Patent GB-1151183-A (GB)
Title: Method of Automatically Assembling and Encasing Starters for Electric Discharge Lamps and Equipment therefore
IPC: H01J9/46
Filed: 1966-05-11
Abstract: 1,151,183. Assembling electric discharge lamp starters; shearing. EGYESULT IZZOLAMPA ES VILLAMOSSAGI RESZVENYTARSASAG. 11 May, 1966 [18 May, 1965], No. 20832/66. Headings B3A and B3W. A process for substantially automatically assembling electric discharge lamp starters comprises carrying out two independent, synchronized steps of assembling a unit having a base disc with contact pins, a glow switch, a condenser and lead-out wires of the switch and condenser, then providing a case with an insulating disc and an insulating sleeve; and finally mounting the assembled unit in the case. The unit is assembled step by step on a rotary work-table A and rotating in synchronism therewith is a work-table B where the case is assembled and the unit secured therein. At positions A 1 -A 6  the glow switch (2) and condenser (3) are inserted and the leads thereof are led through an aperture (7a) in a pair of guiding elements (7) situated between a pair of clamps (8) and a pair of fastening elements (9), Figs. 3a-3f (not shown). The clamps hold the glow switch and condenser until the unit is transferred to table B and the fastening elements (9) locate the lead-out wires. At position A 7  the guiding elements open and a cutting device cuts the wires to length. The cutting device comprises blades 11, 12 mounted on a pivot pin 13. The blades are actuated by a rod 15 which is pivotally connected to a block 14. Movement of the block causes the blades to close together until the blade 12 abuts a stop 16. Continued movement of the rod 15 causes the block 14 to pivot about a pivot 19 to complete the cutting stroke by the blade 11, the wires being correctly located in notches 12b. The unit is inspected at position A 8  and at the next position base discs (1) fitted with contact pins (6) are positioned beneath the wires. The discs are raised and the wires enter holes in the contact pins, where they are secured by jaws (10) of a crimping die, Fig. 3d (not shown). The base disc is raised still further to bend the wires to the required shape. On the table B, at B 1 , the cases are fed to a clamp, at B 2  an insulating disc 4a is dropped into the bottom of the ease and at B 3  an insulaing sleeve 4b is positioned therein. At B 4 , the device shown in Fig. 5a is lowered and it is rotated so that grooves in a disc 23 engage lugs 4c to position the case 4 correctly. The head 21 contacts the bottom of the case and further downward movement of the shaft 20 opens out spring levers 22. Should either the disc 4a or the sleeve 4b not be present then head 21 or the levers 22 will touch the case, thereby completing a circuit which will reject the case at position B 5 . At A 10 , a transfer device is positioned and it is actuated by a mechanism which reciprocates a bar 35. On the upward stroke a pair of clamps 34 grip the unit and the bar 35 drives a tubular shaft 27 and bush 38 via a spring 37. An adjustable housing 39 impacts against the bottom of a tower 26 and as the bar continues upwardly it compresses the spring 37, while the clamps 34 are pivoted through 180 degrees by a rack 36 and pinion 31 which are secured to the shaft 27. A shaft 40 then engages in a groove 41 to couple the shaft 27 and bar 35 so that they move together on the return stroke of the bar 35, thereby lowering the unit into the case 4 at position B 5 . On the next upward stroke, the housing 39 again impacts the tower 26 to return the clamps 34 to their upper setting, whereupon the shaft 40 is withdrawn. The spring keeps the shaft 27 in its upper position while the bar 35 moves downwardly, thereby restoring the clamps to their original position by the rack and pinion. At B 6  the case is inspected and at B 7  the base disc is correctly located in the case. At B 8  and B 9  the lugs 4c are bent to secure the base disc in position and at B 10  the completed starters are ejected.