Patent GB-833064-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for feeding filamentary materials
IPC: B23K3/06
Filed: 1957-07-02
Abstract: 833,064. Soldering; shearing. SYLVANIA ELECTRIC PRODUCTS Inc. July 2, 1957 [July 6, 1956], No. 20913/57. Class 83 (4). Apparatus for feeding filamentary material comprises a housing slidably mounted over a support to enclose a chamber and a duct for feeding a fluid into the chamber in order to move the housing in the feed direction against a first spring, the housing arrangement being such that the filamentary material is gripped when the housing moves in the feed direction to be advanced with the housing and the housing containing a piston slidance therein, a second chamber and a duct for feeding fluid into the second chamber to move the piston relative to the housing in the feed direction against a second spring, the piston having means to grip the material when moving in the feed direction to advance the material without advancing the housing. In soldering machine heads 42 are symmetrically mounted on a rotatable circular plate 41, each head carrying a set of components 40, and the heads are brought in turn to a soldering station where the components are heated by induction or by fires beneath the head. When the components are heated a solder feeding device, in retracted position during indexing and heating, is moved forward, until its tip is adjacent the components, by air pressure controlled by a solenoid valve 47. A length of solder wire is then fed from a reel 46 out of the tip to melt on the components. The device is then allowed to return to retracted position. The device comprises a cylinder 16 slidably mounted on a fixed support bracket 11 and having a piston 15 fixed thereto with a sleeve 19 extending through the bracket and carrying at its end a nut 20 between which nut and the bracket is arranged a spring 21. A further piston 24 is mounted in the cylinder to be slidable relatively thereto and has a sleeve 22 within the sleeve 19 carrying at its end a nut 23. A spring-biased dog 25 and radial adjusting screw 27 are mounted on the face of the piston 24 and a similar dog 30 and screw 33 are provided at the end of the cylinder remote from the bracket. A further piston 29 is arranged adjacent the dog 30 and a spring 28 is provided between this piston and dog 25. A tube 18 extends from the cap 17 on the end of the cylinder. In operation with the device in the retracted position of Fig. 1, and with solder wire extending from a reel through the device up to the tip of tube 18, air is admitted through an inlet 12 in the bracket to pass through a passage 13 into contact with the piston 15 to move the piston and cylinder 16 for ward until nut 20 engages the bracket, the movement drawing solder wire from the reel. Continued air supply passes through a passage 14 in the piston 15 to move the piston 24 forward relatively to the cylinder, carrying solder wire with it until the nut 23 engages the sleeve 19, solder thus being projected from the tube 18. On release of the air pressure the spring 28 moves the piston 24 backward but the solder is restrained by the dog 30. The cylinder is moved backward by spring 21 into retracted position. The device may feed wire when a cutting or chopping device may be provided.