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
An improved spring mechanism in coating machine
APPLICANTS
Crompton Greaves Limited, CG House, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai 400 030, Maharashtra, India, an Indian Company
INVENTORS
Shah Sachinkumar Ashokchandra, Patel Samit Shankarbhai and Rana Nagin Chandubhai; all of Crompton Greaves Limited Crompton Greaves Ltd, Baroda Lamp Works (BLW), Village Kural, Padra Jambusar Road, Padra Taluka, Vadodara - 391430, Gujrat, India; all Indian Nationals.
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates to the field of electrical and electronic assemblies and engineering.
Particularly, this invention relates to the field of equipment, assemblies, and machines for fluorescent tube lamp.
Specifically, this invention relates to an improved spring mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
A spring is an elastic object used to store mechanical energy. Springs are usually made out of spring steel. Small springs can be wound from pre-hardened stock, while larger ones are made from annealed steel and hardened after fabrication. When a spring is compressed or stretched, the force it exerts is proportional to its change in length. The rate or spring constant of a spring is the change in the force it exerts, divided by the change in deflection of the spring.
In at least one embodiment, a spring mechanism is used in machines such as lamp making machines, coating machines, and the like. Although, this specification, specifically describes the use of springs in terms of a coating machine, it is generally understood, that the use of this invention is not limited to that of such machines and may be used, advantageously, in various other purposes known to people skilled in the art.
A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), also called compact fluorescent light, energy-saving light, and compact fluorescent tube, is a fluorescent lamp designed to

replace an incandescent lamp; some types fit into light fixtures formerly used for incandescent lamps.
The lamps use a tube which is curved or folded to fit into the space of an incandescent bulb, and further use a compact electronic ballast in the base of the lamp. The tubes are coated tubes.
For the production of these CFL, and for the coating of these tubes, a coating machine is used. This coating machine follows the following 9 steps:
1. In the first step, CFL tube is loaded on to loading arms of the coating machine. A plurality of CFL tubes may be loaded in parallel. The machine head holds on to the tube.
2. In the second step, a cylinder of the machine is used to press the loaded tube(s).
3. In the third step, a lever of the machine is actuated to invert the tube(s) to form a U-shape.
4. In the fourth step, a coating solution is filled in the U-tube.
5. In the fifth step, the coating solution filled tube is left to dry.
6. In the sixth step, the U-tube is inverted to remove extra coating solution from the tube.
7. In the seventh step, time elapses for drying of the coating solution.
8. In the eight step, the coated tube moves forward.
9. In the ninth step, unloading of the CFL U-tubes(s) take place.
Thus, coated CFL tubes are obtained at the end of 9 steps performed by the coating machine.

In steps of this machine, a spring mechanism is used at the machine head to grasp on to the U-tube. These machines are rotating machines, and are operational for long or continuous cycles.
However, in practice, it has been observed that the spring may snap and the machine head may just hang, thereby causing hanging position of the tube. This results in stoppage time of the machine in order to replace the spring(s).
Coating machine is in operation continuously. Any stoppage time on this machine results in loss of production. Machine heads are held in position by the spring tension during the operation and if the spring tension fails, the head slips from its position and gets stuck with other machine parts. This results in damages in machine and loss of production due to major down time for correction.
Hence, there is a need for a system to avoid such breakage and damage to reduce or avoid downtime.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
An object of the invention is to provide an improved spring mechanism.
Another object of the invention is to prevent or avoid machine breakage and damage, due to spring breakage or damage.
Yet another object of the invention is to reduce machine down time resulting from spring breakage or damage.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved spring mechanism which has a relatively longer life.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
According to this invention, there is provided a spring with axial ends, characterised, in that, said mechanism comprising end plates at said axial ends, said spring advantageously fixed or wound in to said end plates, each of said end plates comprising lateral holes spaced apart from lateral edges of said end plate with respect to said spring end.
Typically, said spring is a coil spring or a helical spring.
Typically, said holes are equi-distant from the median of said end plates, correspondingly.
Typically, each of said end plates comprises at least one set or one pair of additional holes for securing the spring to the end plates.
Preferably, each of said end plates end plate is 1.5mm thick.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
Figure 1 illustrates a spring mechanism of the prior art; and
Figure 2 illustrates a spring mechanism of the prior art along with its usage in a machine (in terms of how the spring mechanism is held in place).

The invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which;
Figure 3 illustrates a spring mechanism of this invention;
Figure 4 illustrates a top view of the spring mechanism of this invention; and
Figure 5 illustrates a spring mechanism of this invention along with its usage in a machine (in terms of how the spring mechanism is held in place).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
Figure 1 illustrates a spring mechanism of the prior art.
Figure 2 illustrates a spring mechanism of the prior art along with its usage in a machine (in terms of how the spring mechanism is held in place).
CFL tubes are head mounted on a coating machine. The head mounting is spring based mounting. Springs are used in the coating machine. According to the prior art, end portions of the springs (12), itself is extended in order to secure its mount. This extension can be seen by reference numeral 14. This is an unhealthy mounting practice as it leads to added load on the spring. This practice and spring is vulnerable or susceptible to increased damage and breakage. Reference numeral 15 refers to a part with holes for securing the spring mechanism of the prior art to a machine, which holes facilitate entry and exit of ends of the helix of the spring mechanism of the prior art.

According to this invention, there is provided an improved spring mechanism in coating machine.
Figure 3 illustrates a spring mechanism of this invention.
Figure 4 illustrates a top view of the spring mechanism of this invention.
Figure 5 illustrates a spring mechanism of this invention along with its usage in a machine (in terms of how the spring mechanism is held in place).
In accordance with an embodiment of this invention, there is a spring (12) with axial ends. This is the main spring body which imparts resilience and function.
In accordance with another embodiment of this invention, there are provided end plates (22) at the axial ends of a spring (12). The spring (12) is a coil spring. The ends of the spring (12) are advantageously fixed or wound in to the end plate (22). Typically, the end plate (22) is envisaged to comprise lateral holes (24) spaced apart from its lateral edges and near the operative proximal end with respect to the spring (12) end. These holes are equi-distant from the median of the end plate (22). The spring end plate (22) comprises at least one set or one pair of additional holes. The spring (12) is adapted to terminate in these additional holes, in that, the end windings of the springs (12) pass through the pair(s) of holes, such that the spring (12) end grips the end plate (21) from its one end.
Reference numeral 25 refers to a securing mechanism which may be used to secure this spring mechanism through the hole (24) of the end plate (22) to a part (26) of a machine.

Preferably, there are provided three pairs of holes on each end plate (22).
Preferably, the thickness of the end plate (22) is envisaged to be about 1.5mm.
The technical advancement of this invention lies in provisioning end plates with springs such that the spring is located on or in machines by means of the end plates. As compared to the spring(s), its end plate(s) have a robust profile and aid in prevention of breakage of springs, especially, from its end points. The end plates aid in sharing the load at the relatively weak end portion of the spring.
While this detailed description has disclosed certain specific embodiments of the present invention for illustrative purposes, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, and it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

We claim,
1. An improved spring mechanism with a spring with axial ends, characterized, in that, said mechanism comprising end plates at said axial ends, said spring advantageously fixed or wound in to said end plates, each of said end plates comprising lateral holes spaced apart from lateral edges of said end plate with respect to said spring end.
2. An improved spring mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said spring is a coil spring or a helical spring.
3. An improved spring mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said holes are equi-distant from the median of said end plates, correspondingly.
4. An improved spring mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein, each of said end plates comprising at least one set or one pair of additional holes for securing the spring to the end plates.
5. An improved spring mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein, each of said
- end plates end plate is 1.5mm thick.