US3856129A

US3856129A - Apparatus for automatically feeding crt face panels to a panel processor

Info

Publication number: US3856129A
Application number: US00327916A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Baur; T Hajduk
Original assignee: Zenith Radio Corp
Current assignee: Zenith Electronics LLC
Priority date: 1973-01-30
Filing date: 1973-01-30
Publication date: 1974-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-24
Also published as: CA999335A

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically inserting and retrieving cathode ray tube face panels from a panel processor which includes a programmer and an endless conveyor that carries a plurality of panel supporting carts. A prime mover controlled by the programmer steps the carts through a series of work stations, including an index station, disposed along a closed path. The apparatus comprises a platen having a pair of panel holders successively displaceable between the index station and a loading station. Means are provided for effecting a first reciprocation of the panel holder at the index station into engagement with an indexed cart to insert an unprocessed panel therein and thereafter, upon a second reciprocation to retrieve a processed panel from a subsequently indexed cart. Finally, platen driving means are provided for displacing the panel holder with the retrieved panel to the loading station while simultaneously displacing the other panel holder to the index station to insert an unprocessed panel into the subsequently indexed cart.

Description

United States Patent [191 Baur et al.

[ 1 APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY FEEDING CRT FACE PANELS TO A P NEL PROCESSOR [75] Inventors: Leslie L. Baur, Glen Ellyn;

Thaddeus J; Hajduk, Chicago, both of III.

[73] Assignee: Zenith Radio Corporation, Chicago,

Ill.

[22] I Filed: Jan. 30, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 327,916

[51] Int. Cl B23q 7/00 [58] Field of Search 198/19, 25, 209

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,537,660 l/l95l Eldred 198/25 X 3,096,709 l/l963 Eldred et aI. 198/25 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,034,263 4/1953 France 1.98/25 A a Primary Examiner-RichardA. Schacher Assistant ExaminerDouglas D. Watts Attorney, Agent, or l*'irmJohn HfMo'or'; Cornelius J. OConnor [451 Dec. 24, 1974 57 ABSTRACT An apparatus for automatically inserting and retrieving cathode ray tube face panels from a' panel processor which includes a programmer and an endless conveyor that carries a plurality of panel supporting carts. A prime mover controlled by'the programmer steps the carts through a series of work stations, including an index station, disposed along a closed path. The apparatus comprises a platen having a pair of panel holders successively displaceable between the index station and a loading station. Means are provided for effecting a first reciprocation of the panel holder at the index station into engagement with an indexed cart to insert an unprocessed panel therein and thereafter, upon a second reciprocation to retrieve a processed panel from a subsequently indexed cart. Finally,

platen driving means are provided for displacing the panel holder with the retrieved panel to the loading station while simultaneously displacing the other panel holder to the index station to insert an unprocessed panel into the subsequently indexed cart.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED HEC24|974 SHEET 1 BF 4 Programmer FIGQZQ N 9 F w m. M .5 W M m 5 A n o f 6 MP W .C .e P 1. .IV VA T m m w M T T 9 v 7 FIG. 5

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY FEEDING CRT FACE PANELS TO A PANEL PROCESSOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The subject invention relates in general to a color cathode ray tube processor and in particularto an improved apparatus for automatically inserting and retrieving cathode ray tube face panels and their associated masks from such a processor. v

A color reproducing cathode ray tube, as distinguished from a monochrome tube, comprises a funnel shaped glass envelope, a flanged glass face panel which serves to support a luminescent screen and a color selection electrode inthe form of an apertured mask. In one type of color tube which finds wide acceptance today, the screen is comprised of interleaved red, green and blue phosphor dots arranged in triads with each such triad formed of a red dot, a green dot and a blue dot. The phosphor dots can be applied by any known process, for example, slurry screening. In practicing this screen forming technique a coating comprising a photosensitive resistand one of the three color phosphors is applied over the image area of the face panel, dried and then exposed to actinic light through the aperture mask. As a consequence of this exposure the illuninated areas of the coating are rendered insoluble and the pattern thusestablished is developed by washing the exposed screen with water. The exposed elemental areas remaining after this wash constitute one set of the triad color elements. This procedure is followed for each of the remaining two colors with an appropriate adjustment in position of the exposing light which issued to T. J. Hajduk et al., assigned to the same assignee as the subject invention. Another panel processor to which the invention finds ready application is disclosed in copending patent application Ser. No. 319,970 filed Dec., 29, 1972, also assigned to the same assignee as the subject invention. The latter processor comprises a circular conveyer which is stepped around a closed path so as to transport a plurality of panel supporting carts through a series of work stations. Insofar as inserting and removing a face panel and its mask from a panel processor, the prior practice has relied upon one or more operators to manually unload and then load each cart as it entered an index station. A shortcoming inherent in this practice resides in the fact that panel processing time is renderedsubject to the dexterity of the operators. Moreover, the physical space available at the index station, taken in conjunction with the safety requirements that must be observed for a manual loading operation, constitutes another factor that can impose restrictions on the speed of the processor and therefore, panelprocessing time.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for automatically inserting and retrieving a color tube face panel from a panel processor.

It is another object of the invention to provide a face panel loading and unloading apparatus which renders the operational time of a tube processor substantially independent of an operator.

It is a specific object of the invention to provide a face panel handling apparatus which substantially reduces reliance upon operator dexterity in loading and unloading a panel processor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention for automatically inserting and retrieving cathode ray tube face panels from a panel processor which includes a programmer, an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of panel supporting carts and a prime mover, controlled by the programmer for stepping the carts through a series of work stations, including an index station, comprises a platen having a plurality of panel holders successively displaceable between the index station and a loading station. Means are provided for effecting a first reciprocation of at least that one of the panel holders, instantaneously located at the index station, into cooperative engagement with an indexed one of the carts to insert an unprocessed panel in that cart and for thereafter effecting a second reciprocation of the same panel holder into engagement with a subsequently indexed cart to retrieve a processed panel from that cart. Finally, platen driving means are provided for displacing the aforesaid one panel holder and its retrieved panel to the loading station while simultaneously displacing another of the panel holders carrying an unprocessed panel to the index station for insertion in the subsequently indexed cart by the reciprocation means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cathode ray tube face panel processor employing an automatic panel loader constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the automatic panel loader shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the control circuitry for the panel loader.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is an overhead view of a panel processor 10 of the type previously mentioned which, in addition to control of a programmer 11, drives the carousel and its carts in a step-by-step manner through a series of work stations, including an index station, arranged in a closed circular path. As the cart-borne panels traverse this path from a point commencing, and subsequently terminating, at the index station, a series of screening operations are performed upon the panels to effectively convert them from unprocessed to processed panels. In addition to the aforementioned work stations, the processor can be said to include a loading station, specifically, an area adjacent the index station but readily accessible to an operator.

The present invention has to do, in particular, with an apparatus 16 for automatically inserting and retrieving face panels from processor 10. Accordingly, attention is nowdirected to FIGS. 2 and 3 which illustrate details of panel loading apparatus 16, as well as a section of panel processor 10. Those parts of the processor which are shown include a portion of a support table 17 upon which a plurality of rollers 18 (only one shown) are rotatably supported for presentation to a circular rail 19 secured to the underside of conveyor 12. Rollers 18 and rail 19 cooperate to provide a low friction rolling contact between the conveyor and table 17 so that the conveyor may be readily stepped through its Work stations. The construction of one of carts 13, specifically the one occupying the index station of the panel processor, is also shown. As depicted, the vacuum chuck 14 associated with cart 13 is seen to comprise a concave plate 20 having a contour matching the convex outer surface of a face panel. Plate 20 is coupled through a hose 2 1 to a vacuum pump, not shown, while a venting valve 22 is mounted atop the plate for presentation to an air actuated piston 23. Additional details of the chuck are of no concern to the subject invention; suffice it to say, when a cart 'is to be loaded, the chuck upon encountering a face panel is activated by programmer 11 to create a partial vacuum between its internal concave surface and the convex surface of the panel sufficient to enable the chuck to support the panel. When a panel is to be released from the chuck, piston 23, upon receipt of-a signal from the programmer, opens valve 22 to relieve the partial vacuum created between the panel and the chuck. Finally, in addition to a chuck, each cart is provided with an upstanding arm 24, the upper portion of which is bifuracted to .present a pair of hooks 25, only one shown, for transporting a mask M together with its associated panel P, through processor 10.

' Apparatus l6 comprises'a vertically disposed post 26, the lower extremity of which is undercut to provide a spindle portion 27 which is rotatably supported by a bearing assembly 28 mounted within a housing 29 affixed to a base plate 30. A driver 31 attached to spindle 27, for effecting .intermittent rotation, in 180 increments, of post 26 and platen 34, is coupled via a speed reducer 32 and a belted pulley arrangementto a reversible electric motor 33 mounted beneath base plate 30, see FIG. 3. Driver 31 can comprise a parallel index drive, a unit available from Commercial Cam and Machinery Company of Chicago.

- Panel loader 16 also includes a platen 34 comprising a hub 35 which is mounted upon a spline 36 secured to post 26. In this fashion, platen 34 is coupled to post 26 for rotation therewith, while, at'the same time, the hub and spline coupling'permits a vertical displacement of the platen. Platen 34 further comprises a pair of oppositely disposed shelves 38a, 38b within respective spring-loaded

platforms

39a, 39b are nested. These platforms, in turn, serve to support the

face panel holders

40a, 40b each of which includes an upstanding de-v pressible feeler button 37 positioned for engaging the sealing land of a face panel to be received by the holder. While only button 37a for holder 40a is visible in FIG. 2, panel holder 40b is similarly equipped. Upon engaging a panel sealing land, this button relays a signal through the programmer to actuate piston 23 to open the vacuum chuck vent as required when a panel holder is reciprocated to retrieve a processed panel. However, in the case where a panel holder enters the index station bearing an unprocessed panel for insertion into a cart, the-output signal from the already depressed feeler button is now prevented from actuating piston 23 by the programmer; instead, the vacuum pump is activated when the convex surface of the panel abuts vacuum chuck plate 20. By virtue of the coupling between post 26 and platen 34, afforded by hub 35 and spline 36, it should be apparent that

panel holders

40a, 40b are successively displaceable, in response to rotation of post 26, between the index station within the carousel and the external loading station.

A pair of

elongated cam rods

41a, 41b, individually secured to the undersides of

holders

40a, 40b, extend downward through central apertures in their associated platforms and shelves. Affixed to the lower extremities of

cam rods

41a, 41b are assigned

rollers

42a, 42b in continuous engagement with a circular cam track 43 that undulates from a reference elevation in the index station to a predetermined elevation at the loading station. With this arrangement, then, the panel holder instantaneously located in the index station, holder 40a in FIG. 2, is permitted to retract to the reference position clear of the path of movement of carts 13 through the index station. At the same time track 43,.in conjunction with cam rod 41b, causes the panel holder 40b occupying the loading station to ascend to the predetermined elevated position, with the track elevation selected to place panel holder 40b at a convenient height for the operator.

In order to prevent rotation of

panel holders

40a, 40b relative to their platforms,

respective stabilizer rods

45a, 45b are fitted to the underside of the panel holders so as to extend through cooperating apertures in the platforms and shelves associated with those holders.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the hub 35 of the platen is rotatably supported upon a reciprocating means comprising a collar 45 having a horizontally disposed bearing surface 46 that engages the underside of hub 35. Collar 45 includes a flange 47 that receives a pair of

push rods

48, 49 which are axially joumalled within a pair of vertically disposed bearings extending through housing 29. A cross-piece 50, which constitutes a drive plate for

rods

48, 49 includes an offset portion 51, see FIG. 3a, that is slotted to accommodate a roller 52. This roller is in continuous contact with a cam 53 having a constant radius portion and a 180 offset lobe 44. Cam 53, upon rotation, effects reciprocation of the push rods and, thereby, collar 45, platen 34 and the panel holders. Cam 53 is coupled through a speed reducer 54 and a belted drive shaft to motor 33. As will be described in detail subsequently, cam 53 is arranged to be driven through an arcuate travel of 540 which effects two reciprocations of platen 34, at which time the drive motor is deenergized. However, between such reciprocations, intermittent drive 31, which is also coupled to motor 33, effects a 180 rotation of post 26 and the panel holders. Rotation-of the motor is then resumed in a reverse direction until another 540 of cam travel is completed to effect two more reciprocations of the platen anda 180 rotation, this time in the opposite direction, of the post and panel holders.

Secured to an upper portion of post 26, for rotation therewith, is atwo armed hanger 55 which serves to transport masks M and M between the carousel index station and the operator loading station. To this end the hanger comprises sets of

double hooks

56a, 56b which extend from assigned ones of the hanger arms, see FIG. 2a -for details of set 56a. As shown in FIG. 2a the hooks of set 56a are spaced apart' a distance less than the spacing between hooks on bifurcated cart arm 24. This dimensioning permits the hanger hooks to pass between the bifurcation of arm 24 toretrieve or deposit a mask on hooks 25, as required during operation. Hook set 56b is, of course, of like construction. Accordingly, further description of the hanger hooks will be addressed principally to hook set 56a, it being understood that set 56b is identical to set 56a.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 2a, hook 56a is fastened to a pair of slotted bars 57a which are pivotally suspended from a pin 58a that bridges a pair of cover plates 59a.

A control arm 60a, which is slideably journalled in the hanger arm, is connected by a pin 61a to a coupler 62a which, in turn, is rotatably connected to hook bar 57a by the pin 63a. In order to complete an articulated coupling between hook 56a and control arm 60a, the cover plates 59a are slotted to control and direct the travel of pin 63a, actually cover plate 59 b best illustrates this slot. In any event, upon a displacement of arm 60a in a direction toward center post 26, pin 63a is driven up the inclined slots in the cover plates 59 so as to elevate hooks 56a. Simultaneously, the conjoint action of pin -SSaand the slots in hook bar 570 efiects a rotation of the hook about pin 58a. An identical elevation and rotation of hook 56b is effected at the same time by a duplicate mechanism in which like parts are identified by like numerals-suffixed with a lower case b.

carries a pin 72 which is seated in a groove 73 in cam 70. This groove, although comprising three distinct 90 segments, presents an uninterrupted 270 track for pin 72. As perhaps better seen in FIGS. 4 or 5, the two end segments constitute mirror images of a track section having a radius that continually increases from its beginning to a point 90 displaced therefrom. The center 90 segment, on the other hand, is a constant radius section. Cam 70, by virtue of the gearing arrangement within gear box 54 is caused to rotate 270 in the same period of time that the platen reciprocating cam 53 traverses 540. Thus, cam 70 effects an elevation of shaft 67 during the time pin 72 traverses the first 90 segment to effect an inward retraction of the mask hanger hooks, then during traversal of the center 90 segment, the hooks are maintained retracted as this is the period during which the post and panel holders are rotated 180 by driver 31. Finally, shaft 67 is retracted as pin 72 travels the third 90 segment effecting an outward motion of the hanger hooks. Cam 70 is also coupled through gear box 54 to motor 33.

In addition to its cam track, cam 70 also comprises a pair of

switch actuators

75, 76 which are spaced apart an arcuate distance of 270 and extend outwardly from the peripheral surface of the cam. At each extremity of the cams travel, one of

actuators

75, 76 engages the toggle of a switch 77 which, during operation of panel loader 16, is normally closed. Electrically, this switch is located in the energizing circuit for drive motor 33 retracted (broken line construction in FIG. 2) and a lower position in which the hooks are extended (solid line construction). To achieve this action cap 65 is cou-' pled to the upper extremity of a control shaft 67 which 7 race bearing 69 fitted to the top of shaft 67. In this fashion cap 58 is free to rotate about shaft 67 with hanger and post 26, as required, while still subject to vertical displacement by that shaft.

The lower extremity of shaft 67 is coupled to a circular cam 70 via a pivotally mounted control arm 71 that so that each time it is closed, by either of

actuators

75 or 76, motor 33 is deenergized, see FIG. 5. In order to initiate another sequence, there is included in programmer 11 a timer actuated normally-open solenoid type starting switch 79 which is coupled across of switch 77 for the purpose of energizing motor 33 for at least a period of time sufficient to cause a rotation of cam 70 that displaces the actuator in contact with the toggle of switch 77.

A reversing switch 80, which controls the rotational direction of motor 33, is mounted upon the flange 47 of collar 45 50 as to present its toggle to a crescentshaped cam member 81. This cam, which subtends an angle of approximately 180, is attached to the underside of platen 34, see FIG. 3b. By virtue of its 180 crescent construction and placement under the platen, cam 81 engages the toggle of switch 80 only when the platen occupies the position shown in FIG. 3 and during the time the platen is being rotated from that position.

Since the toggle is depressed only during one orientation of the platen, switch 80 serves as a device for controlling the rotational direction of motor 33. To thisend, and as diagrammatically depicted in FIG. 5, a depression of the switchs toggle energizes a coil 82, a coil that induces a counterclockwise rotation of the motor. On the other hand, when the toggle is released, which occurs when cam 81 departs from the toggle as it would when post 26 and platen 34 have rotated 180 from the positions shown in FIG. 3 (in the direction indicated by the arrow encircling post 26), a coil 83, that produces a clockwise rotation of the motor, is energized. In other words, when the toggle of switch 80 is depressed, motor 32 is conditioned for counterclockwise rotation, but when the toggle is released the motor is conditioned for clockwise rotation.

The operational sequence of automatic panel loader 16 will now be discussed with reference to the timing charts shown in FIG. 4. It will be assumed that an oper- 'ational sequence is initiated by the programmer at time t at which instant the panel loader is positioned in the manner shown by the solid construction lines in FIG. 2. At time t then, motor 33 is energized through starting switch 79 to commence rotation of reciprocating cam 53 and circular cam 70 which actuates the mask hanger control shaft 67. As cam 53 rotates in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, its lobe 44 is driven beneath roller 52 of the platen reciprocator to elevate platform 39a and panel holder 40a from their positions shown in FIG. 2 to the positions shown in FIG. 3. Note that platform 39b is simultaneously elevated; however, this action is of no' consequence since panel holder 40b is already at a predetermined elevation due to cam track 43. At time therefore, panel holder 40a is in a position to receive processed panel P which had been transported to the index station by cart 13. Accordingly, when button 37a of holder 40b encounters the sealing land of panel P piston 23 is actuated to open valve 22 of the vacuum clutch which then releases the panel for retrieval by holder 40a. Holder 40a is then returned to its reference elevation as cam 53 permits roller 52 to ride down from lobe 44 to that portion having a constant radius. Thus, between times I. and t holder 40a ascended to the vacuum clutch, retrieved panel P, and then returned with the panel to areference level. I

Simultaneously, with the 180 displacement of cam 53 during time period t -t cam 70 is rotated 90 through its first track segment to elevate control shaft 67 from its lowermost position to its uppermost position. This action on the part of shaft 67 serves to rotate hook pair 56a through the bifurcation of cart arm 24 to retrieve mask M from hooks 25 and position it to the location illustrated by the broken construction lines in FIG. 2, that is, to a position clear of the cart and its hooks 25.

During the time period t,,-t while panel P mask M were being retrieved an operator at the loading station would have placed an unprocessed panel P on panel holder 40b and its associated mask M on hook pair 56b. As depicted in the FIG. 4 time slot 1 4,, cams-53 and-70' are effectively idling to the extent that, while they are still rotating during this period t -t the followers associated with these cams are traversing surfaces of constant radius so that the reciprocation mechanism for the work holders remains retracted and control shaft 67 for the mask hanger is maintained in an elevated position with masks M and M occupying the positions shown by dotted line construction in FIG. 2.

During this period then, while

cams

53 and 70 are idling, a positive coupling is established between drive a motor 33 and the driver 31 connected to post 26. To

rotate the post, platen 34 and its panel holders 180 to carry holder 40b with its unprocessed panel P into the index station, while holder 40a with its processed panel 1 is carried to the operator loading station. Simultaneously, of course, masks M and M, are transported with their associated panels to the index and loading stations, respectively. At this stage, time t.,, roller 52 has traversed cam 53s 180 track of constant radius and the pin follower 72 for cam 70 has traversed the 90 portion of its constant radius track. Another occurrence-transpiring during time period 4, is the elevation of panel holder 40a to the position previously occupied by panel 40b by virtue of the travel of cam rod roller 42a along inclined track 43.

Commencing now at t.,, cam 53 again drives roller 52 up its offset lobe 44 to elevate platen 34 to now present holder 40b and its unprocessed panel P to vacuum chuck 14. Of course, as panel P is driven against plate 20 of the chuck, the programmer initiates operation of the vacuum pump to develop a partial vacuum between the convex surface of the panel and the concave surface of chuck plate 20. The spring-loaded platform 39b serves as a pressure relief mechanism to the extent that it permits platen 34 to drive panel P against chuck plate 20 with sufficient pressure to enable the chuck to effect a firm coupling with the panel. This insertion of panel P into the vacuum chuck is completed at time t so that continued rotation of cam 53 permits the holder 40b to return to the reference position clear of the panel and cart, which action is completed by time Meanwhile during this same period, t t the last segment of cam track 73 returns control shaft 67 to its lowermost position thereby rotating the mask hanger hooks 56a, and 56b downward and outward so as to now deposit mask M upon cart hooks 25. As cam 70 completes this function, its actuator 76 engages the toggle of off switch 77 to deenergize drive motor 33.

Accordingly, as described above, during the time period extending from t through t cam 53 is rotated through 540 to complete two reciprocations of platen 34 and the panel holders. During the same period, cam 70 is rotated 270 to elevate and then retract control shaft 67 to first retrieve mask M, from a cart and thereafter to deposit mask M on that cart. As also noted, during the same time span, the intermittent coupling arrangement between driver 31 and'motor 33 is effected so as to permit a 180 revolution of post 26, the panel holders and the hangerarms.

During the above-described course of events, conveyor 12 of the processor remained stationary. Accordingly, upon receipt of a signal from the programmer, prime mover 15 is energized and carousel 12 'is advanced one station to place newlyinserted panel P into the processing chain, while advancing the just processed panel P to the index station. As advance of the carousel is arrested, the programmer through a timer activates start switch 79 to initiate rotation of motor 33. However, it should be noted that cam 81 has now been displaced 180 from the position shown in FIG. 3 so that the toggle for reversing switch. is no-longer depressed and the motor rotates in an opposite direction, that is, clockwise. It should also be noted that

cams

53 and 70 will also be driven in a direction opposite to that above described. The operational sequence for apparatus 16 is again the same as described above. Specifically, by retracing the tuning charts of FIG. 4 along the broken line arrows, it is apparent that a reciprocation of the platen to retrieve processed panel P occurs during t as does retrieval of its mask. From t until

t cams

53 and 70 again idle while driver 31 rotates the post, platen and panel holders The period t 't again sees an unprocessedpanel and its mask inserted into the cart that delivered panel P while P and its mask are removed by the oper-. ator and replaced with still another unprocessed panel and its mask. As cam 70 completes its rotation, it now presents actuator 75 to the toggle of off switch 77 to again deenergize motor 33. The programmer again ad- 9 vances the carousel and the entire t is repeated again. a

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically inserting and retrieving cathode ray tube face panels from a panel processor, said processor including a programmer, an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of panel supporting carts and a prime mover, controlled by said programmer for process beginning at stepping said carts through a seriesv of work stations, in-

eluding an index station, disposed along a closed path,

said apparatus comprising:

a platen having a plurality of panel holders successively displaceable between said index station and a loading station;

means for effecting a first reciprocation of at least that one of said panel holders instantaneously located at said index station into cooperative engagement with a first indexed one of said carts for inserting an unprocessed panel in said first cart and for thereafter effecting at said second station a second reciprocation of said one panel holder into cooperative engagement with a subsequently indexed cart for retrieving a processed panel from said subsequent cart; I

and platen driving means for displacing said one panel holder and said retrieved processed panel to said loading station while simultaneously displacing another of said panel holders carrying an unprocessed panel to said index station for insertion into said subsequently indexed cart by said reciprocation means.

cludes a rotatably supported post coupled to said platen for displacing said panel holders between said index station and said loading station.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said means for effecting reciprocation of said panel holder comprises a rotatably mounted reversible cam displaceable through an arcuate distance of 540 in effecting said first and second reciprocations of said panel holders. t

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 which further includes a muIti-arm hanger supporting a like plurality of aperture masks and mounted upon said post for conjoint rotation with said panel holders.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 which further includes a control shaft disposed within said post for actuating said hanger to deposit that one of said aperture masks instantaneously located at said index station upon a cart borne mask holder. 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which additionally includes a reversible rotatably mounted cam displaceable through an arcuate travel of 270 for depositing a mask upon said first cart during said first reciprocation and for removing a mask from said subsequently indexed cart during said second reciprocation.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which further includes means for automatically elevating that one of said panel holders entering said loading station to a predetermined elevation.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which said elevating means comprises a circular track undulating from a reference elevation at said index station to said predetermined elevation at said loading station and a cam follower depending from each of said panel holders in continuous engagement with said track.

Claims

1. Apparatus for automatically inserting and retrieving cathode ray tube face panels from a panel processor, said processor including a programmer, an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of panel supporting carts and a prime mover, controlled by said programmer for stepping said carts through a series of work stations, including an index station, disposed along a closed path, said apparatus comprising: a platen having a plurality of panel holders successively displaceable between said index station and a loading station; means for effecting a first reciprocation of at least that one of said panel holders instantaneously located at said index station into cooperative engagement with a first indexed one of said carts for inserting an unprocessed panel in said first cart and for thereafter effecting at said second station a second reciprocation of said one panel holder into cooperative engagement with a subsequently indexed cart for retrieving a processed panel from said subsequent cart; and platen driving means for displacing said one panel holder and said retrieved processed panel to said loading station while simultaneously displacing another of said panel holders carrying an unprocessed panel to said index station for insertion into said subsequently indexed cart by said reciprocation means.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said platen comprises a pair of oppositely disposed panel holders.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which further includes a rotatably supported post coupled to said platen for displacing said panel holders between said index station and said loading station.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said means for effecting reciprocation of said panel holder comprises a rotatably mounted reversible cam displaceable through an arcuate distance of 540* in effecting said first and second reciprocations of said panel holders.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 which further includes a multi-arm hanger supporting a like plurality of aperture masks and mounted upon said post for conjoint rotation with said panel holders.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 which further includes a control shaft disposed within said post for actuating said hanger to deposit that one of said aperture masks instantaneously located at said index station upon a cart borne mask holder.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which additionally includes a reversible rotatably mounted cam displaceable through an arcuate travel of 270* for depositing a mask upon said first cart during said first reciprocation and for removing a mask from said subsequently indexed cart during said second reciprocation.