Apparatus for application of lacquer coating to cathode ray tube panels

Claim 2

Rotary apparatus for automatically applying a lacquer coating over a phosphor coating on partially processed front panels of cathode ray tubes in a continuous step-by-step fashion while said panels are continuously maintained in a front-side-up attitude so that the phosphor coated surfaces of said panels are continuously directed downwardly, comprising: an annular endless conveyor defining a predetermined processing path; a plurality of workpiece holding means serially attached to said conveyor for each receiving and supporting a panel front side up such that the phosphor coated surface of said panel is directed downwardly during its processing; a plurality of discrete work stations disposed around the perimeter of said conveyor for receiving said workpiece holding means and panels; indexing means for effecting step-by-step movement of said conveyor between said work stations; spray applicator means situated on at least one of said work stations for spraying a lacquer coating onto the downwardly directed phosphor coating of a received panel; moveable shroud means situated at the work station at which the lacquer coating is applied and means for positioning said shroud means over a panel to be coated in order to minimize undesirable air currents which might cause unwanted distrubances on the surface of the lacquer coating and to help contain lacquer vapors within the lacquer application work station; drying means situated at at least one of said work stations for drying said lacquer coating; and loading and unloading means for receiving panels to be conveyed to a first of said work stations and for presenting for removal lacquered panels conveyed from a final work station.

Claim 3

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including stationary enclosure means for enclosing said applicator means and associated drying stations so as to contain and separate said applicator means and associated drying stations from the external environment, thereby preventing lacquer vapors from escaping to the environment.

Claim 4

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein selected work stations include a preprogrammed control means and wherein each workpiece holding means is provided with both a rotatable support for receiving a panel and a motor coupled to said support for spinning said support and its panel at predetermined intervals and speeds in response to said control means.

Claim 5

Rotary apparatus for automatically applying a lacquer coating over a phosphor coating on front panel areas of cathode ray tubes in a continuous step-by-step fashion, comprising: an annular endless conveyor disposed along a predetermined processing path; a plurality of workpiece holding means serially attached to said conveyor; a rotatable panel support on each of said workpiece holding means for receiving and supporting a panel during its processing; a plurality of discrete work stations disposed around the perimeter of said conveyor for receiving said workpiece holding means and panels; indexing means for effecting step-by-step movement of said conveyor between said work stations; spray applicator means situated at at least one of said work stations for spraying a lacquer coating into a received panel; movable shroud means having an open end and means for moving said shroud means vertically such that said shroud means at least partially surrounds said panel only during the process of lacquer application to minimize undesirable air currents which might cause unwanted disturbances on the surface of the lacquer coating; enclosure means enclosing said spray applicator means and associated drying stations and so disposed as to contain and separate said spray applicator means and said associated drying stations from the external enviroment, thereby preventing lacquer vapors from escaping from the area immediately surrounding said spray applicator means and associated drying station; a motor mounted on each of said workpiece holding means and coupled to the panel thereon for rotating said support and its associated panel; preprogrammed control means situated at selected work stations for controlling the operation of said motor in order to spin said supports and panels at predetermined intervals and speeds; and loading and unloading means for receiving panels to be conveyed to a fiRst of said work stations and for presenting for removal lacquered panels conveyed from a final work station.

Claim 6

Rotary apparatus for automatically applying a lacquer coating over a phosphor coating on front panel areas of cathode ray tubes in a continuous step-by-step fashion, comprising: an annular endless conveyor disposed along a predetermined processing path; a plurality of workpiece holding means serially attached to said conveyor; a rotatable panel support on each of said workpiece holding means for receiving and supporting a panel during its processing; a plurality of discrete work stations disposed around the perimeter of said conveyor for receiving said workpiece holding means and panels; indexing means for effecting step-by-step movement of said conveyor between said work stations; spray applicator means situated at at least one of said work stations for spraying a lacquer coating into a received panel; movable shroud means having an open end and means for moving said shroud means vertically such that said shroud means at least partially surrounds said panel only during the process of lacquer application to minimize undesirable air currents which might cause unwanted disturbances on the surface of the lacquer coating; enclosure means enclosing said spray applicator means and associated drying stations and so disposed as to contain and separate said spray applicator means and said associated drying stations from the external enviroment, thereby preventing lacquer vapors from escaping from the area immediately surrounding said spray applicator means and associated drying station; a motor mounted on each of said workpiece holding means and coupled to the panel thereon for rotating said support and its associated panel; preprogrammed control means situated at selected work stations for controlling the operation of said motor in order to spin said supports and panels at predetermined intervals and speeds; and loading and unloading means for receiving panels to be conveyed to a fiRst of said work stations and for presenting for removal lacquered panels conveyed from a final work station.

Claim 7

The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said work stations include at least one developing station in advance of the station which contains the applicator means for receiving panels whose last phosphor coating is undeveloped, said developing station being adapted to develop said last exposed phosphor dots by rinsing said panel with a solvent to remove unexposed phosphor particles.

Claim 8

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said developing station is followed by at least one washing station adapted to wash said panels prior to the application of the lacquer coating.

Claim 9

The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said work stations include at least one drying station at which each panel is exposed to preheated forced air after having received a lacquer coating.

Claim 10

The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said panel supports carries a first sealing means, and the spray applicator station and said associated drying stations each include a second sealing means, said first and second sealing means cooperating to at least partially seal a received panel within said spray applicator station and said associated drying stations, thereby containing lacquer vapors within the respective work staions.

Claim 11

Rotary apparatus for automatically processing and applying a lacquer coating over a phosphor coating on front panel areas of cathode ray tubes in a continuous step-by-step manner, comprising: an annular endless conveyor defining a predetermined processing path; a plurality of workpiece holding means serially attached to said conveyor; a rotatable panel support on each of said workpiece holding means for receiving and supporting a panel during its processing; a plurality of discrete work stations disposed around the perimeter of said conveyor for receiving said workpiece holding means and panels, each of said work stations being particularly adapted to perform at least one predetermined operation on said panels; indexing means for effecting step-by-step movement of said conveyor between said work stations; developing means, situated at a first work station for receiving panels whose last phosphor coating is undeveloped and for developing said last phosphor coating by rinsing said panel with a solvent to remove unexposed phosphor particles; washing means situated at a second work station following said developing means for washing each panel as it arrives at said second work station; spray applicator means situtated at a third one of said work stations for spraying a lacquer coating on each received panel; movable shroud means having an open end, and means for moving said shroud means vertically such that said shroud means at least partially surrounds said panel only during the porcess of lacquer application to minimize undesirable air currents which might cause unwanted disturbances on the surface of the lacquer coating. enclosure means enclosing said applicator means and its associated drying stations and so disposed as to certain and separate said applicator means and said associated drying stations from the external environment, thereby preventing lacquer vapors from escaping from the area immediately surrounding said spray applicator means and said associated drying stations; a motor mounted on each of said workpiece holding means and coupled to the panel support thereon for rotating said support and its associated panel; preprogrammed control means situated as selected work stations for controlling said motors and the rotational speed thereof in order to spin said supports and panels at predetermined intervals and speeds; and loading and unloading means for receiving panels to be conveyed to said first work station and for presenting for removal lacquered panels conveyed from a final work station.

Claim 12

Rotary apparatus for automatically processing and applying a lacquer coating over a phosphor coating on front panel areas of cathode ray tubes in a continuous step-by-step manner, comprising: an annular endless conveyor defining a predetermined processing path; a plurality of workpiece holding means serially attached to said conveyor; a rotatable panel support on each of said workpiece holding means for receiving and supporting a panel during its processing; a plurality of discrete work stations disposed around the perimeter of said conveyor for receiving said workpiece holding means and panels, each of said work stations being particularly adapted to perform at least one predetermined operation on said panels; indexing means for effecting step-by-step movement of said conveyor between said work stations; developing means, situated at a first work station for receiving panels whose last phosphor coating is undeveloped and for developing said last phosphor coating by rinsing said panel with a solvent to remove unexposed phosphor particles; washing means situated at a second work station following said developing means for washing each panel as it arrives at said second work station; spray applicator means situtated at a third one of said work stations for spraying a lacquer coating on each received panel; movable shroud means having an open end, and means for moving said shroud means vertically such that said shroud means at least partially surrounds said panel only during the porcess of lacquer application to minimize undesirable air currents which might cause unwanted disturbances on the surface of the lacquer coating. enclosure means enclosing said applicator means and its associated drying stations and so disposed as to certain and separate said applicator means and said associated drying stations from the external environment, thereby preventing lacquer vapors from escaping from the area immediately surrounding said spray applicator means and said associated drying stations; a motor mounted on each of said workpiece holding means and coupled to the panel support thereon for rotating said support and its associated panel; preprogrammed control means situated as selected work stations for controlling said motors and the rotational speed thereof in order to spin said supports and panels at predetermined intervals and speeds; and loading and unloading means for receiving panels to be conveyed to said first work station and for presenting for removal lacquered panels conveyed from a final work station.

Claim 13

The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein each of said panel supports cArries a first sealing means, and wherein the spray applicator station and said associated drying stations each include a second sealing means, said first and second sealing means cooperating to at least partially seal a received panel within said spray applicator station and said associated drying stations, thereby containing lacquer vapors within the respective work stations.

Claim 14

Rotary apparatus for automatically processing and applying a lacquer coating over a phosphor coating on front panel areas of cathode ray tubes in a continuous step-by-step fashion while said panels are continuously maintained in a front-side-up attitude so that the phosphor coated surfaces of said panels are continuously directed downwardly, comprising: an annular endless conveyor defining a predetermined processing path; a plurality of workpiece holding means serially attached to said conveyor; a rotatable panel support on each of said workpiece holding means for receiving and supporting a panel front side up such that the phosphor coated surface of said panel is directed downwardly during its processing; a plurality of discrete work stations disposed around the perimeter of said conveyor for receiving said workpiece holding means and said front-side-up panels, each of said work stations being particularly adapted to perform at least one predetermined operation on said panels; indexing means for effecting step-by-step movement of said conveyor between said work stations; spray applicator means situated at at least one of said work stations for spraying a lacquer coating onto the downwardly directed phosphor coating on a received panel; movable shroud means having an open end, and means for moving said shroud means vertically such that said shroud means at least partially surrounds said front-side-up panel only during the process of lacquer application to minimize undesirable air currents which might cause unwanted disturbances on the lacquer coating; enclosure means enclsoing said spray applicator means and its associated drying stations and so disposed as to contain and separate said spray applicator means and said associated drying stations from the external environment, thereby preventing lacquer vapors from escaping from the area immediately surrounding said spray applicator means and associated drying stations; a motor mounted on each of said workpiece holding means and coupled to the panel support thereon for rotating said support and its associated panel; preprogrammed control means situated at selected work stations for controlling the operation of said motor in order to spin said supports and said front-side-up support panels at predetermined intervals and speeds; and loading and unloading means for receiving panels to be conveyed to a first of said work stations and for presenting for removal lacquered panels conveyed from a final work station.

Claim 15

Rotary apparatus for automatically processing and applying a lacquer coating over a phosphor coating on front panel areas of cathode ray tubes in a continuous step-by-step fashion while said panels are continuously maintained in a front-side-up attitude so that the phosphor coated surfaces of said panels are continuously directed downwardly, comprising: an annular endless conveyor defining a predetermined processing path; a plurality of workpiece holding means serially attached to said conveyor; a rotatable panel support on each of said workpiece holding means for receiving and supporting a panel front side up such that the phosphor coated surface of said panel is directed downwardly during its processing; a plurality of discrete work stations disposed around the perimeter of said conveyor for receiving said workpiece holding means and said front-side-up panels, each of said work stations being particularly adapted to perform at least one predetermined operation on said panels; indexing means for effecting step-by-step movement of said conveyor between said work stations; spray applicator means situated at at least one of said work stations for spraying a lacquer coating onto the downwardly directed phosphor coating on a received panel; movable shroud means having an open end, and means for moving said shroud means vertically such that said shroud means at least partially surrounds said front-side-up panel only during the process of lacquer application to minimize undesirable air currents which might cause unwanted disturbances on the lacquer coating; enclosure means enclsoing said spray applicator means and its associated drying stations and so disposed as to contain and separate said spray applicator means and said associated drying stations from the external environment, thereby preventing lacquer vapors from escaping from the area immediately surrounding said spray applicator means and associated drying stations; a motor mounted on each of said workpiece holding means and coupled to the panel support thereon for rotating said support and its associated panel; preprogrammed control means situated at selected work stations for controlling the operation of said motor in order to spin said supports and said front-side-up support panels at predetermined intervals and speeds; and loading and unloading means for receiving panels to be conveyed to a first of said work stations and for presenting for removal lacquered panels conveyed from a final work station.

Claim 16

The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said panel supports carries a first sealing means, and wherein the spray applicator station and said associated drying stations each include a second sealing means, said first and second sealing means cooperating to at least partially seal a received panel within said spray applicator station and said associated drying stations, thereby containing lacquer vapors within the respective work stations.

Claim 17

Rotary apparatus for automatically processing and applying a lacquer coating over a phosphor coating on front panel areas of cathode ray tubes in a continuous step-by-step fashion while said panels are continuously maintained in a front-side-up attitude so that the phosphor coated surfaces of said panels are continuously directed downwardly, comprising: an annular endless conveyor disposed along a predetermined processing path. a plurality of workpiece holding means serially attached to said conveyor; a rotatable panel support on each of said workpiece holding means for receiving and supporting a panel front side up such That the phosphor coating on said panel is directed downwardly; a plurality of discrete work stations disposed around the perimeter of said conveyor for receiving said workpiece holding means and panels, each of said work stations being particularly adapted to perform at least one predetermined operation on said panels while said panel is supported in said front-side-up attitude; indexing means for effecting step-by-step movement of said conveyor between said work stations; developing means, situated at a first work station for receiving panels whose last phosphor coating is undeveloped and for developing said last phosphor coating by rinsing said panel with a solvent while in said front-side-up attitude to remove unexposed phosphor particles. washing means situated at a second work station following said developing means for washing each panel as it arrives at said second work station; spray applicator means situated at a third one of said work stations for spraying a lacquer coating on each received panel while in said front-side-up attitude; movable shroud means having an open end and means for moving said shroud means vertically such that said shroud means at least partically surrounds said panel only during the process of lacquer application to minimize undesirable air currents which might cause unwanted distrubances on the surface of the lacquer coating; enclosure means enclosing said spray applicator means and its associated drying stations and so disposed as to contain and separate said spray applicator means and said associated drying stations from the external environment, thereby preventing lacquer vapors from escaping from the area immediately surrounding said spray applicator means and associated drying stations; a motor mounted on each of said workpiece holding means and coupled to the panel support thereon for rotating said support and its associated panel; preprogrammed control means situated at selected work stations for controlling said motors and the rotational speed thereof in order to cause said supports and panels to spin at predetermined intervals and speeds; and loading and unloading means for receiving panels to be conveyed to said first work station and for presenting for removal lacquered panels conveyed from a final work station.

Claim 18

Rotary apparatus for automatically processing and applying a lacquer coating over a phosphor coating on front panel areas of cathode ray tubes in a continuous step-by-step fashion while said panels are continuously maintained in a front-side-up attitude so that the phosphor coated surfaces of said panels are continuously directed downwardly, comprising: an annular endless conveyor disposed along a predetermined processing path. a plurality of workpiece holding means serially attached to said conveyor; a rotatable panel support on each of said workpiece holding means for receiving and supporting a panel front side up such That the phosphor coating on said panel is directed downwardly; a plurality of discrete work stations disposed around the perimeter of said conveyor for receiving said workpiece holding means and panels, each of said work stations being particularly adapted to perform at least one predetermined operation on said panels while said panel is supported in said front-side-up attitude; indexing means for effecting step-by-step movement of said conveyor between said work stations; developing means, situated at a first work station for receiving panels whose last phosphor coating is undeveloped and for developing said last phosphor coating by rinsing said panel with a solvent while in said front-side-up attitude to remove unexposed phosphor particles. washing means situated at a second work station following said developing means for washing each panel as it arrives at said second work station; spray applicator means situated at a third one of said work stations for spraying a lacquer coating on each received panel while in said front-side-up attitude; movable shroud means having an open end and means for moving said shroud means vertically such that said shroud means at least partically surrounds said panel only during the process of lacquer application to minimize undesirable air currents which might cause unwanted distrubances on the surface of the lacquer coating; enclosure means enclosing said spray applicator means and its associated drying stations and so disposed as to contain and separate said spray applicator means and said associated drying stations from the external environment, thereby preventing lacquer vapors from escaping from the area immediately surrounding said spray applicator means and associated drying stations; a motor mounted on each of said workpiece holding means and coupled to the panel support thereon for rotating said support and its associated panel; preprogrammed control means situated at selected work stations for controlling said motors and the rotational speed thereof in order to cause said supports and panels to spin at predetermined intervals and speeds; and loading and unloading means for receiving panels to be conveyed to said first work station and for presenting for removal lacquered panels conveyed from a final work station.

Claim 19

The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein each of said panel supports carries a first sealing means, and wherein the spray applicator station and said associated drying stations each include a second sealing means, said first and second sealing means cooperating to at least partially seal a received panel within said spray applicator station and said associated drying stations, thereby containing lacquer vapors within the respective work stations.