Abstract: Heating or maintaining the temperature of a cathode ray tube that is waiting to undergo frit knocking has been discovered to substantially reduce the dangerous and harmful tendency of electrical arcing between the high-voltage probe and grounded band used in the frit knocking process. Any means or method of heating such a cathode ray tube including, but not limited to, placing the cathode ray tube in an oven or heating unit, or in a heated room or chamber produces beneficial results. Placing the cathode ray tube in an insulated envelope or blanket can also help. In particular, one or more heat packs that are heated in an oven and then brought into thermal contact with the cathode ray tube can be used to heat or maintain the temperature of the cathode ray tube.

Abstract: An insulating member is used on or with a high-voltage probe that applies a voltage to the anode of a cathode ray tube during manufacture of the tube. If there are flaws in the frit seal of the tube, the probe produces arcing through the flaw into a grounded, conductive band disposed around the exterior of the frit seal. The insulating member is placed between the high-voltage probe tip and the grounded band around the frit seal. Consequently, the insulating member prevents electrical arcing external to the cathode ray tube between the high-voltage probe and the grounded band. Such arcing would otherwise interfere with the testing of the frit seal and could possibly damage the test equipment.

Abstract: When an installed electron gun has failed testing, the gun is cut out of the neck of the Cathode Ray Tube (“CRT”) without destroying or damaging any other portion of the CRT. A new neck is then formed on the tube which can be re-inserted into the production line and re-used. The reclaimed electron gun can then be analyzed and tested to determine the cause of its malfunction or test failure. In this way, minimal damage is done to the CRT in which the gun is originally installed and as much of that CRT as possible is salvaged for use in a completed unit.

Abstract: Heating or maintaining the temperature of a cathode ray tube that is waiting to undergo frit knocking has been discovered to substantially reduce the dangerous and harmful tendency of electrical arcing between the high-voltage probe and grounded band used in the frit knocking process. Any means or method of heating such a cathode ray tube including, but not limited to, placing the cathode ray tube in an oven or heating unit, or in a heated room or chamber produces beneficial results. Placing the cathode ray tube in an insulated envelope or blanket can also help. In particular, one or more heat packs that are heated in an oven and then brought into thermal contact with the cathode ray tube can be used to heat or maintain the temperature of the cathode ray tube.

Abstract: An insulating member is used on or with a high-voltage probe that applies a voltage to the anode of a cathode ray tube during manufacture of the tube. If there are flaws in the frit seal of the tube, the probe produces arcing through the flaw into a grounded, conductive band disposed around the exterior of the frit seal. The insulating member is placed between the high-voltage probe tip and the grounded band around the frit seal. Consequently, the insulating member prevents electrical arcing external to the cathode ray tube between the high-voltage probe and the grounded band. Such arcing would otherwise interfere with the testing of the frit seal and could possibly damage the test equipment.

Abstract: When an installed electron gun has failed testing, the gun is cut out of the neck of the Cathode Ray Tube (“CRT”) without destroying or damaging any other portion of the CRT. A new neck is then formed on the tube which can be re-inserted into the production line and re-used. The reclaimed electron gun can then be analyzed and tested to determine the cause of its malfunction or test failure. In this way, minimal damage is done to the CRT in which the gun is originally installed and as much of that CRT as possible is salvaged for use in a completed unit.

Abstract: A protective cover is placed over a rack of cathode ray tube components to prevent contamination of the components and/or moisture damage to the components. Some cathode ray tube components, particularly funnels, are stockpiled so that assembly lines can be kept running even if the supply of the component becomes temporarily exhausted. However, these stockpiled funnels must be protected while in storage. The protective cover described herein can be fastened in place around a rack or pallet containing a stockpile of funnels. The protective cover can also incorporate moisture-absorbent elements to prevent moisture damage to the stockpiled funnels.

Abstract: A protective cover is placed over a rack of cathode ray tube components to prevent contamination of the components and/or moisture damage to the components. Some cathode ray tube components, particularly funnels, are stockpiled so that assembly lines can be kept running even if the supply of the component becomes temporarily exhausted. However, these stockpiled funnels must be protected while in storage. The protective cover described herein can be fastened in place around a rack or pallet containing a stockpile of funnels. The protective cover can also incorporate moisture-absorbent elements to prevent moisture damage to the stockpiled funnels.

Abstract: A jig incorporates a thermocouple clamp for measuring the temperature of a soldering iron. With the jig and the thermocouple clamp, the method of taking the temperature of the soldering iron is made consistent. Consequently, any variations in temperature readings can be attributed to an actual change in soldering iron temperature and not to a variation in the technique for measuring the temperature. Thus, the temperature of the soldering iron can be controlled with high accuracy. This is important particularly in high-precision manufacturing processes.