Device and method for coating serpentine fluorescent lamps

摘要

A serpentine tube (14) used in the manufacture of a fluorescent lamp is coated with a reflective or phosphor material (20B). A magnetic material (20A) and coating material (20B) slurry (20) is placed within one end of a serpentine glass tube (14). A magnet (30) is placed adjacent the magnetic material (20A) and coating material (20B) slurry (20) and is moved in a path conforming to the shape of the serpentine tube (14). The magnet (30) causes the magnetic material (20A) and coating material (20B) slurry (20) to travel along therewith, coating a portion of the interior surface of the serpentine tube (14) with a reflective, phosphor, or other material. In another embodiment of the invention, abrasive magnetic material (120) is placed within the serpentine lamp (114) for removing a previously coated material (120C) resulting in an aperture (138) being formed. The present invention is particularly suited to the manufacture of serpentine fluorescent lamps that are used to illuminate flat panel displays.