potential. Although automatic machinery is employed for winding the coated heater wire into the elementary spiral or helical heater, it has been heretofore the practice to fold the heater and gather the folds thereof into a bundle for insertion into the cathode sleeve by rather tedious, and time-consuming manual operations.

It is broadly an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and machine for the manufao ture of folded heaters of the aforesaid type. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a highly versatile automatic machine for removing the elementary heater windings from the mandrel of an automatic heater winding machine and for thereafter folding and processing the heater winding and gathering the folds thereof into a bundle of dimensions appropriate for insertion into the sleeve of an indirectly heated cathode.

An illustrative machine embodying features of the present invention has multiple stations and comprises a turret having at least one transfer head provided with movable gripping jaws. The turret is intermittently indexed to advance the transfer heads stepwise into the successive stations of the machine. A first station of the machine includes heater winding mechanisms having a winding mandrel upon which the heater winding is automatically wound. The turret is arranged to be shifted toward the heater winding mechanism to bring the gripping jaws thereof into a pick-up position relative to the winding mandrel and provision is made for actuating the gripping jaws when in the pick-up position to engage a heater winding on the winding mandrel. The shifting arrangement for the turret is such as to return the turret to a clearance position relative to the heater winding mechanism at the first station, during which the heater is folded; whereupon the turret is indexed to advance the transfer head carrying the folded heater into a second or further station of the machine. At the second station of the machine, coating stripping mechanisms are provided which include stripping jaws movable toward and away from each other and relative to the transfer head. The stripping jaws are actuated such that they may be moved toward the transfer head at the second station and into engagement with terminal portions of the heater winding, provision being made for reciprocating the stripping jaws when in contact with the terminal portions to strip the refractory coating from the heater winding. The stripping jaws are arranged to move into a clearance position relative to the turret whereupon the turret is indexed to advance a transfer head into a third or further station of the machine. At this third station, bundling and transferring mechanisms are provided which include bundling jaws movable toward and away from 3,033,241 Patented May 8, 1962 each other and relative to the transfer head. The bundling jaws move toward the transfer head and into end wise engagement with the heater winding for pick-up of the heater winding from the transfer head. The bundling jaws are movable toward each other and are displaceable relative to the turret into a clearance position such'that the folds of the heater winding are formed into a bunch or bundle during the transfer of the heater winding into the clearance position. Suitable provision may be made at this station for either inserting the bundled or bunched heaters into a traying device, into a cathode sleeve, or for manual removal of the completed heaters for further processing.

In accordance with method aspects of the present invention, the coated heater wire is formed into a spiral winding of generally cylindrical configuration. spiral Winding is laterally engaged to displace opposite half sections of the turns of the spiral winding toward each other to form a flat-folded heater body. The fiat folded heater body is engaged endwise to form the same into a bundle including opposite half sections of the turns or folds bunched together into the final heater configuration. Advantageously, the terminal portions of the heater body may be stripped of the coating, preliminary to the final bunching of the heater folds or turns, to ex pose the heater wire for subsequent connection thereto of lead-in wires, either directly or by the provision of welded tabs.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be best appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred apparatus, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: i

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a heater working machine embodying features of the present invention, with parts broken away for the purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view, with parts broken away, taken substantially along the line 22. of FIGURE 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the heater-engag ing jaws of the heater transfer head employed in my machine; I

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the ar: rows, and showing further details of the transfer head;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4, with parts broken away and sectioned;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of FIGURE 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 of FIGURE 6 and looking in the direction of thearrows; 1

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 of FIGURE 1, showing details of the coating-removal mechanisms incorporated in my machine;-

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9+9 of FIGURE 8, with parts broken away for the purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1iiii of FIGURE 9, looking in the direc tion of the arrows and showing the drive for the coating removal mechanisms;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary perspective view, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing further details of the coating-removal mechanisms;

FIGURE 12is an elevational view taken substantially along the line 1?;l2 of FIGURE 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken sub-,

3 stantially along the line 13--13 of FIGURE 12 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 14 is a plan view, with parts broken away and sectioned for the purposes of illustration, showing the heater bundling and transferring mechanisms incorporated in my machine;

FIGURE 15 is a vertical section of the heater bundling and transferring mechanisms, with parts broken away for the purposes of convenience;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary elevational view of the heater bundling and transferring mechanisms shown in FIGURE 14, with parts broken away and sectioned for the purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary plan View, with parts broken away and sectioned, of the heater bundling and transferring mechanisms shown in FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 18 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of the heater bundling and transferring mechanisms shown in the clearance position relative to the turret and with the parts disposed in the relative positions occupied after bundling and transferring of the heater, the dotted line illustrating the pick-up position relative to the turret, which is also shown in FIGURE 14;

FIGURES 19 to 22A are schematic and diagrammatic views illustrating the several operations at the heater pick-up station of my machine, to wit:

FIGURE 19 is a diagrammatic and schematic plan view illustrating the relationship of the heater gripping jaws and the winding mandrel at the start of the opera tion;

FIGURE 19A is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 19A19A of FIGURE 19;

FIGURE 20 is a view similar to FIGURE 19, but showing the heater gripping jaws and the winding mandrel in their relative positions for pick-up of a .heater wound on the mandrel;

FIGURE 20A is a transverse section on FIGURE 20;

FIGURE 21 is a view similar to FIGURE 20 but showing the gripping jaws in supporting relation to the heater after the winding mandrel has contracted and during the return stroke of the gripping jaws;

FIGURE 21A is a transverse section on FIGURE 21;

FIGURE 22 is a view similar to FIGURE 21 but showing the gripping jaws during the return stroke, the heater being folded as a result of the further movement of the gripping jaws relative to each other; and,

FIGURE 22A is a transverse section taken on FIGURE 22 showing the folded heater in its condition for transfer to the coating-removal station of the machine.

FIGURES 23 to 23B inclusive are schematic and diagrammatic views illustrating the several operations at the coating-removal station of my machine, to wit:

FIGURE 23 is a schematic and diagrammatic view in elevation showing the stripping jaws in position to engage the terminal portions of the heater winding when brought into the coating-removal station by the gripping jaws of the heater transfer head;

FIGURE 23A is a transverse section taken on FIGURE 23, with the clearance or retracted position of the stripping jaws being illustrated by the broken lines, and the engaged or operative position of the stripping jaws being illustrated by the full lines; and

FIGURE 23B is a transverse section taken on FIGURE 23 with the clearance or retracted position of the stripping jaws being shown by the full lines, and with the engaged or operative position of the stripping jaws being shown by the broken lines.

FIGURES 24A to 24D inclusive are schematic and diagrammatic views illustrating the several operations at the heater transferring and bundling station of my machine, to wit:

FIGURE 24A is a schematic and diagrammatic plan view (similar to FIGURE 1) showing the bundling jaws open, but in position to engage the heater brought to the bundling and transferring station by the gripping jaws of the transfer head;

FIGURE 24B is a view similar to FIGURE 24A but showing the bundling jaws in engagement with the heater preliminary to release from the gripping jaws of the transfer head;

FIGURE 24C is a. view similar to FIGURE 24B but showing the bundling jaws at the beginning of the transfer stroke and supporting the heater, with the gripping jaws of the transfer head opened; and

FIGURE 24D is a plan view on an enlarged scale, with parts broken away, showing the relative position of the bundling jaws for gripping the folds of the heater winding into a bunch or bundle.

Preliminary to a detailed description of the invention by reference to the drawings, the general arrangement and purpose of the present improved heater working machine will be described.

The illustrative machine includes a rotary transfer turret 30 which is mounted for stepwise indexing to bring successive heater transfer heads 32 from the loading station, through the several work stations and into the un loading station of the machine. The present machine has been designed to carry eight heater transfer heads 32 in the counterclockwise direction (when viewed in FIGURE 1) through a No. 1 station (34) at which the heater H is picked up from the heater winding and forming mechanisms which are generally known and will he described hereinafter in general terms, into a No. 3 station (36) arranged to remove the refractory coating C on the terminal ends h I1 of the heater H (see FIG. 19) for exposing the heater wire W (see FIG. 2313) to enable welding directly thereto or tabbing of the terminal ends of the heater wire, and finally into a No. 7 station (38) at which the heater H is bundled for manual transfer, traying or further work operations. The intermediate Nos. 2, 4, 5 and 8 stations are provided in the instant machine to establish idle periods between successive work intervals, or to enable the machine to be adapted for further work operations. For example, in some applications, it is necessary to subject the heater to further coating removal mechanisms (i.e. at station No. 4) to assure more perfect removal of the heater coating and exposure of the terminal ends I2 12 of the heater wire. It will be appreciated that a great latitude of substitution and variation is intended with respect to the degree of turret indexing and the number of stations and like design factors which will depend upon general machine design considerations, the ultimate application of the machine and other factors not particularly pertinent to the present invention.

The operations performed at station No. 1 are shown diagrammatically, and may be best appreciated, by progressive reference to FIGURES 19A to 22A inclusive. The mechanisms of the heater winding device 34 are known per se and accordingly will not be described in detail. It will suflice for the present purposes to explain that a two-part expandable and contractible winding mandrel 40 is arranged radially outwardly of station No. 1 and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis for winding of the wire thereabout to form the elementary spiral heater body H with the terminal ends or sections I2 I1 The mandrel 40 includes two jaws 40a, 40b, which are mounted for movement toward and away from each other. Normally the jaws 40a, 4011 are in the open or spread-apart position (illustrated in FIGURES l9 and 20) and are closable at a predetermined time in the cycle (illustrated in FIGURES 21 and 22) to enable the wound heater H to be axially removed therefrom as will subsequently be described. The jaws 40a, 4% are formed with knife- like parting blades 40c, 40d, which fracture or break the refractory heater wire coating C at the opposite lateral margins of the mandrel 40 such that an accurate and prescribed shape may be imparted to the heaterH. This shape, of course, will depend upon the outline of the mandrel 40 and is varied in accordance with the desired heater configuration. The heater transfer head 32 includes a pair of heater-engaging jaws 42, 44 which are movable toward and away from each other into supporting relation with the heater H (see FIGURES 19A and 20A) and also are movable axially of the winding mandrel 40', as indicated by the directional arrow in FIG. 19, as will be described hereinafter. When the turret 30 indexes to bring a particular heater trans-fer head 32 into position opposite the winding head 40 at the No. 1 station (as shown diagrammatically in FIGURES 19, 19A), the jaws 42, 44 are disposed radially inwardly of the mandrel 4t) and are spread apart in an amount sufiicient to provide lateral clearance relative to the heater. Thereupon the jaws 42, 44 are moved radially outwardly, that is axially of the mandrel 40, into the heater-engaging position shown in FIGURES 20 and 20A, whereupon the jaws 42, 44 move toward each other and into supporting relation to the heater H supported on the winding mandrel 40. Thereupon the mechanisms of the heater winding device 34 are effective to move the mandrel jaws 40a, 40b toward each other to collapse the winding mandrel 4b, as shown in FIGURES 21 and 21A, whereupon the heater H is freed to be transported by the jaws 42, 44, for movement off the collapsed winding mandrel 40, as indicated by the directional arrow in FIGURE 21. After the heater H is stripped from the collapsed winding mandrel 40', the jaws 42, 44, move still further closer together, as seen best in FIGURE 22A to laterally compress the heater H into the final folded configuration, shown best in the cross-sectional view of FIGURE 22A. In this position the folded heater H is transferred into the coating removal or scraping station No. 3 (36). Of course it will be appreciated that station No. 3 is displaced from station No. 1 by 90 about the turret 30. Accordingly the particular heater transfer head 32 will be first indexed through the idle position corresponding to the No. 2 station.

The function of the coating-removal mechanisms at station 36 will be best appreciated by reference to the diagrammatic showing of FIGURES 23, 23A and 23B. At this station, a pair of reciprocating abrading tools 46, 48 are brought into operative engagement with the terminal sections or ends h h of the heater H for the purpose of scraping away the refractory coating to expose the heater wire W, as seen best in FIGURE 233. The extent to which the coating is removed and the location of the removal of the coating will be determined by the shape and location of the abrading tools 46, 48. In some instances a portion of the coating outwardly of the exposed length of wire is left on the terminal sections h h to enable the operator to more easily locate said terminal sections; in other instances the entire terminal portions or sections I1 h are stripped clean to expose the heater wire W. The abrading tools 46, 48 are located at an elevated position above the level of the turret 30 to enable the heater transfer head 32 to index into station 36, the elevated or inoperative position of the tools 46, 48 being shown by the broken lines in FIGURES 23 and 23A. When the heater transfer head 32 brings the heater H into position for the work operation at station 36, the abrading tools 46, 48 move downwardly through a prescribed stroke, as shown by the vertical directional arrows in FIGURES 23 and 23A, and thereupon move toward each other into contact with the terminal sections h h as indicated by the further horizontal directional arrows in FIGURE 23A. In the operative position, illustrated by the full lines in FIGURES 23 and 23A, the abrading tools 46, 48 are reciprocated relative to each other at a fairly rapid rate to effect the removal of the refractory heater coating C, as will subsequently be described in detail. After a prescribed abrading or cleaning interval has elapsed, the abrading tools 46, 48 move away from each other through a prescribed stroke, as indicated by the horizontal directional arrows in FIGURE 23B, and thereupon move upwardly through a prescribed vertical stroke to the inoperative position illustrated by the full lines in FIGURE 23B in which the abrading tools remain until the next work cycle. The

condition of the heater H after the operation performed at station No. 3 is illustrated best in FIGURE 23B.

Thereupon the turret is effective to index the heater H, with the terminal sections h h stripped or cleaned, into the bundling and unloading station 38. As may be appreciated by inspecting the plan view of FIGURE 1, the heater bundling and unloading station 38 is diametrically opposite the coating removal station 36, and accordingly there are three dwell or idle positions through which the heater transfer head 32 indexes after leaving the station 36 and before being brought into operative relation to the mechanisms at the station 38.

The function of the mechanisms at the bundling and unloading station 38 may be best appreciated by reference to the diagrammatic showing of FIGURES 24A to 24D inclusive. As seen in these figures, which are plan views for convenience of illustration (see also FIGURE 1),

the folded heater H supported by the heater-engaging jaws 42, 44 comes into a pick-up position relative to a pair of transfer and bundling tools 50, 52. During the turret indexing intervals, the transfer and bundling tools 50, 52 are disposed outwardly of the turret 36 and thereafter, by mechanisms which will subsequently be described are moved into the position illustrated in FIGURE 24A wherein the tools are spaced apart and are at opposite sides of the heater H supported on the heater-engaging jaws 42, 44. The jaws, 42, 44 are relieved away, as seen best in FIGURE 3, to enable the transfer and bundling tools 50, 52 to move toward each other into a closed position illustrated in FIGURE 24B, wherein the heater H is supported entirely by the tools 50, 52. With the heater thus supported, the jaws 42, 44 are opened, as seen in FIGURE 24C, freeing the transfer and bundling tools 50, 52, and supported heater, for movement outwardly from the turret 30 for the transfer and hundling operation. This transfer and bundling operation involves the removal of the heater H to an unload position and the simultaneous longitudinal gathering or bundling of the heater, as may be best appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGURES 24C and 24D. This is achieved, in general terms, by initially longitudinally con-' fining the heater H between opposite abutrnents 50a,

52A on the tools 50, 52. During the outward travel of the tools as a unit, the tools 50, 52 move relative to each other such that the abutments 50a, 52a approach each other which thereby gathers the successive turns of the folded heater into a bundle, the tightness of which ultimately depends upon the final spacing of the abutments 50a, 52a, as established by the required physical geometry of the heater H for insertion into its cathode sleeve. At the end of the transfer operation, the bundled heater (see FIGURE 24D) may either be manually unloaded, placed into a traying device, or transferred to another machine for further processing.

Reference will now be made to FIGURES l and 2 for a description of the mechanisms by which the turret 30 is intermittently indexed to bring the successive heater transfer heads 32 into the several stations of the machine,

and to the further mechanisms for sideways shifting of.

the turret 30 by means of which the heater transfer head is axially shifted in station No. 1 from the retracted position wherein the heater-engaging jaws 42, 44 are spaced inwardly of the collapsible winding mandrel 40 (see FIGURES 19, 19A) to the heater pickup position wherein the jaws 42, 44 are at opposite sides of the mandrel 40 (see FIGURES 20, 20A). The machine includes a main machine base or housing 60 made up of a number of castings which supports a laterally shiftable carrier 62 upon which is carried a standard 64 for a circular turret head 66 of the turret 30. The shiftable carrier 62, which is movable from right to left in FIGURE 2, to bring the heater transfer head 32 at station No. 1 into the pick-up position relative to the wound heater H on the mandrel 40, and is movable to the right into the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, for indexing of the picked up heater through the successive stations of the machine, is supported on fixed circular ways 68, 70, which are received within appropriate guideways in the shiftable carrier 62. Accordingly, the carrier 62 may be shifted radially through a prescribed stroke to displace the turret axis from its normal location (see FIGURE 2). The length of this stroke is determined by the required degree of shifting needed to locate the heater transfer head 32 relative to the collapsible mandrel 46 for pick-up of a wound heater H. The turret standard 64 includes a bottom bearing flange 72 which is received within a circular seat 74 formed in the upper surface of the shiftable carrier 62 such that the turret heat 66 may be rotated relative to the carrier 62, as well as shifted with the carrier. In order to impart stability to the turret head 66 as it rotates relative to the carrier 62, the standard 64 is hollowed out to receive an upstanding turret shaft 76 which is fixed to the carrier 62 and carries a bearing 78, the inner race of which is fixed to the upstanding turret shaft 76 and the outer race of which is fixed to and revolves with the standard 64.

A common drive is employed to both index the turret and to laterally shift the carrier 62 at prescribed times in the machine cycle, the timing of which will subsequently become apparent. This common drive includes a main driving sprocket 80 which is connected by a main sprocket chain 82 to an appropriate drive motor (not shown). The main driving sprocket 86 is carried on a main drive shaft 84 which is appropriately journaled on the machine base or housing 60 by bearings 86. The main driving sprocket 81) is coupled via an appropriate gearing train to a carrier-shifting cam S8 which is journaled in a stationary position, and to an indexing cam 90 which is journaled on the shiftable carrier 62. The carrier-shifting cam 88 is of the barreltype and is supported on a carrier shift cam shaft 92 which is appropriately journaled on the machine base or housing by bearings 94. The barrel cam 88 is formed with a peripheral cam track 83a which is engaged by a follower 96 which is in the form of a roller journaled on the shiftable carrier 62. The development of the cam track 88a is selected to periodically laterally shift the turret 30 through a prescribed stroke toward the mandrel of the heater winding mechanisms, as previously explained. The index cam 90 is carried by an index cam shaft 98 appropriately journaled by bearings 16% on the carrier 62. The cam 90 periodically achieves index of the turret 30 through a prescribed angular traverse, as is well understood in the art, and is formed with a cam track 96a which is selectively engaged by an appropriate number of cam followers 102 in the form of rollers journaled on and depending below the bearing flange 72 of the turret assembly. As is conventional, the cam followers 102, pair by pair, engage the cam track 90:: of the index cam 90 to achieve the periodic index of the turret 30. The gear train which connects the main driving sprocket 80 to the respective cams 88, 96, includes a spur gear 104 fixed to the driving sprocket 80 and in meshing engagement with a further spur gear 166 carried on the cam shaft 92. The spur gear 106 in turn drives a further spur gear 168 which is in meshing engagement therewith and fixed to the cam shaft 98. The spur gear 106 is of sufiicient width to provide a driving connection to the spur gear 103 as the spur gear 108 shifts laterally as a function of the carrier shift movement determined by the development of the cam 88.

By specific reference to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the details of the heater engaging or gripping jaws 42, 44 of the heater-transfer head 32 may be more fully appreciated. Since both of these jaws are of identical structure it will suffice to describe only one in detail.

The heater engaging or gripping jaw 42 includes an upper jaw part 42a, a lower jaw part 42b, a connecting part 421: and a mounting arm 42d. The upper and lower jaw parts 42a, 421; have their heater-engaging faces 42c and 42] profiled in accordance with the shape of the winding mandrel 411a, as can be best appreciated by reference to the diagrammatic showing in FIGURES 19 to 22A. The spacing between the upper and lower jaw parts 42a, 42b provides an access region between the parts of the jaw which engage the heater winding H such that the heater bundling jaws 50, 52 may be brought into engagement with the portion of the heater through said access region for engagement and pickup of the heater winding by the mechanisms at station 38. In view of the identity of the heater engaging or gripping jaw 44 with the jaw 42, corresponding reference numerals have been applied thereto in the drawings.

Reference will now be made to FIGURES 2 to 7 inclusive for a detailed description of the manner in which the heater engaging jaws 42, 44 are mounted for movement relative to each other for pick-up of the heater winding H and for flattening the heater winding into folds, as seen best in FIGURE 22A. The jaws 42, 44 are movably mounted on the heater-transfer head 32 which includes a housing 116 fixed to the circular body 66 of the turret 30 by bolts 112, as seen best in FIG- URES 1 and 2. The transfer head housing 110 extends radially outwardly of the circular body 66 and normally supports the jaws 4-2, 44 at a location radially inwardly of the expandable mandrel 4t) and substantially at the same level as the expandable mandrel 40 (see FIGURE 2). The housing 110 includes an interior compartment which receives the several actuating and mounting means for the jaws 42, 44, access into the interior compartment being bad through a removable cover plate 110a (sec FIGURE 4) appropriately bolted in place. Journaled within the forward portion of the housing 110 in appropriate bearing openings are hollow jaw mounting shafts 114, 116 for the respective jaws 42, 44. The jaw mounting shafts 114, 116 are disposed one above the other (see FIGURES 5 and 6) and extend from side to side of the housing 110 and substantially tangentially of the turret 30. The jaw mounting shaft 114 carries a jaw mounting bracket 118 on one end thereof, one leg 118a of the jaw mounting bracket extending at right angles to the mounting shaft 114 and being integral therewith (see FIGURE 7) and the other arm 118b extending substantially parallel to the mounting shaft 114 and being formed with a guide way 1180 which receives the mounting arm 42:! of the jaw 42. The jaw 42 is removably secured to its mounting bracket 118 by a bolt or machine screw 120. In a similar fashion, the mounting shaft 116 carries a jaw mounting bracket 122 on which is removably secured the jaw 44 by a bolt 124.

The degree of sidcwise movement of the jaw mounting shaft 114 and its jaw 42 is limited by a transverse stop pin 126 which extends through opposed elongated limiting slots 128 formed in opposite sides of the mount ing shaft. The outer extremities of the stop pin 126 are fixed into the adjacent walls of the housing 110. Disposed within the hollow interior 114a of the jaw mounting shaft 114 is a biasing spring 139 which bears at one end against an end wall of the shaft and is connected at the other end to the stop pin 126 (see FIGURE 7). The biasing spring 130 urges the jaw 42 into its closed position, that is to the left in FIGURE 7, toward the jaw 44, such that the stop pin 126 is normally disposed at the right extremity of its limiting slot 128. In a similar fashion, the mounting shaft 116 for the jaw 44 is provided with means which limit its side to side adjustment and an internal spring which tends to urge the jaw 44 into its closed position, that is, to the right in FIGURE 7 toward the jaw 42.

In that the jaw mounting shafts 114, 116 are disposed at different levels (see FIGURE 6), the bracket arms 118b, 12% are appropriately mounted in relation to their respective supporting arms 118a, 122a, to locate the jaws 42, 44 opposite each other and symmetrically of a vertical reference plane extending radially of the turret (see FIGURE 4 and the section line 55). To facilitate the proper orientation of the jaws 42, 44, vertically in relation to each other, the bracket arm 11% may be mounted for vertical adjustment relative to the arm 118a and similarly the bracket arm 122b may be mounted for vertical adjustment relative to the arm 122a, as seen best in FIGURE 4. The arms 118b, 122b are fixed in position by respective bolts 132, 134.

The heater engaging jaws 42, 44 are held in spacedapart relation against the biasing effect of their respective springs through provision of cam-controlled jaw actuating mechanisms which will now be described. The jaw actuating mechanisms include an upstanding actuator rod 136 which is mounted for vertical movement in an appropriate guideway 138 formed in a depending integral collar or flange 1101) on the housing 110. The lower end of the actuator 136 extends beyond the lower end of the flange 1119b and carries a roller or follower 140 which is periodically engaged to vertically displace the actuator 136 which in turn establishes the position of the jaws 42, 44 with respect to each other. The actuator 136 is shown in FIGURES 5 to 7 in the position corresponding to the jaws 42, 44 being closed under the influence of their biasing springs. As the actuator 136 is moved upwardly from the position illustrated in FIG- URE 5, various open jaw positions will be established as a function of the vertical displacement of the actuator 136. The actuator 136 is coupled to the jaw mounting shafts 114, 116 by respective bifurcated yokes 142, 144 which are fixed to the shafts 114, 116 and carry follower rollers 146, 148 which ride on the opposite camming surfaces of a V-shaped spreader member 150 fixed to the upper end of the actuator 136. As seen best in FIGURE 6, the follower roller 146 rides upon the camming surface 150b, the rollers being urged into contact with the respective camming surfaces 150, 15% by the action of the biasing springs 130 associated with the jaws 42, 44. The spreader member 150, as a function of the upward displacement of the actuator 136, spreads the rollers 146, 148 and correspondingly spreads the jaws 42, 44. The mechanisms for opening the heater-engaging jaws 42, 44 via the actuator 138 at the heater loading or pickup station 34, for closing the jaws to engage the heater, for further closing the jaws to fold the heater H (all of which occur at station No. l) and the further mechanisms for opening the heater-engaging jaws after processing (which occurs at station No. 7) will be described hereinafter.

The bifurcated yoke 142 on the jaw mounting shaft 114 includes a split head section 142a (see FIGURE 5) which is clamped to the jaw mounting shaft 114 by a bolt 152 and includes depending guide flanges 142b, 1420 which ride on appropriate flats 116a, 116b milled in opposite sides of the jaw mounting shaft 116. In a similar fashion the yoke 144 is fixed to the mounting shaft 116 by a bolt 154 and is appropriately guided by flats milled on opposite sides of the jaw mounting shaft 114.

Reference will now be made to FIGURES 8 to 13 inclusive for a description of the coating removal mechanisms at station 36, the function of which has been previously described in conjunction with the diagrammatic showings of FIGURES 23 to 23B inclusive. The coating removal mechanisms at station 36 include a station casting 160 fixed to the main casting or machine base 60 at the No. 3 station or position. The abrading tools 46, 48 and some of their actuating mechanisms are carried on a vertically movable housing 162 which is mounted for vertical displacement on the casting 160 by a pair of upstanding guide rails or ways 164, 166. The ways 164, 166 are journaled intermediate their ends in appropriate bearings 168, 170 on the casting 160 and are fixed to the housing 162 at their upper ends by a cross brace 172. Further stability is imparted to the assembly by providing 10 the guide rail or Way 166 with an extension 166a which is journaled within a further bearing 17011.

As previously described in general terms, the abrading tools 46, 48 when spaced apart or open are lowered from an upper clearance position to an operative position (see FIGURES 23 to 23B inclusive); and in their lowered or operative position are brought into engagement with the opposite terminal portions h k of the heater H for removing the refractory coating from the engaged terminal portions. As seen best in FIGURE 9, the abrading tools 46, 48 are carried on respective mounting blocks 174, 176 which mount the abrading tools 46, 48 for movement toward and away from each other by laterally-extending integral arms 174a, 176:: of the mounting blocks 174, 176.

The abrading tools 46, 48 are to be longitudinally reciprocated relative to each other and for this purpose are accommodated in slideways formed in the respective mounting blocks 174, 176. The slideway 176b for the abrading tool 48 is seen in FIGURE 8; and a similar slideway is provided in the mounting block 174 for the abrading tool 46.

The abrading tools, which are spring-biased toward each other, are moved apart and allowed to close toward each other by a cam-controlled combined follower and spreader member 182 (see FIGURE 11). The spreader member 182 has a wedgeor V-shaped camming section 182a having camming surfaces 182b, 1820 engaged by respective follower rollers 1740, 1760 journaled on and depending below the respective mounting blocks 174, 176 (see FIGURE 8). Referring to FIGURE 8, it is seen that the combined follower and spreader member 182 is slidably mounted within an accommodating guideway 162e which extends fore and aft of the housing 162'. It will be appreciated that as the cam follower rollers 1740, 1760 are progressively spread apart by the action of the progressive camming surfaces 182b, 182a of the spreading member 182, that various open or spread apart positions are established for the abrading tools 46, 48. For this purpose, a disc control cam 184 is journaled within the housing 162' and has its peripheral camming surface 184a engaged by a follower roller 182d journaled on the spreader member 182. The camming surface or profile of the cam 184 is established to open the abrading tools 46, 48 at the prescribed time in the operating cycle, as explained in conjunction with FIGURES 23 to 23B. The cam follower 182d is biased into engagement with the control cam 184 by a spring 186 which is interposed between the front wall of the housing 162 and the adjacent front surface of the spreading member 182 (see FIGURE 8). The control cam 184 is journaled on a stub shaft 188 which is slidably coupled to a control shaft 190 journaled on the station casting by appropriate bearings 192. As seen best in FIGURE 13, the stub shaft 188 is connected to the control shaft by a pin 188a fixed to the stub shaft 188 and confined within vertical slots 190a in the control shaft 190. As seen best in FIGURES 2, 12 and 13, the control shaft 190 is driven from the main driving sprocket 80 through a radially-ex tending coupling shaft 194 which is connected at its outer end to the control shaft 190 by bevel gearing 196, 198 and at its inner end via bevel gearing 200, 202 to the bevel gear 204 on the main drive shaft 84.

The housing 162 is raised and lowered to establish the clearance and operative position for the abrading tools by a control cam 206 fixed to the control shaft 190. The camming surfaces 286a of the control cam are engaged by a cam follower 208 which is journaled on a yoke 210 connected between the vertical ways 164, 166. As seen best in FIGURES 12 and 13, the camming surfaces 206:: of the control cam are engaged by a cam follower 208 which is journaled on a yoke 210 connected between the vertical ways 164, 166. As seen best in FIGURES 12 and 13, the camming surfaces 206a include a rise portion (upon which the cam follower 2.08 is engaged in 11 the illustration) which rise portion corresponds to an elevated clearance position for the abrading tools 46, 48 and includes a dwell portion which corresponds to the lowcred or operative position for the abrading tools.

Referring again to FIGURES 8 and 9, it is seen that provision is made for establishing the extent to which the abrading tools 46, 48 may approach each other under the influence of the biasing springs, 178, 180, thus establishing a minimum tool separation. This is achieved by the provision of a blade 210 which is adjustable fore and aft of the housing 162. The leading end of the blade 210 includes a wedge-shaped profile 210a which engages complementary camming surfaces provided on the confronting faces of the mounting blocks 174, 176. The blade 210 is brought to the position required to establish the minimum tool separation by an adjusting screw 212. The adjusting screw or bolt is received within an appropriate tapped hole 214 at the rear side of the housing 162 and is adjusted to establish a prescribed separation for the abrading tools 46, 48 which are preferably formed with tungsten carbide tips 46a, 48a.

The abrading tools 46, 48 are reciprocated at a comparatively high speed relative to each other to achieve coating removal by mechanisms, seen best in FIGURES 8 to 10 inclusive. These mechanisms include a motor 216 mounted on the housing 162 by an appropriate base flange 218. The output shaft 216a of the motor 216 carries a coupling head 220 on which is journaled an eccentrically mounted coupling shaft 222 which carries a driver arm 224. The driver arm 224 is engaged at spaced points along its length and at one side by respective follower rollers 46b, 48b journaled on the rearward end of the abrading tools 46, 48. Further, the driver arm 224 is engaged at its opposite side by a constraining roller 226 journaled on a supporting plate 228 which is adjustably secured to the housing 162 by appropriate bolts 230. The position of the constraining roller 226 may be adjusted lengthwise of the driver arm 224 by the illustrated mounting arrangement 228, 230 for the purpose of controlling the extent of reciprocation of the abrading tools 46, 48 by the eccentrically driven arm 224. The follower rollers 46]), 48b on the abrading tools 46, 48 are biased into contact with the driver arm 224 by appropriate springs engaged between the tools 46, 48 and their respective mounting blocks 174, 176. There is shown in FIGURE 8 the biasing spring 232 for the tool 48 which is received within an accommodating cut-out in the abrading tool 48 and has one end bearing against the rearward wall of the cut-out and has its other end anchored on a post 234 fixed to the mounting block 176 and depending into the cut-out.

Reference will now be made to the detailed showing of FIGURES 14 to 18 inclusive for a description of the mechanisms at the bundling and unloading station 38, which, as previously described in general terms in connection with FIGURES 24A to 24D inclusive, includes bundling tools 50, 52 which are effective to pick up the folded heater H with its end portions or terminals I1 I1 stripped of the refractory coating and group the folds into a bundle for manual removal, traying or automatic insertion into a cathode sleeve. At this station, a further station casting 240 (see FIGURE 2) is fixed to the main base or casting 60 and carries an upstanding standard 242 which supports the housing 244 having the removable cover plate 244a. Respective tool carrier assemblies, generally designated by the reference numerals 246, 243 support the bundling and transfer tools 50, 52 for movement as a unit to achieve the transfer function and for movement relative to each other to bundle the heater H, as will subsequently be described. The tool carrier assemblies 246, 248 each include a supporting plate or section 246a, 248a and a tool-mounting plate or section 2461;, 248b. The supporting sections 246, 248 are arranged at different levels with respect to each other and havecoextensive rearward portions at which the respective tool carrier assemblies 246, 248 are mounted on a vertical main pivot 250 for movement as a unit and for movement relative to each other with the carrier assembly 246 for the tool 50 overtraveling relative to the carrier assembly 248 for the tool 52. The tool-mounting sections 2461), 24% are in substantial side by side relationship and are disposed at the same general level. This supporting arrangement is achieved by providing the tool carrier assembly 246 with a generally-transversely extending intermediate section 2460 which extends beneath the tool mounting section 243: (see FIGURE 15) and carries the tool-mounting section 246b. The tool-mounting section 246b is formed with a guideway 246d in which is slidably mounted an arm 252 which carries the bunching tool Stl. The arm 252 includes a mounting section 252a confined within the guideway 246d and a projecting tool-supporting section 25212. Similarly, the tool 52 is mounted on an arm 254 which includes a tool-mounting section 254a accommodated within a guideway 248d formed in the carrier assembly and a projecting tool-supporting section 254k which carries the bunching tool 52. The tool-supporting arms 252, 254 are spring-biased to urge the bunching tools 50, 52 toward each other. As seen in FIG- URE 15, a spring 256 which is in compression is disposed within an accommodating recess 248:2 in the toolmounting section 24315 of the carrier 248 and engages a pin 2540 on the tool-carrying arm 254 to urge the tool 52 toward the tool 50, that is to the left in FIGURES 14 and 15. Similarly, a spring is associated with the toolcarrying arm 252 for the bunching tool 50 which urges the same toward the tool 52, that is to the right in FIG- URES 14 and 15.

The bunching tools 50, 52 are opened against the biasing effect of their respective springs at the required times in the machine cycle through cam controlled mechanisms which include an inner control shaft 258 journaled within an outer control shaft 260 which in turn is journaled on the hollow standard 242 by spaced earings 261. At its upper end, the control shaft 258 carries a control cam 262 which has its camming surface 262a engaged by the follower 264a of a common control plate 26 for the tool-supporting arms 252, 254. The control plate 264 is mounted on an upstanding pivot 266 for rocking movement under control of the cam 262 via the follower 262a and carries camming rollers 270, 272 which are engaged respectively with the mounting sections 252a, 254a of the tool-carrying arms 252, 254. Specifically, the roller 270 engages the camming surfaces 252c on the arm 252, while the roller 272 engages the camrning surfaces 2540 on the arm 254. As seen best in FIGURE 14, counter-clockwise rocking movement of the common control plate 264 will cause the arm 252 to be urged to the left against the biasing effect of the spring associated with the bundling tool 50; and this same counterclockwise rocking movement of the control plate 264 will urge the arm 254 to the right against the biasing effect of the spring associated with the bundling tool 252. The carrier assemblies or units 246, 248 for the bundling tools 50, 52 are pivoted as a unit for horizontal swiveling movement about the main pivot 250, as indicated by the directional arrows in FIGURES l and 14, to transport the heater H away from the heatertransfer head 32 at the station 33. This in-unison travel is achieved by the outer control shaft 260 which is affixed to the carrier assembly 246 by an appropriate pin or key 274. During the arcuate traverse of the carrier units 246, 248 from the pickup position relative to the heater transfer jaws 42, 44 (illustrated in FIGURES l and 14) to the unloading or clearance position (illustrated by the full lines in FIGURE 18) the carrier unit 246 overtravels with respect to the carrier unit 248 to thereby cause the abutments 59a, 52a on the respective bundling jaws 50, 52 to approach each other in a prescribed amount to achieve the bunching or bundling of 13 the folds of the heater H. For this purpose, and as seen best in FIGURES 16 to 18 inclusive, the supporting section 246a of the carrier unit 246 for the bunching tool 50 carries an overtravel plunger 276 which bears against a depending abutment 278 carried by the supporting section 248a of the carrier unit 248. The overtravel plunger 276 is received within a complementary bore 280 formed in the supporting section 246a. Surrounding the rearwardly extending plunger pin 276a is a coil spring 282 which is effective via the plunger head 2761) to urge apart or separate the respective carrier units 246, 248 in an amount suflicient to achieve the bunching action of the heater folds. The tendency of the spring-biased plunger 276 to cause overtravel is controlled by the provision of a stationary blocking cam 284 which is fixed within the housing 244 at a location beneath the depending abutment 278. The camming surface 284a of the blocking cam 284 is engaged by a roller 286 journaled on the under surface of the depending abutment 278. The development of the camming surface 284a is selected such that the carrier units 246, 248 are confined against overtravel under influence of the spring-biased plunger 276 in the pickup position (illustrated by the dotted lines in FIGURE 18); and as the.

carrier units 246, 248 swing through the arcuate transfer or unloading stroke into the clearance position (illustrated by the full lines in FIGURE 18), the cam 284 allows the prescribed overtravel of the carrier unit 246 relative to the carrier unit 248 to achieve the bundling function.

In order to limit the maximum amount of overtravel of the carrier unit 246 relative to the carrier unit 248, the intermediate section 2460 carries a threaded adjustable stop member 288. The adjustable stop member 288 extends through an appropriately tapped hole in its supporting bracket 290 and is arranged to contact the mounting section 24% of the carrier unit 248 after the carrier unit 246 moves through a prescribed overtravel relative to the carrier unit 248 as established in the first instance by the cam 284 and its follower 286.

Reference will now be made to FIGURES l and 2 for a description of the cam operating mechanisms for the respective concentric control shafts 258, 260. As seen best in FIGURES 1 and 2, two disc control cams 292, 294 are carried on the extension of the main drive shaft 84 into the station casting 240. A rocker arm shaft 296 is carried by the casting 240 in spaced parallel relation to the main drive shaft 84 and pivotally supports rocker arms 298, 300. The rocker arm 298 carries a cam follower 302 which rides on the camming surface 292:: of the control cam and the rocker arm 300 carries a cam follower 304 which rides on the camming surface 294a of the control cam 294. The rocker arm 298 is coupled via an adjustable tie rod 306 to a coupling arm 308 fixed to the inner control shaft 258. Similarly, the rocker arm 300 is coupled via an adjustable tie rod 310 to a coupling arm 312 fixed to the outer control shaft 268. The developments of the camming surfaces 292a, 294 of the respective control cams 292, 294 are such as to open and close the bunching tools 50, 52 at the appropriate time in the machine cycle and to swing the bunching mechanisms through the prescribed arcuate traverse for transfer of the folded heater H into the unloading position.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2 and 12, detailed reference will be made to the mechanisms for vertically displacing the actuator 136 for the heater transfer head 32 to open the heater gripping jaws 42, 44 at the loading or heater-pickup station 34 for closing said jaws in two steps to achieve heater stripping from the mandrel 40 and heater folding, for again opening the heater gripping jaws at the transfer and bunching station 38. An auxiliary cam shaft 314 is journaled on the machine frame or base 60 at right angles to the cam shaft 92 and is coupled to the cam shaft 92 by bevel gearings 316, 318. As seen in FIGURE 12, the auxiliary cam shaft 314 carries two disc cams 320,

14 322 which open the gripping jaws 42, 44 at station 34 for the prescribed interval until the gripping jaws come into operative relation to the expandable mandrel (FIG- URE 19), close the jaws to engage the heater (FIGURES 20, 21) and close the jaws further to fold the heater (FIGURE 22). The disc cams 320, 322 are engaged by respective followers 324, 326 which are carried on pivoted bell crank levers 328, 330. As seen best in FIGURE 12, the bell cranks 328, 330 are pivoted on a rocker shaft 332. The bell crank 328 is urged into engagement with the disc cam 322 by a spring 334 and is coupled to a fixture 336 carried on a rack drive shaft 338 journaled on the machine base or frame 60. The fixture 336 is coupled to the bell crank 328 by an adjustable tie rod 340. Similarly, the bell crank 330 of the follower 326 is coupled to the fixture 336 on the rack drive shaft 338 by an adjustable tie rod 342. The development of the cams 320, 322 are complementary to each other and are selected to provide a constrained cam drive to the rack drive shaft 338 which carries a pinion 344 (see FIGURE 2) in meshing engagement with a rack 346 mounted on the machine base 60 for vertical sliding displacement as a function of the drive to the pinion 344. The rack 346 is connected to a lift plate 348 which is disposed beneath the actuator 136, specifically in contact with the roller 140. Accordingly, as successive heater transfer heads come into the station 34, the rack 346 may be manipulated to open the jaws 42, 44, thereby enabling the jaws to move into straddling relation to the mandrel 40 as a function of the sidewise shifting of the carrier or turret 30. During such sidewise shifting the jaws are maintained open by the lift plate 348 which continues to make contact with the roller on the actuator 136. After the jaws are allowed to engage the heater H, and during the return of the turret 30 to its indexing position, the lift plate 348 is further lowered to allow the jaws 42, 44 to achieve the folding of the heater H. Operation of the expandable mandrel 40 at the prescribed times in the machine cycle is accomplished through provision of a mandrel control shaft 350 (see FIGURE 2) which is coupled to the cam shaft 92 by bevel gearings 352, 354. The mandrel control shaft 350 is connected by mechanisms, which are well understood per se, to the jaw control for the expandable and contractable mandrel 40 for collapsing the same in timed relation to operation of the gripping jaws 42, 44 such that successive formed heater windings H may be picked up by the gripping jaws 42, 44 and axially carried off the mandrel 40.

The gripping jaws 42, 44 are opened at the unloading and bunching station in timed relation to the actuation of the bunching tools 50, 52 by the face control cam 356 which has a follower roller 358 on its cam track 356a. (See FIGURE 12.) The follower 358 is carried on a follower plate 360 which is pivoted on the rocker shaft 332 and is coupled via a tie rod 362 to an actuating.

lever 364 fixed to an actuating shaft 366 journaled on the machine base 60. Contiguous to the bundling and transfer station 38, the actuating shaft 366 carries an actuating or lift arm 368 which is rockable through a prescribed are under control of the cam 356 to lift and lower the plunger 370 which is pivotally connected thereto. The plunger 370 is mounted upon the machine base 60 for vertical sliding movement and is positioned immediately beneath and in alignment with the actuator 136 of the successive heater transfer heads 32 arriving at the station 38. Accordingly, at the appropriate time during the machine cycle, the plunger 370 may be lifted to displace the actuator 136 and cause the gripping jaws 42, 44 to open against the biasing effect" of their associated springs to enable the heater. winding to be carried away by the bundling tools 50, 52.

Reference will now be made to a typical cycle of operation of the present machine, to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the invention. This description will deal with the progressive processing of one l heater winding carried by one heater transfer head 32 through the several stations of the machine. However, it is to be understood that the mechanisms at the several stations are operative during each index interval for the sequential processing of the heaters H carried on the several heater transfer heads 32.

At the start of operation, a heater which is wound on the mandrel 46 in its expanded condition is engaged by the heater gripping jaws 42, 44, which are shifted by the lateral shift mechanisms including the cam 88 from the indexing position illustrated in FIGURE 2 into the heater pick-up position wherein the jaws 42, 44 are at opposite sides of the mandrel 40, and adapted to close on the heater winding. As detailed hereinbefore, the jaws 42, 44 are spring-bias closed and are brought to the open condition by the actuator 136, which in turn is lifted and lowered by the lift plate 348 which is actuated by the control cams 320, 32-2. During the return travel of the turret 30 to its indexing position, the jaws 42, 44 with the heater winding supported therebetween are moved closer together in a prescribed amount to achieve the folding of the opposite half portions of the heater winding toward each other.

Thereupon, the folded heater supported by the gripping jaws 42, 44 of the heater transfer head 32 are indexed through the idle station into the coating removal station- 36. During indexing of the turret 3G and transfer of the heater winding into the station 36, the abrading tools 46, are in an elevated clearance position above the general level of the turret, which elevated or clearance position is established by the rise portion of the control cam 296 via the follower 2G8 carried by the vertical Ways 164-, 165 supporting the housing 162. After the arrival of the heater at the station 36, the housing 162 is lowered to bring the abrading tools 46, 48 into the operative position at opposite sides of the terminal portions 11;, 11 of the heater. Thereupon the abrading tools close in a prescribed amount as established by the cam 184 and the separation-limiting plate 210. In the closed position, the abrading tools 46, 48 which are constantly being reciprocated by the eccentrically driven arm 224, remove the coating to expose the heater wire W. After the coating is removed, the abrading tools 46, 48 are again opened under the influence of the biasing springs 178, 189 and the control of the cam 184; and in this open position, the housing 162 carrying the tools is lifted by the cam 206 to the clearance position in which the turret is free to index to bring the heater transfer head through the several idle stations and into the bundling and unloading station 38.

During the period of indexing, mechanisms at the station 35' are in the clearance position (i.e. the full line position illustrated in FIGURE 18), and only after the indexing interval is completed do the carriers 246, 24-8 and their respective bunching tools 59, 52 swing inwardly to bring the tools, which are open, into position at the outer sides of the gripping jaws 42, 44. The bunching tools 543, 52 then close onto the heater, moving into the spaces between the respective jaw parts 42a, 42b and 44a, 44b. After the bunching tools engage and support the heater, the lift rod or plunger 370 moves the actuator 136 to spread the gripping jaws 42, 44 apart, thereby releasing the heater H for the bundling and final transfer operation. The carrier units 246, 243 are rocked outwardly through the prescribed swing by the control cam 294 which is effective via the outer control shaft 260; and during this travel the necessary overtravel is imparted to the tool 59 relative to the tool 52 to achieve the bundling or bunehing of the heater. It will of course be appreciated that the cam 294 may be designed to spread the abutments 59a, 52a after the bundling operation is achieved to facilitate removal of the bundled heater from the tools 50, 52.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the present machine is exceptionally versatile and enables 'i a the automatic processing of the elemental wound heater wires into the final folded and bundled configuration for further manufacturing operations and/or assembly with in a cathode sleeve.

Advantageously, provision is made for the removal of the coating material from the terminal portions of the heater wire while in the unbundled condition such that the terminal portions may be easily engaged. The basic machine design facilitates adding further operations in the pr cessing of the heater.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances features of the invention will be used without the corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

I claim:

1. A multiple-station heater processing machine comprising a turret including at least one heater transfer head having gripping jaws movable toward and away from each other, means operatively connected to said turret for intermittently indexing the same to advance such transfer head stepwise into successive stations, heater winding mechanisms including a winding mandrel arranged radially outwardly of said turret at a first station, means for shifting said turret toward said heater winding mechanisms to bring said gripping jaws into a pick-up position relative to said winding mandrel, actuating mean for closing said gripping jaws in said pick-up position to engage a heater winding on said winding mandrel, the shifting means for said turret being arranged to return said turret to a clearance position relative to said heater winding mechanisms wherein said turret is indexed to advance said transfer head into a further station, heater bundling and transfer-ring mechanisms at said further station including bundling jaws movable toward and away from each other and relative to said transfer head, actuating means for moving said bundling jaws toward said transfer head and into engagement with said heater winding, and operating means for moving said bundling jaws toward each other during movement of said bundling jaws into a clearance position relative to said turret to bunch the turns of said heater winding.

2. A multiple-station heater processing machine comprising a turret including at least one heater transfer head having gripping jaws, movable toward and away from each other, means operatively connected to said turret for intermittently indexing the same to advance such transfer head stepwise into successive stations, heater winding mechanisms including a winding mandrel arranged radially outwardly of said turret at :1 first station, means for shifting said turret toward said heater winding mechanisms to bring said gripping jaws into a pick-up position relative to said winding mandrel, actuating means for closing said gripping jaws in said pick-up position to engage a heater winding on said Winding mandrel, the shifting means for said turret being arranged to return said turret to a clearance position relative to said heater winding mechanisms wherein said turret is indexed to advance said transfer head into a second station, coating stripping mechanisms at said second statlon including stripping jaws movable toward and away from each other and relative to said transfer head, actuating means for moving said stripping jaws toward said transfer head at said second station and into engagement with terminal portions of said heater winding, operating means for reciprocating said stripping jaws when in engagement with said terminal portions to strip the coating from said heater winding, the actuating means for stripping jaws being arranged to move said stripping jaws into a clearance position relative to said turret whereupon said turret is indexed to advance said transfer head into a third station, heater bundling and transfer-ring mechanisms at said third station including bundling jaws movable toward and away from each other and relative to said transfer head, actuating means for moving said bundling jaws toward said transfer head and into endwise engagement with said heater winding, and operating means for moving said bundling jaws toward each other during movement of said bundling jaws into a clearance position relative to said turret to bunch the turns of said heater winding.

3. A multiple-station heater processing machine comprising a carrier including at least one heater transfer head, means operatively connected to said carrier for moving the same to advance said transfer head into successive stations, heater winding mechanisms at a first station, means for moving said transfer head into a pickup position relative to said heater winding mechanisms, actuating and operating means for engaging said transfer head with said heater winding on said winding mandrel and for thereafter folding the turns of said heater winding, coating stripping mechanisms at a second station, actuating and operating means for moving said stripping mechanism toward said transfer head and into engagement with terminal portions of said heater winding for removing coating material therefrom, heater bundling and transferring mechanisms at a third station, and actuating and operating means for moving said bundling and transferring mechanisms toward said transfer head and into engagement with said heater winding, the actuating and operating means for said bundling and transferring mechanisms being effective to bundle the folds of said heater winding.

4. A multiple-station heater processing machine comprising a turret including at least one heater transfer head, mean operatively connected to said turret for moving the same to advance said transfer head into successive stations, heater winding mechanisms arranged outwardly of said turret at a first station, means for shifting said turret toward said heater winding mechanisms to bring said transfer head into a pick-up position relative to said heater winding mechanisms, actuating and operating means for engaging said transfer head with said heater winding on said winding mandrel, the shifting means for said turret being arranged to return said turret to a clearance position relative to said heater winding mechanisms after engagement of said transfer head with said heater winding wherein said turret is indexed to advance said transfer head into a second station, transfer head being operative to fold the turns of said heater winding, heater bundling and transferring mechanisms at a further station movable relative to said transfer head, and actuating and operating means for moving said bundling and transferring mechanisms toward said transfer head and into engagement with said folded heater winding, the actuating and operating means for said bundling and transferring mechanisms being effective to bundle the folds of said folded heater winding.

5. in a multiple-station heater processing machine, a turret including at least one heater transfer head, means operatively connected to said turret for indexing the same to advance said transfer head stepwise into successive stations, heater winding mechanisms arranged outwardly of said turret at a first station, means for moving said turret toward said heater winding mechanisms to bring said transfer head into a pick-up position relative to said heater winding mechanisms, actuating and operating means for engaging said transfer head with said heater winding on said winding mandrel, the moving means for said turret being arranged to return sai turret to a clearance position relative to said heater winding mechanisms wherein said turret is indexed to advance said transfer head into a second station, the actuating and operating means for said transfer head being operative to fold the turns of said heater winding, coating stripping mechanisms at said second station movable relative to said transfer head, and actuating and operating means for 18 moving said stripping mechanism toward said transfer head and into engagement with terminal portions of said heater winding, the actuating and operating means for stripping mechanisms being arranged to move same into a clearance position relative to said turret whereupon said turret is indexed to advance said transfer head into a further station of said machine.

6. A multiple-station heater processing machine comprising a turret including at least one heater transfer head, means operatively connected to said turret for indexing the same to advance said transfer head stepwise into successive stations, heater winding mechanisms arranged outwardly of said turret at a first station, means for moving said turret toward said heater winding mechanisms to bring said transfer head into a pick-up position relative to said heater winding mechanisms, actuating and operating means for engaging said transfer head with said heater winding on said winding mandrel, the moving means for said turret being arranged to return said turret to a clearance position relative to said heater winding mechanisms wherein said turret is indexed to advance said transfer head into a second station, the actuating and operating means for said transfer head being operative to fold the turns of said heater winding, coating stripping mechanisms at said second station movable relative to said transfer head, actuating and operating means for moving said stripping mechanism toward said transfer head and into engagement with terminal portions of'said heater winding, the actuating and operating means for stripping mechanisms being arranged to move same into a clearance position relative to said turret whereupon said turret is indexed to advance said transfer head into a third station, heater bundling and transferring mechanisms at said third station movable relative to said transfer head, and actuating and operating means for moving said bundling and transferring mechanisms toward said transfer head and into engagement with said folded'heater winding, the actuating and operating means for said bundling and transferring mechanisms being effective to bundle the folds of said folded heater winding.

7. A machine for the processing of heater windings comprising a carriage, means mounting said carriage for sidewise shifting movement, a turret, means mounting said turret on said carriage for stepwise indexing about a vertical axis, at least one heater-transfer head carried by said turret having movable and normally open gripping jaws, heater winding mechanisms at a first machine station including an expanded mandrel for supporting a heater winding and adapted to collapse to enable axial removal of said heater winding, actuating means operatively connected to said carriage for shifting same with said heater-transfer head in said first machine station to bring said normally open gripping jaws through a prescribed forward stroke into a pick-up position straddling opposite side of said mandrel, actuating means operatively connected to said gripping jaws and engaged and timed to close said gripping jaws into gripping engagement with the heater winding on said expanded mandrel, the actuating means for said carriage being arranged and timed to move said gripping jaws through a return stroke while in gripping engagement with said heater winding for axially removing said heater winding from said mandrel.

8. A machine for the processing of heater windings comprising a carriage, means mounting said carriage for sidewise shifting movement, a turret, means mounting said turret on said carriage for stepwise indexing about .a vertical axis, at'least one heater-transfer head carried, by said turret having movable and normally open gripping jaws, heater winding mechanisms at a first machine station including an expanded mandrel for supporting a coated heater winding-and adapted to collapse to enable axial removal of said heater winding, actuating means operatively connected to said carriage for shifting same with said heater-transfer head in. said first machine station/to bring said normally open gripping jaws through a pre.-

scribed forward stroke into a pick-up position straddling opposite sides of said mandrel, actuating means operatively connected to said gripping jaws and engaged and timed to close said gripping jaws into gripping engagement with the heater winding on said expanded mandrel, the actuating means for said carriage being arranged and timed to move said gripping jaws through a return stroke while in gripping engagement with said heater winding for axially removing said heater winding from said mandrel, the actuating means for said gripping jaws being arranged and timed to further close said gripping jaws after axial removal of said heater winding from said mandrel to fold said heater winding.

9. A machine according to claim 8, including coatingremoval mechanisms at a further machine station comprising a pair of normally open abrading tools, means mounting said abrading tools for movement from a clearance position relative to said turret through a prescribed forward thrust to bring said abrading tools into an operative position at opposite sides of terminal portions of the heater winding when brought into said further machine station by said heater-transfer head, actuating means for moving said abrading tools from said clearance position into said operative position and for bringing said abrading tools into engagement with said terminal portions of said heater winding, and means for reciprocating said abrading tools relative to each other for removal of the coating on said terminal portions of said heater winding.

10. A machine according to claim 9 including heater bundling and unloading mechanisms at a still further machine station comprising a pair of normally open bundling tools, means mounting said bundling tools for movement from a clearance position relative to said turret through a prescribed forward thrust to bring said bundling tools into an operative position at opposite sides of said heater winding when brought into said still further machine station by said heater-transfer head, actuating means for moving said bundling tools from said clearance position into said operative position, operating means for closing said bundling tools into supporting relation with said heater winding, the actuating means for said gripping jaws in timed relation to closing of said bundling tools whereby said heater winding may be supported by said bundling tools, and means operative during return movement of said bundling tools into said clearance position for moving said bundling tools relative to each other to bunch the folds of said heater winding.

11. A machine according to claim 8 including heater bundling and unloading mechanisms at a further machine station comprising a pair of normally open bundling tools, means mounting said bundling tools for movement from a clearance position relative to said turret through a prescribed forward thrust to bring said bundling tools into an operative position at opposite sides of said heater winding when brought into said further machine station by said heater-transfer head, actuating means for moving said bundling tools from said clearance position into said operative position, operating means for closing said bundling tools into supporting relation with said heater winding, the actuating means for said gripping jaw of said heatertransfer head being arranged to open said gripping jaws in timed relation to closing of said bundling tools whereby said heater winding may be supported by said bundling tools, and means operative during return movement of said bundling tools into said clearance position for moving said bundling tools relative to each other to bunch the folds of said heater winding.

12. In a machine for the manufacture of a heater including a normal expanded mandrel upon which a heater is wound, a carrier, a heater-transfer head having gripping jaws supported on said carrier, means mounting said gripping jaws for movement toward and away from each other, means mounting said carrier for movement from an indexing position wherein said carrier is adapted to transfer a heater supported by said gripping jaws to a pick-up position wherein said gripping jaws are adapted to close on the heater on said expanded mandrel, actuating means operatively connected to said carrier for moving said carrier from said indexing position into said pick-up position, and actuating means operatively connected to said gripping jaws for moving said gripping jaws toward each other in said pick-up position for engaging the heater on said expanded mandrel.

13. In a machine for the manufacture of a heater including a normal expanded mandrel upon which a heater is wound, a carrier, a heater-transfer head having gripping jaws supported on said carrier, means mounting said gripping jaws for movement toward and away from each other, means mounting said carrier for movement from an indexing position wherein said carrier is adapted to transfer a heater supported by said gripping jaws to a pick-up position wherein said gripping jaws are adapted to close on the heater on said expanded mandrel, actuating means operatively connected to said carrier for moving said carrier from said indexing position into said pick-up position, and actuating means operatively connected to said gripping jaws for moving said gripping jaws toward each other in said pick-up position for engaging the heater on said expanded mandrel, the actuating means for said carrier being arranged to move said carrier from said pick-up position into said indexing position when said expanded mandrel is collapsed to thereby release the heater from said expanded mandrel, the actuating means for said gripping jaws being arranged to move said gripping jaws further toward each other during movement of said carrier from said pick-up position into said indexing position to thereby fold the heater.

14. In a machine for the manufacture of a heater including a normal expanded mandrel upon which a heater is wound, a carrier, a heater-transfer head having gripping means supported on said carrier, means mounting said carrier for movement into a pick-up position wherein said gripping means is engageable with the heater on said expanded mandrel, actuating means operatively connected to said carrier for moving said carrier into said pick-up position, actuating means operatively connected to said gripping means for engaging said gripping means with the heater on said expanded mandrel, the actuating means for said carrier being arranged to move said carrier from said pick-up position into an indexing position when said expanded mandrel is collapsed to thereby release the heater from said expanded mandrel, the actuating means for said gripping means being arranged to move said gripping means to laterally engage opposite portions of the heater convolutions to fold the heater, and means for periodically indexing said carrier.

15. In a machine for the manufacture of a heater, :1 heater-transfer head adapted to support a heater winding, and heater bundling and unloading mechanisms comprising a pair of normally open bundling tools, means mounting said bundling tools for movement from a clearance position relative to said heater-transfer head through a prescribed forward movement to bring said bundling tools into an operative position at opposite sides of the heater winding supported by said heater-transfer head, actuating means for moving said bundling tools from said clearance position into said operative position, operating means for closing said bundling tools into supporting relation with the heater winding on said heater-transfer head, and means operative during return movement of said bundling tools into said clearance position for moving said bundling tools relative to each other to bunch the folds of said heater winding.

16. In a machine for the manufacture of a heater, a heater-transfer head including movable gripping jaws adapted to support a heater winding and actuating means for said gripping jaws, and heater bundling and unloading mechanisms comprising a pair of normally open bundling tools, means mounting said bundling tools for movement from a clearance position relative to said heatertransfer head through a prescribed forward movement to bring said bundling tools into an operative position at opposite sides of the heater winding supported by said heater-transfer head, actuating means for moving said bundling tools from said clearance position into said operative position, operating means for closing said bundling tools into supporting relation with said heater winding, the actuating means for said gripping jaws of said heater-transfer head being arranged to open said gripping jaws in timed relation to closing of said bundling tools whereby said heater winding may be supported by said bundling tools, and means operative during return movement of said bundling tools into said clearance position for moving said bundling tools relative to each other to bunch the folds of said heater winding.

17. In a machine for the manufacture of a heater, a winding mandrel adapted to have a heater wound thereon, a carrier, a pair of heater transfer jaws, means mounting said heater-transfer jaws on said carrier for movement toward and away from each other, further means mounting said carrier for movement relative to said winding mandrel to bring said heater-transfer jaws into a pickup position relative to said winding mandrel, actuating means for moving said carrier to bring said heater transfer jaws into said pick-up position, and further actuating means for moving said heater transfer jaws toward said winding mandrel when in said pick-up position for engaging said heater.

18. In a machine for the manufacture of a heater, a winding mandrel adapted to have a heater wound thereon, a carrier, a pair of heater transfer jaws, means mounting said heater-transfer jaws on said carrier jaws for movement toward and away from each other, further means mounting said carrier for movement relative to said winding mandrel to bring said heater transfer jaws from a clearance position into a pickup position relative to said winding mandrel, actuating means for moving said carrier to bring said heater-transfer jaws into said pick-up position, and further actuating means for moving said heater-transfer jaws toward said winding mandrel when in said pick-up position for engaging said heater, said further actuating means being operative to move said heater transfer jaws relative to each other to fold said heater during movement from said pick-up position toward said clearance position.

19. A multiple-station heater processing machine comprising a carrier including at least one heater transfer head, means operatively connected to said carrier for moving the same to advance said transfer head into successive stations, heater winding mechanisms at one station, means for moving said transfer head into a pick-up position relative to said heater winding mechanisms, actuating and operating means for engaging said transfer head with said heater winding on said winding mandrel and for thereafter folding the turns of said heater winding, heater bundling and transferring mechanisms at a flu'ther station, and actuating and operating means for moving said bundling and transferring mechanisms toward said transfer head and into engagement with said heater winding, the actuating and operating means for said bundling and transferring mechanisms being effective to bundle the folds of said heater winding.

20. A multiple-station heater processing machine comprising a carrier including at least one heater transfer head having heater-engaging jaws, means operatively connected to said carrier for moving the same to advance said transfer head into successive stations, heater winding mechanisms at one station, means for moving said transfer head into a pick-up position relative to said heater winding mechanisms, actuating and operating means for moving said heater-engaging jaws of said transfer head into contact with said heater winding on said winding mandrel and for thereafter removing said heater winding from said winding mandrel, heater bundling and transferring mechanisms at a further station, and actuating and operating means for moving said bundling and trasferring mechanisms toward said transfer head and into engagement with said heater winding, the actuating and operating means for said bundling and transferring mechanisms being effective to bunch the folds of said heater winding.

21. In a machine for the manufacture of a heater including a normal expanded mandrel upon which a heater is wound, a carrier, a heater-transfer head having gripping jaws supported on said carrier, means mounting said gripping jaws for movement toward and away from each other, means mounting said carrier for movement from a clearance position to a pick-up position wherein said gripping jaws are adapted to closed on the heater on said expanded mandrel, carrier actuating means operatively connected to said carrier for moving said carrier from said clearance position into said pick-up position, and jaw actuating means operatively connected to said gripping jaws for moving said gripping jaws toward each other in said pick-up position for engaging the heater on said expanded mandrel, said carrier actuating means being arranged to move said carrier from said pick-up position into said clearance position when said expanded mandrel is collapsed to thereby release the heater from said expanded mandrel.

22. In a machine for the manufacture of a heater including a normal expanded mandrel upon which a heater is wound, a carrier, a heater-transfer head having gripping jaws supported on said carrier, means mounting said gripping jaws for movement toward and away from each other, means mounting said carrier for movement from a clearance position to a pick-up position wherein said gripping jaws are adapted to close on the heater on said expanded mandrel, carrier actuating means operatively connected to said carrier for moving said carrier from said clearance position into said pick-up position, and jaw actuating means operatively connected to said gripping jaws for moving said gripping jaws toward each other in said pick-up position for engaging the heater on said expanded mandrel, said carrier actuating means being arranged to move said carrier from said pick-up position into said clearance position when said expanded mandrel is collapsed to thereby release the heater from said expanded mandrel, said jaw actuating means being arranged to move said gripping jaws further toward each other during movement of said carrier from said pick-up position into said clearance position to thereby fold the heater.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,928,786 Huyett Oct. 3, 1933 1,958,870 Stuart May 15, 1934 2,034,653 Flaws Mar. 17, 1936 2,380,320 La France July 10, 1945 2,448,916 Schneider et a1 Sept. 7, 1948 2,677,172 Oakley May 4, 1954 2,768,424 Andrus Oct. 30, 1956

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