Method for mating television CRT cathode components

Abstract

A method is disclosed for mating the tubular cap and tubular shank of the cathode assembly used in TV CRT electron guns. The shank has an end larger in diameter than the cap, and a narrow end adapted to fit into the cap. The method comprises causing the cap to fall open-end-down into a first receptacle. The first receptacle is inverted in conjunctive alignment with a second receptacle, causing the cap to fall open-end-up into the second receptacle. The shank is then caused to fall narrow-end-down into the second receptacle and into the cap; the second receptacle is adapted to reject the larger end of the shank. The second receptacle is inverted in conjunctive alignment with the first receptacle, causing the mated cap and shank to fall shank-end-down into the first receptacle where it is held cap-side-up for further processing.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method for mating production quantities of the tubular caps and shanks of the cathode assemblies of the TV CRT electron guns, each of said shanks having a base end larger in outside diameter than said cap, and a narrow end adapted to fit into said cap, the method comprising: depositing a quantity of said caps onto a first shaker plate having a plurality of receptacles adapted to receive said caps open-end-down, by positioning in each receptacle a pin smaller in diameter than the opening in said caps and concentric with the axis of the said receptacle, said pin being effective to prevent the closed-end-down entry of said caps into said receptacle;   shaking said first shaker plate to cause said caps to fall open-end-down into said receptacles, and removing any excess of said caps;   positioning contiguous to said first shaker plate a second shaker plate having receptacles matching in number, location and alignment the receptacles of said first shaker plate, and inverting said plates in conjunctive alignment, causing said caps to fall open-end-up into the receptacles of said second shaker plate;   removing said first shaker plate and depositing a quantity of said shanks onto said second shaker plate and shaking said second shaker plate, causing said shanks to fall narrow-end-down into said receptacles and into said caps, said receptacles being adapted to reject the larger end of said shanks by virtue of being smaller in diameter than the larger end of said shanks;   removing any excess of said shanks;   repositioning and inverting said first and second shaker plates, causing the mated cap-and-shank assemblies to fall shank-end-down into said receptacles and onto said pins of said first shaker plate, and removing said second shaker plate, said first shaker plate holding said assemblies cap-end-up for further processing.