US3156030A

US3156030A - Cathode insertion apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3156030A
Application number: US132837A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert E Natalis
Original assignee: RCA Corp
Current assignee: RCA Corp
Priority date: 1961-08-21
Filing date: 1961-08-21
Publication date: 1964-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 1981-11-10

Description

Nov. 10, 1964 H. E. NATALIS 3,156,030

CATHODE INSERTION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 21, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Han er 5/11/5105 Nov. 10, 1964 H. E. NATALIS CATHODE INSERTION APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21, 1961 IN VEN TOR. Haws??- EMT/1M5 Nov. 10, 1964 H. E. NATALIS CATHODE INSERTION APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 21, 1961 IN V EN TOR. HERMWEAhM/J 4a 429 5:54;: W W

ArrMA EY Nov. 10, 1964 NATALls 3,156,030

CATHODE INSERTION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 21, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,156,030 CATHODE WSERTION APPARATU Herbert E. Natalis, Rahway, NJ assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 132,837 (llaims. (Cl. 29-2519) This invention relates to apparatus for assembling electron tube mounts and more particularly to apparatus for inserting a cathode into an electron tube mount assembly.

In a certain type of electron tube, the mount assembly comprises tubular concentrically arranged anode, grid and cathode electrodes, the cathode being mounted on a cathode support sleeve. The cathode support sleeve surrounds a heater. These tube elements except the heater are each fixed as by brazing to respective flanges. The flanges are each supported by conductors, usually three in number, brazed at one end to the flanges and extending in vacuum tight relation through holes in a ceramic water or header. To assure the vacuum tight relationship between the conductors or pins and the wafer, the inside surfaces of the holes are metalized and the pins are brazed to the metal ized surfaces. Also, the leads to the heater are similarly brazed to the metalized surfaces of the inside of the holes through the wafer. The brazing temperatures are so high that cathode coating material exposed thereto would be destroyed. To avoid destruction of the cathode coating material, the coated cathode is added to the mount assembly after the brazing operations on the other tube elements are performed.

The anode is less than /8 of an inch in diameter, and

the grid and cathode support sleeve, surrounded by theanode, are spaced from the anode and from each other. The spacing between the anode and the grid and between the grid and the cathode support sleeve is very small. The cathode must be inserted into the grid concentrically therewith and it must be fitted onto the cathode sleeve support without contact with the grid to obviate shortcircuiting the tube. After brazing operations, the cathode is pushed down over the cathode support sleeve, in the space between the cathode support sleeve and the grid.

The cathode must fit its sleeve so tightly that the cathode cannot move with respect to its sleeve in subsequent use of or manipulation of the resultant electron tube. Since the cathode sleeve, comprising a cylinder made of material which is about 0.0005 of an inch in thickness, is very fragile, and since no distortion of any tube electrode or miss-positioning thereof can be tolerated, insertion ofthe cathode into the grid and onto the cathode support sleeve involves slow, tedious, exacting work requiring highly skilled operators.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for inserting a cathode within a grid and to position the cathode on the cathode support sleeve accurately, quickly, without distorting the mount or the elements comprising it, and with a minimum of skilled attention.

In accordance with this invention, a pallet is provided for holding an electron tube mount. The mount comprises concentrically arranged anode, grid and cathode sleeve mounted on pins extending through a ceramic wafer. The pins of the mount extend into holes provided therefor in the pallet. comprises a holding member having a chamber therein into which the anode may be fitted and a further chamber into which the cathode may be inserted. Apparatus is provided for raising the pallet to cause insertion of the anode into the anode chamber. Means are provided for sliding a cathode through the cathode chamber over the cathode sleeve. Further mechanism is provided for disengaging the mount assembly from the holder after the cathode has been assembled therein.

The apparatus of this invention 7 This invention is more fully described in the following description thereof, taken with the accompanying drawing, in which:

I FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus of this invention, a jig guide being omitted for clarity;

. FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus of this mvention;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are figures showing a portion of the apparatus of this invention and in section with parts in diflerent operative positions thereof, and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified apparatus made according to this invention.

In accordance with this invention, the centering pallet jig 18, or pallet, FIGS. 1-5, comprises a rectangular block of metal having an upper portion 22 of reduced Width and length. The height of the wide portion of a pallet 18 is less than the distance between the under surface of the lips 20 of jig guides 16, to be described, and the top of the table 14 as better shown in FIGS. 3-5. Parallel pin receiving holes 24 are provided in the upper narrow portion 22 of the pallet 18 to receive the pins 26 of a mount assembly 28. These holes 24 have a larger diameter than the pins 26 of the mount 28. Thus, the pins fit loosely in the holes 24 permitting a small amount of relative lateral motion between the mount 28 and the pallet 18. The pallet 18 also has a hole 30 therethrough located within the circle of the pin holes 24. The hole 30 has an axis parallel to the axes of the pin holes 24. The hole 36 is frustro-conical in shape, the large diameter end 32 of the hole 30 being at the bottom of the pallet 18 and the small diameter end 34 of the hole 30 being below the top surface of the pallet 18. A cylindrical hole 36, which extends to the upper surface of the pallet 18 and is coaxial with the axis of the 'frustro-conical hole 30, communicates with the small diameter end 34 of the hole 30. A hole 37 extends through table 14 in the area between pallet guides 16 and communicates with the hole 30 in the pallet 18 when the pallet 18 is properly positioned between the guides 16. The diameter of hole 37 is equal to the largest diameter of hole 30.

The apparatus made according to this invention includes a vertically extending frame 10 supported on a base 12. A stationary table 14 is fixed to the frame 10. A pair of jig guides 16 are fixed to the ,top of the-table 14. These jig guides 16 comprise blocks of metal spaced apart a distance far enough to receive the centering pallet jig 18. One jig guide is omitted from FIG. 1 to show a pallet 18 in position. The jig guides 1-6 have inwardly extending lips 29 at the top theerof. These lips have a pallet jig restraining function as will be described.

An anode centering and cathode guiding member 38 is fixed to the frame 10 above the jig guides 16 by means of bracket 40. This member 38, a cross-section of which is shown in FIGS. 3-5, comprises a block-like member of metal having two cylindrical chambers 42 and 50 therein, the upper chamber 42 having a diameter to fit the cathode sleeve and the lower chamber having a larger diameter to fit the anode as shown in FIGS. 4' and 5. A tapered portion 48 extends between the two chambers and the outside ends of the two chambers terminate in conical portions44 and 54 to guide the cathode and anode ,intothe two chambers Chambers 4?; and 50 are-coaxial.

A mechanism 56 (FIGS. 1 and 2) for movingthe mount .assernbly ZS to the position where the anode 52 thereof registers with ,the anode chamber or hole 50 of the member 38, is also mounted on support 10. This mechanism. 56 comprises a push rod 53, a centering sleeve 60 surrounding the push rod 58 and slidable thereon, and means for movingthe push rod 58 and centering sleeve 60 upwards to cause insertion of the anode 52 of the mount 28 into chamber 51 of the member 38. A bearing 64' is fixed to frame 10. The centering sleeve 60 is slidably mounted in bearing 64 in such manner that sleeve 60 is concentric with hole 37 in table 14. This sleeve 60 (FIGS. 4 and 5) comprises a frustro-conical top end 66, shaped to fit the frustroconical hole in the pallet 18. The sleeve also comprises a central cylindrical portion 68, fitting bearing 64, and a bottom cylindrical portion of smaller diameter, there being an annular shoulder 72 at the juncture of the two

cylindrical portions

68 and 70 to receive the end of a spring, as will be described.

The push rod 58 extends through the centering sleeve 60 both below it and above it. The bottom end of push rod 58 is slidably mounted in bearing 74, fixed to frame 10. The push rod 58 is provided near its upper end with an annular portion 76 of enlarged diameter, to limit the downward movement of rod 58 relative to centering sleeve 60.

An adjustable positionable collar 78 is fixed to the rod 58 below the bottom end of centering sleeve 60. This collar 78 comprises a central enlarged portion and two

smaller diameter portions

80 and 82 extending in opposite directions from the central portion of collar 78 and provide shoulders at the juncture of the

small diameter portions

80 and 82 with the central portion. A stop 84 is fixed to the push rod 58 below the adjustable collar 78 and above the bearing 74. A block 86 is slidably mounted on rod 58 between the stop 84 and the collar 78. Two compression springs 88 and 90 surround the rod 58. The upper, weaker spring 88 is positioned between the shoulder 72 on centering sleeve 60 and the upper shoulder of the adjustable collar 78. The lower, stronger spring 90 is positioned between the lower shoulder of collar 78 and the top of block 86. A pair of

pins

92, 92 extend into the block 86 from opposite sides thereof. A roller 94 is mounted on each pin 92 for purposes to be described.

The mechanism for moving push rod 58 and center- 'ing sleeve 60 axially thereof comprises a pair of lever arms 98, one on each side of frame 10. These lever arms 98 are pivoted on frame 10 at 100. One end of each lever arm 98 rests on a roller 94. The bottom edges of levers 98 may, if desired, be tapered at the ends thereof which rest on rollers 96. A pin 102 extends through the lever arms 98 beyond the frame 10 opposite the rod 58 and a roller 104 is rotatably mounted on pin 102. A laterally extending arm 105 extends to the left (FIG. 1) from frame 10 and is fixed thereto. Pin 106 extends through the arm 105 and cam 108 is fixed to pin 106 to rotate therewith. A sprocket 110 is also fixed to one end of pin 106 to rotate therewith. A pulley 112 is fixed to the other end of the pin 106. A drive belt 114 causes continuous rotation of cam 108 by means of a motor (not shown). A Weight 116 is adjustably fixed to lever arms 98 by means of bracket 118 to keep roller 104 in contact with cam 108. Spring anchors comprising bent rods 120 are fixed to the top of lever arms 98 at the ends thereof adjacent pins 92. Tension springs 96 extend between the pins 92 and the free ends of the spring anchors. As cam 108 rotates, roller 104 is kept in contact with cam 108 by weight 116 while springs 96 keep rollers 94 yieldably in contact with the lower edges of the right hand ends of lever arms 98. Since the ends of levers 98 overlie rollers 94, upon clockwise rotation of the levers 98, caused by rotation of cam 108, the ends of levers 98 push down on rollers 94 to move block 86 downwardly in a positive manner.

In the operation of the apparatus made according to this invention, cathodes 46 may be fed by hand tochamber 42 in member 38. Mechanism 122 is provided for pushing the cathode down through member 38. This mechanism 122 comprises an upper push rod 124 having a smaller diameter cathode pusher portion 126. A

bearing 128 is fixed to the upper portion of frame 10 and the vertically positioned rod 124 extends slidably therethrough. The bearing 128 is provided with a pair of slots 130, only one of which is shown. A pin 132 extends laterally through the rod 124 and through slots 130, and rollers 134 are positioned on the ends of pin 132. Weights 136, fixed to the push rod 124 above bearing 128 apply a predetermined gravitational force on cathode pusher 126 in a vertically downward direction. Vertically upward motion of cathode pusher 126 is caused by lever arms 138, one mounted on each side of frame 10 and pivoted thereon by means of pin 140. A roller 142 is mounted on a pin 144 which extends between lever arms 138 near the ends thereof beyond frame 10 away from rod 124. An upper support 146 is fixed to frame 10 and extends in the direction away from rod 124. A horizontal pin 148 extends through the support 146. A cam 150 is fixed to pin 148 to rotate therewith. The roller 142 contacts the lower portion of cam 150 and is kept in contact therewith by weights 136 acting through lever arm 138. A sprocket 152 is fixed to pin 148.

In the operation of this device, pallets 18 into which mounts 28 have been inserted are fed in a sliding manner in between pallet guides 16. While this may be done manually as explained below, automatic means for feeding pallets 18 into guides 16 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The automatic means for feeding pallets 18 into guides 16 comprises a sprocket wheel 166 rotatably mounted on frame 10 by means of shaft 168. A tooth 169 is fixed to sprocket 166. This tooth 169 extends clockwise in a tangential direction from the sprocket 166, as shown in FIG. 1. A push rod 170 is slidably mounted in frame 10 and a slot 172 in frame 10 is so arranged that clamp 174, fixed to push rod 170, extends through slot 172. The clamp 174, being of generally rectangular cross section, permits sliding motion of rod 170 but prevents rotary motion thereof. A screw 176 holds clamp 174 on rod 170 and extends laterally therefrom into the path of tooth 169 as sprocket wheel 166 rotates. The right hand end of push rod 170 has a head 178 fixedly mounted thereon and pusher arm 180 depends from the head 178 slantingly downward away from head 178. A spring 182 yieldingly holds pusher arm 180 in the position shown but permits clockwise rotation thereof. A dash pot 184 is fixed to frame 10 in line with push rod 170 to prevent too rapid return of rod 170, as will be explained. A piston rod 186 of dash pot 184 is connected to the push rod 17 0.

Pallets 18 having mounts 28 therein may be brought to the cathode assembly position by a continuously running conveyor belt 190 and pallets 18 having mounts 28 therein which contain cathodes 46 may be removed from the cathode assembly by a further continuously running conveyor belt 192. For this purpose, conveyor belt 190, continuously running perpendicular to the length of push rod 170, is provided on table 10 adjacent the pallet guides 16. Pallets 18 having mounts 28 therein that lack cathodes, are placed on conveyor belt 190. As the belt 190 moves, the pallets 18 are moved along until the leading one thereof hits a stop (not shown), the other pallets on the belt being stopped by contacting each other. As sprocket wheel 166 is rotated clockwise, as will be explained, tooth 169 rotates therewith, and, pushing on screw 176, pushes push rod 170 and therefore pusher arm 180 to the right (FIG. 1). A first pallet 18 is pushed off of belt 190 and into pallet guides 16 by pusher arm 180. Upon continued rotation of sprocket 166, tooth 169 clears pin 176. The spring (not shown) in dash pot 184 pushes piston rod 186 back to the left whereby push rod 170 is also pushed back to the left.

After a cathode 46 has been inserted into a mount 28, push rod 170 pushes another pallet 18 into guides 16, which pushes the pallet 18 presently in the guides 16 out to the right. The continuously moving conveyor belt 192 is provided for moving pallets 18 carrying mounts into which cathodes 46 have been inserted, to a position where another operation may be performed on the mount 25-. The pallet 18 which carries a mount which has just had a cathode 46 inserted therein is pushed onto conveyor belt 192 by the arm 18! acting through pallets which were previously pushed off of conveyor belt 1%.

Means are provided for continually rotating the several sprocket wheels during the operation of this device. This means comprises a sprocket roller chain 154 which extends over sprockets 11%), 152 and 166 and a fourth sprocket 156. Sprocket 156 is rotatably mounted on a pin 1538 extending through an adjustable support 16% which may be provided for tightening chain 154 if necessary. Thereby, upon driving belt 114, the various sprocket wheels are turned to cause operation of this device.

Operation of this device is as follows, considering FIGS. 15. The pins 26 of a mount assembly 23 are positioned in the holes 24 provided therefor in a pallet 18. As noted above, the pin holes 24 are large enough to permit limited tilting motion of the mount 28 with respect to the pallet 13. The pins 26 extend down into the holes 24 until the ceramic disk or wafer 162 of the mount 28 contacts stops 164 fixed to the top part of the pallet 18. The pallet 18, so loaded, is placed on belt 1%. Pulley 112 rotates clockwise (FIG. 1) causing sprocket wheels ii), 152. and 366 to rotate. Cam 168 is in its highest position at the beginning of the cycle.

The relative position of the pallet 18, the mount 28,

the guide 16 and the locating member 38 is shown in FIG. 3 when the cycle starts. That is, the mount is in its lowest position in the pallet 18 and the pallet 13, in turn, is in its lowest position in the guide 16. The push rod 58 and centering sleeve as are below the bottom of the pallet, the cathode pusher being above the member 38. These push rod and center ng sleeve and cathode pusher elements are therefore not shown in FIG. 3. As cam NBS rotates clockwise from its initial position, lever arms 98 are rotated counter-clockwise by weight 1116 (FIG. 1). As lever arms 93 rotate counter-clockwise, springs 96 keep roller 94 against the ends of these arms 98'and slidable block 86 is raised, raising, by means of springs 33 and 9d, centering sleeve 6%. The top frustro-conical portion 66 of centering sleeve 69 enters the hole 30 in pallet 18 and shifts it laterally a small amount, it not properly registered, and raises it until the top or" the lower larger portion of the pallet 18' contacts the lips W of the guide 16.

At this point in the operation, the mount assembly is raised until the top of the anode 52 has entered the bottom part of chamber 5%. This position of the pallet 13 and anode 52 is shown in FIG. 4. As cam ltlS continues to rotate clockwise and lever arms '98 continue to rotate counter-clockwise, centering sleeve 69 is prevented from going upward, since the lips 21? prevent pallet 18 from rising. Due to the relative strengths of springs 38 and 9t), spring 83 is compressed and spring ht), acting on collar 7%, causes push rod 5S to continue to rise through centering sleeve 62). The top of the push rod 58 contacts the bottom of ceramic spacer 152 and pushes it upward until the anode 52 of the mount 23 is fully within chamber 55). The grid 53 and cathode support sleeve 55 (shown in FIG. 3) are also within the chamber '56 and coaxial therewith. This position is shown in FIG. 5.

As noted above, due to the loose fit of the pins 26 in their pin holes 24, the mount 25% may tip it necessary as the mount 28 is pushed upward to its furthest upward position. Cam 1% has a dwell portion at this'po'int, whereby further rotation of cam 1% causes no motion of mount assembly 23 until the cathode insertion step is completed. A cathode 46 with its open end down is dropped into the chamber 42 in the mei ber 38. Cam 155), which at the beginning of the cycle holds lever arms 138 at their furthest counter-clockwise position, rotates with cam M3. However, due to the shape of cam no rotation of arm 138 takes place until the mount 28 has been raised to its highest position mentioned above and shown in FIG. 5. Continued rotation of cam 15% now permits weights 136 to rotate arm 138 clockwise and to lower cathode pusher 126. The bottom end of cathode pusher 126 contacts the top or closed end of cathode 46 and pushes it through chamber or hole 42 and over the cathode sleeve within the grid of the mount. At this point in the operation, the cathode has been pushed down over the cathode sleeve and the anode will now be released from the member 33. As cams 198 and 150 continue to rotate, lever

arms

98 and 138 rotate clockwise. Rotation of arm 8 causes slidable block 86 to be moved down, contacting the top of stop 84 and moving push rod 58 down. Continued rotation of cam 168 causes enlarged portion 76 of the top of push rod 58 to contact the top of centering rod 69 and to pull it down after slidable block 86 contacts the top of stop 84. At the extreme clockwise position of arms 98, the top of pusher 58 and the top of the centering sleeve 66 are below the top of table 14. At this point, the anode 52 may slip down out of member 38, and the pallet 18 may be slid out from between pallet guides to. However, since on occasion an anode sticks in the member 38, means must be provided to push the mount out of the member 38. Therefore, cathode pusher 1'26 continues downward into locating member 38 to drive a tightly fitting anode 52 out of the mount assembly member 38. The cams 108 and 15d continue to rotate and when the arms 133 are at their maximum counter-clockwise position and the arms 98 are at their maximum clockwise position, the cycle is over.

Weights H6 and 136 are used instead or" a positive force so that only a predetermined maximum force will be applied throughout these operations to the

pushers

53 and 12 6 in their pushing directions. Therefore a badly assembled mount will not be so jammed into the mount centering member 33 as to not be clearable by further operation of the machine of this disclosure.

While FIGS. 1 and 2 show a pusher arm 17% for moving pallets 18, the pallets may be moved between the guides 16 by hand, in which case the sprocket 166 and tooth 169 as Well as the push rod 172 and all parts connected thereto may be omitted. If hand operation is desired, the guides 16 may, for convenience, be located so as to open from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

in accordance with a modified embodiment of apparatus made according to this invention, shown in FIG. 6, modified pallets, held in a turret 1% are used for bringing mounts to cathode inserting position. in this modification, no pallet feeding mechanism (other than turret 196-) is provided. As shown in FIG. 6 an indexable turret 196,

fixedly mounted on rotatable, vertically extended shaft H3, is provided. The shaft 198 extends through support member 2% fixed to frame 1d. An upper turret 2m,

fixed at the upper end of the shaft 193, comprises a disk having a central boss'ZM for receiving the shaft -198 and an annular wall 2%: surrounding the central boss 264 for forming a container for storing cathodes. The outer portion of the disk 2&2 has holes 207 therethrough registering, at the various indexed positions of the disk 262, with the hole in anode centering and cathode receiving member A stationary circular table 299 is provided below upper turret 262. Stationary table 2&9 is rotatably mount ed on vertical shaft 198 and rests on collar 199 fixed to shaft 1 8. Table 29-is fixed to member 38. Thereby, though shaft 1% is rotatably indexed, table 2% does not rotate. A circular ridge 263 is provided on table 2 extending upwardly in register with the circular array of holes 2d? in upper turret 2&2. The circular ridge 203 is The lower turret 1% comprises a plurality of bores 2G8 therethrough each containing a modified pallet 194. The modified pallet 1% is cylindrical in shape, the lower portion thereof loosely fitting a hole 208 in the lower turret 196. The upper end of the pallet is enlarged, to fit over the top of the turret near the edge of the hole 208. A bore 210 extends through the pallet, the upper part 212 of the bore being of a shape to receive the ceramic wafer 162 comprising part of a mount assembly. T he next lower part 214 of the bore 210 is cylindrical and is too small to receive the ceramic wafer 162, but is large enough to receive all the lead pins 26 extending from the bottom of the ceramic waiter 162. It is noted that one large hole is provided in the pallet 194 of FIG. 6 to receive all the lead pins 24, whereby no orientation of the mount assembly is necessary in inserting a mount into the modified pallet 194. The next lower portion 216 of the hole 21%? is cylindrical and communicates with the frustro-conical hole 218 just below it. The purpose of

hole portions

216 and 218 in FIG. 6 is the same as the purpose of

similar hole portions

36 and 36 in FIG. 3. A slot 226 is formed in the side of modified pallet 194 for receiving a threaded pin 222 which extends radially into hole 288 and into slot 220. The pin is locked in position by nut 224. The pin 222 prevents centering sleeve 66 from raising the pallet 194 too far. The end of pin 222 may be made eccentric, whereby rotation thereof adjusts the permissible upward motion of pallet 194. In this modification, the pin 222, cooperating with slot 220, serves the function of the lips 20 of pallet guide 16 in FIG. 1.

As stated above, turret 196 carries a plurality of paliets 1%, each at an indexed position of the turret 196 on which it is mounted. The pallets must be brought to an indexed position with respect to anode centering member 38. For indexing the turrets 1% and 202, a conventional Geneva indexing gear 226 is mounted on frame by means of support 228 attached thereto. Shaft 198 extends from the top of Geneva gear 226. Shaft 23%) extends into the bottom of Geneva gear 226 into driving relation thereto. A bevel gear 232 is fixed to the lower end of shaft 230 and this bevel gear 232 is meshed with a further bevel gear 234 which is fixed to shaft 238. Shaft 238 is mounted on support 228 by means of bearing plate 229. A sprocket wheel 236 is fixed to the end of shaft 238 and roller chain 240 passes over sprocket 236. The roller chain 236 may be driven in conventional manner from the power force that drives

sprockets

110 and 152 of FIG. 1.

The operation of the modification shown in FIG. 6 so far as it dilfers from the operation of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 is as follows: The operator puts assembly mounts having no cathodes therein in pallets 194 before the turret 196 on which they are mounted moves them to cathode insertion position and takes mounts out of pallets 194 that have passed the cathode insertion position. The operator also takes cathodes out of disk-like turret 2G2 and puts them, open end down, into the holes 207 in upper turret 202 in which they fit loosely. Contact thereof with ridge 203 prevents the cathodes from falling through holes 207. These holes and pallets, upon indexing of the

turrets

196 and 202 will register with the anode locating member 38. The operation of the

pusher rods

53 and 124 and of the centering sleeve 60 of FIG. 6 is the same as their operation in FIGS. 1 and 2. This operation takes place only while

turrets

196 and 232 are stationary in one of their indexed positions.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for inserting a first electrode into a mount assembly comprising a second electrode and a support sleeve for said first mentioned electrode previously fixed in said assembly, said apparatus comprising means for engaging said second electrode, said means also comprising means to guide said first electrode, means for moving said mount in such a manner that said second electrode is engaged in said second electrode engaging means, and means for moving said first electrode in said guiding means direction that said anode is fitted into said anode chamher, and means for pushing said cathode through said cathode chamber and onto said cathode sleeve while said anode is within said anode chamber.

3. Apparatus for inserting a cathode over a cathode support in a mount assembly comprising an anode coaxial with respect to said support, said apparatus comprising a member having two chambers therein, one of said chambers being of a size and shape to fit said anode and the other of said chambers being of a size and shape to fit said cathode, means for inserting said anode into said anode sized chamber, and means for pushing a cathode through said cathode sized chamber and over said cathode support while said anode is within said anode sized chamher.

4. Apparatus for inserting a first electrode into a mount assembly comprising a second electrode and a support for said first electrode previously fixed in said assembly, said apparatus comprising a locating memher, said locating member having chambers of diiferent size therein, said chambers communicating with each other and extending in the same direction, one of said chambers being of a size to receive said second electrode and the other of said chambers being of a size to receive and guide said first electrode, means for moving said mount in such a direction so that the second electrode is received in said second electrode receiving chamber, and means for moving said first electrode through said electrode guide chamber until it fits over said electrode support while said second electrode is received in said second electrode receiving chamber.

5. Apparatus for inserting an electrode over an electrode support, comprising a frame, an electrode centering and guiding member mounted on said frame, said member having a chamber therein, said chamber being of a size to fit the electrode to be inserted, a table having a hole therethrough and fixed to said frame, a pallet guide fixed to said table, a pallet movable to guiding relation with respect to said pallet guide, said pallet having a frustro-conical hole therein, a first push rod, a centering sleeve having a frustro-conical end concentrically arranged with respect to said first push rod, and slidably mounted on said frame, said first push rod and centering sleeve being arranged to be moved through said hole in said table and into said frustro-conical hole for centering said electrode support with respect to said chamber, and a second push rod mounted on said frame and arranged to be moved towards and into said chamber for moving said electrode out of said chamber and onto said support.

6. Apparatus for inserting a cathode over a cathode support sleeve in a mount including an anode, said apparatus comprising a frame, a member fixed to said frame, said member having two chambers extending therethrough, said chambers being coaxial chambers and of different diameters, one of said chambers being of a size and shape to fit said anode and the other of said chambers being of a size and shape to fit said cathode, means for inserting said anode into said anode sized chamber, said means comprising a table fixed to said frame, and having a hole in said table coaxial With the chambers in said member, a pallet guide mounted on said table adjacent said hole, a first pusher rod coxial with said hole and mounted below said table for sliding towards said member, and means for moving a cathode in said cathode sized chamber into said anode sized chamber, said last-named means comprising a second pusher rod coaxial with said hole mounted above said member for sliding with respect to said frame.

7. Apparatus for inserting a cathode over a cathode support in a mount comprising an anode, said apparatus comprising a frame, a member fixed to said frame, said member having two chambers therethrough, said chambers being coaxial and of different diameters, one of said chambers being of a size and shape to fit said anode and the other of said chambers being of a size and shape to fit said cathode, means for inserting said anode into said anode sized chamber, said means comprising a table fixed to said frame and having a hole in said table coaxial with the chambers in said member, a pallet guide mounted on said table adjacent said hole, a first pusher rod coaxial with said hole and mounted below said table for sliding towards said member, and means for moving a cathode out of said cathode sized chamber and onto said cathode support, said last-named means comprising a second pusher rod coaxial with said hole mounted above said member for sliding with respect to said frame, means for moving said first pusher rod upwards through said hole in said table and downwards out of said last mentioned hole, said means for moving said first pusher rod upwards comprising yieldable means and said means for moving said first pusher rod downwards comprising positive means.

8. Apparatus for inserting a cathode over a cathode support in a mount comprising an anode, said apparatus comprising a frame, a member fixed to said frame, said member having two chambers therethrough, said chambers being coaxial and of ditferent diameters, one of said chambers being of a size and shape to fit said anode and the other or" said chambers being of a size and shape to fit said cathode, means for inserting said anode into said anode sized chamber, said means comprising a table fixed to said frame and having a hole in said table coaxial with the chambers in said member, a pallet guide mounted on said table adjacent said hole, a first pusher rod coaxial with said hole and mounted below said table for sliding towards said member, and means for moving a cathode out of said cathode sized chamber and onto said cathode support, said last-named means comprising a second pusher rod coaxial with said hole mounted above said member for sliding with respect to said frame, gravitationally powered means for moving said second pusher rod downwards and positive means for moving it upwards.

9. Apparatus for inserting a cathode over a cathode support in a mount comprising an anode, said apparatus comprising a frame, a member fixed to said frame, said member having two chambers therethrough, said chambers being coaxial and different diameters, one of said chambers being of a size and shape to fit said anode and the other of said chambers being of a size and shape to fit said cathode, means for inserting said anode into said anode sized chamber, said means comprising a table fixed to said frame and having a hole in said table coaxial with said chambers, a pallet guide mounted on said table adjacent said hole, a first pusher rod coaxial with said hole and mounted below said table for sliding towards said member, and means for moving a cathode out of said cathode sized chamber and onto said cathode support, said last-named means comprising a second pusher rod coaxial with said hole mounted above said mem her for sliding with respect to said frame, means for moving said first pusher rod in its axial directions, said means comprising a lever mounted on said frame, a weight on one end of said lever, a stop fixed to said rod, a block slidably mounted on said rod below said stop, resilient means connecting the other end of said lever with said block, a further stop fixed to said rod below said block, said second mentioned end of said lever overlying a portion of said second mentioned block.

10. Apparatus for inserting a cathode over a cathode support in a mount comprising an anode, said apparatus comprising a frame, a member fixed to said frame,'s'aid member having two chambers therethrough, said chambers being coaxial and different diameters, one of said chambers being of a size and shape to fit said anode and the other of said chambers being of a size and shape to fit said cathode, means for inserting said anode into said anode sized chamber, said means comprising a table fixed to said frame and having a hole in said table coaxial with said chambers, a pallet guide mounted on said table adjacent said hole, a first pusher rod coaxial with said hole and mounted below said member for sliding towards said member, and means for moving a cathode out of said cathode sized chamber and onto said cathode sup port, said last-named means comprising a second pusher rod coaxial with said hole mounted above said member for sliding with respect to said frame, means for moving said second rod in its axial directions comprising a weight mounted on said second rod, a second lever mounted on said frame, and stop means fixed to said second rod, a portion of said stop means overlying an end of said lever.

11. Apparatus for attaching a cathode electrode to a mount assembly having a cathode support sleeve and a coaxial tubular electrode, including a first means for movably supporting said mount assembly, a positioning and guiding means positioned in registry with said first means and including two adjacent coaxial chambers for receiving and positioning said tubular electrode and for receiving and guiding the cathode electrode onto said cathode support sleeve, means for causing said movably supporting means to insert said tubular electrode into one of said chambers and other means for moving said cathode through both chambers onto said cathode support sleeve.

12. Apparatus for mounting a tubular electrode in an electrode mount assembly including two parallel elongated elements extending therefrom, said apparatus comprising a movable support for said mount assembly for supporting said assembly so as to cause said elements thereof to extend in a predetermined direction, a combined locating and guiding member spaced from said support in said direction, said member having two chambers axially aligned with said elements and having dimensions for snugly receiving said elements, means for moving said support in said direction for causing one of said elements to extend into one of said chambers and for coaxially locating said tubular electrode in the other of said chambers with respect to the other of said elements, and means for moving said tubular electrode into telescoped relation with respect to the said other of said elements while under guiding restraint by the walls by the other of said chambers and while said one of said elements is within said one of said chambers.

13. Apparatus for mounting a tubular electrode in an electrode mount assembly including two concentric tubular elements fixed to the assembly and extending therefrom, said apparatus comprising a movable support for loosely supporting said assembly so as to cause said elements thereof to extend in a predetermined direction, a combined locating and guiding member spaced from said support in approximately said direction, said member having first and second coaxial chambers having different transverse dimensions for snugly receiving said elements, means for moving said support in a path having a component in said direction and another component normal to said direction, for causing one of said elements to extend into the first chamber and for coaxially locating the second chamber with respect to the other of said elements, and means for moving a push rod through said second chamber in a direction opposite the said predetermined direction while said one of said elements is within said first chamber, whereby a tubular electrode in said second chamber is moved out of said second chamber while under guided restraint by the walls of said second chamber, and into mounted position on the other of said elements.

14. Apparatus for mounting a tubular electrode in an electrode mount assembly including first and second parallel elongated elements fixed to said assembly and extending therefrom, said second element having transverse dimensions for snugly receiving said tubular electrode in telescoped relation thereover, said apparatus comprising a movable support for movably supporting said assembly thereon so as to cause said elements thereof to extend in a predetermined direction, a combined locating and guiding member spaced from said support approximately in said direction, said member having first and second chambers approximately axially aligned with said elements and having transverse dimensions for snugly receiving said elements, means for moving said support toward said elements for causing said first element to extend into said first chamber and for coaxially locating said tubularfelectrode in the second chamber with respect to said second element, and means for moving said tubular electrode while guided by the walls of said second chamber toward said second element and into telescoped relation with respect thereto and while said first element is Within said first chamber.

15. Apparatus for inserting a first electrode over an electrode support of a mount assembly having a second electrode already fixed thereto, said apparatus comprising a frame, an electrode centering and guiding member mounted on said frame, said member having a pair of coaxial chambers therein, one of said chambers being of a size to fit the first electrode to be inserted, the other of said chambers being of a size to fit said second electrode, a table having a hole therethrough and fixed to said frame, a pallet guide fixed to said table, a pallet movable into engagement with said pallet guide, said pallet having a frusto-conical hole therein, a first push rod, a centering sleeve having a frustro-conical end concentrically arranged with respect to said first push rod, and slidably mounted on said frame, said first push rod and centering sleeve being arranged to be moved through said hole in said table and into said frustroconical hole for moving said mount assembly and inserting said second electrode into said other of said chambers, and a second push rod mounted on said frame and arranged to be moved towards and into said one chamber for moving said first electrode out of said one chamber and onto said electrode support while said second electrode is within said other of said chambers.

Schryuer July 20, 1954 Barkstrom et al. June 5, 1962

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR INSERTING A FIRST ELECTRODE INTO A MOUNT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A SECOND ELECTRODE AND A SUPPORT SLEEVE FOR SAID FIRST MENTIONED ELECTRODE PREVIOUSLY FIXED IN SAID ASSEMBLY, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID SECOND ELECTRODE, SAID MEANS ALSO COMPRISING MEANS TO GUIDE SAID FIRST ELECTRODE, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MOUNT IN SUCH A MANNER THAT SAID SECOND ELECTRODE IS ENGAGED IN SAID SECOND ELECTRODE ENGAGING MEANS, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FIRST ELECTRODE IN SAID GUIDING MEANS