Apparatus for sealing the ends of electrical components

Claim 2

Apparatus for applying sealing material to the ends of a plurality of electrical components comprising: means for holding a plurality of components in parallel relationship, each having an end thereof facing upwardly; means for dispensing sealing material through the end of a nozzle; means for moving said dispensing means relative to said components and for operating said dispensing means to sequentially dispense beads of sealing material through the end of the nozzle such that a bead is wiped onto each of said ends of said components; and means for focusing and directing radiant energy at the end of each component to momentarily heat said dispensed beads so that each bead flows over the entire end of each of said components.

Claim 3

Apparatus for applying sealing material to the ends of a plurality of electrical components coMprising: means for holding a plurality of components in parallel relationship, each having an end thereof facing upwardly; means for dispensing a sealing material through the end of a nozzle; means for moving said dispensing means and nozzle relative to said components; means for sensing each component as said dispensing means moves relative thereto and for actuating said dispensing means to dispense a bead of sealing material through the end of the nozzle such that a bead is wiped on the end of each sensed component; and means mounted to said moving means for momentarily heating each dispensed bead of sealing material so that it flows over the entire end of each component to effect a seal.

Claim 4

Apparatus for applying sealing material to the ends of a plurality of electrical components coMprising: means for holding a plurality of components in parallel relationship, each having an end thereof facing upwardly; means for dispensing a sealing material through the end of a nozzle; means for moving said dispensing means and nozzle relative to said components; means for sensing each component as said dispensing means moves relative thereto and for actuating said dispensing means to dispense a bead of sealing material through the end of the nozzle such that a bead is wiped on the end of each sensed component; and means mounted to said moving means for momentarily heating each dispensed bead of sealing material so that it flows over the entire end of each component to effect a seal.

Claim 5

Apparatus for applying a sealing material to the ends of a plurality of electrical components comprising: Means for holding a plurality of components in parallel relationship, each having one end facing upwardly; a carriage; means for moving said carriage at a constant speed relative to said components; a sealing material dispenser and nozzle mounted on said carriage; means mounted on said carriage for sensing each of said components; means responsive to said sensing means for actuating said dispenser to dispense a bead of sealing material through the end of the nozzle such that the bead is wiped onto the end of the sensed component as the dispenser moves relative thereto; means mounted on said carriage for momentarily focusing and directing radiant energy at the end of each component to heat and soften the dispensed bead of sealing material so that it flows over the end of said component; and means for shielding each of said components so that only the one end thereof is exposed to radiant energy.

Claim 6

Apparatus for applying a sealing material to the ends of a plurality of electrical components comprising: Means for holding a plurality of components in parallel relationship, each having one end facing upwardly; a carriage; means for moving said carriage at a constant speed relative to said components; a sealing material dispenser and nozzle mounted on said carriage; means mounted on said carriage for sensing each of said components; means responsive to said sensing means for actuating said dispenser to dispense a bead of sealing material through the end of the nozzle such that the bead is wiped onto the end of the sensed component as the dispenser moves relative thereto; means mounted on said carriage for momentarily focusing and directing radiant energy at the end of each component to heat and soften the dispensed bead of sealing material so that it flows over the end of said component; and means for shielding each of said components so that only the one end thereof is exposed to radiant energy.

Claim 7

Apparatus for applying a relatively viscous sealing material to the ends of a plurality of electrical components, each of which has a terminal lead extending from the end thereof, comprising: means for holding a plurality of components in parallel relationship, each having said end and said terminal lead facing upwardly; a carriage movable relative to said plurality of components; sealing material dispenser means mounted to said carriage and having a flexible nozzle extending therefrom positioned such that the free end of said nozzle successively engages each terminal lead near the juncture of said terminal lead and said end of said component as the carriage moves relative to said components; means for actuating said dispenser means to eject sealing material through said flexible nozzle to form a bead of sealing material on the free end thereof; said free end of said flexible nozzle bending as it moves past each terminal lead to wipe the bead of sealing material off said free end of said nozzle onto said terminal bead; and means for focusing and directing radiant energy onto the end of each component successively to heat and soften the dispensed bead of sealing material so that it flows over the end of the component and about the terminal lead.

Claim 8

Apparatus for applying a relatively viscous sealing material to the ends of a plurality of electrical components, each of which has a terminal lead extending from the end thereof, comprising: means for holding a plurality of components in parallel relationship, each having said end and said terminal lead facing upwardly; a carriage movable relative to said plurality of components; sealing material dispenser means mounted to said carriage and having a flexible nozzle extending therefrom positioned such that the free end of said nozzle successively engages each terminal lead near the juncture of said terminal lead and said end of said component as the carriage moves relative to said components; means for actuating said dispenser means to eject sealing material through said flexible nozzle to form a bead of sealing material on the free end thereof; said free end of said flexible nozzle bending as it moves past each terminal lead to wipe the bead of sealing material off said free end of said nozzle onto said terminal bead; and means for focusing and directing radiant energy onto the end of each component successively to heat and soften the dispensed bead of sealing material so that it flows over the end of the component and about the terminal lead.

Claim 9

Apparatus for sealing an end of each of a plurality of electrical components having a terminal lead extending therefrom comprising: means for holding a plurality of components in parallel relationship, each having said end and said terminal lead facing upwardly; a carriage; means for moving said carriage in a forward and a reverse direction relative to said components; a sealing material dispenser mounted to said carriage, said dispenser having a flexible nozzle extending therefrom positioned such that the free end of said nozzle engages a portion of each terminal lead near the juncture of said lead and said end of said component as the carriage moves relative to said components; first and second radiant energy source means mounted to said carriage on either side of said dispenser for momentarily focusing and directing radiant energy at said ends of each component; means mounted to said carriage for sensing eacH component as said carriage moves relative thereto, said sensing means being movable between a first and a second position on said carriage, said first position being such that the sensing means leads the dispenser nozzle when the carriage moves in the forward direction, said second position being such that the sensing means leads the dispenser nozzle when the carriage moves in said reverse direction; means responsive to the forward or reverse movement of said carriage for selectively moving said sensing means to either said first or said second position; and means for selectively energizing said first and second radiant energy source means so that said first source means is energized when said carriage moves in the forward direction to heat the sealing material deposited on each capacitor, and said second source is energized when said carriage moves in said reverse direction to heat the first and second beads of sealing material so that said beads soften and flow over the end of said capacitor and about said terminal lead to effect a seal.

Claim 10

Apparatus for sealing an end of each of a plurality of electrical components having a terminal lead extending therefrom comprising: means for holding a plurality of components in parallel relationship, each having said end and said terminal lead facing upwardly; a carriage; means for moving said carriage in a forward and a reverse direction relative to said components; a sealing material dispenser mounted to said carriage, said dispenser having a flexible nozzle extending therefrom positioned such that the free end of said nozzle engages a portion of each terminal lead near the juncture of said lead and said end of said component as the carriage moves relative to said components; first and second radiant energy source means mounted to said carriage on either side of said dispenser for momentarily focusing and directing radiant energy at said ends of each component; means mounted to said carriage for sensing eacH component as said carriage moves relative thereto, said sensing means being movable between a first and a second position on said carriage, said first position being such that the sensing means leads the dispenser nozzle when the carriage moves in the forward direction, said second position being such that the sensing means leads the dispenser nozzle when the carriage moves in said reverse direction; means responsive to the forward or reverse movement of said carriage for selectively moving said sensing means to either said first or said second position; and means for selectively energizing said first and second radiant energy source means so that said first source means is energized when said carriage moves in the forward direction to heat the sealing material deposited on each capacitor, and said second source is energized when said carriage moves in said reverse direction to heat the first and second beads of sealing material so that said beads soften and flow over the end of said capacitor and about said terminal lead to effect a seal.