Patent ID: 7322870

Claim:
A method for finishing a double ended light source in a finishing stand, wherein the light source comprises a body having first and second opposed ends for sealing around respective first and second lead wires; and wherein the finishing stand comprises an approximately vertically oriented first finishing head positioned above, and substantially axially aligned with, an approximately vertically oriented second finishing head; the method comprising the steps of: providing a bugled end on each of the first and second opposed ends; fixedly mounting an inner tube on each of the first and second finishing heads; creating a closed system for finishing the body while it is sealed between the first and second finishing heads, by sealing the inside of the first bugled end against the inner tube of the first finishing head, and sealing the inside of the second bugled end against the inner tube of the second finishing head; using clamshells to sealingly hold each of the first and second bugled ends against the respective inner tubes of the first and second finishing heads; and tolerating minor misalignment between the first finishing head and the second finishing head without placing any bending stress on the body, by: spring biasing the clamshells against the respective first and second finishing heads; allowing lateral movement of the clamshells relative to the respective inner tubes; and providing each of the clamshells with a center hole forming an annular spherical cavity wall, such that the curvature of the cavity wall matches the locus of points traced by outermost parts of the respective first or second bugled end as the respective first or second bugled end is tilted while pressed up against the respective inner tube.