Apparatus for feeding filamentary particles

Dec. 2, 1958

A. ROSENBLATT ET AL

2,862,529

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING FILAMENTARY PARTICLES

Filed Jan. 31, 1956

Sheets-Sheet 1

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Dec. 2, 1958

A. ROSENBLATT ETAL

2,862,529

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING FILAMENTARY PARTICLES

Filed Jan. 31, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2

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Dec. 2, 1958

2,862,529

A. ROSENBLATT ET AL

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING FILAMENTARY PARTICLES

Sheets-Sheet 3

Filed Jan. 31, 1956

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INVENTORS

ALEXANDER ROSENBLATT DONALD H. PFEFFERLE

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2,862,529

Patented Dec. 2, 1958

United States Patent Office

2,862,529

APPARA-TUS'FORFEEDING FILAMENTARY 'PARTICLES

Alexander Rosenblatt and Donald H. Pfefserle, Williams:port, Pa., assignors to.Sylvania Electric Products Inc., iSaleiii,;Mass., a. corporation of Massachusetts .‘Application January 31,4956,-Serial No. 562,442 ,Claims. (CI. 141—67)

This invention relates to the manufacture of flash lamps and more particularly to the introduction of a combustible metal into a;flash lamp bulb.

In - the manufacture of flash lamps, filamentary par-.titles iof a combustible metal material, such as shredded •foil;for,example,: are introduced into the.lamp bulb. The cshredjde.d foil may -.be formed by feeding a:sheet of 'the combustible ;metal; material into a suitable . cutting machine, such as the machine shown in TJ. S. Patent 2,699,83;l for:example. /The shredded foil produced by :the ’.cutting ^machine is then Ifed to The damp bulb. A method for introducing shredded foil into lamp bulbs ;is disclosed , in: the co-pending . application of Bennett et -al., Serial ,^!No. 192,224,.' filed :Ocotb.er 126, 1950mow :U. -S. .Patent.2,772,703.

An object .of this invention asgto; introduce filamentary particles 'into flash lamp . bulbs.

Another object of thisinventionis to providetapparatus Tor 'feeding filamentary .particles ;into flash;lamp -.bulbs.

A further object-is..to provide, apparatus for 'automatically deeding filamentary particles 'to lamp tbfilbs carried to loading position by a conveyor.

These and other objects, advantages and'features. are attained, in accordance with the:principles of ouriinvention, by reciprocating a 'nozzle, preferably rotatable, · into .and:o.ut of;a;lamprbulb carried by an indexing conveyor. The reciprocating sstroke of the nozzle is, synchronized -with The'indexing: of- the bulb-carrying conveyor, so that the forward stroke of .the nozzle occurs after a bulb .has been;carriedrhy the:conveyor into register with: the: nozzle, and· the return stroke occurs after a charge .of filamentary •particles, ..such as .shredded-foil, Tor.example, has been delivered rto the bulb Through the nozzle. A pneumatic system employed to carry a charge of shrecided foil from a supply thereof to the nozzle is ’actuated intermittently and is synchronized with The reciprocation of the nozzle to provide .for the 'delivery of a charge of shredded foil to theanozzle when thejnozzletis in delivery 'position with respect to a bulb.

This invention is further characterized by the provision of a pair of reciprocating nozzles, preferably rotatable, to which shredded foil is fed from a common supply, for alternately delivering a charge , of shredded foil to:a bulb on one conveyor and then To'another bulb .on another.conveyor. Thus the output, of a. single foil shredding.machine is employed to provide a charge of shredded foil To ;bulbs carried on two separate conveyors.

:In the specific embodiment of the iinvention shown in the accompanying drawings,

Figure l ,:is a plan view of apparatus for introducing a quantity of shredded foil into lamp bulbs, and includes also a'portion of apparatus which may'be employed to •shred foil and a portion of the conveyors which carry bulbs into foil-filling position.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partly'in section,,of •the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail, partly in section, and on san ^enlarged scale, illustrating the .means employed to convey.a,quantity of shredded foil to the nozzle -which .delivers it to,a flash lamp bulb.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly Figure 4 thereof, that portion of a foil shredding apparatus shown 5 therein is · designated by the general reference numeral 10. The foil shredding apparatus 10;may-be of the type shown and described in U. S. Patent, 2,699,831 · for example. Shredded foil, as it drops-away'from the'cutters .of , the , foil'shredding apparatus, is · drawn into venturi 10 assemblies 12 -.and 14 through venturi feeding tubes .16 and.18 respectively. The·venturi assemblies.-are mounted on.brackets 20 attached: to the table,22 on which' the foil shredding .apparatus 10 is disposed.

.-Referring now to Figure 3, .the venturi assembly ,14 15 -comprises-a.bodymember 24;having abor.e 26 extending therethrough, one'end of the bore being fitted with an outlet pipe 28, and the other end of The bore being provided .with a nozzle 30 to which arplug 32. is-attached,The plug 32 in turn being connected to-a source of-gas, such 20 ;as air_;for example, under pressure;through flexible tubing ,3,4. Thus asfoil is shredded by the Toil shredding apparatus .10,The flow of gas under pressure through 'flexible -.tubing'34,'.plug 32 ;and nozzle 30: draws the shredded foil .through the venturi feeding tube 18 of venturi 14, into 25 .the bore .-26:and .discharge it-.through the outlet pipe 28.

.The venturi assembly 12 is of similar -construction arid •operates :in the same manner ras venturi assembly 14.

’ The._;shredded-foildischarged -from outlet pipe’28 '(Fig.

3,) ,is^received :by funnel-36 of venturi assembly '38 and 30 -,is 'discharged through .outlet pipe 4® 'thereof by the adrmission of igas, -such ;as air for'example, under pressure into the venturi assembly 38 through flexible tubing 42, •plug‘4'4 and nozzle 4.6. Venturi assembly 4'8 (Fig. 2) is .of i,similar '.construction.rand operates tin'the same manner 35 as-venturi'.-assembly 38, except that its outlet pipe 41 is much longer than outlet pipe 40-of venturi assembly 38 .’for'reasons-'Which will be apparent'from the description ibelow..of the remainder of the apparatus of this invention.

The shredded'foil discharged from outlet pipe 40 (Fig. •id ;3) isjreceived by 'funnel .50 mounted- on one end df 'hollow';shaft.52iof motor 54. The other end of shaft 52 is 'provided .with a. nozzle 56 Which is attached thereto by means of a.chuck 58. The chuck 58 is provided with •an O-Ting.-seaTeOiheldtin place by a-retaining ring 62 and nut 76.4. The force exerted-by the gas entering the venturi.38 through flexible tubing 42 is sufficient to drive the •shredded foil 'through the hollow shaft '52 and the nozzle S6 tinto the bulb 1. Similarly, shredded foil is 'fed to 'biilb ?3 .'(-Fig. 2) Trom venturi -48 and the venturi outlet 50 'pipe 41. Venturis 38 and 48 are supported from their 'respective associated motors '54 by means of arms 55 •depending from the motors, and clamps 57 extending • laterally'from the'lower ends of the arms 55 and attached to the outlet pipes · 40 and 41 respectively of the venturis 55 38 and 48.

'Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, bulb 1 is supported •by a bulb holder .66 attached to an endless chain conveyor 68; and bulb 3 is supported by a bulb holder 70 attached to an endless chain conveyor 72. Conveyors 68 go and 72 are provided with a plurality of bulb holders 66 and 70 respectively for carrying bulbs into position above •and in register With the apparatus just described to receive -a charge of shredded foil therefrom. Each of the bulb-conveyors is provided with a bulb orienting device, 05 designated generally by the reference numeral 71, which is-mounted on a pedestal 73 which supports idler shaft 75 of conveyors 68 and 72. The bulb orienting device '71 comprises a pair of jaws 77 which are opened and closed -about the neck of a bulb by the motion -trans7θ mitted thereto by suitable means from a roller 79 which rides on a bar cam .81 attached to lift shaft 76.

The apparatus for reciprocating the nozzle 56 into and

2,862,529 out of the bulb 1 to deliver a charge of shredded foil thereto will now be described. Delivery is effected when the nozzle 56, venturi 38 and venturi 14 are in the relative position in which they are shown in Figure 3. The mechanism for advancing the nozzle 56 and its associated parts into delivery position is shown in Figure 2. The motor 54, which is connected to the nozzle 56 by the chuck 58, and which is connected to the venturi 38 by arm 55 and clamp 57, is mounted on clamp 74 attached to the upper end of lift shaft 76. Lift shaft 76, which extends through and is supported by lift shaft housing 78 mounted on table 80, has a clamp 82 attached to the lower end thereof. In order to prevent the lift shaft from rotating, the clamp 82 attached to the lower end of the lift shaft is provided with a slotted slide 84 which rides up and down on a guide bar 86 attached to and depending from the lift shaft housing 78. A link 88, depending from link pin 90 which is mounted in and projects laterally from clamp 82, connects the lift shaft clamp 82 to one end of a cam arm 92. Cam arm 92 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on shaft 94 which is supported in a bracket 96 depending from table 80. The other end of cam arm 92 is provided with a cam follower 98 which rides on cam 100 mounted on cam shaft 102. Cam follower 98 is maintained in positive engagement with cam 100 by the load placed thereon by spring 104, one end of which is attached to cam arm 92 and the other end thereof being attached to a fixed member not shown. Similar apparatus, operating in a similar manner, is provided for delivering a charge of shredded foil to the bulb 3. Cam shaft 102 on which cam 100 is mounted, and stub shaft 103 on which a cam 105 similar to cam 100 is mounted, are driven by a common drive (not shown) mounted on the table 80, the casting 107 for housing a portion of this drive being mounted on top of table 80 as shown in Fig. 2.

The means for energizing the motors 54, to effect rotation of the nozzles 56 will now be described, reference being made particularly to the right hand side of Figure

2. Wire 106, from a source of electrical energy not shown, is connected to a screw 108 disposed in housing 110 of insulating material mounted on table 80. The housing 110 is provided with a bore within which a spring 112 is disposed. One end of spring 112 is connected to screw 108 and the other end thereof is attached to one end of an electrically conducting rod 114 mounted in housing cover 116 which is slidably disposed on housing 110. A wire 118, attached to the other end of rod 114, extends through aperture 120 in housing cover 116 and is connected to motor 54. A bracket 122, attached to both the housing cover 116 and a cap 124 slidably disposed on lift shaft housing 78 and attached to lift shaft 76, provides a means whereby the housing cover 116 will reciprocate with the motor 54. This means, in cooperation with the means just described for establishing the electrical connection through housing 110, makes it unnecessary to provide a substantial slack in the wire 118 running between housing cover 116 and motor 54.

The system for supplying gas, such as air for example, under pressure to the venturis 12, 14, 38 and 48 will now be described, reference being made particularly to Figures 1 and 2. Air from a source not shown is admitted into the system through feed line 126 into filter 128. Four separate feed lines run from filter 128 to four separate pressure regulators 130. A feed line 132 connects each of the pressure regulators 130 to an air valve 134, the several air valves being attached to a mounting plate 136 supported by a pair of standards 138, one of which is shown in Figures 1 and 2. Each of the air valves 134 is provided with a mercury switch 140 depending therefrom, the roller 142 of which rides on cam 144. The cams 144 are mounted on shaft 146 which is supported in bearing housings 148 mounted on standards 138. Feed lines 150 extending from air valves 134 are clamped to support bar 154 which is attached to table 80 by bolt 81. Flexible tubes 34, depending from venturis 12 and 14, are con4 nected to the termini of two of the feed lines 150 at support bar 154. Similarly, flexible tubes 42, depending from venturis 38 and 48, are connected to the termini of the other two feed lines 150 at support bar 154.

The operation of the shredded foil feeding apparatus will now be described, reference being made initially to Figure 2. The reciprocating nozzle 56 of the shredded foil feeding assembly illustrated at the right hand, side of Figure 2 is shown in the advanced or delivery position, 10 i. e., the tip thereof has been moved inside the bulb 1 to deliver a charge of shredded foil 5; whereas the nozzle 56a of the shredded foil feeding assembly illustrated at the left hand side of Figure 2 is shown in the retracted position, awaiting its turn to advance and deliver a quan15 tity of shredded foil to bulb 3.

Advancement of the nozzle 56 from its retracted position to its advanced position is effected by the cam 100 on cam shaft 102, through cam follower 98, cam arm 92, link 88, link pin 90, clamp 82 and lift shaft 76. As the 20 lift shaft 76 moves upwardly, it carries with it the motor 54, the nozzle 56 which is attached to the hollow motor - shaft 52, and the venturi 38 which is supported from the motor 54 by arm 55 and clamp 57. When the upward stroke of the lift shaft 76 has been completed, the nozzle 25 56 is disposed inside bulb 1 (Fig. 3) and the funnel 36 of venturi 38 is in alignment with the outlet pipe 28 of venturi 14. With the apparatus so disposed, the nozzle 56 is ready to receive a charge of shredded foil from the foil shredding apparatus 10 (Fig. 1) and deliver it into the 30 bulb 1.

Actuation of the pneumatic system for supplying air under pressure to the venturis 12, 14, 38 and 48 is synchronized with the reciprocation of the lift shafts 76 so that a blast of air is admitted to the shredded foil feeding 35 system intermittently, i. e., when a nozzle 56 is in position inside a bulb. Referring now to Figure 2, the two right hand air valves 134 are shown in the open position, having been actuated by the rotation of the shaft 146, through their respective cams 144, rollers 142 and mer40 cury switches 140. Air from these two valves flows to the venturis 14 and 38 through the two feed lines 150 and flexible utbes 34 and 42 respectively. Air flowing through the venturi 14 draws shredded foil from the foil shredding apparatus 10 (Fig. 1) through feeding tube 18 ,. and discharges it through outlet pipe 28 into funnel 36 of venturi 38 (Fig. 3). Similarly, air flowing through the venturi 38 draws the shredded foil through funnel 36 and discharges it through outlet pipe 40 and into funnel 50 on one end of the hollow motor shaft 52 with sufficient force to drive it through the shaft 52 and nozzle 56 into the bulb 1. Rotation of the nozzle 56, which is preferably provided with a delivery opening 53 in the side wall thereof like the nozzle shown in the copending application of Bennett et al. referred to above, effects a satisfactory distribution of the shredded foil within the bulb 1. ⁵⁵ The air valves 134 (Fig. 2) which were opened to admit air to the venturis 14 and 38, are now closed by the further rotation of shaft 146 on which the cams 144 associated therewith are mounted, thereby terminating the flow of shredded foil to the nozzle 56. The return ⁶⁰ stroke of the lift shaft 76 (Fig. 2), to withdraw the nozzle 56 from the bulb 1 to which a charge of shredded foil 5 has been delivered, is effected by the further rotation of shaft 102 on which cam 100 is mounted. The conveyor 68 indexes one station, carrying away the bulb which has ^c’·’ been provided with a charge of shredded foil and bringing another bulb into loading position.

While the nozzle 56 and its associated mechanism is returning to its rest position, the nozzle 56a (Fig. 2) and its associated mechanism is advancing from the rest posi7° tion to effect delivery of a charge of shredded foil to bulb 3. Since the mechanisms employed and their mode of operation are the same as those associated with nozzle 56, a detailed description thereof is believed to be unnecessary.

⁷⁵ From the foregoing, it is apparent that, in accordance

2,862,529 with the principles of this invention, not only is automatic apparatus provided for delivering a charge of shredded foil to flash lamp bulbs as they are advanced by a conveyor to a loading station, but maximum utilization of the output of a foil shredding machine is obtained by synchronizing two foil feeding mechanisms therewith and with two bulb conveyors whereby shredded foil is being fed to a bulb on one conveyor by one foil feeding mechanism while the other foil feeding mechanism is returning to its rest position after Raving just delivered a charge of shtedded foil to a bulb on another conveyor.