METHOD OF SEALING FLUORESCENT LAMP

PURPOSE:To achieve improved sealing of a fluorescent lamp by promoting good connection between the flare and a thick section by forming it before the flare is brought into contact with the bulb end so as to prevent rapid cooling of the thick section. CONSTITUTION:In order to prevent a thick section 50 from being cooled before a flare 35 is brought into contact with the section 50 by moving down a mount holder 37, the holder 37 is vertically reciprocated so that thermal energy from a burner 40 is stored in the section 50 while the flare 35 is apart from the section 50 and heat is transmitted to the flare 35 while the flare 35 touches the section 50. Next, the burner 40 is used to heat the section 50 while the flare 35 is fixed to the section 50 to fuse these parts thereby forming a thick sealing area 51. While the thick sealing area 51 is still softened, the area 51 is covered by a mold 60 and compressed air is sent into the bulb 30 to expands the area 51 toward the inner surface of a mold 60 thereby forming a nodal section 70.