Paper-box machine.

Application filed Jute 10, 1901? Serial No. 63,832. (No model.)

To all wham it may concern:

Be it known that we, Charles C. Davis, residing at Contoocook, in the county of Merrimack, State of New Hampshire, and Elmer 5 W. Webster, residing at Whitman, county of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, citizens of the United States, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Paper-Box Machines, of which the following is a speeiio flcation, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists in an improved machine operating automatically to “break”or bend blanks into the required shape for box 15 bodies or covers and to apply stay-strips to the corners or angles thereof.

The aims of the invention are to facilitate and expedite the production of boxes and covers therefor, to reduce the number of op20 erations involved in the manufacture of boxes and their covers, to dispense with manual intervention in the operation of applying the stay-strips, and to obviate the occurrence of accidents such as occasionally 25 happen to operatives in connection with the use of the box-staying machines which are in use at the present time.

The invention is represented in the accompanying drawings as embodied in a machine 30 of convenient character and construction; but it should be understood that, so far as the construction of the machine in general is concerned, it is not material to the invention and may be varied in practice according to the 35 exigencies of use and the views of machine builders And users.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the said machine in end elevation. Fig. 2 shows the same in side elevation with certain portions 40 of the feeding devices omitted. Fig. 2^a and Fig. 2^b are views of portions of the machine in side elevation, including the devices which are omitted from Fig. 2. Fig. 3 shows in plan certain of the parts which are more immedi45 ately concerned in breaking or bending the blank aud applying the stay-strips thereto. Fig. 4 shows in side elevation the devices which are provided for use in connection with one of the stay-strips for the purpose of rendering the same adhesive. Fig. 4^a shows in 50 plan certain details of the said devices. Fig. 5 is a side elevation taken oppositely with respect to Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows the devices of Figs. 4, 4^a, and 5 in plan. Fig. 7 is a partial plan view showing chiefly portion of the 55 crimper devices. Fig. 8 is a partly-sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 9 shows the block or form and crimpers in transverse section.

In the illustrated machine embodying our 60 invention a blank for the body or cover of a box previously scored and cornered is broken or bent into form by the conjoint action of a block or plunger, and folders or foldingguides cooperating therewith. Iir the said 65 machine, although not necessarily in all embodiments of the invention, the blank is fed automatically from a pile or stack of blanks into position in connection^with said block or plunger and folders or folding-guides. The 70 blank having had its flanges bent into proper position, stay-strips are applied to the various corners or angles and are subjected to the required compression for the purpose of securely uniting them to the meeting portions 75 of the said flanges. Then the box or box-cover is dropped onto a conveyer-belt, by which latter it is transported out of the machine.

In the drawings the invention is illustrated as embodied in a machine for producing box- 80 covers. Its application in the production of box-bodies will be obvious to those who are skilled in the art.

In the following description for convenience of reference and in order to avoid repe- 85 tition the term “box” is used in the sense of meaning either box body or cover.

The machine comprises box-forming instrumentalities—i. e., instrumentalities operating automatically to break or form a 90 blank into the shape of a box and instrumentalities for automatically applying the stay-strips to the angles or corners of the partially-completed box. The box-forming instrumentalities may be of any approved and 95 suitable character and construction. The

728,086 essentials thereof in the present instance comprise the block or former 1, Fig. 1, the breaking-rods 2 2, having in connection therewith the side guides 2^s 2⁶, Fig. 3, and the 5 breaker - posts 3 3, Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The breaking-rods 2 2 support a blank by its edges in position below the block or plunger 1, and by the descent of the said block or plunger the blank is forced down within the inclosure io formed by the breaker-posts and the stands 2^a 2^a, supporting said breaking-rods 2 2, the said breaking-rods and breaker-posts operating during the descent of the blank with the block or plunger to fold upward the flanges of 15 the blank against the sides of the block or plunger. The said stands 2^a 2^a are mounted upon the projecting portions g' g', Fig. 3, of the plates g g and operate to hold the side flanges of the box-blank pressed against the 20 sides of the block or form when the latter is in its lowest position. The breaker-posts 3 3 are mounted upon the plates g g and operate similarly in connection with the end flanges of the box-blank.

For the convenient actuation of the block or plunger 1 it is mounted upon the lower end of a bar 4, Fig. 1, carried by a cross-head 5, Figs. 1 and 2, which last is supported upon the upper ends of slide-rods 6 6, these passing 30 through guides 7 7 on the frame a of the machine and having their lower ends connected by links 8 8 with operating-levers 9 9, carrying bowls or rollers 10 10, working on cams 11 11, fast with the rotating shaft 12, 35 the said levers having connected therewith springs 13, Fig. 2, which operate to hold the said bowls or rollers 10 10 in contact with the acting faces of the said cams. The cams 11 and springs 13 cooperate in occasioning the 40 vertical movements of the cross-head and block or plunger.

Preferably we combine with the box-forming instrumentalities an automatic feed, by means of which the blanks are fed succes45 sively to the said instrumentalities. Herein (see more especially Figs. 2^aand 2^b) a feed-table shown at &, it having applied thereto upwardly-extending cheeks c,(only one of which is shown in Fiji. 2^a,) between which a stack d 50 of blanks is placed in readiness to be fed. ( 14 is a starter beneath the stack dof blanks, it being provided at its rear end with a lip 15. for engagement with the outer edge of the bottom blank during the inward movement 55 of the starter. Through this engagement of the lip 15 with the said bottom blank the latter is carried into the bite of the feed-rolls 16 16, Figs. 2^a and 2^b, by means of which the said blankis fed forward toward theblockor io plunger 1. In practice the said feed-rolls are provided with suitable means for rotating the same. (Not necessary to be shown herein.)' Starter 14 is arranged to slide lengthwise of the feed-table b and is operated by means of 65 a lever 17, pivoted at e (see also Fig. 2^b) and having connected therewith a rod 18, operated by an eccentric 19 on the shaft 20. The blank after having been discharged from the feed-rolls 16 16 onto the breaking-rods 2 2 is engaged by a reciprocating pusher 21 and 70 pushed into position beneath the block or plunger 1. For the actuation.of the pusher 21 it is connected by a link 22 with the lever 23, pivoted at/and having connected therewith a rod 24, engaged with a cam 25 on the 75 shaft 20. The said cam advances the said pusher. The latter is retracted bj^T means of a suitable spring or weight. (Not necessary to be shown.)

The devices for applying the stay-strips are 80 employed at each corner of the block or form 1 and are constructed and arranged as well as caused to operate as follows: The strips 26 26, from which the corner-stays are to be formed, are wound on reels 27 27, suitably 85 mounted on convenient supports—as, forexample, the brackets 28 28 of Figs. 1 and 2, the said brackets being attached to the plates g g. From the said reels 27 27 the strips 26 26 are led through guides past devices, by 90 means of which the same are rendered adhesive, then through feeding devices, by means of which the strips are advanced intermittingly, and then are guided into proximity to the path of movement of the corners 95 or angles of the block or form 1. One set of the devices for guiding a strip 26, rendering the surface of the same adhesive, and intermittingly feeding the same, is shown in detail in Figs. 4 to 6, to which reference may too now be had. Each set of the said devices is carried by a stand x, mounted upon one of the plates g. In. the said figures, 29 designates a guide to which the strip 26 passes from the reel 27, the said guide being supported 105 from an upward extension of the trough 30, said trough being attached to stand x. 31 is a roll partly immersed in the contents of the said trough 30, and 32 is a roll contacting at its periphery with the periphery of the roll no 31. The guide 29 is arranged to cause the strip 26 to bear against the periphery of the roll 32 in passing the latter roll. The said guide 29 is provided with two arms, one of which extends upwardly from the portion of 115 the upward extension of the trough 30 to which the guide is attached, while the other arm extends downwardly in proximity to the roll 32. The upper arm is provided with lateral guides to prevent lateral deflection of izo the strip 26, as shown clearly in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, while the lower arm is concaved to fit around the periphery of the roll 32 and bear the strip 26 into contact with the said roll.

A portion of the contents of the trough 30 125 remaining upon the surface of the roll 31 as the latter rotates is taken from the latter by the roll 32 and transferred to the surface of the strip 26. If the contents of the trough 30 is paste, then the transfer of a portion of the 130 latter to the strip will render the latter adhesive, whereas if the surface of the strip 26 has previously been prepared—as, for instance, with glue or the like—then the con728,088 tents of the trough 30 may be water, and the transfer of a portion of such water by the rolls 31 and 32 to the prepared surface of the strip 26 will render the said surface adhe5 sive. After leaving the roll 32 and guide 29 the strip 26 on its way to the feed-rolls passes around a guide-roll 33, Fig. 5, mounted on stand x. The feed-rolls are shown as comprising a roll 34, with toothed or serrated io face,and a presser-roll 35, mounted on a swinging arm 36, pivoted at 37 to stand x and having connected therewith a spring 38, acting with a tendency to move the arm 36 in a direction to cause the roll 35 to bear against 15 the periphery of the roll 34. For the convenient actuation of the roll 34 a ratchetwheel 39, Fig. 4, is made fast therewith, the said ratchet-wheel being engaged by a pawl 40, pivoted on a pawl-carrier 41, herein con2o stituted by a ring loosely sleeved concentrically with the feed-roll 34 and ratchetwheel 39 and connected by a link 42 with a lever 43, pivoted at h, the said lever being connected by a link 44 with a slide 45, the lat25 ter having in connection therewith a spring 46, acting to hold the slide normally in the position in which the pawl 40 is retracted. A spring 47, carried by the pawl-earrier 41, presses the pawl 40 into engagement with the 30 teeth of the ratchet-wheel 39. Movement of the slide 45 in the direction opposite to that in which the spring 46 tends to move the same advances the pawl 40 and rotates the feed-, roll 34. For the purpose of enabling the 35 amount of feed to be varied to meet the requirements in practice the pivot 48, by means of which the link 44 is connected with the lever 43, is moved toward or from the fulcrum h of the lever 43 by means of a thumb40 screw 49, whereby adjustment by the operator is facilitated. 50 is a guide located adjacent the feed-roll 34 and by means of which the strip 26 is deflected downward on passing away from the said roll.

Considerable annoyance and difficulty heretofore have been experienced in practice as a result of the feed-rolls, between which the strip passes after having been rendered adhesive, becoming charged with the adhe50 sivesubstanee with which said strip is coated, necessitating frequent cleaning of the roll which comes in contact with the moist surface of the strip; also, on account of the fact that after a brief stoppage of the machine the 5 5 strip will cling to the said roll, with the result that the strip will wind around the latter, necessitating a suspension of the working of the machine until the trouble can be remedied. With the object in view of remedying this diffi60 culty we arrange the devices by means of which the strip is rendered adhesive so that the strip is left dry or non-adhesive along the middle line thereof. Thus, having reference more especiallj’ to Fig. 4^a, the roll 32 is formed 65 with the annular depression or groove 321 at mid-width thereof, and hence the said roll transfers adhesive or moisture only to the side portiohs of the strip. Also the presserroll 35 is made quite narrow, so as to bear only upon the dry or non-adhesive middle line 70 of the strip, as shown'most clearly in Fig. 6. In this manner we prevent the presser-roll 35 from becoming charged with the adhesive that is employed in connection with the strip 26 and we obviate the tendency of the strip 75 to become wound around the said roll 35 on restarting after a stoppage of the machine. For the purpose of preventing relative displacement of the roll 35 and strip with re-, spect of each other the said roll is furnished 80 with the flanges 351 351, overlapping the opposite ends of the feed-roll 34. The guideroll 33 is constructed similar to the presserroll 351—namely, with a narrow middle portion to bear against the dry intermediate por- 85 tion of the stay-strip and with side flanges to prevent lateral deviation of the stay-strip.

From the feed-rolls the strip 26 passes through a slot 51, Fig. 3, in a plate 52, which is attached to the plate g, on which the eorre- 90 spending breaker-post 3 is mounted, as shown at the lower side of Fig. 3. Below the level of the said plate 2 is arranged to work the radial presser 53, mounted in a suitable slideway, which is provided in the plate g, as 95 shown at the upper side of Fig. 3, where the plates 52 52 are removed in order to show parts which are concealed by such plates at the lower side of the said figure. The inner end of the said presser is formed with a right- too angled notch to fit the corner or angle of the block or form 1. The presser is provided with a stud or roll 54, working in a cam-slot 55, which is provided in a slide 56, mounted in a guideway 57 on the plate g. Movement 105 of the cam-slide 56 back and forth within the guide way 57 occasions movement of the presser 53 toward and from the corresponding angle of the block or form. The pressers 53 being in their retracted positions and no block or form 1 being depressed, with a blank in position, the said blank having its flanges turned up against the sides of the block or form, the pressers are caused to move inward. As their inner ends pass the inner 115 edges of the slots 51 in the plates 52 they shear off the portions of the strips 26 hanging below the said plates 52 and immediately press the portions of the said strips which have thus been detached against the outer 120 surfaces Of the flanges of the box at the corners or angles thereof. By the compression produced by the inward movement of the _;pressers the stay-strips are firmly united to the box-flanges. For the convenient actua- 125 tion of the eam-slides 56 the two cam-slides at each end of the machine are loosely engaged by a cross-head 58, to which last is connected pivotally the head of a screw-threaded rod 59, which is connected with a yoke-shaped 130 lever 60, the latter being mounted on a rockshaft % Fig. 2. Each lever 60 is operated from an eccentric 61 on the shaft 20 through the intervention of a strap and rod 62, applied

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728,086 to the said eccentric, a rod. 63, pivotally connected with the lower portion of the lever 60, and a spring 64, compressed between the end of the said strap and rod 62 and a collar 65 on the rod 63.

For the purpose of perfecting the bending or breaking of the flanges of the long sides of the box along the intermediate portions of the length thereof, so as to obviate any tendency to depart from the required shape, we provide crimpers, which are adapted to bend the said portions of the said flanges inward around the side edges of the block or former 1, and in connection with the said crimpers we provide suitable means for the actuation thereof at the proper times in the working of the machine. Having reference more especially to Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the crimpers are shown at 66. Each is mounted upon a foot 67, fitted to slide laterally in a guideway 68 and having connected therewith one end of a rod 69, the other end of which is connected with a radially-ad j ustable crank-pin 70, fixed in the diametrical slot 71 of a crank-disk 72, the latter being mounted upon the side bar 85, and having connected therewith the pinion 73, which is engaged by a rack 74 on a bar 75, working in a guideway in said side bar and having a second rack at 751, which is in engagement with the pinion 76 on a shaft 77. The latter extends across the machine and serves for the transmission of motion to both of the crimpers. It has affixed to one end thereof a pinion 78, meshing with the teeth of an upright rack-bar 79, the latter being operated by means of a lever 80 and a grooved cam 81 on the shaft 12. Through the means described the opposite crimpers 66 66 are moved inwardly, so as to bend the opposite side flanges of the box inward over the lower side edges l^a l^a, Fig. 9, of the block or form 1. In order that the bends produced by the crimpers may be sharply defined and rendered permanent, the sides of the block or form are recessed intermediate their ends, as at l^b, and said edges l^a l^a are acute-angled. The crimpers have beveled inner corners to fit against the beveled sides of the i block or form and by their contact with the I flanges of the box they operate to bend said | flanges sharply over the edges l^a l^a.

For the convenient actuation of the slides 45 45 we have shown the latter provided with depending arms 451 451. The latter are disposed in the paths of the pressers 53 53, and in the outward movements of the latter their outer ends engage with the said arms 451 451 to move the slides in the direction which serves to rotate the feed-rolls.

is the conveyer-belt onto which the finished boxes drop. It is supported upon the rolls 83 83, and motion is communicated thereto in practice in any convenient manner.

The plates g g are secured by bolts 84 84, Fig. 3, upon the side bars 85 85. The said side bars are furnished with longitudinal slots 86 86, through which said bolts 84 84 pass. The said slots enable the plates g g at the opposite ends of the side bars to be adjusted toward or from one another to suit 70 different lengths of boxes. When the plates g g at opposite ends of the said side bars are adjusted nearer to or farther from each other, the screw-threaded rod 59 is adjusted relatively to the’yoke-shaped lever 60 by means 75 of the nuts 87 87, which are fitted to the threaded portion of said rod at opposite sides of the slotted upper end of said lever through which the rod passes.

The side bars 85 85 are supported on the 80 cross-bars 88, upon which they are adjustable transversely in usual manner to enable the width of the boxes to be varied. In order to accommodate this transverse adjustment of the said side bars, the cross-heads 85 58 58 are grooved transversely in their under sides and receive in the grooves the projections 881 881, extending upwardly from the cam-plates 56 56. The cam-plates thus remain operativelj⁷ connected with the said 90 cross-heads, whatever may be the widths of the boxes for which the machine is set. For the purpose of steadying the cross-heads 58 58 in their back-and-forth movement each thereof has applied thereto blocks 89 89 for 95 engagement with the inner edges of the corresponding pair of plates g g. The said blocks slide against the said edges and have lips which extend under the said plates, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Thereby the cross-heads are 100 prevented from rising out of engagement with the projections of the cam-plates 56 56. The blocks 89 89 are connected with each cross-head by bolts 90 90, working in slots 91 91 in the cross-heads, to permit of trans- 105 verse adjustment of the said blocks in accordance with adjustment of the side bars 85 85 toward and from each other.