KR100920421B1 - Burning apparatus for fluorescent lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp firing apparatus, and more particularly to a fluorescent lamp firing apparatus for firing while transporting a quartz tube using a conveyor.

Fluorescent lamp firing apparatus according to the present invention is a heating furnace; Conveyor for transporting the quartz tube in the upper or lower portion of the heating furnace; A ring-shaped quartz tube holder for mounting the quartz tube on the conveyor; And quartz tube rotating means for rotating the quartz tube mounted on the quartz tube holder. In particular, the conveyor is a chain that rotates in engagement with a drive shaft and a driven shaft, and one end of the quartz tube holder is coupled to the chain. It is preferable.

Fluorescent lamps. Bulb. Quartz tube. conveyor. roller. chain.

Description

Fluorescent lamp firing equipment {BURNING APPARATUS FOR FLUORESCENT LAMP}

The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp firing apparatus, and more particularly to a fluorescent lamp firing apparatus for firing while transporting a quartz tube using a conveyor.

Among the flat panel display devices, since the liquid crystal display device is a non-light emitting device that does not emit light by itself, a backlight device for providing a separate light source is required.

In such a backlight unit, a fluorescent lamp having a diameter of several mm is used. Cold fluorescent lamps (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp), external electrode fluorescent lamps (External Electrode Fluorescent Lamp) and the like are used for this fluorescent lamp.

Referring to the general structure of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp 10, as shown in Figure 1, the bulb 11, which is a long glass tube, and the anode 12 and the cathode 13 are attached to both ends thereof, the two electrodes are the bulb It is comprised by the lead 16 formed in the both ends of (11). In addition, the inner wall of the bulb 11 is coated with a fluorescent material 14, and the inner space 15 of the bulb is filled with a mixed gas such as mercury, argon and neon.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2, the external electrode fluorescent lamp 20 has a structure in which both ends of the bulb 21 are sealed, and electrodes 22 and 23 are formed to surround both ends of the lamp 20 from the outside. The external electrodes 22 and 23 form an electric field in the bulb 21 to discharge gas. In addition, a fluorescent material 24 is coated on the inner wall of the bulb 21, and the inner space 25 of the bulb is filled with a mixed gas such as mercury, argon, and neon.

In order to manufacture such a cold cathode fluorescent lamp or an external electrode fluorescent lamp, a fluorescent material is applied to the inside of the bulb by a fluorescent material coating device, and a process of firing and stabilizing it by a sintering device is inevitably performed.

The firing apparatus is completed by loading a bulb coated with a fluorescent material between an upper heating furnace and a lower heating furnace, heating and baking by an upper and lower heating furnace, and then unloading the fired bulb.

However, since the bulb is a glass tube with a very thin thickness, the bulb may be damaged by hitting each other during loading and unloading. In particular, when the bulb is fired by the upper and lower heating furnaces, the bulb is rotated in order to transmit heat evenly, and breakage of the bulb frequently occurs during such rotational movement.

Therefore, in order to solve this problem, as shown in Figure 3, the bulb (L) is inserted into the quartz tube (C) to be loaded, rotated, unloaded and fired. In this way, when the quartz tube C is used, not only the breakage of the bulb L can be prevented, but also a side effect of ensuring the continuity of the work. In FIG. 3, one bulb L is inserted into the quartz tube C, but it is generally advantageous to insert the three bulbs into the quartz tube to perform the process.

Looking at the configuration of the conventional fluorescent lamp firing apparatus with reference to Figure 4 in more detail. Conventional firing apparatus 100 is a quartz tube loading elevator 110, a loading unit (not shown) for loading the bulb (L) to the quartz tube (C), and the quartz tube (C) to the upper heating A plurality of transfer blocks 130 to be transferred between the 121 and the lower heating furnace 122, a rotating roller 141 for rotating the quartz tube (C) conveyed by the transfer block 130, and the quartz tube It consists of an unloading part (not shown) which unloads the bulb L fired from (C), and the elevator 150 for unloading a quartz tube bulb. The quartz tube descending on the unloading elevator 150 is transferred to the loading elevator 110 through the collecting conveyor 152 again.

In addition, injection means (not shown) for injecting high-pressure air to the quartz tube rotated by the rotary roller 151 is further provided. This is to discharge foreign substances and gases generated during firing of the bulb.

Referring to Figure 5, between the upper heating furnace 121 and the lower heating furnace 122 is provided with a transfer block 130 and a rotating means 140 provided with a rotating roller (see 141 of Figure 4), The transfer block 130 is cam-driven and overlaps the rotating roller 141 to transfer the quartz tube to the adjacent rotating roller. The transfer block 130 is provided with a plurality of components each conveying only a predetermined section, the rotary roller 141 is a component for rotating the quartz tube transmitted from the transfer block 130. Rotating the quartz tube is to prevent the bending of the bulb loaded therein. That is, since the bulb is in the form of a thin long glass tube, when heat is applied, a warpage may occur. This warping phenomenon can be solved by rotation. The rotary roller is provided with a plurality, each is provided with a sprocket connected by a chain.

The operation of the conventional baking apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6D.

First, a bulb is inserted into a quartz tube that is lifted by a quartz tube loading elevator. The quartz tube C in which the bulb is inserted is fired while rotating between the upper furnace 121 and the lower furnace 122 by the rotating roller 141. In this state, the first transfer block 130 is raised by cam driving (see FIG. 6A).

As such, when the first transfer block 130 is raised, the quartz tube C is transferred from the rotating roller 141 to the first transfer block 130 (see FIG. 6B).

In this state, when the first transfer block 130 is horizontally moved and lowered, the quartz tube is transferred to a neighboring rotating roller 141 (see FIGS. 6C and 6D).

When the quartz tube is transported by a predetermined section by repeating this process, a second transport block acts to transport the quartz tubes in the same direction, and thus, the firing is completed and unloaded.

However, the conventional fluorescent lamp firing apparatus configured as described above has a problem in that the apparatus is complicated because an elevator for loading and unloading quartz tubes and a cam driving means of a transfer block must be provided.

In addition, since the transfer block has to be cam driven, a space required for the cam driving must be secured between the upper road and the lower road. Therefore, the distance between the upper furnace and the lower furnace is far away, which results in a distance between the quartz tube and the heating furnace, resulting in a problem that heat loss is inevitable.

In addition, since the quartz tube cannot be rotated during the transfer by the transfer block, there is a problem that the bending of the bulb occurs.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention to provide a fluorescent lamp firing apparatus for firing while transporting a quartz tube using a conveyor.

In order to solve the above technical problem, the fluorescent lamp firing apparatus according to the present invention is a heating furnace; Conveyor for transporting the quartz tube in the upper or lower portion of the heating furnace; And a quartz tube holder for mounting the quartz tube to the conveyor.

In particular, the conveyor is preferably a chain conveyor that is installed in two rows at both ends of the drive shaft and the driven shaft. In addition, the quartz tube holder is configured such that one end is coupled to the conveyor and moved together.

In addition, it is preferable to further include a quartz tube rotating means for rotating the quartz tube mounted on the quartz tube holder, the quartz tube rotating means may be composed of a roller in contact with the quartz tube rolling.

In this case, a friction member such as an O-ring may be provided on the outer circumference of the roller to prevent slip.

In addition, it is preferable that the quartz tube is in rolling contact with the quartz tube holder in a state supported by the pair of rollers so as to be in non-contact state.

According to the present invention, since the quartz tube is transferred using a conveyor, the firing temperature can be uniform, and heat loss can be minimized.

In particular, since the rotation is carried out even during the feeding of the quartz tube, the warpage of the bulb can be prevented. In addition, since the cam driving device is unnecessary, the installation is simple.

In addition, since the quartz tube is constantly mounted on the conveyor, an elevator necessary for loading and unloading the quartz tube is unnecessary, thereby simplifying the installation and reducing the processing time.

In addition, breakage of the quartz tube and the bulb can be prevented.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the configuration and operation of the fluorescent lamp firing apparatus according to the present invention.

7 and 8, the fluorescent lamp firing apparatus 200 according to the present invention includes heating furnaces 211 and 212, conveyors 221 and 222, a loading part, a blower and an unloading part.

The heating furnace consists of an upper furnace 211 and a lower furnace (212 of FIG. 9), the upper furnace 211 is provided at the top of the conveyor, the lower furnace 212 is between the annular conveyor It is provided.

In this embodiment, the conveyor is a chain conveyor in which the chain is rotated by the main sprocket provided on the drive shaft and the driven shaft. It can be seen that the chains are provided in double rows at both ends of the drive shaft and the driven shaft, respectively.

In addition, one side of the moving section of the chain is provided with a loading portion for inserting the bulb inside the quartz tube, the other side is provided with an unloading portion for discharging the bulb completed firing from the quartz tube. The loading portion and the unloading portion may be configured by a pusher that is stretched and contracted like an air cylinder, and may be configured by other known means.

In addition, the middle portion of the moving section of the chain is further provided with injection means (not shown) for injecting high pressure air into the quartz tube (C). The injection means is a component for discharging foreign matter or gas generated in the quartz tube during the firing process.

9 and 10, since the chain is configured in a double row, a pair of main sprockets 225a and 225b are provided at both ends of the driving shaft (or driven shaft) 223, respectively.

In addition, a ring-shaped quartz tube holder 230 is coupled to the inner chain 222a of the chain composed of a double row. That is, both ends of the quartz tube penetrate and are mounted on the pair of quartz tube holders respectively coupled to the pair of inner chains 221b and 222a. Therefore, when the main sprockets 225a and 225b are rotated, it can be seen that the quartz tube holder 230 and the quartz tube C mounted thereto are transferred together with the chains 222a and 222b.

In addition, between the pair of main sprockets (225a, 225b) is provided with a quartz tube rotating means 240 for rotating the quartz tube (C), the quartz tube rotating means 240 is attached to the quartz tube holder 230 A plurality of rollers 241 in rolling contact with the mounted quartz tube C, a rolling sprocket 242 for transmitting a driving force to the rollers, and a rolling driver (not shown) for rotating the rolling sprocket 242. It is configured by. In particular, the outer circumference of the roller 241 is provided with an O-ring 243 of Viton material.

On the other hand, when the quartz tube (C) is rotated, the quartz tube holder 230 and the quartz tube so as not to scratch the outer periphery of the quartz tube (C) by the quartz tube holder (230) It is important to make (C) the non-contact state. To this end, as shown in Figure 11, the quartz tube (C) is rotated by a pair of rollers 241, the pair of rollers 241 are the quartz tube (C) and the quartz tube holder It can be seen that the rolling contact is performed in a state in which the support 230 has a gap t so as to be in a non-contact state. Of course, since the O-ring 243 is interposed on the outer periphery of the roller 241, it will be the O-ring 243 that the quartz tube C is in direct contact.

The operation of the fluorescent lamp firing apparatus 200 according to the present invention will be described with reference to this.

First, the loading unit loads at least one bulb into the quartz tube mounted on the quartz tube holder.

Next, when the main sprockets 225a and 225b are stopped after driving for a predetermined period, the quartz tube C loaded with the bulb L is transferred between the upper furnace 211 and the lower furnace 212.

When the rolling sprocket 242 is driven in this state, the roller 241 rotates the quartz tube C in a non-contact state without friction with the quartz tube holder 230. Of course, at this time, since the O-ring 243 made of a non-tone material is interposed on the outer circumference of the roller 241, the quartz tube C can be rotated without slipping. As such, the quartz tube C is rotated by the roller 241 for a predetermined time, thereby firing the bulb L loaded inside the quartz tube C while transmitting heat evenly.

When a certain time passes in this state, the main sprockets 225a and 225b are driven again to transfer the quartz tube C together with the chains 221 and 222 for a predetermined period. In particular, since the quartz tube is in contact with the roller 241 even during the transfer of the quartz tube C, the quartz tube C is rotatable even during transfer. However, in addition to the rotation of the roller 241 is also rotated by the conveyance of the chain (221, 222), the rotation speed is different. Therefore, it is preferable that an inverter (not shown), which is a known means for adjusting the rotational speed or the rotational direction of the roller 241, in order to maintain a constant rotational speed of the quartz tube (C). For example, if the direction of rotation of the quartz tube by the transfer of the chain is the same as the direction of rotation of the quartz tube by the roller, the rotational speed of the quartz tube increases during the transfer of the quartz tube. Therefore, in this case, the rotation speed of the roller should be reduced by the inverter to keep the rotation speed of the quartz tube constant.

Thus, the firing process of the fluorescent lamp is completed by loading-> conveying and rotating-> rotating-> conveying and rotating-> ···-> unloading.

In particular, even after the firing of the bulb L is completed and unloaded from the quartz tube C, the quartz tube C is mounted on the quartz tube holder 230 and continuously transferred along the chains 221 and 222. If it is located in the loading unit again, the bulb is loaded.

In addition, high-pressure air is injected into the quartz tube during the firing to forcibly discharge foreign substances or gases.

Although the detailed description of the present invention described above has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and those skilled in the art will appreciate It will be understood that various modifications and changes can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1 and 2 show the structure of a typical fluorescent lamp.

3 illustrates a state in which a bulb is loaded in a quartz tube.

Figure 4 shows a conventional fluorescent lamp firing apparatus.

FIG. 5 shows main components of the firing apparatus shown in FIG. 4.

6a to 6d show an operating state of the firing apparatus shown in FIG.

7 and 8 show a fluorescent lamp firing apparatus according to the present invention.

9 to 11 are enlarged views of main parts of the firing apparatus shown in FIG. 7.

** Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings **

200: firing apparatus 211, 212: heating furnace

221, 222 chain 223, 224 shaft

225: main sprocket 230: quartz tube holder

240: quartz tube rotating means 241: roller

242: rolling sprocket 243: O-ring

250: loading unit 260: blower

270: unloading unit

Claims (14)

Heating furnace; A quartz tube into which at least one bulb is inserted; Conveyor for transporting the quartz tube in the upper or lower portion of the heating furnace; A quartz tube holder having one end coupled to the conveyor and moving together, for mounting the quartz tube to the conveyor; Quartz tube rotating means for rotating the quartz tube mounted on the quartz tube holder in a state of being supported to be in non-contact state with the quartz tube holder; A loading unit for loading the bulb into the quartz tube; And And an unloading part which unloads the bulb which is loaded on the quartz tube and fired. The quartz tube rotating means is a fluorescent lamp firing device, characterized in that the roller in contact with the quartz tube and the friction member is provided on the outer periphery. The method of claim 1, The conveyor is a fluorescent lamp firing apparatus, characterized in that the chain conveyor is installed on both ends of the drive shaft and the driven shaft. The method of claim 2, The chain conveyor is a fluorescent lamp firing apparatus, characterized in that provided in each of the two ends of the drive shaft and the driven shaft. delete The method of claim 1, The heating furnace, An upper furnace provided at an upper portion of the conveyor, Fluorescent lamp firing apparatus, characterized in that consisting of a lower portion provided between the conveyor. delete delete delete The method of claim 1, The friction member is a fluorescent lamp firing apparatus, characterized in that the O-ring (O-ring). The method of claim 1, The friction member is a fluorescent lamp firing apparatus, characterized in that the Viton material. delete The method of claim 1, Inverter for adjusting the rotational speed or the rotational direction of the roller fluorescent lamp firing apparatus characterized in that it is provided. delete The method of claim 1, Fluorescent lamp firing apparatus, characterized in that the injection means for injecting high-pressure air in the inside of the quartz tube conveyed by the conveyor.

Images