Abstract: Apparatus for applying a vacuum to a nuclear fuel rod cladding tube's interior through its open end while girth welding an inserted end plug to its other end. An airtight housing has an orifice with a seal which can hermetically engage the tube's open end. A vacuum hose has one end connected to the housing and the other end connected to a vacuum pump. A mechanized device moves the housing to engage or disengage its seal with the tube's open end. Preferably the mechanized device includes an arm having one end attached to the housing and the other end pivotally attached to a movable table; an arm rotating device to coaxially align the housing's orifice with the welding-positioned tube; and a table moving device to engage the seal of the coaxially aligned orifice with the tube's open end.

Abstract: A wire bonder is frequently used for assembling the electronic parts of a semiconductor device or the like and exhibits an effect in the electric connections of the aforementioned electronic parts with a fine metal wire. The wire bonder according to the present invention comprises a clamper for clamping a bonding wire, and bonding wire disconnection detecting means for detecting the disconnection of the bonding wire in terms of the wire clamping state of the clamper. In order to detect highly accurately and reliably the disconnection of the bonding wire, the aforementioned bonding wire disconnection detecting means is characterized by the provision of a detecting unit for detecting a quantity which corresponds to the facing gap of the clamper during the clamping operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for welding through-the-partition intercell connections in a lead-acid battery container wherein each partition has at least two spaced apertures therein for making such intercell connections includes in the exemplary embodiment three weld stations and a crimping station through which the containers are sequentially conveyed, and the containers are aligned and retained at dual positions in each station so that the welding or crimping operation can be carried out. A microprocessor based programmable controller serves as a master control to operate the apparatus, and a slave control is associated with each welding station.

Abstract: An improved preheater for use in mass soldering apparatus employing a bank of quartz lamp heaters mounted in parabolic reflectors and including switching means for switching the quartz heaters on and off in response to the presence of a circuit board on a conveyor passing through the preheater.

Abstract: A soldering installation (1) is provided for run-through and shuttle operation, in particular for the run-through soldering of printed circuit boards on a soldering machine. It is equipped with a feeder mechanism (4) for the transport of soldering frames (18) to which printed circuit boards are fixed. The feeder mechanism (4) has a travel distance of at least 2 frames. In the first half of the feeder mechanism (4) is a device (31) for the holding of a frame (18) as well as an activator (32) for the release of the frame (18). A transport mechanism, (5) running synchronously with the feeder mechanism (4) bridges the soldering machine. An electric motor (37) with adjustable speed and reversibility drives these parts (4 and 5).

Abstract: An apparatus for soldering a solder on a difficultly solderable substrate comprises a vibration tip which is rotatably held and is mounted on an ultrasonic oscillation mechanism and is slidably held to the vertical direction to an object for soldering. A needle part is placed in a predetermined distance and a predetermined direction from the edge of said vibration tip and said needle part is projected in substantially the same level as that of said edge of said vibration tip.

Abstract: An installation for the automatic feed of welding wires for a welding torch provided for the treatment of workpieces, in which means are provided to weld together the welding wires supplied in rod shape in a fully automatic manner by welding the same together into an endless rod with simultaneous continued forward movement of the welding wires in the direction toward the welding torch.