Patent GB-1244886-A (GB)
Title: Machine for making wirebound boxes
IPC: B27M3/36
Filed: 1968-11-15
Abstract: 1,244,886. Making boxes. STAPLING MACHINES CO. 15 Nov., 1968 [15 Nov., 1967], No. 54452/68. Heading B5D. A machine for making wirebound boxes comprises a hopper 40 for laterally supporting a stack of rectangular box ends E while permitting movement of the same lengthwise of said hopper to a stapling station at which an end portion of a wirebound mat M can be placed round the two short edges and one long edge of the box end therein, stapling units 50 positioned at opposite sides of said stapling station to drive staples through the face material of the front and rear side sections of said mat and into the underlying short edges of said box end, drive means to operate said stapling units in unison to drive staples simultaneously at said front and rear side sections, said stapling station being open opposite said long edge of said box end to permit the box end to be pulled therefrom in the plane of said box end surface and perpendicular to said long edge by outward movement of the mat stapled thereto; whereupon said mat can be reversed and its opposite end portion similarly placed around another box end in said stapling station and stapled thereto in the next sequence of operation of said stapling units to complete the formation of said box. In the construction shown the hopper 40, Fig. 1, comprises a pair of angle members 42 which are adjustably secured to an angle member 38 of the machine frame to permit variation of the spacing of the members 42 to accommodate different lengths of box ends; the lower edges of the box ends are slidably supported on rails 44 which are adjustable in the height direction of the box ends to accommodate box ends of different heights. The hopper is inclined to the vertical so that the box ends are fed to the stapling station by gravity, the box end in the station resting on stop bolts 46, Fig. 2, which are also adjustable. Four stapling units 50 are provided, two on each side of the stapling station, and they are mounted for horizontal reciprocation towards and away from the short edges of the box end. The retracted positions of the units enables the wirebound mat to be folded to U-shape to be placed around the box end. The wirebound mat is positioned by a guide assembly which includes a pair of adjustable arms 52 which engage the end of the mat, a pair of arms 56 which support one end portion of the mat at the correct height and an arm 70 which supports the end portion of the mat adjacent the box end which is to be stapled to the mat and whose length is adjustable. The mat can be supported by the arm 70 so that the end is stapled to the mat in an inclined position so that when boxes so made are stacked finger holds are provided. The lower end portion of the arm 70 is pivotally attached by a pin to a pair of rocker blocks 72 which are pivotally mounted on the machine frame; the arm 70 controls a start switch 80, the switch 80 being actuated when the wirebound mat is pressed downwardly into position on the box end E, so pressing down the arm 70 and causing a motor 94 to be energized. The motor moves the stapling units to the stapling position. The stapling units are supported at both sides of the machine between wire feed blocks 96 and are held in position by toggle clamp assemblies 100 on mounted plates 98 which carry the wire feed blocks 96. The mounting plates 98 are supported on rods 104 for movement transversely of the machine since the rod slidably extends through openings in the machine frame; the stapling units are driven by drive rods 108 which are connected to drive heads 112, each drive head being supported by means of rollers on the machine frame for transverse movement towards and away from the stapling station. The heads are each actuated by a drive arm 134, the arms being pivotally mounted on the machine frame and urged inwardly by tension springs 142. Outward movement of each head is caused by a respective rotor arm 158 which engages a cam plate carried by the arm. The rotor arms are driven by a chain 154 from the motor 94 so that two staples are driven by each of the four stapling units during each revolution of the rotor arms 158; this makes it necessary for the box end to be pushed upwardly after one set of staples has been driven so that the second set of staples can be positioned correctly; the box end is moved upwardly by a pusher plate 90 which engages its lower edge and the pusher plate, which is mounted on the machine frame by means of parallel links, is moved upwardly against the bias of tension springs 84 by rollers mounted on extension links of the chain 154; a pair of hold-down bars 176 prevent upward movement of the other box ends. Each stapling unit consists of two body sections 182, 184, Fig. 12, the body section 182 having a slide assembly 186 which is connected to the drive rod 108 and which includes a generally U-shaped staple former 188 and a staple driver 190; the other body section 184 has a thin central web 193 flanked by two legs 194, 195 of a rocker assembly which is pivotally mounted on a pin which extends through the web. The legs are rocked in unison by a crank arm 197. During an outward stroke of the drive rod 108 a roller 200, which is part of the slide assembly 186, engages a cam plate 208 which is fastened to the inner face of a sector gear 210, Fig. 11, and rocks the sector gear; the sector gear drives a pinion 215 which in turn rotates a knurled feed wheel 218 through a one-way clutch; the feed wheel co-operates with a pressure roller 222 which is biased towards the feed wheel by a spring and the feed wheel feeds wire W through line openings in guide blocks secured to the wire feed block; the wire is fed until its end reaches a stop plate 232. As the drive rod 108 completes its outward stroke, the slide assembly 186 engages a bar 198 and rocks the crank arm 197 counterclockwise so rocking the legs 194, 195 and causing a hardened cutter 234 carried by the leg 195 to cut the wire to the proper staple length and push it sideways to a staple forming station abutting the mating face of the body section 182. As the length of wire is pushed to the staple forming station it engages the bight of the staple formed during the preceding inward stroke of the drive rod 108 and presses the bight outwardly into a staple driving channel 192. During the first portion of the inward stroke of the drive rod 108, a ramp 236 of the slide assembly engages a co-operating surface 194a of the leg 194 and rocks the legs back to their initial position against the resistance of a spring, subsequently the staple driver 190 engages the bight of the staple in the staple  driving channel and drives the staple through the wire mat into the box end. During the final portion of the inward stroke of the drive rod 108, the staple former 188 engages the length of wire in the staple forming station which has previously been positioned in a slot 193c in the web 193 and bends the end portions around the web 193 to form the staple. As the legs are bent inwardly towards parallel relation they engage inclined outer surfaces of latches 238 pivotally mounted in recesses in the body section at opposite sides of the web 193 and press the latches outwardly against the resistance of coil springs; when the legs of the staple reach the parallel position the latches snap back and prevent spring back of the legs.