US3115233A - Filament feed bowl - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 24, 1963 K. DICK ETAL.

FILAMENT FEED BOWL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 11. 1957 R Pa ww Mm H INVENTORS HERBERT A. D/LK Auausr 5. 1m ems 5Y8 Ml/EL E. swan ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 11. 1957 INVENTORS HERBERT K DICK 11060375. KULBERG BY SAM L 5. smszr A ORNEY Dec. .24, 1963 H. K. DICK ETAL FILAMENT FEED BOWL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Oct. 11. 1957 INVEN TORS HRBRT K. om 41/67/37 5. Kl/LBL'RG BY s/mua E. SWASEY ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1963 H. K. DICK ETAL FILAMENT FEED BOWL 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Oct. 11, 1957 INVENTORS HKBRT K 010x AUGUST 5 lruwma By SAMUEL E. swnssy ATTOK/Vf) umu Il hl "Dec. 24,1963 H. K. blcK ETAL FILAMENT FEED BOWL Original Filed Oct. 11. 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 |Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII III!!! Illll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII" IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIII llIlII-IIIIIHIIl/ll/III 64 385 ul.l.lfl *7 w LL-Jil -72 INVENTORS HERBERT K. 01 K AUGUJT E. KULBERG SAMUEL E. SWASEY ,4 TI'UKIVEY Patented Dec. 24, 1963 3,115,233 FELAMENT FEED BOWL Herhert K. Dick, South Lyunlield, August E. Kulherg, Beverly, and Samuel E. Swasey, Marhlehead, Mass, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Sylvania Electric Products lncu, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Original application Oct. ll, 1957, Ser. No. 689,521, new Patent No. 3,03%,719, dated May 29, 1962. Divided and this application Dec. 21, 1951, Ser. No. 1685M 3 Claims. (til. 198-453) This invention relates to a device for successively transferring lamp filaments first from a random mass into a reservoir and thence into a receiver associated with a lamp stem assembling machine.

The problem of bringing lamp filaments into assembled position upon the lamp stern has long bothered the industry chiefly because of the fact that the filaments are very small and so flexible as to be limp. For example coil filaments having outside diameters ranging from .0635 to .050" and lengths in the order of 40 mm. to 50 mm. are commonly em loyed in commercial lamps. At first it was necessary that each filament be picked up with hand tweezers and manually assembled; the hand process is still in use to a limited extent but has been supplemented by machinery exemplified by the disclosure of Patent No. 2,597,354, H. B. Maloney issued May 20, 1952, for example.

The present invention has for its principal object to improve the efficiency of filament transfer and feeding,

with a view to increasing the speed of operation and decreasing the failures encountered in practice.

An important feature of the invention resides in the combination of a vibrating bowl feeder having its delivery end coupled to a spring mounted block containing a reservoir for filaments and means for automatically returning to the bowl filaments delivered in excessive quantities. In axial alignment with the reservoir is a receiver associated with the lamp stern assembly machine, and a carriage, mounted to slide parallel to the axes of the reservoir and receiver, is equipped with cam operated gripping fingers by means of which filaments are successively gripped and drawn into position on the receiver.

The spring mounting of the block is arranged to impart to the oncoming filaments motion primarily in axial translation, thus tending to preserve desired orientation of the filaments and avoiding the stoppages resulting from the tangling of misaligned filaments.

Moreover, the difficulties encountered in the past which stemmed from the limp and flexible character of the filaments are avoided in accordance with the present invention by virtue of the fact that each filament is gripped near its extremity and trailed axially from the reservoir to the receiver.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be more readily understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a filament feeding and transfer device constructed in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device showing the cam controlled driving means,

FlG. 3 as a plan view on a larger scale of a portion of the device,

FIG. 4 is a view in cross section along the line 44 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a spring mounted block containing the reservoir and the return chute, o her portions of the device having been removed for purposes of illustration,

FIG. 6 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the discharge end of the bowl feeder, showing also filaments at different levels in the bowl feeder.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the device illustrated in the drawings it is deemed appropriate first to describe in a general way the most important operating instrumentalities and their functions. In FIG. 1 there is shown a vibrating bowl feeder 32 of substantially conventional type, generally known in the trade as a Syntron feeder. The feeder 32 has a delivery channel 33 coupled through an intermediate L-shaped block 44 to a second block Sll best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and containing a concave elongated trough 52 into which filaments are successively introduced. As best shown in FIG. 1 there is a receiver Zltl having filament receiving jaws in alignment with a long axis of the trough 52. A gripping finger assembly 74 is mounted on a carriage ld i arranged to slide between the trough and the receiver Zltl, the gripping fingers 74 being actuated first to pick up the extremity of a single filament in the trough and trail it into position on the jaws of the receiver Zltl. While the carriage is bringing the gripping fingers back to seize another filament from the trough 52, the receiver 210 carries the first filament into a lamp stern assembling machine (not shown). The receiver 210 may be of the type shown in the aforementioned patent to Maloney for example.

The structure by means of which the principal instrumentalities of the device are operated will now be described. As shown in FIG. 1 the machine includes a relatively massive base it) upon which is mounted a post or pedestal 12 forming support for a main frame 1% upon which the elements of the device are assembled. A fiat horizontal plate 16 disposed at the junction of the pedestal 12 and the frame 14 serves to support a vibratory feeder lil, the latter being carried on the conventional spring mounting 2%! supported by an adjustable post 22 threaded through the plate 16. The plate 16 is further supported by means of a stout post 24 mounted on a bracket 26 affixed to the base Ill.

The construction of the vibrating bowl type feeder will not be described inasmuch as it is a standard piece of equipment readily obtainable on the market and not forming any part of the present invention. Surrounding the upper portion of the bowl 32 of the feeder 18 is a table 23 supported by a stanchion 3d bolted to the plate 16. A transparent cover 34 is pivotally mounted at 35 upon the table 28 and is provided with a knob 33 by means of which it may be swung to and from the bowl 32. Within the bowl 32 is the customary inclined spiral ramp 36 upon which the filaments are caused to travel as a result of the movement of the bowl. The ramp 36 terminates at the upper periphery of the bowl 252 in a delivery channel 38.

It should be pointed out here that one of the difiiculties encountered in the handling of lamp filaments is their tendency to agglomerate into tangled masses, a characteristic which has at times impeded the operation of the bowl feeder. It has been found that, in the case of relatively long filaments of very small diameter, improved results are secured if at the bottom of the bowl there is provided a plurality of vertical baffies such as shown at at in FIGS. 1, 3 and S. The filaments are shown at 42 in various positions within the bowl feeder. The precise action of the baffles id is not understood, and their exact locations cannot therefore be accurately prescribed. However, it appears that the baffles should be dispersed about the bottom of the bowl in non-radial orientation, as best illustrated in FIG. 1.

Coming now to the portion of the machine in which the filaments are assembled in aligned relation for transfer to the receiver, there is provided an L-shaped block 44 secured to the bowl feeder by means of a leaf spring 46 bolted to the block 44 and to the feeder bowl 32. Cut into the block 44 is a thin channel as precisely aligned with the delivery channel 38. Bolted to the end of the L-shaped block 44 is a block 5%, best shown in F568. 4 and 5. The block 5-5 is provided on its upper face with an elongated concave trough 521 long enough to accommodate a filament 42 and deep enough to contain several filaments. The concave trough 52 does not occupy the entire top of the block 50 but terminates at an intermediate point in a raised portion leading to a second and smaller concavity 54 in alignment with the end of the channel 46 in the block 44. Back of the concavity 54 is a rearwardly and downwardly inclined surface as leading to a chute 58 suspended over the bowl 32.

The purpose of the inclined surface 56 and the chute 58 is to provide a path for the return of excess filaments 69. They drop into the bowl 32 and in the course of time are again caused to travel up the ramp into the delivery channel Bolted to the front face of the block St) is a plate 62 which hangs below the block St). A vertical plate 64 is bolted to a bracket 63 secured to the frame l4 (see H65. 4 and 5). The vertical plate 64 carries a stop bolt 66 which may be screwed in or out to bear upon the inner surface of the plate 62. A tension spring 65, connects plate 62 with plate 64 to hold the plate 62 firmly against the end of the bolt 66.

It will now be observed that the blocks 4% and 5d are securely bolted together and are mounted upon the bowl 32. by means of the leaf spring 48 in such fashion that the leaf spring, in combination with bolt 66 and spring 65, will substantially eliminate lateral vibration of the blocks 44 and Eli. The bolt '66 provides a means for adjusting the location of trough 52 with reference to the gripping fingers 74-. It has been found that the controlled vibration of the blocks, thus brought about, is effective to impart to the filaments, travelling through the channel -46 and onto the concave portion 54 of the block 5%, a motion which is largely axial translation as the result of the vibratory movement of the bowl 32. The horizontal vibration of the block 50 is such that it is just sufficient to nudge filaments into the trough 52 until it is substantial ly filled. Thereafter the combination of the horizontal vibration of the block 5'3 and the contact upon filaments already in the trough 52 is effective to deflect excess filaments across inclined surface 56 and onto chute 58.

We now come to the structure employed to pick up filaments from the trough or reservoir 52. As will be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, a slot '72 is milled in the interior surface of the trough 52 adjacent the end farthest away from the delivery channel 46. The slot accommodates an assembly of gripping fingers 74 including a pair of finger members 76 integral with a common shank portion '77 and accommodating between them a third finger 7 8.

The finger '73 is clamped between a pair of blocks 84 which are parts of an integral structure including a plate 83. The blocks 84 are provided with screws 85 which serve to clamp the finger '78 in place, as well as with a pivot $6 on which the fingers 76 are hung. The upper end of the shank 77 of the fingers 76 is provided with a hook 89 secured to one end of a spring 94) which passes through a bore in the plate 88; the inner end of the :spring 90 is secured to a threaded rod 91 carrying lock nuts 92 by means of which the tension on the spring 9! :may be regulated. The plate 33 is also provided with an opening which receives a pivot pin 94 on which is mounted a T-shaped cam member )6 which engages at its center with a cam surface 98 cut into the rear portion of the shank 77 of the finger 76. As the cam 96 moves upwardly and away from the cam surface 98 the spring .at the end of the trough .52.

The upper end of the plate 38 is split and bored to receive the lower end of a rod 1% clamped in the split end of the plate 38 by means of a bolt 1&2. The rod res passes through a bushing 106 mounted in an inclined bore in a carriage 16%. The rod 1% is provided with an elongated milled slot 1&8 into which projects a pin Tilt) carried mounted in a bore in the carriage 104 and passing through a corresponding hole in the bushing 166. The rod flit) projects entirely through the carriage 143 i and carries a compression spring 112. interposed between the upper end of the bushing 1% and a cap member 114- mounted on the upper end of the rod 1% and serving to retain a steel ball 116 freely rotatable in the cap 114 and bearing against the lower surface of an L-shaped elongated plate 1-18. The plate 118 is mounted to rock upon a shaft 12% journalled at each end in a U-shaped frame member 122 secured to the main frame 14. The carriage 10 i is slidably mounted on a pair of parallel rods 124 and 126 both of which are parallel to the long axis of the trough 521, for instance see FIG. 1.

Adjacent the left hand end of the frame 122 as viewed in FIG. 1 there is a socket 12% serving to receive the upper end of an inclined turnbuckle 13%) in the lower end of which is mounted one end of a rock shaft 136 which carries a block 132 in which is clamped an elongated finger 134 disposed in position to encounter the cam 96 when the carriage and gripping fingers are moved to the extreme right opposite the slot 72 in the trough 52.

It will now be observed that when the carriage N4 has been moved to the position shown in FIG. 1 the plate 118 may be moved downwardly to move the gripping fingers 76 and 78 into the slot '72. The shaft 136 may then be rocked to cause the finger 134 to encounter the cam 98 and {lick it upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 4, at which time the fingers are closed to grip the end of a single filament lying in the trough 52. As will later be explained, the plate 118 is then lifted to permit the spring 112 to lift the gripping finger assembly 74 out of the trough 52. The mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 1% will now be described.

Secured to the carriage 1% is a yoke 138 carrying a pivot pin engaging one end of a pull rod 1 4% pivotaliy connected at its other end to a vertically disposed arm 3 42 of a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on the main frame 14 (see FIG. 2). The other arm of the bell crank lever M2 is substantially horizontally disposed and connected to the upper end of a vertically disposed rod 144 extending to the lower portion of the machine, just above the base It), where it is in turn pivotally connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 14-3 having a journal 149 mounted on a shaft 153. The other arm of the bell crank lever 148 carries a roller cam follower 15-9 bearing on the surface of a cam 152 fixed to a shaft 154. A tension spring 151 is connected at one end to the bell crank lever 148 and its upper end to the pedestal 12 thus urging the cam follower into engagement with the cam 152. Through the linkages just described, rotation of the earn 152 is effective to reciprocate the carriage 1% at desired times and rates.

It will now be appropriate to describe the mechanism utilized for actuation of the plate 118. One end of the rock shaft 12% projects through the frame 122 and carries at its end a slotted plate Hill on which is pivotally mounted the upper end of a vertically disposed rod lZ pivotally connected at its lower end to one arm 166 of a bell crank lever also journalled on the shaft 153 and having another arm 168 terminating in a roller cam follower 1'79 bearing on the surface of the cam 172 also fixed on the shaft 154. A spring 174- is connected at its lower end to the extremity of the arm 166 of the bell crank lever and at its upper end to the base of the main frame 14. Through the linkages just described, the plate 113 is rocked to raise and lower the assembly of gripping fingers 74.

The device has now been described insofar as it relates to the feeding of the filaments into the trough and the removal of the filaments from the trough. It remains to describe the transfer of the filaments into the receiver of the lamp stem assembly machine. The receiver itself forms no part of the invention and is illustrated here diagrammatically at 210 in FIG. 1. For the details of the receiver we refer to the Maloney Patent No. 2,597,354, particularly FIG. 7 thereof. For our present purposes it is sufficient to say that the receiver includes a pair of posts 212 each of which is provided at its upper end with a groove dimensioned to accommodate a filament. The assembly upon which the posts 212 are mounted is operated in conjunction with a lamp stem-assembly machine as described in the Maloney patent, and it is the purpose of the present invention to provide a suitable device for depositing filaments into position upon the grooved upper ends of the posts 212.

It will be observed that the grooves in the posts 212 are in alignment and also in alignment with the long axis of the trough 52. There has been described the mechanism by means of which a filament may be picked from the trough 52 by the fingers 74. After the fingers 74 have been lifted and the carriage 104 reciprocated to the right as shown in FIG. 1, the fingers 74 reach a posi tion opposite the right hand post 212. The plate 118 is thereupon actuated downwardly to lower the finger assembly toward the right hand post 212, and it is thereupon necessary that the fingers be opened to release the filament thus conveyed into position. To this end the rock shaft 136 is provided adjacent its right hand end with a block 180 (FIG. 7) carrying a finger 182 poised to intercept the T-shaped cam 96 and move it down against the cam surface 98 on the shank 77 and the fingers 76 and thereby open the fingers to the position shown in FIG. 9.

It will now be appropriate to describe the mechanism utilized to actuate the rock shaft 136 for operation of the cam 96. Fast upon the shaft 136 is a slotted lever 186 which is pivotally connected to a rod 188 connected at its lower end to one arm of a bell crank lever 190 pivotally mounted on a stub shaft secured to the frame 14. The other arm of the bell crank lever 190 is pivotally connected to a vertical rod 192 connected at its lower end to a bell crank lever 194 having a collar 198 journalled on a stub shaft 200 fixed to the pedestal 12. The lever 194 also carries a cam follower (not shown) bearing on a cam 196 also journalled on the shaft 154. The mechanism just described is effective to rock the shaft 136 at timed intervals to actuate the fingers 134 and 182 which operate to open and close the gripping fingers 76 and '78.

This case is a division of SN. 689,521, filed Oct. 11, 1957, now Patent 3,036,719, issued on May 29, 1962.

What we claim is:

1. A filament feeding machine, comprising a vibratory bowl feeder adapted to montain a quantity of filaments and having a delivery channel, a horizontally disposed block having a trough communicating with said delivery channel, the said trough being adapted to receive a limited quantity of said filaments, a spring mounting securing said block to said bowl feeder, and means for preloading said spring mounting whereby said block is subjected to damped horizontal vibrations effective to advance said filaments into said trough.

2. A filament feeding machine, comprising a vibratory bowl feeder adapted to contain a quantity of filaments and having a delivery channel, a block having a trough communicating with said delivery channel, said trough being adapted to receive a limited quantity of said filaments, a spring mounting securing said block to said feeder, and means for preloading said spring whereby said block is subjected to damped vibrations effective to advance said filaments through said channel into said trough.

3. A filament feeding machine, comprising a vibratory bowl feeder adapted to contain a quantity of filaments and having a delivery channel, a block having a first trough communicating with said delivery channel to receive filaments delivered from said feeder and channel, a second trough adjacent said first trough adapted to receive a limited quantity of filaments from said first trough, means for returning excess filaments from said block to said bowl feeder, a spring mounting securing said blow to said bowl feeder, and means for preloading said spring mounting for subjecting said block to damped vibrations.

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 29, 1957

Claims (1)

1. A FILAMENT FEEDING MACHINE, COMPRISING A VIBRATORY BOWL FEEDER ADAPTED TO MONTAIN A QUANTITY OF FILAMENTS AND HAVING A DELIVERY CHANNEL, A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BLOCK HAVING A TROUGH COMMUNICATING WITH SAID DELIVERY CHANNEL, THE SAID TROUGH BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A LIMITED QUANTITY OF SAID FILAMENTS, A SPRING MOUNTING SECURING SAID BLOCK TO SAID BOWL FEEDER, AND MEANS FOR PRELOADING SAID SPRING MOUNTING WHEREBY SAID BLOCK IS SUBJECTED TO DAMPED HORIZONTAL VIBRATIONS EFFECTIVE TO ADVANCE SAID FILAMENTS INTO SAID TROUGH.

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