US2501403A - Chute with slot means for sorting in-leads - Google Patents

Description

March 21, 1950 c, MOKINSEY I 2,501,403

CHUTE WITH SLOT MEANS FOR SORTING mums Fi led March 7, i947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 30 I /a 2/ L 26 22 2 /3 29 g V .//A\3ZV 5 Inve nTor:

35 g Clarence McKihse Patented Mar. 21, 1950 CHUTE WITH SLOT MEANS FOR SORTING IN-LEADS Clarence E. McKinsey, Painesville, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation 01 New York Application March 7, 1947, Serial No. 733,046

3 Claims. (01. 209--85) My invention relates, in general, to apparatus for automatically packaging in-leads for electric incandescent lamps, electronic tubes and similar devices, and more particularly to a sorting arrangement for such apparatus which will sort out and discard incompletely and imperfectly formed in-leads. The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 610,153, filed August 10, 1945, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

In my said copending application I have disclosed and claimed apparatus for automatically loading endwise into cartridges multi-section inleads of the type having a weighted end. However, in addition to loading perfectly formed inleads into the cartridges, the disclosed apparatus will also load into the cartridges such imperfect in-leads as may be formed from time to time by the wire-welding machine on which these inleads are customarily manufactured. Obviously, the packaging of only perfectly formed in-leads is highly desirable since otherwise an imperfect in-lead would result in the subsequent formation of a defective lamp or radio tube stem.

It is one object of my invention, therefore, to provide apparatus of the character described which will automatically load only completely and perfectly formed in-leads into packing cartridges.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in apparatus for automatically loading in-leads endwise into packing cartridges, sorting means for discarding incompletely and imperfectly formed in-leads.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following detailed description of a species thereof and from the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of apparatus comprising my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a typical form of in-lead which the apparatus according to the invention is adapted to load into cartridges; Figs. 6-12 are fragmentary longitudinal sections through the different tray sorting apertures of the apparatus and showing the operation of these apertures in sorting out and removing from the tray thevarious t pes of incompletely formed inleads'and individual sections thereof which are apt to pass through the tray from time to time.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus there illustrated is of the type shown in my. said 00- pending application Serial No. 610,153 and comprising a slightly inclined vibrating pan or tray I which is adapted to receive in-leads 2 as they are formed by awire-welding machine, for example, such as that described and illustrated in U. S. Patent 2,034,560, W. D. Bumstead, dated March 17, 1936. In the particular case illustrated, the in-leads '2 are of the multi-section type comprising a short central or seal portion 3 butt-welded to inner and outer lead portions 4 and 5, respectively. The inner lead portion 4 and the seal portion 3 are of smaller diameter than the outer lead portion or pin 5, and together constitute the small diameter section A of the in-lead. The outer lead or pin 5, while of shorter length than the small diameter section A of the composite in-lead, is of comparatively larger diameter and I of greater weight than the section A so as to provide a weighted end to the composite in-lead 2, the balance point or center of gravity of the particular in-lead 2 illustrated being located approximately at the juncture between the pin 5 and the seal portion 3 of the in-lead. The portions 3, 4 and 5 of the in-lead are electrically welded together while held in proper welding relation in vertically disposed wire-holding drums 6 of the welding machine. Upon completion, the in-leads 2 are carried by the subsequent rotational index of the spaced drums 6 to a discharge position where they drop out of the transverse retaining grooves in the periphery of the drums and fall into a chute I which delivers them into the elevated end of the slightly inclined tray I. The chute l is supported on a bracket 8 fastened to the table portion 9 of the welding machine.

The trayl is mounted on the bed ID of the welding machine in such a manner as to be capable of a limited amount of vibrating movement which may be imparted thereto by suitable means such as a commercial type electro-magnetic vibrator II, all as shown and described in my said copending application. The in-leads 2 gradually travel or slide down the tray I, by reason of the vibration thereof, to the lowermost or discharge end of the tray where they drop through apertures l2 in the tray bottom I3 and are guided by a collector chute I4 on the tray into a packing cartridge I5 which is positioned beneath the discharge end of the chute in a holder I6. Like the tray I, the holder I5 is'also mounted on the bed II] of the machine in such a way as to be capable of at least a limited amount of vibrating movement which may be imparted thereto by the same electro-magnetic vibrator II whichis I. Thus, there may be cases where only two of the three parts of the in-lead 2 are welded together, and there are even instances where none of the parts are welded together;

In accordance with the invention,- sorting means I! are provided on the-tray 1 forintercepting and discarding incompletely and imperfectly formed in-leaM and individual parts" thereof, whereby only perfect in-leads 2 pass throughthe tray and are loaded-into the packing cartridges l5. As shown; the said sorting means" IT comprisesa series ofside-by-side V-shaped" channelways or-grooves [3 extending longitudinally-of the tray i throughout an intermediate portion of its length, through which channel-- ways the in-leads pass as they travel down the tray towards its lowered end. While the channelways l8 maybe formed in the tray bottom 13" itself, theyare preferably formed by a built-up insert member l9 comprising a number of sections 20" (Fig; 4) of'hard' steel bolted'together and having their abuttingfaces properly grooved or cut away to form, in combination, the channel'- ways 18. As shown in Fig. 4 the smallV-channelways [8 are located at the bottoms of largergrooves 2i of more or lesssemi-eylindrical'cross sections which serve to direct back into the V-channelways "3- any in-leads which may be jarred' out of" the same. have been bolted" together, the groovedsurfa'ces of the insertmemb'er m are bufied to a high polish and then chrome plated" so as to be free of any rough spots along the line of juncture of the individual sections 20 such as mightotherwise catch" the in-leads 2 andinterrupt theirtravel through the channelways.

The channeled insert member i9 is mounted within an opening 22 (Figs; 3 and 4) in the tray bottom 13 'and'itrests at each side on the portions-23 of the tray bottom which border'the sides ofthe opening 22"as well as on the flaring sides 24 of the tray. The insert member 18'' is suitably secured in place onthe tray, as by screws 25 As' shown in Fig; 3, the channeled insert member" 19 is positioned'within the opening 22 inthe tray bottom with its V-channelways i8 inclined in the same direction as but to a lesser degree than the tray bottom 13' and with the forward ends 25" of the V-channelways ofi'set downwardly andthe rear ends 2'! offset upwardly with respect to the upper surface 28 of the traybottom so as not to present any obstructingshoulders at the entrances and exits of'the channelwayswhich would be apt tointerfere with therfreepassage'of thein--leads= 2 into and out of the channelways I8. 7

The in-leads 2 are: guided into the several i V-channelways 18' by cooperating pairs of guide walls 29' (Fig. 2)- which converge towards the respective channelways; These guide walls 29 areformed' by the side walls of extensions or fingers 30 which are providedonthe insert memher" [9 and which project from-the forward" end thereof in over-lying relation to andin engage- After the'sections 28' ment with the upper surface 28 of the tray bottom i3. The two guide walls 29 of each finger 30 converge forwardly and intersect to form pointed ends. To prevent an in-lead 2 from becoming positioned across and bridging the pointed ends of adjacent fingers 30 so as to block the pathzofentry into oneaofitheichannelways i8, alternate fingers 30 are"made of greater length than the intermediate fingers so as to locate their pointed ends 3| further forwardly of the tray than the pointed .ends 3 I of the intermediat'eefingers. In addition, the advanced pointed ends 3! must be spaced laterally of the tray a distance slightly: greater than the length of a perfect in-Iead-Z. seas to permit passage between the said pointed end's'3l of a crosswise positioned iii-lead, With such; a construction, should an in-lead strike broadside against one of the advanced'pointed ends 3|, it will be turned around and directed more or less lengthwise of the tray into the channelwayr'lt at either-siderohthe said pointed end. Alternatively; if; an iir-lead 2;-v should pass between; adjacenti advanced. pointed:

ends 3! ina position-morexor less: crosswise ofzther is provided with a plurality oii spaced elongated? sorting-apertures or slots-32; 33:;alignedlongitudie nallywithin. each of the V channelways' 18;- into which apertures the defective in-leads' and: parts thereof dropduring. their passage: through the channelways; These-apertures 32'; .33" are of .different widths" and: lengths: so correlated to they dimensions ofthe individixahpartss 3,: t and" 5 of.

the-in-leads as-to causextheincompletely and imperfectly formed unloads:- to drop into; one orrthe.

other the X apertures without causing: the. per-' fectly: formedzin-leadsit'o drcpthereinto; T01: accomplish this objectiwherezthezimleads irate" of the particular. type illustrated having a short section: 5 of largerzdiameter and-ta .lDIlgfSECtiOIl' AL;

of smaller diameter" compcsed'pf a: short sealtlea'df 3 and a long-innerlead't, atrleasttwo diiferentf sized apertures 32, 33 must be provided withim each channelway: Oneaof: these: apertures- (31) must'havea;width greaterthan the diameter". of

the large diameter sectiorr 5- of the" in-lead; and;

a length greater than theyshortest balance arm- "a (Fig. 6) of the large diameter andiseal section" 5, 3*combinedbut lessathan the shortestzba'lance arm -e (Fig: 10) of a; perfect leadiwhichzwould';

causepver balancing thereof:- into-the sald'aper ture as it passes: thereover; Thar other. aper-sture'33 musthave a width less than thediamet'er of' the large diameter section fi but' greaterrthan. thediameter'ofthe small diametensectlon'A of the in-lead; and a lengthgreater thanhali the':

length of said small diameter section A but-lessthan theslongest balance arm flFig: 11) offa=per fect in-leadj which would" causeover halanclng:

thereoffintowthe -aperti1re33; small'idiameter endt" first. Asshown inwEig: 3, thecforward'iendsrof the:- upper: edgesgof" theaperturesmrslots: 32 332 areslightly rounded ch; as indicated at '3'4, tov iacili tate the over-balancing: thereintoof'the defective-- in -leads and parts thereof."

To more efiectivelyassure-=theeli'mination oi the defective in-leads and parts thereof; it is preferable to provide. twosorting aniez'tures: of

underneath the tray 1 in support brackets 36 fastened to the underside of the tray bottom The operation of the sorting apertures '32, 33 Q in removing the defective in-leads,g and parts thereof from the tray! is clearly illustrated in Figs. 6-12. Where an outer pin 5 alone (Fig. 8) or with only the seal portion 3 welded thereto (Fig. 6) enters one of the channelways] 8 itjoverbalances and drops into one or the other {of the shorter apertures 32 since this size ;;aperture 32 is wide enough to accommodate the'l'arge diameter pin section 5 and, in addition, f itis'longer than the shortest balance arm a of thekdefective in-lead 3, 5 (Fig. 6) or the balance arm -b ;of the pin 5 alone (Fig. 8). Where a seal portion 3 alone enters one of the channelways I3; such seal portion, being of shorter length and of smaller diameter than the outer pin 5, over-balances and drops either into one of the short apertures 32 or into one of the long apertures 33. Where an inner lead 4 alone (Fig. 9) or withonlythe seal portion 3 welded thereto (Fig. 7) enters one of the channelways l8, it will overbalance and drop into one or the other of the long apertures 33 since this-size aperture 33 is wide enough to accommodate the inner lead 4 and seal portion 3 and, in addition, is longer than either the balance arm 0 of the defective in-leacl 3, 4 (Fig. 7) or the balance arm d of the inner lead 4 alone (Fig. 9). However, where a perfect or complete in-lead 2 enters one of the channelways l8, it cannot over-balance into the shorter apertures 32 (Fig. 10) for the reason that the length of such apertures 32 is less than that of the shortest balance arm e which would cause over-balancing of such a perfect in-lead into the said apertures 32. Likewise, such a perfect in-lead 2 will not overbalance into the longer apertures 33, Fig. 11. It cannot over-balance heavy or pin end-first into the apertures 33 because these apertures are of less width than the diameter of the pin end 5 of the in-lead and therefore will not accommodate such end of the in-lead. On the other hand, a

perfect in-lead cannot overbalance small end first into the apertures 33 (Fig. 11) for the reason that the length of these apertures is less than the longer balance arm 1 of the small diameter end of a perfect lead.

In addition to removing incompletely formed in-leads and parts thereof from thetray l, the sorting means I! according to the invention also serves to remove in-leads 2 that may have become bent at the seal portions 3 thereof. The force of gravity acting on such bent in-leads, while the latter are being shaken by the vibrating tray I causes the bent in-lead to travel through the channelway I8 in a position resting on its opposite ends, i. e., with its mid-section elevated, as shown in Fig. 12. As a result, when such a bent in-lead travelling in such position through one of the channelways l8 reaches the aperture 32, the down-turned forward supporting end of the in-lead drops into the aperture thus causing the entire in-lead to drop therethrough.

iii)

6v Because of the elimination of the incompletely and imperfectly formed iii-leads by the'sorting means l1, there is no need for any visual inspection of the in-leads as they pass through the tray l. The packaging apparatus according to the invention therefore assures the automatic loading of cartridges I5 with perfect in-leads only. The only remaining operation required of the operator is to periodically remove the filled packing catridges l5 from the holder l6 and position an empty cartridge beneath the loading chute H;

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. Article sorting apparatus for SOItiDgCOIIl pletely formed multi-section in-leads, one end section of which is relatively short and of relatively large diameter and the other end section of which is relatively long and of relatively small diameter, from imperfectly formed in-leads and individual sections thereof, said apparatus comprising an inclined elongated tray adapted to receive the articles at its raised end and vibratable to cause the articles to travel therealong towards its lowermost end, and sorting means on said tray for removing therefrom imperfectly formed in-leads and individual sections thereof, said sorting means comprising a channelway extending longitudinally of the tray through which the articles are guided in a position lengthwise of the tray during their passage therealong, said tray having a plurality of elongated sorting apertures in its bottom extending lengthwise of and aligned within said channelway and across which the articles are guided during their passage through the channelway, one of said apertures having a width greater than the diameter of the large diameter section of the in-lead and a length greater than half the length of said large diameter section but less than the shortest balance arm of a perfect in-lead, and another of said apertures having a width less than the diameter of said large diameter section but greater than the diameter of the small diameter section of the in-lead and a length greater than half the length of said small diameter section but less than the longest balance arm'of a perfect in-lead.

2. Article sorting apparatus for sorting completely formed multi-section in-leads, one section of which is relatively short and of large diameter and the other section of which is relatively long and of small diameter, from imperfectly formed in-leads and individual sections thereof, said apparatus comprising an inclined elongated tray adapted to receive the articles at its raised end and vibratable to cause the articles to travel therealong toward its lowermost end, said tray having a plurality of side-by-side channelways extending longitudinally of the tray on its upper side through which the articles are guided in a position lengthwise of the tray and in predetermined paths during their passage therealong, said tray further having a plurality of elongated apertures in its bottom located within each of said channelways and extending lengthwise of and aligned within the respective channelways and across which the articles are guided during their passage through the channelways, at least one of said apertures in each-channelway having a width greater than the diameter of the large diameter section of the in-lead and a length greater than half the length of said large diameter section but less than the shortest balance arm of a perfect in-lead, and at least another of said apertures in each channelway having a width less than the diameter of said large diameter section but greater'than: thealdlameterroffthesmal-l diameter section-of; the zinv-lead :and'a: length greater than half I thelengthnof. saidismall diameter section clout; less tharrthealonges-tibalanceyarm of a nertectin-lead, andi guide-walls on said tray for guiding theearticles-i; into the channelways, the adjacent guide walls, of, adjacent channelwa-ya converging. to-

wardsthei elevated end of the tray and inter-- secting to-form pointedends, alternate; ones of said pointed ends being located closer to the-elevatedlend of thetraythan the intermediate pointr ediends-and being spaced laterally of the tray a distance slightlygreater'thanthelengthof said ,3. ,Ar1ticle sorting apparatus for sorting completely formed multi-section in-leads, one end seetiomof whichis; relatively shortand-of relatively large diameter and the other endsection of.

which isrelatively long and of relatively small diameter; from imperfectly-formed in-leads and individuallsections thereof, said apparatus comprising :an inclinedelongated tray adapted to receive; the articles at its raised endand vibratable toacausethe articles to travel therealong toward its,..lowermost end, a plurality of side-by-side channelways extending longitudinally of the tray onnits. upper side through whichthe articles are guided a position lengthwise oi the tray andin predetermined paths during their passage .therealong, said tray having a plurality of elongated sorting apertures in its bottom located within each v o-flsaid channelways. andextending lengthwise of and. aligned within the respective-channelways and across which the articles are guided during their passage through the channelways, at least one, of said apertures. in each channelway having aewidth greater than therdiametenof the largm diameter section of the int-lead. and a=-length;- greater thanhalf-the length of said large diam eter. section butless than theshortest balance. arm of a perfeotln-lead whereby individuallarge diameter sections'oi the in-leads 'overbalance into said one aperture While completely formed in leads pass freely thereacross, and at leastanotherof said apertures each channelway having.

. w-idthdess than the-diameter of said large diam,

eter section but greater than the diameter of the. small .diametersectionof thejn-lead and alengthgreater than half the lengthaoflsaid small diam? eter section butlessl-than the :longest balancejarm oflaperfect indeed-whereby individual, small iii-rameter sectlonslof, the in-leads. overbalance into:-

said other. aperture while. completely formed inff leads pass freely thereacross.

CLARENCE nMcKmsEYi REFERENCES CITED.

The following. referencesare of record in; the:

file of this patent:

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