US3047164A

US3047164A - Apparatus for transferring lamps

Info

Publication number: US3047164A
Application number: US19226A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl R Meckstroth
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1960-04-01
Filing date: 1960-04-01
Publication date: 1962-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 1979-07-31

Description

July 31, 1962 c. R. MECKSTROTH APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING LAMPS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1960 Inwervtov: Cavl, R. Mecl sln-o=th July 31, 1962 c. R. MECKSTROTH APPARATUS FOR'TRANSFERRING LAMPS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvan tow. Cavl, 1Q. Mecks tvcrth b5 3 pk MUM is ttro1-ne3 Filed April 1, 1960 July 31, 1962 c. R. MECKSTROTH APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING LAMPS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 1, 1960 3,047,164 APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING LAMPS Carl R. Meckstroth, South Euclid, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 19,226 7 Claims. (Cl. 214-1) This invention relates to apparatus having utility in the manufacture of electric lamps of the type having elongated tubular envelopes with a lamp mount sealed in each end thereof, and more particularly to apparatus for simultaneously transferring and inverting lamp envelopes of different lengths between two lamp mount sealing machines.

In manufacturing tubular lamps of the type having elongated envelopes with a mount sealed into each end thereof, for. example, fluorescent lamps, the mount sealing operations are frequently performed by first sealing one mount to one end of the lamp envelope on a sealing machine then removing the lamp envelope from the machine, transferring and inverting the lamp and placing it on a second sealing machine where the second lamp mount is sealed in the other end thereof. Heretofore, such transferring and inverting operations have been performed either manually or by apparatus that was only capable of handling relatively short envelopes of uniform length. However, in view of the demand for long lamps and for lamps of different lengths, it has been necessary to develop lamp manufacturing machinery capable of performing its respective operations on very long lamps and also on lamps having different lengths.

Normally, in the manufacture of lamps of the elongated envelope type having mounts sealed into each end thereof, two separate lamp sealing machines are mounted on a common frame a predetermined distance apart and a transfer device is provided between these two machines to remove a lamp envelope from one of the machines and transfer it to the other of the machines while simultaneously inverting it. Several problems have arisen in attempting to adapt such transfer apparatus to the manufacture of either very long lamp envelopes or lamp envelopes of various different lengths. In particular, when long lamp envelopes are being handled by such transferring and inverting apparatus as has heretofore been known, extreme care must be taken to insure that the envelope is not inverted so fast that the resultant acceleration and deceleration cause it to shatter. Furthermore, although sealing machines have been developed that are adjustable to manufacture lamp envelopes of various different lengths, it has heretofore been necessary to design and build a special transfer device for each different length of lamp envelope produced on such machines. A solution to the above-mentioned problems is provided by the instant invention.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for transferring an elongated lamp envelope from a first indexing type sealing machine to a second indexing type sealing machine while inverting the envelope about its transverse axis.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus that is readily adjustable to transfer elongated lamp envelopes of different lengths from a first lamp making machine to a second machine while inverting the lamp envelopes about their transverse axes.

An additional object of the invention is to provide means for controlling the movement of a lamp envelope transfer and inverting apparatus in timed relation with separate lamp sealing machines so that the interval of time utilized by the transfer and inverting apparatus will correspond in general to the time interval of the indexing movement of the two lamp sealing machines.

United States Patent Briefly stated, one preferred embodiment of the inven tion utilizes a swinging pick-up arm to remove the lamp from the first sealing machine, a swinging delivery arm to insert the lamp in the second" sealing machine, and a shifter mechanism to transport the lamp from the pickup arm to the delivery arm. The lamp sealing machines are operated in synchronism together with the pick-up arm, delivery arm and shifter mechanism through a common drive means. First, the swinging pick-up arm removes a vertically disposed lamp from the first sealing machine and places it in a substantially horizontal position on the shifter mechanism. The shifter mechanism transports the lamp horizontally a predetermined distance between the two sealing machines. Then the delivery arm removes the lamp from the shifter mechanism and, upon completing inversion of the lamp, inserts it in vertical position in the second sealing machine. Adjustment. of the distance traveled by the shifter mechanism makes it possible for the apparatus to handle lamps of varying lengths. The apparatus is especially adapted for handling the extremely long eight foot fluorescent lamps currently on the market without subjecting the envelopes to stresses such as would shatter or damage the lamps.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description that follows when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a pair of indexing type lamp sealing machines having a lamp envelope transfer and inverting apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention disposed therebetween;

FIG. 2 is-a fragmentary front elevation of the pickup and delivery arms together with the shifter mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic isometric view of the common drive means for coordinating the operation of the lamp transfer and inverting apparatus with the indexing movement of the two lamp sealing machines;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the delivery arm forming a part of the transfer and inverting apparatus of the invention taken along the plane 44 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a side view in section of the shifter mechanism and its associated drive taken along plane -5-5 in FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 1, the drawings illustrate one embodiment of the transfer and inverting apparatus in combination with a pair of lamp mount sealing machines. The lamp sealing machines 1 and 1' may be of any suitable indexing type, for example, the general type described and claimed in US. Patent No. 2,434,664Mal- 10y, dated January 20, 1948, employing gas fires to fuse and seal the glass stem and mount assemblies to the ends of the glass lamp envelopes 2. The sealing machines 1, 1' each comprise respective horizontal turrets or carriers 3, 3' provided with a plurality of heads or lamp envelope holders 4', 4- located at uniformly spaced intervals around the peripheral region of the respective turrets 3, 3'. The turrets 3, 3' are supported on vertical shafts 5, 5, respectively, journaled in a common machine base or frame 6 and they are intermittently rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as seen in FIG. 1) in timed relation to each other to successively index or advance the respective heads 4, 4 to a plurality of work stations located at uniformly spaced intervals around the periphery of the turrets 3, 3'. The indexing means for the

turrets

3, 3 may be of any suitable type, for instance, a.

. type such as that illustrated in US. Patent No. 1,742,453

Stiles, et al. The indexing means shown in FIG. 1 generally comprises rotating drum-type cams 7, 7 for the respective turrets 3, 3'; mounted on a common drive or cam shaft 8 and engaging a plurality of

rollers

9, 9, re-

Patented July 31, 1962 Q9 spectively, depending from discs 10, 10' fastened to the respective turret support shafts 5, 5.

The heads 4, 4' on the respective turrets 3, 3' each comprise a vertically extending spindle 11, 11' (FIG. 2) journaled in the respective turrets 3, 3' and arranged to support on their upper ends a plurality of conventional type lamp mounts, one of which is shown as mount 12 (FIG. 2), in proper sealing position relative to the lower end of a tubular lamp envelope 2 held in a vertical position in a

holder

13 or 13. The

holders

13, 13 may be of the general type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,512,- 277-Iacobsen, and need not be discussed in detail here.

Although a complete understanding of the detailed operation of lamp sealing machines '1, 1' is not necessary to a full understanding of the invention, a general understanding of the mode of operation of these machines will enable one to understand and appreciate the significant features of the present invention. In the operation of each sealing machine 1, 1 lamp mounts 12 are placed on the spindles 11, 11' of the respective heads 4, 4 at the mount loading stations, and lamp envelopes 2 are placed for the sealing operation in the

holders

13, 13' of the heads 4, 4- at the envelope loading stations. Following the positioning of the envelopes 2 over the mounts 12, the turrets 3, 3' are indexed successively through the plurality of work stations around the peripheries of turrets 3, 3' where the glass envelopes 2 and the glass flare of the mounts 12 are heated by gas fires from burners (not shown) located thereat to effect the fusion and sealing together of these parts. The envelopes 2 are then moved by the indexing

turrets

3, 3 to envelope unloading stations where the sealed envelope and mount are removed from the respective heads 4, 4. It will be understood that only one end of the envelopes 2 is sealed in the first sealing machine 1 and then the envelopes are transferred and inverted, in accordance with the invention, to the sealing machine 1' wherein the other end of the envelope 2 is sealed to its respective mount.

In accordance with the present invention, the transfer and inversion of the lamp envelopes 2 from the first sealing machine 1 to the second sealing machine 1' is performed automatically by a transfer and inverting mechanism operating in timed relation to the indexing movements and dwell intervals of the two sealing turrets 3, 3'. To perform such a transfer operation, any conventional lifting means, such as levers 13!: (FIG. 1) are provided for first vertically lifting an envelope 2 on the first turret 3 off of the upper end of its respective spindle 11, at one of the indexing stations preceding the envelope unloading station. Such a lifting operation is required in order to withdraw the customary exhaust tube 1. (FIG. 2) from the lower end of the lamp mount 12 away from the passageway provided therefor in the spindle 11, so as to clear the upper end of the spindle and permit lateral transfer movement of the envelope 2 from the head 4 without breakage of the exhaust tube. The particular lifting means utilized may be similar to that shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,844,917-Caldwell, dated July 29, 1958. Upon completion of such vertical movement of the envelope 2 by the levers 13a, the envelope is supported in this raised position by the holder 13 at a sufficient elevation about the spindle 11 so that the envelope 2 may be moved laterally without interference of the exhaust tube with its associated spindle 11. 1

After the envelopes 2 have been moved by the indexing motion of turret 3 to the envelope unloading station thereof, they are picked up by the transfer and inverting apparatus and transferred to a corresponding loading station on the turret 3 while being inverted around their transverse axes. In accordance with the invention, the transfer apparatus for accomplishing this transferring and inverting operation comprises a first horizontally extending pick-up arm 14 associated with turret 3, a second horizontally extending delivery arm 15 associated with turret 3', and a horizontally reciprocable shifter mechanism 16 located between the two turrets 3 and 3'. The pick-up and delivery arms '14 and 15 are similar to the transfer arms described in the above identified Caldwell Patent 2,844,917 and, therefore, will be described only in general terms. However, the mode of operation of the arms 14 and 15 should be understood with particular reference to FIGURE 4.

Representative of both arm constructions, the delivery arm 15 is provided with a hollow shaft 15 rotatably supported on a housing 17 which, in turn, is mounted on the upper end of a vertically extending hollow support shaft 18. The shaft 18 is rotatably supported on an up standing support column or standard 19 (FIG. 1) which is fastened at its lower end on a stationary table portion of the machine frame or base 6 (FIG. 1). An elongated lamp envelope holder comprising the pivotally mounted spaced sets of jaws 20 and their associated gears 21 are pivotally mounted on the free end of the rotatable hollow shaft 15'. These jaws 20 are opened and closed around a lamp envelope by the movement of a rack 22 which slides in the hollow shaft 15 and meshes with one of the gears 21. Movement of rack 22 is controlled by regulating the flow of oil or other suitable fluid to a cylinder 23 having a piston fastened to rack 22 all in a manner similar to that more fully described in the above designated Caldwell Patent 2,844,917. The interconnection of cylinder 23 with the remainder of the control system is explained in greater detail below. It should be understood that the pick-up arm 14 is also provided with an elongated envelope holder comprising spaced sets of jaws 24 and an actuating cylinder 25 corresponding to the like elements on delivery arm 15. These two arms operate in substantially the same manner.

In accordance with a principal aspect of the invention, a horizontally reciprocable shifter mechanism 16 (FIGS. 2 and 5) is provided to transfer elongated lamp envelopes 2 from pick-up arm 14 to delivery arm 15. It includes a rack 26 mounted for reciprocable movement in spaced slideways 27 and on which are mounted spaced receptacles 28 shaped to receive the tubular lamp envelope 2. Pipes 29 connect each receptacle to a vacuum source (not shown) so that envelope 2 will be retained in position on the receptacles 28 by the force of the vacuum. Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that the receptacles 28 extend upwardly from the surface of rack 26 and are then offset laterally so that the lamp envelope is supported to one side of the rack 26. This provides clearance between the rack 26 and the jaws on the pick-up and delivery arms 14, 15 when the arms are pivoted into working vicinity of the shifter mechanism.

Movement of rack 26 and receptacles 28 between a first intermediate lamp pickup position and a secondary intermediate lamp envelope delivering position is obtained by a drive gear 30. The drive gear 30 is mounted in any suitable manner on the frame 6, for example, by means of an axle 31 journaled in an intermediate supporting frame 32 (FIGS. 2 and 5). In addition to having drive gear 30 keyed thereto, the shaft 31 has a second gear 33 keyed to it, and gear 33 is engaged by a slidably mounted rack 34 which, in turn, is coupled through shaft 35 to a pivotally mounted cam follower lever 36 (FIG. 3).

,Idler rollers 37 (FIGS. 1 and 2) mounted on rods 38 carried by stand 32 guide and support the outer ends of the rack 26.

In order to transfer elongated envelopes 2 in rapid sequence from an unloading station on turret 3 to a loading station on turret 3' by means of the pivotally mounted arms 14 and 15 and the horizontally reciprocal shifter mechanism 16, it is necessary to coordinate accurately the movement of each of these members with the indexing movements of the lamp sealing machines 1 and 2. Furthermore, since it is an important feature of my invention to provide transfer and inverting apparatus that will handle elongated envelopes of various different lengths, it will be seen that adjustable control means must be provided to maintain the indexing movement of lamp machine 1 in synchronism with the indexing movement of machine '1'. Since the interval of time occupied by the movement of the shifter mechanism 16 from a first intermediate envelope pickup position to a second intermediate envelop'e delivery position is not varied for each different length of lamp envelope transferred, such adjustable control means are necessary to adjust the distance rack 26 travels while insuring that the lamp envelopes 2 will continue to be transferred from a given indexing station on the turret 3 to a corresponding indexing station on the turret 3'. To perform these coordinated control functions the apparatus includes a control cam and lever system (FIG. 3) comprising the drive shaft 8, which, as described above, controls the indexing movement of turrets 3 and 3', together with a plurality of cams mounted thereon to control the operation of pivotally mounted arms 14 and 15 and their associated

envelope holding jaws

24 and 20. Shaft 8 is drivingly coupled through

gears

39, 40 and 41 to a second shaft 42 having cams mounted thereon which control the operation of the reciprocably mounted shifter mechanism 16 and its associated envelope receptacles 28. The

gears

39 and 41 may be keyed in any suitable manner to the

respective shafts

8 and 42, and the idler gear 40 is journaled to the frame 6 (FIG. 1). Rather than fully describing the functioning of the control system for both arms 14 and 15, only the functioning of the control system for delivery arm 15 will be described in detail, since pick-up arm 14 is controlled by similar components and its mode of operation will be very apparent once the mode of operation of the control means for arm 15 is understood.

To coordinate the movements of rack 26.with those of arms 14 and 15 and the lamp sealing machines 1 and I 1', drive shaft 8 makes one full revolution of 360 between the time that the lamp sealing machines 1 and 1 move to rotate the envelopes 2 from a given indexing station to the next adjacent indexing station. This rotation of shaft 8 rotates a cam 43 which effects the operation of envelope holder jaws 20 by causing a pivotally mounted lever arm 44 to move vertically to cause a shaft 45 and its associated rack gear 46 (FIG. 4) to rotate gear 47 and the hollow shaft 15 to which it is keyed. A camming groove 50 in cam 43 is formed so that it raises a cam following roller 51 on lever 44 sufiiciently with respect to the fixed fulcrum 52 thereof so that shaft 45 and rack 46 are moved far enough to cause the gear '47 and its associated shaft 15 to be rotated substantially 90 during the time interval that the horizontal delivery arm 15 is being moved from the second intermediate lamp delivery position of the shifter mechanism to the envelope delivery station at the turret 3'. The cam groove 50 is also so formed as to move the cam following roller 51 vertically downward with respect to the fixed fulcrum of its support lever 44, thus reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft 15 and again rotating it through substantially 90 to return it to its original position.

In order to move the horizontal delivery arm 15 in its oscillatory path between the second intermediate lamp delivery station of the shifter mechanism 16 and the indexing station on turret 3' (while the jaws 20 are being rotated in the manner just described to pivot the lamp envelope from horizontal to vertical position) a cam 53 is provided with a cam groove 54 to move its associated cam follower 55 and, thus, a pivotally mounted lever 56, toward and away from shaft 8. Such movement of lever 56 moves a shaft 57 to cause rack gear 58 to which it is connected to rotate gear 59 which is keyed to hollow shaft 18 (also seen in FIG. 4) thereby rotating delivery arm 15. The operation of the elements effecting the movement of delivery arm 15 may be more fully understood by observing that pivotally mounted lever 56 is fulcrumed by pivot pin 60 to frame 6, and cam groove 54 is formed to move the lever 56 toward the shaft 8 when the delivery arm 15 is in the envelope receiving position (as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 1) to, thus, cause the arm 15 to be rotated in a horizontal plane to an envelope delivering position adjacent turret 1', when the shaft 8 is rotated through Then, during the subsequent rotation of shaft 8 through another 180, the cam groove 54 moves the lever 56 away from the shaft 8 and returns thereby the arm 15 to its envelope receiving position. I

As seen from the discussion of the control system operation thus far, the cams 43 and 53 coordinate the horizontal movement of delivery arm 15 and rotational movement of envelope holding jaws 20. In order to also coordinate the opening and closing of the jaws 29 with the rotational movement thereof and with the horizontal movement of arm 15, a cam 61 on shaft 8 operates a valve 62 which, in turn, regulates the flow of oil, or other suitable fluid, through pipes 63 to cylinder 23 (FIGS. 1 and 4) to close the jaws 20 on an envelope 2 when the arm 15 is in the dotted line or envelope receiving position shown in FIG. 1, and then to open the jaws 20 when the arm 15 has been moved to the envelope delivering position adjacent turret 1', shown in solid lines in FIG. 1. As mentioned above, the operations of the valve 62 and the control cylinder 23 in performing the functions indicated are similar to those described in the control system discussed in US. Patent No. 2,844,9l7 Caldwell.

A cam 64 on shaft 8 and its associated lever 65 are provided to control the timed opening and closing of envelope holder 13 on turret 1, in a manner similar to that fully described in the above-mentioned Caldwell Patent 2,844,917. Sufiice it to say that lever 65 is moved by cam 64- to cause holder 13 to retain envelopes 2 in a raised position above spindle 11 until jaws 24 on pick-up arm 14 close on the envelope 2; then the cam 64 acts to cause holder 13 to free the envelope 2.

(Jams 66 and 67 on shaft 8 control the horizontally pivoted pick-up arm 14 through their associated lever systems in a manner similar to that in which the cams 43 and 53, respectively, control the movement of arm 15. Cam 6% controls the admission of oil, or other suitable -fiuid, to the cylinder 25 on arm 14 in a manner similar to that in which the cam 61 controls the admission of oil to the cylinder 23 on arm 15; therefore, the interrelation -between earns 66, 67 and 68 and their associated control elements will not be discussed in detail. Cam 69 and its associated control lever 69a serve to lift the envelopes 2 vertically with respect to turret 1 by effecting the movement of envelope, lifter 13a prior to the time when pick-up arm 14 and its associated jaws 24 are moved into contact therewith; however, since this control operation is discussed in detail in the above-mentioned Caldwell Patent 2,844,917 it will not be further outlined here.

In order to coordinate accurately the operation of the shifter mechanism 16, with the movements of pickup arm 14 and delivery arm 15, shaft 42 is coupled through gears 39, 4t} and 41 to drive 'shaft8 in such a manner that shaft 42 is rotated through 360 each time that shaft 8 is rotatedthrough 360. A cam 76 is rigidly afiixed to shaft 42 and is provided with a cam groove 71 that moves a cam following roller 72 and the lever 56 vertically with respect to a fixed lever fulcrum 73 and effects thereby a vertical movement of shaft 35 to rotate the drive gear 30 (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 5) in the manner described above. More specifically, ca'm groove 71 is formed to move the rack 26 from a first intermediate lamp receiving position, shown in solid lines in the FIGS. 1 and 2, to a second intermediate lamp delivery position, shown-by a dotted line in FIGS. 1 and 2. The

lever 36 is then moved vertically downward by cam To insure the retention of envelopes 2 in proper spaced relation on the spaced receptacles 28 carried by rack 26, the receptacles are coupled through pipe 29 to any suitable means (not shown) for drawing a vacuum on the pipe 29, and a valve 74 is provided to connect the pipe 29 to this vacuum source. Cam 75 on shaft 42 serves to operate the valve 74 so that the valve 74 is opened to connect the receptacles 28 through pipe 29 to the vacuum source when an envelope 2 is positioned thereon by the above-mentioned operation of horizontally pivotal pick-up arm 14, thus applying a vacuum force to the surface of the envelope 2 that retains it in position on the receptacles. The cam 75 is so shaped that it holds the valve 74 open during the interval of time required for rack 26 to move from its first intermediate lamp envelope receiving position to its second intermediate envelope delivering position and then moves the valve 74 to a closed position and, thus, releases the envelope 2 so that it may be removed from receptacles 28 by the operation of horizontally pivoted delivery arm 15, as described above.

One typical cycle of operation will now be briefly described with reference to FIG. 1 in which pick-up arm 14 is shown as having just gripped a lamp envelope after an indexing movement of turret 3 and delivery arm 15 has just placed an envelope on turret 3' after such indexing movement. For clarity, the shifter mechanism 16 is shown in the position in which it will receive a lamp envelope from arm 14 although in actual practice the shift mechanism may just be approaching this position. As previously indicated, one revolution of the turret drive shaft 8 causes a corresponding 360 revolution of drive shaft 42 and thereby a complete cycle of operation of the transfer and inverting apparatus. A single revolution of drive shaft 8 indexes the turrets from one position to the next and corresponds to a time interval made up of a dwell period for work on the lamp and the period of movement of the turrets from one indexed position to another. During such indexing movement the arms 14 and 15 must be spaced from the turrets so that they will not strike lamps mounted on the turrets.

Immediately after turret 3 has moved to an indexed position, and at the start of the dwell period for working on the lamps, the pick-up arm' 14 grips the vertically disposed lamp envelope 2, removes it from the turret 3, and While swinging to the first intermediate lamp position (shown in dotted line in FIG. 1) turns the lamp 90 to a horizontal position and deposits it on the vacuum receptacles 28 of the shifter mechanism 16. The gripping jaws 24 on arm 14 release the lamp and the shifter mechanism 16 then rapidly moves the lamp in a horizontal position along its axis to the second intermediate lamp position (shown by dotted line in FIG. 1). By this time the delivery arm 15 will have released its lamp on turret 3 and been pivoted to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 1 where the jaws 20 are shown open in readiness to grip the lamp envelope resting on the shifter mechanism. Upon gripping the lamp, delivery arm 15 is pivoted toward turret 3' and the lamp is rotated 90 through the remainder of the inversion cycle as the delivery arm 15 swings the lamp to vertical position adjacent turret 3. Just prior to the time that delivery arm 15 reaches the periphery of turret 3 the turret is indexed to present a vacant lamp holder for reception of the now transferred lamp. In the meantime, the shifter mechanism 16 has been returned to the general vicinity of its original position for reception of another lamp about to be removed from turret 3 by the pick-up arm 14. It will be manifest that the cams on the

drive shafts

8 and 42 can have different rotative positions and different sizes in order to provide different movements for the pick-up arm 14, shifter mechanism 16, and delivery arm 15 in instances when the sealing machine turrets are spaced differently and indexed out of synchronism. The complete indexing time interval may be split up in various ways to apportion the available time to the different movements of arms 14- and 15 and the shifter mechamsm.

From the foregoing description of the transfer and 5 inverting apparatus and its associated control means, it

will be apparent that when lamp manufacturing machines 1 and 1' are adjusted to seal mounts in lamp envelopes 2 of various different lengths, it will be necessary to vary correspondingly the distance that the reciprocable shifter mechanism 16 moves. Such a corresponding variation is essential in order to prevent the rack 26 from moving the envelopes 2 to such a position that the delivery arm and its associated jaws do not grasp the envelope 2 at an incorrect position for 15 mounting on the turret 1. To effect this adjustable control of the positioning rack 26 at its second intermediate or lamp delivery position for proper delivery of envelopes 2 of various different lengths, any suitable adjustment of the rack drive means may be provided. For

20 example, the cam 70 may be replaced with a second cam having a different pattern for groove 71 to thus regulate the distance that lever 36 and thus reciprocable rack 26 is moved. The distance traveled by rack 26 may also be adjusted by other means, for example, by simply changing the position of fulcrum 73 on lever 36 relative to the control cam 70 thereby to vary the distance which lever 36 and, thus, rack 26 is moved as cam 70 rotates.

The entire envelope transferring cycle occurs within the interval of time required to move the

turrets

3 and 3 30 from one indexing station to the next successive indexing station as use of the shifter mechanism 16 in no way impairs the operating speeds of the sealing machines 1 and i. This desirably uniform transfer time, which is maintained independently of variations in the lengths of envelopes 2 being transferred, is achieved by directly coupling the drive means for shifter mechanism 16 to the drive means for the indexing machines 1, 1'. Thus, regardless of how far the rack 26 is adjusted to travel, it is moved through this distance by the directly coupled 4() drive means at a rate such that it completes one of its envelope delivering cycles during each movement of turrets 3 and 3' to successive indexing stations. In other words, the rate of movement of rack 26 varies in accordance with variations in the lengths of envelopes being transferred, but the time required by the rack 26 to complete an envelope deliverying cycle remains substantially the same.

When the transfer apparatus is used with lamp sealing machines of the indexing type, these machines may be operated at optimum speed regardless of the length of lamp being manufactured thereon. To accomplish the transfer within the time required by one indexing movement, the shifter mechanism 16 may be caused to move quite rapidly without any danger of shattering envelopes 2, because only an axial compressive force is applied to the envelopes while they are held by vacuum receptacles 28, since the envelopes are held in a horizontal position. Of course, the envelopes 2 can Withstand a much greater axial compressive force without shattering than 0 they can withstand a radial force tending to bend them about their transverse axes, such as they would be sub- 'jected to if they were moved rapidly by arms 14 or 15.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of apparatus for simultaneously transferring 5 and inverting elongated lamp envelopes from a first position to a second position, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from my invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, I intend in the following appended claims to encompass all such modifications as fall Within the true scope of my invention.

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

1. In combination with means to support vertically 7 extending tubular lamp envelopes at an initial pick-up position and means to support said envelopes vertically at a final delivery position spaced horizontally from said pick-up position, an inverting transfer mechanism comprising first and second horizontally extending transfer arms pivoted on respective vertical axes spaced apart horizontally between said pick-up and delivery positions, gripping means mounted on the ends of said arms, means mounting said gripping means for rotation about the longitudinal axes of their respective associated arms, means mounting said arms for pivotal oscillation about their respective axes in a common horizontal plane and between respective initial pick-up and final delivery positions and respective intermediate delivery and pick-up positions whereat the arms extend substantially normal to a line joining their vertical axes of oscillation with their gripping means in horizontal alignment, shifter mechanism having means thereon to support a lamp horizontally in alignment 'with the gripping means on said arms when the arms are in their respective intermediate pick-up and delivery positions, means mounting said shifter mechanism for oscillation along a path parallel to the path of alignment of said gripping means in the intermediate delivery and pick-up positions of said arms, and means for actuating said arms and shifter mechanism in a sequence of steps wherein, with the first arm at the initial pick-up position, the gripping means thereon is actuated to grasp an envelope, the said first arm is oscillated to its intermediate delivery position and is rotated 90 about its longitudinal axis during its oscillation so that the envelope held thereby extends horizontally at the intermediate delivery position of the arm at which time the shifter mechanism is in position to receive the envelope held by said arm, the gripping means on the first arm is actuated to release its grip on the envelope, the shifter mechanism is moved along its aforesaid path of oscillation toward the intermediate pick-up position of the second arm at which time said second arm is in its said intermediate pick-up position, the gripping means on said second arm is actuated tograsp the envelope on said shifter mechanism, and the second arm is oscillated to the final delivery position and is simultaneously rotated 90 in the same angular direction as the first arm to complete inversion of the envelope through 180 and delivery thereof to the final delivery position.

2. Apparatus for removing an elongated tubular lamp envelope carried in vertical position from a first lamp making machine and placing it in inverted vertical position on a second machine spaced horizontally from said first machine comprising, in combination, supporting means, a horizontally extending pick-up arm pivoted on a vertical axis on said supporting means for oscillation in a horizontal plane between said first machine and an intermediate delivery position and provided with gripping means for gripping the lamp envelope on the first machine, said gripping means being mounted for rotation about the'longitudinal axis of said pick-up arm, a shifter mechanism located adjacent the said intermediate delivery position of said pick-up arm for receiving a lamp envelope and mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement on said supporting means, means for pivoting said pick-up arm away from the first machine and simultaneously rotating said gripping means 90 to place the lamp envelope in substantially horizontal position on said shifter mechanism, means for moving said shifter mechanism to transport the envelope in a direction axially along its length, a horizontally extending delivery arm pivoted on a vertical axis on said supporting means for oscillation in the same said horizontal plane as said pick-up arm between said second machine and an intermediate pick-up position which is located adjacent said shifter mechanism and spaced horizontally from the intermediate delivery position of said pick-up arm, said delivery arm being provided with a gripping mechanism for gripping the lamp envelope on said shifter mechanism, means mounting said gripping mechanism for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said delivery arm, and means for pivoting said dolivery arm away from said shifter mechanism and simultaneously rotating said gripping mechanismand lamp envelope to place the lamp in inverted vertical position on the second machine.

3. Apparatus for removing an elongated tubular lamp envelope carried in vertical position from a first lamp making machine and placing it in inverted vertical position on a second machine spaced horizontally from said first machine comprising, in combination, a supporting means, a horizontally extending pick-up arm pivoted on a vertical axis on said supporting means for oscillation in a horizontal plane between said first machine and an intermediate delivery position and provided with gripping means for gripping the lamp envelope on the firstmachine, said gripping means being mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said pick-up arm, a shifter mechanism located adjacent the intermediate delivery position of said pick-up arm and mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement on said supporting means, said shifter mechanism comprising a horizontally extending rack bar having spaced receptacles for receiving a lamp envelope, means for pivoting said pick-up arm away from said machine and simultaneously rotating said gripping means 90 to place the lamp envelope in substantially horizontal position on said receptacles, means including a gear engaging said rack bar for moving said shifter mechanism to transport the envelope in a direction axially along its length, a horizontally extending delivery arm pivoted on a vertical axis on said supporting means for oscillation in the same said horizontal plane as said pick-up arm between said second machine and an intermediate pick-up positionwhich is located adjacent said shifter mechanism and spaced horizontally from the intermediate delivery position of said pick-up arm, said delivery arm being provided with gripping means for gripping the lamp envelope on said receptacles, means mounting said gripping means for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said delivery arm, and means for pivoting said delivery arm away from the shifter mechanism and simultaneously rotating said gripping means and lamp envelope 90 to place the lamp in inverted vertical position on the second machine.

4. Apparatus for removing an elongated tubular lamp envelope carried in vertical positionfrom a first lamp making machine and placing it in inverted vertical position on a second machine spaced horizontally from said first machine comprising, in combination, supporting means, a horizontally extending pick-up arm pivoted on a vertical axis on said supporting means for oscillation in a horizontal plane between said first machine and an int rmediate delivery position and provided with gripping means for gripping the lamp envelope on the first machine, said gripping means being mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said pick-up arm, a shifter mechanism located adjacent the intermediate delivery position of said pick-up arm and mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement on said supporting means, said shifter mechanism comprising a horizontally extending rack bar having spaced receptacles for receiving a lamp envelope, means for pivoting said pick-up arm away from said machine and simultaneously rotating said gripping means 90 to place the lamp envelope in substantially horizontal position on said receptacles, means including a gear drive engaging said rack for moving said shifter mechanism to transport the envelope in a direction axially along its length, means for applying vacuum to the said receptacles to retain the envelope on said receptacles during movement of said shifter mechanism, a horizontally extendingdelivery arm pivoted on a vertical axis on said supporting means for oscillation in the same said horipick-up arm, said delivery arm being provided with gripping means for gripping the lamp envelope on said receptacles, means mounting said gripping means for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said delivery arm, and means for pivoting said delivery arm away from the shifter mechanism and simultaneously rotating said gripping means and lamp envelope 90 to place the lamp in inverted vertical position on the second machine.

5. In combination with a pair of horizontally spaced lamp making machines each having a carrier provided with a plurality of heads around the periphery thereof for supporting elongated lamp envelopes in vertical position, synchronous drive means for said machines for indexing said carriers in timed relation to present the heads and supported envelopes to successive indexed Work stations, a swinging horizontally extending pick-up arm provide with gripping means for gripping a lamp envelope on one of said carriers at an indexed station, means mounting said pick-up arm for swinging in a horizontal plane and for rotation of its gripping means about u the longitudinal axis of the arm, a horizontally reciprocating shifter mechanism for receiving a lamp envelope, means actuated by said drive means for swinging said pick-up arm away from said one carrier part of the distance toward the other carrier and simultaneously rotating said gripping means to place the gripped lamp envelope in substantially horizontal position on said shifter mechanism, means actuated by said drive means to move said shifter mechanism horizontally another part of the distance toward said second carrier to transport the lamp in its horizontal position, a swinging horizontally extending delivery arm provided with a gripping means for gripping the lamp envelope on said shifter mechanism, means mounting said delivery arm for swinging in the same said horizontal plane as said pick-up arm and for rotation of its gripping means about the longitudinal axis of the delivery arm, and means actuated by said drive means for swinging said delivery arm away from said shifter mechanism and continuing rotation of the lamp envelope to place the lamp in inverted vertical position on the other of said carriers at a corresponding work sta tion.

6. In combination with a pair of horizontally spaced lamp making machines each having a carrier provided with a plurality of heads around the periphery thereof for supporting elongated lamp envelopes in vertical position, synchronous drive means for said machines for indexing said carriers in timed relationship to each other to present the heads and supported envelopes to successive indexed work stations, a swinging horizontally extending pick-up arm provided with gripping means for gripping a lamp envelope on one of said carriers at an indexed station, means mounting said pick-up arm for swinging in a horizontal plane and for rotation of its gripping means about the longitudinal axis of the arm, a horizontally reciprocating shifter mechanism including a rack bar having horizon-tally spaced receptacles for receiving a lamp envelope, means actuated by said drive means for swinging said pick-up arm away from said one carrier part of the distance toward the other carrier and simultaneously rotating said rotatable means to place the gripped lamp envelope in substantially horizontal position on said receptacles, means including a gear drive engaging said rack and actuated by said drive means to move said shifter mechanism horizontally another part of the distance toward said other carrier to transport the lamp in its horizontal position, a swinging horizontally extending delivery arm provided with a gripping mechanism for gripping the lamp envelope on said receptacles, means mounting said delivery arm for swinging in the same said horizontal plane as said pick-up arm and for rotation of its gripping mechanism about the longitudinal axis of the delivery arm, and means actuated by said drive means for swinging said delivery arm away from said shifter mechanism and simultaneously rota-ting said rotatable mechanism to continue rotation of the lamp envelope to place the lamp in inverted vertical position on the other of said carriers at the corresponding work station.

7. In combination with a pair of horizontally spaced lamp making machines each having a carrier provided with a plurality of heads around the periphery thereof for supporting elongated lamp envelopes in vertical position, synchronous drive means for said machines for indexing said carriers in timed relationship with each other to present the heads and supported envelopes to successive indexed work stations, a swinging horizontally extending pick-up arm provided with gripping means for gripping a lamp envelope on one of said carriers at an indexed station, means mounting said pick-up arm for swinging in a horizontal plane and for rotation of its gripping means about the longitudinal axis of the arm, a horizontally movable shifter mechanism including a rack bar having horizontally spaced receptacles for receiving a lamp envelope, means actuated by said drive means for swinging said pick-up arm away from said one carrier part of the distance toward the other carrier and simultaneously rotating said gripping means to place a lamp envelope in substantially horizontal position on said receptacles, means including a gear drive engaging said rack and actuated by said drive means to move said shifter mechanism horizontally another part of the distance toward said other carrier to transport the lamp in its horizontal position, means actuated by said drive means to apply vacuum to said receptacles to retain the lamp envelope thereon during movement of said shifter mechanism, a swinging horizontally extending delivery arm provided with a gripping mechanism for gripping the lamp envelope on said receptacles, means mounting said delivery arm for swinging in the same said horizontal plane as said pick-up arm and for rotation of its gripping mechanism about the longitudinal axis of the delivery arm, and means actuated by said drive means for swinging said delivery arm away from said shifter mechanism and simultaneously rotating said rotatable mechanism to continue rotation of the lamp envelope to place the lamp in inverted vertical position on the other of said carriers at the corresponding work statron.

References Cited in the file of this patent