Patent GB-1251509-A (GB)
IPC: H01L21/00
Filed: 1968-11-27
Abstract: 1,251,509. Endless chain conveyers. L. N. KOSHKIN, A.S. ZAZHIGIN, V. I. KHOMENKO, A. V. GORSHKOV, and S. M. ROZENGAUZ. 27 Nov., 1968, No. 56230/68. Heading B8A. [Also in Divisions C1 and H1] A machine for assembling parts, such as a casing 35, tube 36 and glass sleeve 37 together forming a container for a semi-conductor device, comprises a chain 17 of which the links are coupled together by hollow bushes which accommodate holders 19 for the parts to be assembled and a plurality of driven rotors each carrying a sprocket round which the chain passes so that any one holder is carried to a succession of stations at which successive stages in the assembly operation are performed. Each rotor comprises a plurality of slides or plungers aligned with corresponding spaces between the sprocket teeth; these engage with a profiled surface extending around the rotor so that as a sprocket rotates the plungers move in an axial direction and engage the parts or parts carried by the corresponding holders to perform the appropriate operations thereon. In addition, each holder where it extends from its corresponding bush carries a sprocket 24 which is associated with a further driven chain 25 to cause the holder and the parts assembled thereon to rotate continuously in its passage around the rotors. Fig. 2 shows the general lay-out. Parts 35 from a hopper 28 pass down a shoot 31 into jaws 34, Fig. 4, forming part of the rotor 1 and rotating with it. As the rotor rotates a part to be assembled 35 moves into a position where it is aligned with a holder 19, the lower end of the holder being engaged by a part 14 of a slide 12 ensuring correct alignment of the holder. An upper slide 11 which engages with a forming mechanism 9 is reciprocated axially as it is carried round by the rotor and descends to push the part 35 from the jaws 34 into a recess at the crown 20 of the holder 19. The holder 19 is meanwhile rotated by the chain 25 which engages with a sprocket 24. The holder 19 then disengages from the rotor 1 and passes on to the rotor 2 where a similar operation involving assembly of a second part takes place. Assembly of a third part takes place at rotor 3. A fourth rotor 4 serves merely to extract assemblies which do not contain their full complement of parts. The holders 19 carrying their assembled parts 35, 36, 37 then pass before a row of burners 40 mounted upon a carriage 38 which moves together with the holders 19 over a limited range of movement. As illustrated in Fig. 9 (not shown), a spring-loaded arm on the carriage 38 engages with the links of the chain 16 and is drawn along thereby until it reaches the end of its permitted travel where a stop member pushes the arm aside to permit the carriage to return to its starting position. The gas burners soften the glass 37 and when the holders pass round rotor 5 the upper slides 11 thereof descend to push a rod aligned therewith into contact with the glass to press thereon. The holders then pass before a carriage 39 carrying a second row of gas burners which cause the glass sleeves 37 to be fused to their corresponding parts 35, 36. A driven chain 2 associated with this part of the apparatus causes the holders to rotate as the assemblies are being heated by engagement with the sprockets 24. The holders then pass to a rotor 6 at which position the assembled articles are removed and fed into a hopper.