Method for the fabrication of a direct-heated cathode structure and an apparatus therefor

A fabrication apparatus for assembling a direct-heated cathode structure comprising:

• (A) corrugate bender assembly including:
• a cushion die including a die pin sustained by an elastic member inside a cylinder, said die pin together with the upper fringe of said cylinder forming a die face for said bending;
• and a punch assembly including a center shaft, a first punch and a second punch, those parts being sustained by a first elastic member, by a second elastic member and by a third elastic member respectively, and a cutter, all parts being concentric to said center shaft;
• (B) a welding jig assembly including:
• a block with a pair of holes formed on it so disposed to support a conventional cathode filament base;
• and a welding electrode jig means comprising a guide plate means having an electrical contact slot adapted to engage a lead of said cathode filament base, an adjustable guide bar means for aligning the filament with said lead, and electrical connection means for impressing a welding current to said plate means and thus to said lead.