GB1473762A - Manufacture of vacuum tubes - Google Patents

Abstract

1473762 Turret machines V F CHESTNOV and M V SHIBANOV 13 March 1975 10410/75 Heading H1J Apparatus for continuously assembling vacuum tube bases comprises continuously rotating sprocket rotors 1 to 6, one for each successive assembling operation, namely (i) loading the bases (ii) shaping the electrodes (iii) flattening the electrode ends (iv) bending the electrode ends (v) clamping cathodes to the electrode ends and (vi) oxidizing the cathode, an endless conveyer engaging the rotors, rotating them and transporting the bases, groups of actuating mechanisms each group for performing a particular operation and associated with a respective sprocket to rotate therewith, stationary formers each being arranged in proximity to a respective group of actuating mechanisms to cooperate therewith and cause, by a camming action as the rotors rotate, the mechanisms to perform the assembling operation, clamps 9 attached to the conveyer in cantilevered fashion holding the bases in the course of the assembling operations, the clamps being movable in a vertical plane to lower the bases into the zone of action of a respective actuating mechanism, the spacing between individual actuating mechanisms associated with each sprocket rotor being equal to the arc between the centres of adjacent clamps when the sprockets engage the conveyer. Clamps 9 comprise a cleat screwed to a linked plate of the endless conveyer the clamp jaws being slidable along a vertical slide (Figs. 4, 7, not shown). The jaws have stops which prevent overlapping and which engage an actuating means associated with rotor 1 to become prised apart as it rotates. Vacuum tubes are supplied to the clamps along a shoot. As described two of the rotors, namely 2 and 6 are drive rotors being connected to an electric motor (Fig. 6, not shown). Each rotor, as exemplified in Fig. 8 by rotor 2, comprises sprocket discs 69, 70 on shaft 36 rotating in relation to spindle 75, and arranged between housing plates 61, 62. The actuating mechanisms comprise profiled annular members 80, 81 fixed in relation to plates 62, 61. As shown their height varies in a regular manner, whereby on the right hand side the clamp 9 has been lowered by engagement with member 81 into engagement with shaping mechanism 79 (detailed in Fig. 9, not shown) raised by member 80, disengagement following on further rotation of the sprockets. The rotors are arranged to give a zig-zag path to conveyer 7, and rotor 6 is associated with a tensioning means. After rotor 6, the bases are released from clamps 9 and transferred via clamps 34 on assembly 32 to assembly 33 for further processing.