FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970)
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2006
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10 and rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
A crimping machine for use in the manufacture of a compact fluorescent lamp
APPLICANTS
Crompton Greaves Limited, CG House, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai - 400 030,
Maharashtra, India, an Indian Company
INVENTORS
Dixit Pankaj and Basak Amit Kumar, both of Lighting Division, Crompton Greaves Limited, Baroda Lamp Works, Kural Village Padra Taluka, Padra Jambusar Road, District Baroda-391430, Gujarat, India, both Indian nationals
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to
be performed:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a crimping machine for use in the manufacture of a compact fluorescent lamp,
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Manufacture of a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) includes the step of crimping a metal cap, usually aluminium cap, with holder pins to the base of the lamp in a crimping machine. A commonly used crimping machine comprises a platform with a lamp base holder hole for holding the base of the lamp having the metal cap inserted over the base. A plurality of spring biased crimping pins are mounted on the platform around the holder hole radially spaced with respect to the holder hole. The crimping pins are movable radially forward and backward under compression and expansion of the respective springs with respect to the holder hole. An actuator plate with a circular opening is disposed over the platform around the outer ends of the crimping pins eccentrically with respect to the holder hole. The actuator plate is mounted on the platform adapted to describe an oscillatory motion in the horizontal plane around the outer ends of the crimping pins. The crimping machine also comprises a pneumatic cylinder with its piston rod connected to the actuator plate. When the cylinder side of the pneumatic cylinder is pressurized with compressed air, the piston with the piston rod thereof describes the forward stroke and when the piston side of the pneumatic cylinder is pressurized with compressed air the piston and piston rod thereof describes the reverse stroke. In order to crimp a metal cap to the base of a compact fluorescent lamp, the lamp with the metal cap inserted over the base thereof is located in the

lamp base holder hole in the platform. The pneumatic cylinder is operated to describe the forward stroke of the piston rod when the actuator plate oscillates in the forward direction and impacts and presses against the outer ends of the crimping pins and the crimping pins move forward under compression of the respective springs. The inner ends of the crimping pins engage against the metal cap located over the base of the lamp and crimp the metal cap to the base of the lamp. During the reverse stroke of the piston rod by operation of the pneumatic cylinder the actuator plate oscillates in the reverse direction to its original position. Because of the frequent impact of the actuator plate against the outer ends of the crimping pins during the forward stroke of the actuator plate, the crimping pins get damaged over a period of time and are to be replaced. The springs also loose their elasticity over a period of time and are to be replaced. In case the springs are not replaced in time, the forward and reverse strokes of the crimping pins will be adversely affected because of the loss of tension of the springs. As a result, the crimping force exerted by the crimping pins will be reduced and crimping of the metal cap to the lamp base will not take place effectively and the performance of the crimping machine will not be reliable.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a crimping machine for use in the manufacture of a compact fluorescent lamp, which ensures trouble free performance for a long period of time and is reliable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crimping machine for use in the manufacture of a compact fluorescent lamp, which is simple in construction and easy and convenient to operate and has increased life.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a crimping machine for use in the manufacture of a compact fluorescent lamp, the machine comprising a crimping pin holder ring mounted at the bottom of a platform concentric with a lamp base holder hole in the platform, the holder ring comprising a plurality of spring biased crimping pins located in the holder ring in radially spaced apart relationship and radially forward and backward movably, a guide ring mounted at the bottom of the platform spacedly concentrically with the holder ring, an actuator cup disposed in the space between the holder ring and guide ring and having a tapered portion at its inner circumference upper surface, the tapering at the inner circumference upper surface being directed upwardly and linear drive means for moving the actuator cup forward and backward in the space between the holder ring and the guide ring.
The following is a detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :
Fig 1 is a crosssectional view of a crimping machine for use in the manufacture of a compact fluorescent lamp according to an embodiment of the invention without the platform;

Fig 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of a holder ring of the crimping machine of Fig 1 having a crimping pin located therein; and
Figs 3 and 4 are exploded views of the crimping machine of Fig 1 from opposite directions including the platform.
The crimping machine 1 for use in the manufacture of a compact fluorescent lamp (not shown) as illustrated in Figs 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings comprises a crimping pin holder ring 2 mounted at the bottom of a platform 2a concentric with a lamp base holder hole 2b in the platform for holding the base of the lamp having a metal cap (not shown) inserted over the base. The holder ring comprises a plurality of crimping pins 3 located in radial holes 4 formed in the holder ring in radially spaced apart relationship. Each of the radial holes is formed with a step 4a and each of the crimping pins is formed with a step 3a. Each of the crimping pins is biased by a spring 5, preferably a tension spring disposed in the respective radial hole with one end of the spring located against the step in the radial hole and the other end of the spring located against the step on the crimping pin. The crimping pins are movable radially forward under compression of the springs and radially backward under expansion of the springs. 6 is a guide ring mounted at the bottom of the platform spacedly concentrically with the holder ring. 7 is an actuator cup disposed in the space 8 between the holder ring and guide ring. The actuator cup has a tapered portion 7a at its inner circumference upper surface. The tapering at the inner circumference upper surface is directed upwardly. .9 is a pneumatic cylinder the piston rod 10 of which is connected to the actuator cup through a coupling rod 10a. The piston rod of the pneumatic cylinder is moved forward and backward by operating the pneumatic cylinder. When the piston

rod of the pneumatic cylinder is moved forward and backward, the actuator cup moves forward and backward. When the actuator cup moves forward the upwardly tapered upper surface of the inner circumference of the actuator cup gently engages against the outer ends of the crimping pins projecting out of the holder ring under expansion of the springs and pushes the crimping pins radially inwardly forward under compression of the respective springs. During the reverse stroke of the piston rod of the pneumatic cylinder, the actuator cup moves back and allow the crimping pins to move radially outwardly under expansion of the respective springs. In order to crimp a metal cap to the base of a compact fluorescent lamp, the lamp with the metal cap inserted over the base thereof is located in the holder hole in the platform. The pneumatic cylinder is operated to describe the forward stroke of the piston rod when the crimping pins move forward radially and the inner ends of the crimping pins engage against the metal cap and carry out the crimping operation. During the reverse stroke of the piston rod by operation of the pneumatic cylinder the actuator cup moves back so as to allow the crimping pins to move radially outwardly. Because of the tapered profile of the engaging inner circumference of the guide cup and the linear reciprocating movement of the guide cup, the crimping pins are moved in and moved out by the compression and expansion of the springs very gently and smoothly. Therefore, damage to the crimping pins is reduced. Elasticity and tension of the springs is maintained over a long period of time. As a result, the crimping machine of the invention ensures efficient and trouble free operation for a long period of time and is reliable. The crimping machine is also simple in construction and easy and convenient to operate and has increased life. It is understood that the linear drive means may be other power cylinder like a hydraulic cylinder. The linear drive means also can be a screw and nut arrangement. Such variations of the

invention are obvious to those skilled in the art and are to be construed and understood to be within the scope of the invention.

We claim :
1) A crimping machine for use in the manufacture of a compact fluorescent lamp, the machine comprising a crimping pin holder ring mounted at the bottom of a platform concentric with a lamp base holder hole in the platform, the holder ring comprising a plurality of spring biased crimping pins located in the holder ring in radially spaced apart relationship and radially forward and backward movably, a guide ring mounted at the bottom of the platform spacedly concentrically with the holder ring, an actuator cup disposed in the space between the holder ring and guide ring and having a tapered portion at its inner circumference upper surface, the tapering at the inner circumference upper surface being directed upwardly and linear drive means for moving the actuator cup forward and backward in the space between the holder ring and the guide ring.
2) The crimping machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the crimping pins are disposed in
§
radial holes formed in the holder ring in radially spaced part relationship, the radial holes each being formed with a step and the crimping pins each having a step, each of the crimping pins being biased by a tension spring disposed in the respective radial hole with one end of the spring being located against the step in the radial hole and the other end of the spring being located against the step on the crimping pin.
3) The crimping machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the linear drive means
comprises a power cylinder.

4) The crimping machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the power cylinder is a pneumatic cylinder.