Patent GB-366765-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for automatically feeding bulbs to sealing in machines forthe manufacture of electric incandescent lamps or similar closed glass vessels
IPC: H01J9/46
Filed: 1931-03-12
Abstract: 366,765. Feeding lamp bulbs &c. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO., Ltd., Magnet House, Kingsway, London.-(Assignees of Patent-Treuhand Ges. f³r Elektrische Gliihlampen ; 11, Ehrenbergstrasse, Berlin.) March 12, 1931, No. 7626. Convention date, March 13, 1930. [Class 117.] In apparatus for conveying electric lamp bulbs and similar glass vessels automatically to a sealing-in machine, of the type wherein the bulbs are supported in transverse rows upon a movable band from which they are removed by push rods or grippers on to a second band, a number of superposed bulb-carrying trays are mounted upon an elevator consisting of vertically moving chains supporting the bulb-carrying trays in an inclined position adjacent to an inclined conveyer band upon which the trays slide under gravity when they reach their uppermost position on the elevator. The bulbs are pushed in rows from the trays on to a second band running transversely thereto, from whence they are conveyed to a receiving hopper. The elevator comprises a metal framework w, Fig. 1, with two endless chains w<2> carried at each side thereof around pulleys w<1> mounted at the top and bottom of the frame, the chains being provided at intervals with inwardly directed pins w<3> which maintain the trays e<1> in an inclined position by supporting the rear portions thereof upon a pair of pins at a higher level than those supporting the front portion. When the trays reach the top of the elevator they are guided by curved surfaces x<1> at the top of the frame bar and slide under gravity between a pair of inclined lateral guiding channels y on to a pair of endless conveyer bands a<1>, a<2>, Fig. 2, which pass around guiding pulleys c-c<2> and move down within the channels y. Intermittent movement is imparted to the conveyer bands a<1>, a<2> by a pin wheel c<5> which is coaxial with the pulley c<2> and is engaged by a cam s<2> driven from the sealing-in machine. The bulb tray is halted when the first row of bulbs thereon are disposed above a series of rods u, Fig. 2, projecting like rake-teeth from a cross-bar t mounted upon a swinging lever r which is actuated by a cam s<3>, the upward movement of the lever causing the rods u to enter the open ends of the bulbs f, which are lifted from the tray and deposited upon the transverse conveyer band b, Fig. 1, To prevent the bulbs from being carried back by the rods u on the return movement of the lever r a swinging comb v<3> controlled by a vertically movable rod v<2> is moved to engage between the rods u. During the removal of the bulbs the forward end of the tray is engaged by the latch-like end z<1>, Fig. 6, of a lever pivoted upon a block z carried by the chain, the operation of the lever being effected automatically. by a tip z<2> thereon engaging an upturned part y<1> of the rail y. The tray is moved intermittently down the conveyer and a row of bulbs is removed at each stop until, the last row being removed a double movement is given to the conveyers a<1>, a<2>, and the empty tray falls down a channel e<3> into a basket e<4>.