An improved machine for forming one or more helical grooves in the walls of glass tubes in which the glass tubes are automatically transferred from one processing area of the machine to the adjacent processing area. Lifters for engaging the open ends of the glass tubes are attached to a movable carriage assembly which provides for the transfer of the tubes from one area of the machine to an adjacent area during its forward travel and provides to the grooving of the tubes during its reverse travel. A positioning mechanism insures that the lifters are properly aligned over the open ends of the tubes prior to engagement. An arrangement is also disclosed for transferring two tubes in tandem to increase the machine's processing speed.
A Rotary Machine is a small machine (a little bit smaller than an average pack of cigarettes) with two wheels and a hand crank that is designed to roll cigarettes using tobacco, though in some instances cannabis is substituted. These machines are easy to use and purchase, though they may require some practice to get the sort of cigarette a person wants. For people who prefer to smoke unfiltered tobacco, whether because it's cheaper or they prefer to make their own blend, a rolling machine can be an extremely helpful tool that will save time and tobacco.
It is known in the art that a fluorescent lamp having an envelope of noncircular cross section produces more useful light per unit of power input than a fluorescent lamp whose envelope is of circular cross section. It is further known that a noncircular cross section in the fluorescent lamp envelope can be obtained by providing grooves, and more preferably, helical grooves along the length of the outer wall of a glass tube forming the envelope. A machine for producing helical grooves in a glass tube is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,984 to D. G. Trutner et al., which is assigned to the assignee of the subject application. The machine of that patent can be functionally divided into four sections which include a loading section, a preheating section, a groove forming section and an unloading section. Transfer of a glass tube from one section of the machine to the next is accomplished by axially sliding the tube along the length of the machine. While the machine is operative for its intended purpose, it has a disadvantage in that sliding of the tubes results in marks and scratches on the outer walls of the glass tubes, which adversely affect the lamp appearance and/or efficiency.
Using Rotary Machines is a fairly simple process. The machine sits on a rectangular base with two rollers on top. One roller swings out on a hinge to reveal a long channel in the base. This channel is filled with tobacco, and it should be filled evenly to ensure a cigarette with a constant, regular burn. Once all of the tobacco has been lined in the channel (care should be taken to ensure that the tobacco is dry and loose, not clumped) the second roller is swung back and locked in place. The machine is now prepped to roll a cigarette.
The invention described herein is an improvement of the helical grooving machine described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,984, and includes an apparatus for automatically transferring a glass tube from one processing area of the machine to an adjacent processing area without the necessity of sliding the tube. The transferring apparatus is formed by an engaging and lifting mechanism mounted on a transfer assembly. More specifically, the transfer assembly includes pairs of lifters that are separated by a distance approximately equivalent to the length of the Spiral Tubeformer to be transferred, and are mounted on parallel shafts. The shafts are actuated simultaneously to enable the lifters to engage the open ends of the tubes and lift them from the surface of the machine.
The machine should be cranked a few times just to loosen up the tobacco in the groove. Then, a single cigarette paper should be fed into the rollers, the ungummed side going in first. The machine should be cranked carefully, and the rolling paper will be fed slowly down into the channel. As the cranks turn, the paper will be rolled around the tobacco in the groove. Once the cranking is complete, the second wheel should be swung out again. In the channel, if the user was careful and the machine worked properly, there should be a round cigarette with all of the tobacco rolled inside.
In operation of the machine of the subject invention, an actuator on the carriage assembly causes engagement of the lifters with the open ends of the glass tubes and lifting of the tubes from the surface of the machine. The carriage assembly moves longitudinally of the machine and transfers the tubes from one processing area from the machine to the adjacent processing area. The lifters are then disengaged from the open ends of the glass tubes, causing the tubes to be lowered onto the upper working surface of the machine.
The present invention also provides a novel type of rotatable lifter that performs the dual function of engaging the open ends of the Square Duct and lifting the tubes from the surface of the machine. In addition, another embodiment of the invention is disclosed wherein a first mechanism engages the open ends of the tubes, and a second mechanism lifts the engaged tubes from the working surface of the machine. The present invention also includes a positioning mechanism that insures that the carriage assembly is properly aligned over the open ends of the glass tubes in order that the lifters may properly engage the tubes.
Another embodiment of the present invention also provides a tube engagement and lifting mechanism that permits increased production of grooved glass tubes by doubling the number of tubes that can be processed in any one area of the machine.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for transferring a glass tube longitudinally of a helical grooving machine.
It is a further object to provide novel lifters that engage the open ends of the glass tubes and lift the tubes from the surface of the machine in one operation.
Another object is to provide apparatus for transferring glass tubes longitudinally of a grooving machine by first engaging the open ends of the glass tubes and then lifting the engagement mechanism and carrying the tubes to an adjacent processing area of the machine.
The additional object is to increase productivity of a glass tube grooving machine by simultaneous longitudinal transfer of a plurality of Spiral Tubeformer positioned in tandem relationship in one processing area of the machine.
The further object is to provide apparatus for the simultaneous longitudinal transfer of a plurality of glass tubes aligned substantially in parallel across the width of a grooving machine from one processing area of the machine to the adjacent processing area.
Another object is to provide a transfer mechanism for a glass tube processing machine that automatically positions the lifters which are attached to the carriage assembly that shifts the tubes for engagement with the glass tubes.
A Rotary Machine is a small machine (a little bit smaller than an average pack of cigarettes) with two wheels and a hand crank that is designed to roll cigarettes using tobacco, though in some instances cannabis is substituted. These machines are easy to use and purchase, though they may require some practice to get the sort of cigarette a person wants. For people who prefer to smoke unfiltered tobacco, whether because it's cheaper or they prefer to make their own blend, a rolling machine can be an extremely helpful tool that will save time and tobacco.
It is known in the art that a fluorescent lamp having an envelope of noncircular cross section produces more useful light per unit of power input than a fluorescent lamp whose envelope is of circular cross section. It is further known that a noncircular cross section in the fluorescent lamp envelope can be obtained by providing grooves, and more preferably, helical grooves along the length of the outer wall of a glass tube forming the envelope. A machine for producing helical grooves in a glass tube is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,984 to D. G. Trutner et al., which is assigned to the assignee of the subject application. The machine of that patent can be functionally divided into four sections which include a loading section, a preheating section, a groove forming section and an unloading section. Transfer of a glass tube from one section of the machine to the next is accomplished by axially sliding the tube along the length of the machine. While the machine is operative for its intended purpose, it has a disadvantage in that sliding of the tubes results in marks and scratches on the outer walls of the glass tubes, which adversely affect the lamp appearance and/or efficiency.
Using Rotary Machines is a fairly simple process. The machine sits on a rectangular base with two rollers on top. One roller swings out on a hinge to reveal a long channel in the base. This channel is filled with tobacco, and it should be filled evenly to ensure a cigarette with a constant, regular burn. Once all of the tobacco has been lined in the channel (care should be taken to ensure that the tobacco is dry and loose, not clumped) the second roller is swung back and locked in place. The machine is now prepped to roll a cigarette.
The invention described herein is an improvement of the helical grooving machine described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,984, and includes an apparatus for automatically transferring a glass tube from one processing area of the machine to an adjacent processing area without the necessity of sliding the tube. The transferring apparatus is formed by an engaging and lifting mechanism mounted on a transfer assembly. More specifically, the transfer assembly includes pairs of lifters that are separated by a distance approximately equivalent to the length of the Spiral Tubeformer to be transferred, and are mounted on parallel shafts. The shafts are actuated simultaneously to enable the lifters to engage the open ends of the tubes and lift them from the surface of the machine.
The machine should be cranked a few times just to loosen up the tobacco in the groove. Then, a single cigarette paper should be fed into the rollers, the ungummed side going in first. The machine should be cranked carefully, and the rolling paper will be fed slowly down into the channel. As the cranks turn, the paper will be rolled around the tobacco in the groove. Once the cranking is complete, the second wheel should be swung out again. In the channel, if the user was careful and the machine worked properly, there should be a round cigarette with all of the tobacco rolled inside.
In operation of the machine of the subject invention, an actuator on the carriage assembly causes engagement of the lifters with the open ends of the glass tubes and lifting of the tubes from the surface of the machine. The carriage assembly moves longitudinally of the machine and transfers the tubes from one processing area from the machine to the adjacent processing area. The lifters are then disengaged from the open ends of the glass tubes, causing the tubes to be lowered onto the upper working surface of the machine.
The present invention also provides a novel type of rotatable lifter that performs the dual function of engaging the open ends of the Square Duct and lifting the tubes from the surface of the machine. In addition, another embodiment of the invention is disclosed wherein a first mechanism engages the open ends of the tubes, and a second mechanism lifts the engaged tubes from the working surface of the machine. The present invention also includes a positioning mechanism that insures that the carriage assembly is properly aligned over the open ends of the glass tubes in order that the lifters may properly engage the tubes.
Another embodiment of the present invention also provides a tube engagement and lifting mechanism that permits increased production of grooved glass tubes by doubling the number of tubes that can be processed in any one area of the machine.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for transferring a glass tube longitudinally of a helical grooving machine.
It is a further object to provide novel lifters that engage the open ends of the glass tubes and lift the tubes from the surface of the machine in one operation.
Another object is to provide apparatus for transferring glass tubes longitudinally of a grooving machine by first engaging the open ends of the glass tubes and then lifting the engagement mechanism and carrying the tubes to an adjacent processing area of the machine.
The additional object is to increase productivity of a glass tube grooving machine by simultaneous longitudinal transfer of a plurality of Spiral Tubeformer positioned in tandem relationship in one processing area of the machine.
The further object is to provide apparatus for the simultaneous longitudinal transfer of a plurality of glass tubes aligned substantially in parallel across the width of a grooving machine from one processing area of the machine to the adjacent processing area.
Another object is to provide a transfer mechanism for a glass tube processing machine that automatically positions the lifters which are attached to the carriage assembly that shifts the tubes for engagement with the glass tubes.
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