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 improved shaft is described with which a sponge saturated with carbon coating can be pushed through the narrow neck of a cathode ray tube funnel to fully coat the interior of the neck with the carbon coating. The improved shaft is made of a plastic composite material, for example. This improved shaft is much less expensive than previous stainless steel shafts and has enough flexibility that it is not easily bent when plunged into a funnel that is not properly aligned and centered under the shaft.

Abstract: During manufacture, the components of a cathode ray tube must be protected against contaminants, such as dust, that will degrade performance of the completed tube. A protective tunnel, in which a contaminant-free environment can more easily be maintained, protects open cathode ray tube funnels that are moved between a coating station and a drying oven. Access doors may be provided to allow for cleaning and maintenance of the tunnel, as well as access to cathode ray tube funnels in the tunnel. A vacuum system may also be provided to clean airborne contaminants from the protective tunnel.

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: A jig is used in place of a master Cathode Ray Tube (“CRT”) for calibrating a Stray Emissions Detection System (“SEDS”). Light Emitting Diodes (“LEDs”) are placed in the neck portion of a CRT, where the electron gun would normally be disposed, to form the test jig. These LEDs are activated during the calibration process to simulate the stray emissions that would be released through defects in a CRT. Because the number, pattern and light output of the LEDs can be controlled, and are not changed by the calibration procedure itself, the jig can be used to more reliably and effectively calibrate the SEDS for CRT manufacture.

Abstract: A pressure gauge or monitor is attached to a soldering iron so that the pressure with which the iron is being applied can be precisely monitored. Such a pressure monitor on a soldering iron can be used to monitor the pressure applied with the soldering iron when forming a solder electrode on an anti-reflective film of a cathode ray tube. This allows such electrodes to be consistently and optimally formed for grounding the anti-reflective film.

Abstract: A method and system for applying adhesive to a transparent, anti-reflective panel for a Cathode Ray Tube (“CRT”) include applying adhesive only around an outside perimeter of the panel. Preferably, the adhesive is only applied in the outermost perimeter of the panel which corresponds to the outer perimeter of the display surface of the CRT which is beyond the useable area of the display surface, i.e., where no portion of the images displayed extend. Thus, the adhesive will hold the transparent panel to the display surface of the CRT, but will not collect dust and other contaminants that will be trapped over the useable display area of the CRT. Additionally, the panel, with adhesive only around its perimeter, will be relatively easy to remove from the CRT for salvage and reclamation purposes.

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 non-adhesive, conductive strip is used to provide an electrical ground path between a solder electrode on the anti-reflective film of a cathode ray tube and the reinforcement or heat shrinkage band on the tube. The conductive strip is preferably held in place on the cathode ray tube using a magnet or magnets. Consequently, because the conductive strip is held in place by magnets and is non-adhesive, it can be removed and replaced repeatedly during the testing of the solder electrodes and anti-reflective film without potentially damaging the solder electrode or degrading the performance of the conductive tape that is typically used as the ground path in a completed cathode ray tube.

Abstract: A load voltage socket is provided for monitoring the load voltage across a CRT during aging so as to determine the current aging condition. The socket is insertable between the CRT and an aging line socket. The socket is provided with a plurality of banana plugs or other connecting means by which the load voltage socket may be conveniently connected to a voltage meter or other measuring instrument for the purposes of monitoring or determining the current aging condition.

Abstract: An improved shaft is described with which a sponge saturated with carbon coating can be pushed through the narrow neck of a cathode ray tube funnel to fully coat the interior of the neck with the carbon coating. The improved shaft is made of a plastic composite material. The preferred material for the improved shaft is garolite. This improved shaft is much less expensive that previous stainless steel shafts and has enough flexibility that it is not easily bent when plunged into a funnel that is not properly aligned and centered under the shaft.

Abstract: A pressure gauge or monitor is attached to a soldering iron so that the pressure with which the iron is being applied can be precisely monitored. Such a pressure monitor on a soldering iron can be used to monitor the pressure applied with the soldering iron when forming a solder electrode on an anti-reflective film of a cathode ray tube. This allows such electrodes to be consistently and optimally formed for grounding the anti-reflective film.

Abstract: A non-adhesive, conductive strip is used to provide an electrical ground path between a solder electrode on the anti-reflective film of a cathode ray tube and the reinforcement or heat shrinkage band on the tube. The conductive strip is preferably held in place on the cathode ray tube using a magnet or magnets. Consequently, because the conductive strip is held in place by magnets and is non-adhesive, it can be removed and replaced repeatedly during the testing of the solder electrodes and anti-reflective film without potentially damaging the solder electrode or degrading the performance of the conductive tape that is typically used as the ground path in a completed cathode ray tube.

Abstract: A hand tool can be used for measuring the thickness of a carbon layer applied in a cathode ray tube funnel during manufacture of the tube. The hand tool includes a scribe with a cutting blade or point that extends under the control of the user relative to the rest of the tool. The extension of the scribe relative to the base of the tool, which may be a roller, rollers or a skid plate, indicates the thickness of the carbon layer. The tool can also be applied to measure the thickness of other material layers deposited on a substrate.

Abstract: A jig can be used to site-test the accuracy of multi-meters that are used to measure resistances in a cathode ray tube production line without having to remove those multi-meters from the production line or ship them to a third party service provider for the testing. The jig is a box of electronics that includes a variety of known resistance loads that can be selected and then measured by a multi-meter to test and/or calibrate that meter. The jig includes a number of known resistance loads, a device for selecting a particular resistance load and electric contacts for connecting a multi-meter to the jig so that the meter can measure the selected and known resistance load. By comparing the measured and known resistance values, the accuracy of the multi-meter is tested.

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: During manufacture, the components of a cathode ray tube must be protected against contaminants, such as dust, that will degrade performance of the completed tube. A protective tunnel, in which a contaminant-free environment can more easily be maintained, protects open cathode ray tube funnels that are moved between a coating station and a drying oven. Access doors may be provided to allow for cleaning and maintenance of the tunnel, as well as access to cathode ray tube funnels in the tunnel. A vacuum system may also be provided to clean airborne contaminants from the protective tunnel.

Abstract: High-voltage power supplies used in a Cathode Ray Tube (“CRT”) manufacturing process should be protected from residue, dust and other contaminants. This will prevent possible damage to the voltage power supply and danger to people and equipment that can result from operation of a dirty voltage power supply. A protective housing made of a non-conductive, insulating material is used to encase and protect the voltage power supplies used in a CRT manufacturing process. This protective housing protects those voltage power supplies from degradation or damage due to the dust, residue or other contaminants that arise from the CRT manufacturing process. A cooling system may be incorporated into the housing to manage thermal energy generated by the voltage power supply unit.

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.