Patent GB-947906-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to stapling machines
IPC: B65B51/05
Filed: 1962-09-25
Abstract: 947,906. Stapling machines. BOSTITCH Inc. Sept. 25, 1962 [Nov. 15, 1961], No. 36453/62. Heading B4C. A stapling machine for sealing cartons comprises a table 2, movable and stationary stapling heads 5, 5<SP>1</SP> for stapling top and bottom flaps in the carton, movable side boards 4, 5 for locating the carton in alignment with the heads, piston-and-cylinder devices for 31, 33 and 88, 89 actuating the side boards and stapling heads respectively means 109 carried by the movable head for contacting the carton to control the feeding of pressure to both heads, a piston and-cylinder device 70, 75 for lowering the movable head toward the carton, and valve means for automatically controlling the supply of pressure to the several operating means for sequentially timing the actuation thereof to first actuate the side boards, next lower the movable head, next operate both stapling heads to apply staples to the carton, next retract the pistons in the stapling heads and, eventually, release the side boards from the carton and raise the movable stapling head away from the carton. The movable stapling head 5 and its associated piston-and-cylinder device 70, 75 for raising it, are mounted on a boom 61 which is adjustably secured to a carriage 47 slidable on a column 45; the stapling head is counterbalanced by a weight 51 movable within the column. The side boards 4, 5, Fig. 6, for locating the carton C, are adjustably secured to brackets 8, 7 which are slidable on a rail 22 and connected respectively, to the upper and lower reaches of an endless belt 15, passing over rollers 16; the side boards may be faced with rubber 10. The bracket 8 is secured to the end of a rod 30 connected to the piston 31, the cylinder 33 being fixed to the table 2. When pressurized fluid such as compressed air is fed, via a valve V<SP>3</SP>B, into the cylinder, the boards are moved away from or towards each other. Each stapling head 5, 5<SP>1</SP> particularly described in Specification 947,905 includes a driver 87 and pivoted anvils 86 which pierce the flaps of the carton and turn over the ends of the staples, operation of these elements being effected by the piston 88. The upper head is fitted with the pivoted bracket 109 for contacting the carton when the head is lowered by the piston 70, movement of the bracket causing a lever 114 to actuate a valve V6 via an adjustable pin 115. In operation, a piston-operated clamp D, Fig. 9, locking the carriage 47 on the column 45, is actuated by a hand-controlled valve 152 connected in the main supply line 95 of a compressed air circuit, the carriage then being moved by means of handle 65 on the boom 61 to the desired height above the table 2; the valve 152 is then operated again to lock the carriage in this position. Upon actuation of a foot-controlled valve V<SP>1</SP>F compressed air is fed to a valve V2B which reverses the position of valve V3B and thereby exhausts one side of the piston 31 and applies pressure to the other side so that the side boards 4, 5 are moved into contact with the carton. Actuation of the valve V<SP>1</SP>f also causes a valve V5 to exhaust the cylinder 70 so that the piston 75 connected to the upper stapling head 5 is moved downwardly by a weight 80 until the pivoted bracket 109 contacts the carton; the operation of the valve V5 is delayed by means of a throttle valve V1 in order to give time for the side boards to contact the carton. Movement of the bracket 109 effects actuation of the valve V6 which then, via valves V9, V10, exhausts one side of the pistons 88 in the stapling heads 5, 5<SP>1</SP> and feeds air to the other sides so that the stapling operation is carried out; the return of the pistons 88 is effected, after a predetermined time, by means of throttle valves V3, V4 and valves V7, V8. After a further predetermined time interval, the stapling head 5 is raised by the piston 75 via a throttle valve U8L and valve V4L and the side boards moved apart after a time determined by the setting of a throttle valve V2. The carton is now moved forward on rollers 3 mounted on the table by suitable feed means and the stapling process repeated.