Patent GB-775464-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for joining together cylindrical objects of different diameters
IPC: C03B23/213
Filed: 1952-04-28
Abstract: 775,464. Feeding cylindrical articles. SYLVANIA ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, Inc. April 28, 1952 [May 4, 1951], No. 10674/52. Class 117 [Also in Groups XI and XXXI] Bulb feeding mechanism:- Tubular bulbs 188, Fig. 5, for electronic devices are fed to an intermittently indexing turret or rotor (see Group XI) from a hopper 229 the converging sides of which include leaf-springs 236 flexed continuously by rollers 234 on the peripheries of belt-driven rotary discs 228 to prevent jamming as the bulbs pass, one at a time, from the hopper to a feed channel 222. An escapement 237 at the other end of the channel comprises a stop seat 240 and gate 242 on a member pivoted at 238 and extending through a slot 244 in the base of the channel 222, the length of the slot being less than that of a bulb tube 188. A cam-operated rod linked to the escapement member 237 effects intermittent retraction and return of the stop seat and gate, allowing tubes to pass through into a position at which they are engaged by a suction mouth 246b at the upper end of a suction arm 246 connected to a vacuum line and pivoted at 248 for arcuate rocking movement under control of a cam 254. The tube is carried towards the turret during an indexing movement of the latter, and simultaneously a . tube release arm 260 is swung to depress a roller 183 on a pivoted arm on the turret, causing aholding roller 178 to swing outwardly from its normal position between a pair of spindles 190 to allow the transfer arm to place the tube between the spindles 190 at station A, whereupon a return movement of the arm 260 releases roller 178 to hold the tube 188 on the said spindles 190 as shown at A<SP>1</SP>. Exhaust tube feeding mechanism:-The exhaust tube feeding mechanism, located adjacent to the bulb feeding apparatus so that a bulb tube and an exhausting tube 148 can be located in axial alignment on the turret 24 prior to sealing them together end-to-end comprises a slightly tilted hopper 264 and a housing 266, the latter surrounding a cylindrical feeding wheel 268 the periphery of which is formed with a plurality of grooves 268a parallel with its axis so that a succession of individual tubes 148 are picked up by the rotation of the wheel, and pass through a channel 274 to an escapement mechanism 270. This escapement mechanism comprises a rod 280 with one end connected to the plunger 278 of a solenoid 276, and at the other end provided with an elevated stop 288 and a pair of spaced fingers 282 which receive a tube 148 from the channel 274 and, under the pressure of a spring 284, advance -the tube to a transfer device 286 whereby it is carried to holding means on the periphery of the adjacent rotor of the . sealing apparatus, the return of the fingers 282 being-effected by timed energization of the solenoid 276. Exhaust tube transferring device:-Comprises a lever 310, Fig. 6, which is rocked to and fro by its lower end engaging a cam 304, a slidable rod 316 carried in guides on the lever 310 being urged downwardly by spring 318 to hold a roller 314 on its lower end in contact with a cam face on the extremity of the lever shaft 312, which is reciprocable longitudinally either by a solenoid or a cam engaging its other end. The upper end of rod 316 bears upon a pivoted trigger 322 which, moved anticlockwise by a tensioned spring 320 when the rod 316 is moved downwardly, grips at tube 148 upon a step 308 at the upper end of transfer arm 310 and carries it clockwise from the escapement device on to its seating position between a pair of closely adjacent rollers 152. While the transfer arm is conveying a tube 148 into the space between the rollers 152 (indicated at A<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 6) the lever 290 is rocked away from roller 176, allowing the roller 156 to close upon and grip the tube 148.