US2871893A - Siphoning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 3, 1959 Filed April l5, 1955 E. F. WALTS SIPHONING APPARATUS .Nimh I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb.

Filed April l5, 1955 E. F. WALTS SIPHONING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 3.

w-|NTERLoCK Y n* sou-:Nom K VALVE /95 /9 soLENoID CONTROL VALVE i UNIT CONVEYOI2- 59, UMIT svvnTcH FIG. 4. INVENTOR EARL F. WALTS BY United States Patent SIPHONING APPARATUS Earl F. Waits, Union Springs, N. Y., assignor to Sylvania Electric Products Inc., a corporation of Massachusetts `Application April 15, 1955, Serial No. 501,622

6 Claims. (Cl. 141-121) This invention relates to amachine for treating a fluid substance and more particularly to a machine for Siphoning the phosphor material cushioning fluid from a cathode ray tube envelope after the phosphor coating has been deposited on the cathode ray tube phosphor panel by means of a settling technique.

The prior art teaches removal of the phosphor cushioning lluid from the cathode ray tube envelope after deposition of the phosphor coating by manual insertion of a Siphon tube through the neck of the tube and into contact with the fluid, whereby the fluid is partially removed. Tlie siphoning procedure is followed by a decanting operation. The apparatus used in these processes requires costly attention by an operator and results in a large number of rejects due primarily to accidental breakage of the glass neck portions of the envelope and contamination of the phosphor coating. ln addition, the lluid removal operation is time consuming andthe rate and amount of fluid removed is dependent upon the operators judgement. inaccuracies in judgement by the operator results in an in-rush ofair into the tube, which disturbs the settled phosphor screen.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a machine which will substantially avoid the afore-mentoned difficulties.

Another object is to provide a siphoning apparatus which will operate in a iixed time cycle.

A further object is the provision of an apparatus which automatically centers a reciprocating conduit with a receptacle.

v A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine having a pressure actuated conduit which reciprocates in a predetermined timed cycle.

A still further object is to provide a siphoning apparatus capable of cooperation with a conveyor movement of receptacles whereby the apparatus components y determine the receptacle position and operation of the conveyor.

For a better understanding of the invention, together with other and further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof,vreference is made to the following description and appended claims in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a partially sectioned front View of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure l;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along section 3-35 showing the movement of the receptacle centering device of the machine; and Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical connections between the various elements utilized to provide sequential operation of the machine components.

Briefly, the invention comprises an apparatus having means for aligning a siphoning conduit with respect to the open neck of a cathode ray tube envelope having a iluid therein, means for moving the conduit into the lluid, means for moving thel aligning `means from its original "ice bwl position, means for moving the conduit out of the envelope after completion of the siphoning operation Vand means for re-locating the aligning means to its original position.

Referring to Figure l, the siphoning apparatus is mounted upon frame 11, which straddles Conveyor 13. Rigidly secured to the top horizontal plate 15 of the frame is a four-way solenoid valve chamber 17 which is connected to a rotary vane type cylinder 1S by means of tubes 20. A four-way solenoid valve chamber 19, best shown in Fig. 2, is also mounted on bar 15. These valves are connected to an air pressure system by means of a flow control member 21.

A rotatable assembly 23 is suspended from horizontal plate 15 by means of aligning shaft or arm 25 and a ilexible coupling 27. The flexible coupling may be made of any resilient material such as rubber. A spindle 26 connected to the rotary vane of cylinder 18 is attached to the top portions of coupling 27, and shaft 25 is confined within the surface defined by the aperture walls 33 in guide 31. As shown in Figure l, this aperture is larger than the shaft diameter, and therefore allows movement of the shaft about its center-line position.

The assembly 23 is rigidly attached to the lower end of shaft 25 by means of connecting arm 35. Welded to the connecting arm and vertically disposed therefrom is a support column 37. An air cylinder or actuating means 39 having a straight acting piston is supported by an upper cylinder bracket 41 and a lower cylinder bracket 43. As is more clearly shown by Figure 2, the top part of cylinder 39 is connected to one end of the solenoid valve chamber 19 by a flexible tube 45, the bottom end of the cylinder being connected to the other end of solenoid valve l@ by means of a flexible tube 47.

Shaft 49 is connected to column 37 by means of an upper support bracket 51 and a lower support bracket 53. A brace 55 is slidably attached to shaft 49 by means of a weld connection with sleeve 57. Mounted upon the brace is interlock plate 59, and counterweights 61. The counterweights are in selective units. Therefore, a predetermined counterweighted movement of brace 55 may be achieved by proper selection of the number of desired units. Also attached to the brace is hook 73 and a hollow conduit or siphon tube 63. This conduit slides within an aperture 65 in bracket 53 and is guided thereby.

Resilient hose 67 connects the tube with a siphon pump (not shown). An interlock switch 69 is fastened to the upper portions of shaft 49 for cooperation with interlock plate 59 when brace 55 is in the uprnost position of its reciprocating motion.

A hook 71, adjustable in length, is mounted upon bracket 43. Pulley 77 is affixed to the piston of cylinder 3,9 and cord is looped over pulleys 77 and 79 and is attached at opposite ends to hooks 71 and 73. The coupling or cord 75 follows a tortuous path between the hooks and operates to raise bracket 53 when the piston of cylinder 39 is forced downwardly.

Mounted upon the lower edge of column 37 is a fork shaped receptacle contacting means or aligning device 81. Referring to Figure 3, the fork fingers straddle the neck portion 83 of a receptacle or cathode ray tube envelope 3S, the neck portion resting in the apex of the fork when receptacle 85 is in position under assembly 23. The envelope is supported and carried on conveyor 13 by lugs 87. A sensing device or limit switch 89 is connected to the conveyor and cooperates with the envelope to start operation of the siphoning machine.

The siphoning assembly shown in the drawings is in the position where conduit 63 is in the treating position or in contact with the cushioning fluid. Referring to Figure l, the tube envelope 85 containing fluid 93 moves alone @Dreyer 1.3. in a direction ,from tight tcleft. While the tube is moving into position below the siphoning unit, locating or aligning fork 81 is in the position shown by the solid line drawing of Figure 3. That is, the fork fingers are extending outwardly to accept the incoming neck of the receptacle. At this time, and at all times while the conveyor is moving, siphon tube or conduit 63 is in a raised position so that the lower-most edge of the conduit is clear of the receptacle.. When the receptacle is located below assembly 23, the action of limit switch 89, which rides along the flared portion of receptacle 85, causes conduit 63 to belowered through the opening 91 and into contact with fluid 93. Fork 81 has aligned the neck of the tube with assembly 23, and thereby aligned it with conduit 63. Flexible coupling 27, in con junction with the over-sized guide aperture 33, allows the assembly to pivot about the coupling, thereby providing a means for an assured alignment of the conduit with the neck of cathode ray tube 85.

As limit switch 89 is actuated, control unit 95 operates solenoid valve 19, which in turn operates cylinder 39. The piston of cylinder 39 and attached pulley 77 is thereby forced upward by the weighted means including counter weights 61, the weight of brace 55 and the components mounted thereon. Brace 55 moves downwardly along shaft 49, guided by sleeve 57, and conduit 63 moves through opening 91 and into contact with the liuid 93. The distance of travel of the conduit can be adjusted by screwing hook 71 inwardly or outwardly. Also, the speed of descent of conduit 63 is determinable by the number of units used as counterweights 61. The linkage lor coupling cord 75 follows a tortuous path around the pulleys, thereby providing for a downward movement of the conduit with an upward parallel movement of the piston in cylinder 39. As soon as conduit 63 has contacted fluid 93, the siphon pump begins removing the uid.

After a predetermined time has elapsed subsequent to operation of limit switch 89, the control unit 95 operates solenoid valve 17, which causes vane-type cylinder 16 to rotate approximately 150. This rotation causes the entire assembly 23 to rotate about exible coupling 27. Referring to Figure 3, fork 81 is thereby rotated to the position shown by the dotted lines. This enables the fork arms to be orientated so as to be clear of subsequent forward movement of the neck of tube 85.

After the substance or fluid 93 has been removed to a predetermined depth as regulated by the control unit 95 time sequence of operation, the control unit actuates solenoid valve 19 which in turn operates cylinder 39 and causes the piston and pulley 77 to move downwardly. Cord 75 thereby raises conduit 63 from receptacle 85 and beyond neck opening 91. As brace 55 reaches the top of its reciprocating movement, interlock plate 59 engages interlock switch 69, which in turn causes the control unit to operate conveyor 13 and move tube 85 to a new position. The conveyor can move only when brace 55 is in the upmost position and interlock plate 59 is in Contact with interlock switch 69. As soon as the tube moves beyond limit switch 89, control unit 95 actuates solenoid valve 17 and causes vane-type cylinder 18 to rotate assembly 23 and the attachedfork 81 to its original or rest position, and in readiness for the next receptacle coming into position along the conveyor.

The machine shown and `described automatically siphons an exact amount of fluid from each receptacle at a constant rate, with no contamination or disturbance of the phosphor coating. The conduit is always aligned with the neck of the receptacle, thereby avoiding neck breakage rejects. In addition, the apparatus needs no operator attention, is efficient in operation, and has safety features insuring proper sequential movements of the apparatus and a cooperating conveyor.

While there has been shown and described what at present is considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will become obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed:

l. A machine for inserting a hollow ocnduit into an open-ended receptacle comprising support means, an aligning arm mounted on said support means, a hollow conduit connected to said aligning arm for reciprocating motion along a path relative to the axis of said aligning arm, receptacle contacting means for locating the conduit reciprocation path relative to the receptacle opening, a receptacle position sensing means, means operable in response to said receptacle position sensing means providing reciprocating motion of said conduit, and means for moving said receptacle contacting means from the locating position to a receptacle release position.

2. A machine for inserting a hollow conduit into an open-ended receptacle comprising support means, an aligning arm mounted on said support means, a hollow conduit connected to said aligning arm for reciprocating motion along a path relative to the axis of said aligning arm, receptacle contacting means for locating the conduit reciprocation path relative to the receptacle opening, a receptacle position sensing means, means operable in response to said receptacle position sensing means providing reciprocating motion of said conduit, and means for moving said receptacle contacting means from the locating position to a receptacle release position while said conduit is in the treating position and the back to the locating position after the conduit reciprocates to the rest position.

3. A machine for inserting a hollow conduit into an open-ended receptacle comprising support means, an aligningarm mounted on said support means, a hollow conduit connected to said aligning arm for reciprocating motion along a path relative to the axis of said aligning arm, receptacle contacting means for locating the conduit reciprocation path relative to the receptacle opening, a receptacle position sensing means for conveying actuating information when a conveyor moved receptacle reaches the machine operation area, means operable in response to said receptacle position sensing means providing reciprocating motion of said conduit, and means for moving said receptacle contacting means from the locating position to a receptacle release position while the receptacle is in the machine operating area and back to the locating position after the released receptacle moves out of the machine operating area.

4. A machine for inserting a hollow conduit into an open-ended receptacle comprising support means, an aligning arm mounted in a restricted flexible depending relationship from said support means, a hollow conduit connected to said aligning arm for reciprocating motion between a rest position and a treating position along a fixed path relative to the axis of said aligning arm, receptacle contacting means attached to said aligning arm in position to normally impede receptacle passage for locating the conduit reciprocation path relative to the receptacle opening, a receptacle position sensing means for conveying actuating information when a conveyor moved receptacle reaches the machine operation area, means operable in response to said receptacle position sensing means providing reciprocating motion of said conduit, and means for moving said receptacle contacting means from the locating position to a receptacle release position while the receptacle is in the machine operating area and back to the locating position after the released receptacle moves out of the machine operating area.

5. A machine for inserting a hollow conduit into an open-ended receptacle comprising support means, a rotatable aligning arm mounted in a restricted flexible depending relationship from said support means, a hollow conduit connected to said aligning arm for reciprocating motion between a rest position and a treating position along a fixed path parallel with the axis of said aligning arm,. receptacle contacting means attached to said aligning arm in position to normally impede receptacle passage for locating the conduit reciprocation path relative to the receptacle opening, a receptacle position sensing means for conveying actuating information when a conveyor moved receptacle reaches the machine operation area, means operable in response to said receptacle position sensing means providing reciprocating motion of said conduit, and means for rotating said aligning arm and said receptacle contacting means from the locating position transversely of the conduit reciprocation movement to a receptacle release position and transversely back to the locating position after the released receptacle moves out of the machine operating area.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,697,201 Muller Ian. l, 1929

Images