US2771980A - Bulb unloading device for a continuous conveyor type machine - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 k wag y a WW w a W S W m W 0 v0 5 9 p y. H 10 Z R 3w 5 5 3 6 m P U 2 Z k W 5 6 my B M r W M H I II\ M Nov. 27, 1956 MEI/V6 4 592 Filed March 31, 1955 F H E 5 m M rtl Nov. 27, 1956 Filed March 31, 1955 R. R. PARDUCCI ET AL BULB UNLOADING DEVICE FOR A CONTINUOUS CONVEYOR TYPE MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 E5 l t w 127 6, v/,' 1 4 i l 1 I l V: l .14

124. I 125 W 130 41' 105 INVENTOM Nov. 27, 1956 R. R. PARDUCCI ET AL 2,771,980

BULB UNLOADING DEVICE FOR A CONTINUOUS CONVEYOR TYPE MACHINE .5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 3l 1955 INVENTORS PALPA/ Q. PflEDl/CCI,

Patented Nov. 27, 1956 BULB UNLOADING DEVHIE FOR A CONTINUOUS CONVEYOR TYPE MACHINE Ralph R. Parducci, Wood-Ridge, and William Brenneck, West Caldwell, N. J., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., 2 corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 31, 1955, Serial No. 498,304

4 Claims. (Cl. 19827) The present invention relates to a continuous conveyor type lamp making machine and, more particularly to a lamp or bulb unloading device for such a machine.

Although the bulb unloading device may be employed with any continuous conveyor type lamp making machine a continuous conveyor type bulb firing machine for incandescent lamps for semi-indirect lighting may be employed for purposes of illustrating the invention. These lamps have generally mushroom-shaped bulbs, the

larger diameter bowl ends of which are coated with colored ceramic enamel. After drying in air an annular design may be scribed into the painted surface. The bulbs are then loaded into the heads of a continuous conveyor type machine and passed through a stationary firing lehr thereof at a firing temperature adjusted to prevent a. shift in color but to fuse or fire the ceramic enamel to the bulb. In the past the lehred bulbs were unloaded from the firing machine by hand.

Hence, it has been found advantageous according to the present invention to provide an automatic bulb unloading or bulb transfer device for a continuous conveyor type lamp making machine.

The unloading device comprises a pair of rails which are vertically pivotable on a rail frame. The rail frame is horizontally rotated about its vertical axis by a rtating mechanism. An actuating finger or operating lever of this rotating mechanism is contacted by a head of the continuous machine and is rotated thereby. The operating lever is connected through a train of gears to the rail frame. The rails are pivoted vertically upon their pivot joints by a rail lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism has a roller arm on a shaft journalled in the rail frame and is raised up and down by a stationary lifting cam on the rail frame. A connecting rod joins a lifting arm on each projecting end of the shaft to the pivot point of each rail.

As a lehred bulb on a bulb holder of the firing machine approaches the bulb unloading mechanism of the invention the rails thereof are in a position to straddle the neck of the lehred bulb just below the large diameter bowl of the bulb. The spindle of the bulb holder rotates the operating lever of the rotating mechanism for the rail frame. Simultaneously, the lifting cam of the rail lifting mechanism elevates the rails and hence moves the lehred bulb oil? the spindle upwardly to a point where the inclination of the rails causes the bulb to slide (through the force of the gravity) away from the line of heads on the continuous firing machine and into a delivery chute to a conveyor. Immediately thereafter the spindle loses contact with the operating lever of the unloading device and resilient means return the unloading device to its starting position.

In its general aspect the present invention has as its objective the automatic unloading of a bulb from a continuous conveyor type lamp making machine.

Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals of reference indicate the several views:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a firing machine for fusing a dried ceramic enamel coating to the bulbs of semi-indirect general lighting lamps and an automatic bulb unloading device.

Fig. 2 is a plan elevational view of the bulb unloading device of Fig. 1 showing a firing machine spindle as it engages an operating lever of a rail frame rotating mechanism of the unloading device.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view along the line Ill-III of Fig. 2 and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the rail frame rotating mechanism of the bulb unloading device of the invention along the line IV-IV in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, but showing the bulb unloading device of the invention in its bulb discharge position and the spindle about ready to disengage the operating lever of said device.

Fig. 6 is a vertical side elevational view of the bulb unloading device in its discharge position along the line VI-VI of Fig. 5 and showing the unloaded bulb delivered to a discharge chute.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1 the reference numeral 10 designates a continuous conveyor type firing machine for ceramic coated incandescent lamp bulbs 16 and having a conveyor 12 which moves COHtlIlllOllSlY about a frame (not shown). The conveyor 12 is provided with a plurality of heads 14 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6) for receiving ceramic enameled bulbs 16, and carrying said bulbs 16 through a firing lehr 18 to fuse the ceramic enamel to the bulbs 16. A bulb unloading device or bulb unloader 20 (Fig. 1) is located adjacent the discharge position of the firing machine 10 and a discharge chute 22 (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) for transferring a lehred bulb 16 from a head 14 through the chute 22 to a discharge conveyor 24.

Conveyor 12 As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the conveyor 12 comprises an upper chain 30 and a lower chain 32 disposed about the slide or guide rail 34. Each of the chains 30 and 32 engages a sprocket 35 (Fig. l) on either end of the machine 10. One of the pairs of sockets 35 may be driven by means (not shown), such as a motor. Each of the heads 14 is carried by the upper chain 30 and the lower chain 32 and slides along the guide rail 34, as hereinafter explained.

Heads Each of the heads 14 has an upstanding U-shaped spindle mounting bracket 36 secured to the upper chain 30 and the lower chain 32, as by rivets (Fig. 3). A spindle 38 extends through the bracket 36 and is journalled in the upper and lower generally horizontal hub portions 40 and 42 of the spindle mounting bracket 36. The spindle 38 although free to rotate in the hubs 40 and 42, is prevented from moving vertically with respect to the bracket 36 by means of a collar 44 carried by the spindle 38 contiguous to the upper hub 40 and a rotating gear 46 (Fig. 3) carried by the spindle 38 adja cent to the lower hub 42. This gear 46 engages a stationary rack (not shown) which extends substantially the length of the firing lehr 18 so that the heads 14 are rotated during their passage therethrough thus assuring even firing of the enameled bulbs 16 carried on the heads 14. A bulb holder 48 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) contoured and suitably quadranted (Fig. 2) to fit the neck portion of the enameled bulb 16 is aflixed to the upper end of each' spindle 38.

The upstanding portion of the spindle mounting bracket '36'ca'rries a stud or roller shaft 50. A roller 52 on the An adjustable mounting plate 61) 2, 3, 4 and is secured by bolts (not shown) .extending through an adjustable 'slot (not shown) in the plate 69 to a horizontal member 62 (Fig. 3) of the frame (not'shown) of the machine 19. The other side of the plate etllmay be affixed to a support member 64, as by bolts. The'l-ower endof the'mernber 64 maybe fastened to a lower horizo'ntal member (notshown) onthe frame (not shown).

A body or casting (Fig. .3) "of the bulb unloader 20 V has an upstanding'plate or angle 72 provided with a generally horizontal bottom mounting flange 74, secured adjustably as through slots therein and bolts 76 (Fig. 2) to the mounting plate'60. The angle 72 has an upper mountingplate or flange 86 (Figs. 2, 3, 5 and ,6) and a lower mounting plate or flange 82 in suitable spaced relationship.

Rail frame rotating mechanism An operating lever shaft 86 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 an idler gear shaft 88 and a rail frame mounting shaft 94 of the rail frame rotating mechanism 91 are journalled in suitable hearings in the upper plate and the lower plate The operating lever shaft 86 carries an operating bell crank lever 92 (Figs. 3 and'4) and a drive gear 94. The

operating lever 92 is provided with an inner arm' 95 having a spindle engaging end portion 96, and an outer arm' 99 having an end portionltliifor engagement with an adjustable stop 104 mounted on the lower plate 82 of the casting 78. This stop 104 determines the starting position of the operating lever 92. V

' As shown particularly in (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 resilient means, such as'a spring 106, extends from a lugon the operating lever 92, toa spring mounting bracket 108 pro jecting from'lower plate 82 of the casting 7 0. The operating lever shaft 86 is retained between the brackets 80 and 82 by means of a gear hub ofthe drive gear 94 and a suitable collar 110 affixed thereto, as by set screws. 7

The idler gear shaft 88 is similarly journalled between the plate 80 and 82 by means of collar 112 and the hub vided with a cam roller 148 142. Each of the outer portions of the shaft 146 which project beyond the plates 126 carries a lifting arm 149. A connecting rod 15%? joins the outer end of each of the arms 149 to a lug provided on a pivot arm afiixed to a guide rail 128.

Operation As the spindle 38 of a continuously moving head 14 (carrying an already lehred ceramic enameled bulb 16) engages the end portion 96 on the inner arm 95 of 'the operating lever 92, the lever 92 and hence the shaft 86 and the drive gear 94 carried thereby are moved in a clockwise direction, when viewed in Fig. 4, against the action of the spring 166. The guide rails 128 are in aposition to straddle the neck of the lehred bulb 16 just below the enlarged bowl portion of the bulb 16 (Figs. 2 and 3). The idler gear 114 on the shaft 88 moves in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, so that the drivengear 116 on the rail'frame mount shaft 90 moves in a clockwise direction when viewed in Fig. 4. .Thus, as the spindle 38 moves the operating lever 92 through an arc in a clock- Wise direction (when viewed in Fig.4) the. rail frame or yoke 12a? is likewise moved in a clockwise direction away from the heads 14 of the machine 10 by the above'described rail frame rotating mechanism 91.

Simultaneously, duringthe horizontal rotation of the rail frame 129 about a vertical axis, the roller'148 on the roller arm 146 rides up the inclined angular stationary cam 142, thus rotating the shaft 144' and the operating arms 149 carried thereby upwardly in a counterclockwise direction, when viewed in Fig. 3. Upward movement of. f the arms 149 moves upwardly the connecting rods'150 to V a rotate the pivot arms 130, the guide rails 128 andthe lehred lamp 16 carried thereby about a horizontal axis. The upward movement of the rails 128 lifts the lehred bulb 16 off the spindle holder 48 and upwardly to the of an idler gear 114 thereon. The gear 114 engages the 7 drive gear 94 on the operating lever shaft 86 and a driven ,gear 116 on the shaft 90. It will be understood that the shaft 90 carries a generally U-shaped rail frame or yoke 129 on the upper end thereof which projects beyond the upper plate 80 of the casting 70. A suitable collar 122 rel tains the shaft 90 journalled between the plates 80 and 82. The drive gear 94, the intermediate or idler gear 114 and the driven gear 116 form a gear trainfor transmitting rotary motion of the operating lever 92 to the rail fram 120.

The rail frame 120 comprises a bottom portion or plate 124, and guide rail mount or side plates 126, suitably integrated by a rod 127. This rod 127 serves as a spacer and support for an asbestos sleeve 127' for tipping a bulb 16 bowl downduring transfer (Fig. 6). 126 have their upper portions suitably widened for mounting thereon, as hereinafter explained, a pair of arcuate guide rails' 128. Each of the guide rails 128 carry a pivot Rail lifting mechanism 7 A stationary arcuate upwardly incline d'c am 142 of the rail lifting mechanism (Figs-3 and 6) ismounted by 7 suitable means,'such as bolts, to the upper flangestl 'of the 'casting 70'. A horizontal shaft 144 journalled'in'suitable bushings in the side rails 126 carries a roller 31'11'1'146P10- The side rails V plate provided witha lowenmountingflange and a pair "of generally horizontally s'pacedshaft mountingflange said rail frame.- r V, V

"2. A bulb unloading device for a continuous conveyor point where gravity causes the bulb 16 to slide downwardly on the rails 128. When the neck of the bulb 1 6* strikes the asbestos sleeve '127, the bulb 16 is inverted and delivered bowl end first (Fig. 6) into a chute 22 from whence it slides into the conveyor 24 for transfen for example, to a sealing machine (not shown). i

At this point in the operation tne spindle 38 (Fig. 5)

V is about to' roll off the spindle engaging end% of the operating lever 92 of the bul'b unloading mechanism 29 of the invention. As the spindle 38 of thehead 14 moves further along with the conveyor and disengages itselffrom the lever 92, the spring 166 swings the lever 9 2 of the bulb unloading device 20 in a counterclockwise dlffiC.

tion (Fig. 5) until the lever 92 engages the stop 164. In this position the operating lever 92 and hence the bulb unloading mechanism 25). of the invention are ready, respectively, to' receive the spindle 38 of the next-approaching head 14 and the lehred'bulb 16' carried thereby been disclosed, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim: a V I l. A bulb unloading device for acontinuous conveyor type machine comprisingia'body, a rail frame rotatable of said machine for horizontally "rotating said rail 1 frame about a vertical axis, a pair of bulb receiving guide rails pivoted on'said rail frame and a rail'lifting mechanism on said body for simultaneously rotating said'rails about a horizontal axis during the'horizontalrotation of type machine comprising-a body haying air-upstanding a rail frame rotatable in saidflanges, a vrailifrarne rotating mechanism on said body for engagement with a' for engagement with the cam Although'a preferred embodiment of the 'invention has continuously moving head of said machine and for horizontally rotating said rail frame about a vertical axis, a pair of bulb receiving guide rails pivoted on said rail frame and a rail lifting mechanism on said body for simultaneously rotating said rails about a horizontal axis during the horizontal rotation of said rail frame.

3. A bulb unloading device for a continuous conveyor type machine comprising a body, a rail frame rotatable in said body, a rail frame rotating mechanism on said body for engagement with a continuously moving head of said machine and for horizontally rotating said rail frame about a vertical axis, said rail frame rotating mechanism comprising an operating lever shaft, an idler shaft and a rail frame mounting shaft journalled in said body, an operating lever on said operating shaft for engagement With a continuously moving head of said machine, a driven gear on said mounting shaft, a drive gear on said operating lever shaft, and an intermediate gear on said idler shaft in engagement with said drive gear and said driven gear, a pair of bulb receiving guide rails pivoted on said rail frame and a rail lifting mechanism on said body for simultaneously rotating said rails about a horizontal axis during the horizontal rotation of said rail frame.

4. A bulb unloading device for a continuous conveyor type machine comprising a body, a rail frame rotatable in said body, a rail frame rotating mechanism on said body for engagement with a continuously moving head of said machine and for horizontally rotating said rail frame about a vertical axis, a pair of bulb receiving guide rails pivoted on said rail frame and a rail lifting mechanism on said body for simultaneously rotating said rails about a horizontal axis during the horizontal rotation of said rail frame, said rail lifting mechanism comprising a stationary cam on said body, a shaft journalled in said rail frame, a roller arm on said shaft, a roller on said roller arm for engagement with said cam, lifting arms on the outer ends of said shaft and a connecting rod for joining each operating arm With a guide rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,382,144 Taylor June 2 1, 1921 1,489,892 Loughridge Apr. 8, 1924 1,712,907 Stenhouse May 14, 1929

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