provements in and relating to Machines for Filling Boxes with Matches
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr 1895-Accepted, 1st June 1895
(OMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Filling Boxes with
Matches
"
I, PETER JENSEN, of 77 Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Chartered
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication
to me from abroad by Charles Henry Palmer, Match Manufacturer, John William
Denmead, Machinist, and Jo eph Alvutus Baughman, Master Mechanic, citizens
of the United States of America, residing respectively at 104 North Summit
Street, 228 Carl Street and 1086 South Main Street, in the City of Akron,
County of Summit and State of Ohio, one of the United States of America) and
In what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement
Figure 1 is a per poctive view of our box filling machine, as arranged for use,
the partition crying chain being 16moved
Figure 2 is a front elev ition of said machine
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same
Figure 4 is a detail plan view of a portion of the box chute and trough
Figure 5 is longitudinal section through the sime
Figure 6 is a transve e Lection on line e-r of Figure 2
Figure 7 is a detail per-pective view of 2 portion of the partition carrying
chain, and
Figure 8 is detail perspective view of one form of trough vibrating n echanism
which we employ
Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in cach of the figures
The object of our invention is to enable matches to be successfully placed in
boxes, by mechanic il mcans, duectly from the match making machine, and to this
end, said invention-
Consists in the mechanism, and in the construction and combination of the parts
thereof, substantially is ind for the purpose herein after specified
To illustrate our invention, we will show and describe it as employed in
connection with a well-nown form of continuous match making machine, but we,
of course do not limit our clvcs only to the use of our invention in connection with
such machine, nor in fact with any particular construction of match machine
In the type of machine referied to the match splint, after being cut, are stuck
mto openings in plates that are flexibly united into an endless chain, which, after
carrying them to the device for applying paraffin and the igniting composition,
eventually returns them to a point near which the splints are cut, at which point
they are discharged from the machine by being punched from the chain-plates
In the carrying of our invention into practice, we attach to the frame A of the
match machine, by means of bricket a and a a horizontally arranged base plate
or support B, that is located a suitable distance below the point where the
matches are punched from the chain-plates C, and extends entirely across the end
of the machine Upon the upper ide of said plate are secured several blocks D
and D, that form bearing or supports for vibrating though or way E, which
extends crosswise of the machine, and has its inner side placed as close to the
contiguous match holding plate as is possible without actual contact Into and
through said trough, whose con-truction will be hereafter described, match-boxes

page_text: are passed from a suitable source of supply, the connection with the latter and said
trough being a chute F that has a downwardly inclined portion, through which the
boxes descend by gravity, and a horizontal portion, that is in alignment with the
tiough the chute between the inclined and horizontal portions, being rounded or
curved, as shown Said chute has on the upper edge of each side an inwardly
projecting flange f to keep the boxes from accidental displacement, as they pass
along through the same
The boxes are moved through the horizontal portion of the chute into and
through the tough or way E, by means of a feed-wheel G, that has a series of
radial arms or fingers 9 and that reach into and pass through the chute, as the
wheel revolves, and engage, in succession, the front ends of the upper boxes on
their inner sides, adjacent ones of said arms being spaced a distance apart equal to
the length of a box
The feed-wheel G is mounted upon a shaft H, that is Journalled in arms,
which ise from a plite I that is secured to the supporting plate B, and upon the
outer end of said shaft is a gear-wheel K that meshes with a pinion upon a shaft L
that also carries a disk M The outer face of said disk is a perfectly flat or pline
one, and frictionally engaging the same is the periphery of a wheel N, that is
mounted upon a shaft which is jout nalled at its ends within bearings upon the
arms P and
P of a bracket P that is attached to the front edge of the plite Bat
one end thereof I he friction wheel N is splined upon its shaft, and is adjustable
thereon, to change, in a radial direction with reference to disk M, the point of its
engagement with such disk M, and thus enable the speed of the latter, and in
consequence that of the feed-wheel G to be changed
At its outer end the shaft carries a pulley o that is connected by a belt Q
with a pulley r upon the end of a shaft h, which is journalel in brackets 6 and
that depend from the under side of the plate B and which shaft R carries, at its
other end, a band wheel to which power may be applied from any suitable
source, to rotate the shaft
The trough or way through which the boxes are passed to receive the matches
discharged from the chain plates ( and C, has a rapid vibratory movement
imparted to it, to cause the matches to settle into and thus fill the boxes, and li
therein parallel with each other and said trough or way may be in one piece,
but, by preference, we make it in two pieces or sections, and provide a sepal ite
vibrating mechanism for each section This construction is desirable, since it is
advisable to impart less motion to the boxes that are nearly fille l, than to those
less filled, o as to avoid the likelihood of displacing or throwing out the matchc
The motion imparted to the trough section is in a longitudinal direction and may
be produced by any suitable moans In the drawings we show different form
applied to cach, either or both of which may be employed at the same time in one
machine In ich form, a cam-wheel, having nuine rous cam projections on its
periphery, and fixed upon shaft R by a bet- crow tapped through its hub and
engaging the haft, is used to vibrate a lover, which is connected with the
respective trough-section, so as to cause the desired Jirring or vibration of the
same
In one form a lever 1 1s mounted upon a shaft t that carries an upwai ly
extending arm T', to the upper end of which is attached a bar U, that stands at
an angle oblique to the plane of vibration of the arm, and is engaged upon opposite
sides by pins or studs V and V that project downwardly from the underside of the
trough section The outer end of lever I, or a roller thereon engages the
periphery of the cam-wheel S, naving numerous projections on its periphery, and
fixed to the shaft R by means of set screws tapped through its hub, as shown
To vary the amount of movement of the trough- ection, said bar U is adapted
to be adjusted to change the angle of its obliquity, buing to this cud, provided with
a shanl u that fits and is held within an opening in said arm T', by means of a
sut-screw
The lever is moved in opposition to the cam-wheel S by means of a spring W

page_text: that, at one end, engages said lever, and, at its other end, engages the underside of
the plate B
The lever T2 of the other vibrating mechanism shown is a bell-crank lever, and
has one arm actuated by the cam heel Slike cam-wheel S already described,
and similarly secured to the shaft R by a set screw s', and the other arm extended
upward, and pivoted to the under-side of the trough section
A coiled spring X
attached at one end to said lever T2 and at us other end to a relatively fixed point,
acts to move said lever and the trough section in opposition to the cam wheel
The
bell-crank lever T2 does not directly engage the cam-wheel, but is provided with a
roller or wheel and said roller is made adjustable along the lever arm to vary
the throw of the lever and hence, the amount of movement of the connected
trough section As the roller is adju ted along the lever the cam S¹ can be
corre pondingly moved along its shaft R and fixed at the required point by the set
screws which fastens it to the shaft
spring
a Hat
To cushion the trough or way in its vibration, and modify its momentum
Y is employed, that is secured at one end to one of the brackets b and
has its upper fiee end placed between lugs e and e upon the under side of the
trough E
Both where the chute F adjoins the trough, and where the two sections of the
latter come together, the parts are provided with interlocking fingers 4 and Z of
greater length than the throw of the trough so as to avoid the formation of
space between the adjacent ends of the sections and chute, of such width as to
interfere with the free passage of the boxes at such point The surfaces of the
trough section ends towards which the boxes move, are rounded off as shown, to
avoid the presence of shoulders or abrupt plices against which the box ends night
catch
For a like reason, the sides of the two trough sections, also, are formed with
similu interlocking fingers, and though said construction is not shown as employed
where the sides of the chute and trough come together, it, of course, can be so
used without departure from our invention
Where the boxes to be filled are of greater length than the length of the
matches, it has been found that, oce ionally, instead of occupying positions lying
straight across the box, which is the designed position, and that necessary to
properly fill the box, matches will get away therein
Io prevent this, we employ what may be termed temporary partitions, to divide
such boxes, as they pass through the trough, into several compartments having
each length less than that of a match, so as to confine the limits in which it is
possible for the match to move horizontally, and act, upon being struck by the
matches, to guide or direct the same to the desued position In practically
embodying this feature, we employ an endless chain Z', each of whose links has
the form of a parallelogram, and generally corresponds in length and width with
the le dimensions of the box used, and, at one end, has a thin projection to
extend into a box, and engage the inner side of the rear end thereof, the object
of uch projection being to preserve a link and its box in proper relative
position
1
Between its ends each link his several, as shown, two, other projection,
and -1
in the form of very thin plates, that are adapted to extend into the match
boxes to the bottom thereof, and having a width corresponding to that of the box,
con titute the temporary partitions above referred to
A
Preferably the dimensions of cach projection ind are such, that when a
link is in engagement with a box the upper edges of each of said projections will
st in higher than the top of the box, so as to control matches fall into nearly
full oxe, ind, in the case of the end projections 2 and prevent their lolging
upon the upper edges of the ends of the boxes Even in the case of small boxes,
which do not necessitate the employment of the intermediate putitionsind 2',
it is been found desirable to employ chun whose links have merely the
de cubed construction of end partitions, for the purpose of guiding the matches

page_text: into orderly positions in each box, and to keep them there, when they fall into
boxes that have been nearly filled
We, therefore, wish it understood, that we do not limit ourselves only to the
use of a link having projections intermediate its ends, and we al o wish it under-
stood, that we do not confine ourselves to the employment of the chan
some conditions, we may dispense with it and the partitions altogether although
as, under
we deem it an important and valuable device Said chain 1 also, of great utility
where the form of box to be filled is such that the filling cannot be done directly
from the machine as they are passed through the trough, since the matches can
be dropped into and moved through the trough in an orderly position by the
projections on the chain
'
In pa sing through the trough E, the sides of the chain rest upon the top edges
of the box sides, and the flanges oi shoulders e¹ and e' upon opposite sides of the
trough, overhang and engage the top edges of the chain to steady the latter ind
the boxes under the vibratory motion of the trough The inner fice of the trough
side adjacent to the match carrying plates, is bevelled or inclined, as shown, from
its top to the shoulder e' upon such side, so as to offer no impediment to the
descent of matches into the boxes while, to prevent the jumping of the matches
clear across the trough, when expelled with unusual force from the plates, a guid
plate is provided upon the opposite side of the trough, which rises vertically
from the shoulder or flange e¹ upon said side
The flange and e¹ are omitted at the end of the trough into which the boxes
pass from the chute F to permit the entrance into the trough of the chain, and
to prevent the boxes rising or jumping out of the trough, as they enter the ame
from the chute, a spring finger A¹ is provided at each side, to yieldingly bear
upon the top edge of the box side Said hinges are integril with and project from
a transverse plate A2 that is suitably attached to the trough, and hive such
length, as to extend to the point where the links enter into engagement with the
boxcs
The chain Z passes over two wheels B' and B' that are joun lled upon arms C
and Cat opposite sides of the match machine frame, at points above the trough,
each of said wheels being formed of
parallel rods and with which the lrk projections z and 2 are adapted to
two rings or dishs, that are united by
engage
Preferably, the chain is duiven otherwise than by its heretofore described
engagement with the boxes, and for this purpose we connect by means of a belt or
band D' a pulley & that is attached to one wheel B' with a pulley E¹ upon the
feed wheel shaft H
In moving into the trough, the chain is guided by a curved guidc-plate F¹
that is attached to the trough, and a like guide plate Gis provided, where it passes
out of the trough
To keep the boxes from sliding or slipping within the trough, as the same
vibiates, we provide means for applying pressure to them, while therein, which
means consists of a thin elistic plate H¹ for each trough section, that is secured
at its ends at the bottom thereot, and is adapted to be adjusted by means of a
set scrow H³, to vary the level of a portion of its length between its ends and
thus cause such boxes, as pass over the adjusted portion, to be held with sufficient
friction to prevent its slipping
Contact of the chain-plates C, C, with the tough, which would, of course,
interfere with the vibration thecof, is prevented by biacing or supporting the
same both above and below the trough, against outward movement, by meins of
two aims or bars I and I¹ that are bolted to the plate B, one of which ai ns
arches over the trough, and has a vertical downward extension that engages the
chain-plates, and the other of which passes under the trough, and has a vertical
upid extension that eng ges said plates
The operation of our invention is as follows Boxes being passed into and down
the chute F, are caught by the feed-wheel G, and passed, in a continuous

page_text: procession, end to end, into and through the trough, at such rate of speed, relative
to the into of discharge of matches from the match machine, that a box will be
filled in its transit acro s the field of discharge
Subjecte 1, a they are, to a con tint vibration the matches will be settled into
and arranged in an orderly regulu minnet within the boxes, a result contributed
to by the employment of the temporary partitions of the chain ', whose links
enter the tough and engage the boxes before the litter reach the point where
natches are being discharged from the chain-plate, and continue with them until
they have pissed beyond such place of discharge, when both they and the filled
boxes, leave the trough and sepainte
The portions of the partitions which are to extend down into the boxes
being filled, ne in the form of thin flat plates, while then upper portions, being
made slightly thicker, taper towards then upper edges, so as to have the
appearance of wedges, with their edges situated in line above the lower thin flat
portions of the prititions
With this construction, as the matches fill from the carrier chain plates, the
will upo striking the inclined surface on the upper parts of the partitions, be
guided into proper position to lie sti ught across within the box below
The sules of the wedge-shaned upper parts can be made on a straight or rounded
bevel, as desired
With our invention, the matches are placed directly in the boxes, from the
match making machine the mechanism is simple, and practical tests have
demonstrated it to be most satisfactory, both as to efficiency and rapidity in doing
its work
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said inven-
tion and in whit manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
-
1 In a machine for boxing matches, in combination with a source of supply of
the matches to be boxed, means for passing a box across the path of the mitches
from such source of supply, and a juing device to ja the box in a direction out
of vertical line and substantially at right angles to the matches as they are to lie
in the box, substantially as and for the purpose shown
1
2 In a machine for boxing matches, in combination with a source of supply of
the matches to be boxed means for passing the boxes across the stream of matches
from such source so that they will be gradually filled as they pass along, and means
for Jaring the boxes, while being filled, in a duection out of a vertical line and
subst intill at night angles to the matches as they are to lie in the filled boxes,
substantially as and for the purpose specified
3 In a machine for boxing matches, in combination with a source of supply of
the matches to be boxed, a way for the boxes extending across the path of the
mitchies from the source of supply, means for moving boxes long such way, and
means whereby the boxes while on the way, are given a scies of longitudinal jars
in a dicction substantially at right angles to the matches as they are to lie in the
boxes, sub tantially as and for the purpose set forth
4 Inbox filling machine, in combination with a trough to hold the boxes to
be filled me ins for reciprocating such trough longitudinally, substantially as and
for the purpose described
5 Inbox filling machine, in combination with a trough to hold the boxes to be
filled me ins for moving the boxes through such trough, and means for giving the
litter a scies of longitudinal reciprocations, substantially as and for the purpose
specified
6 In combination with a source of supply of matches a trough extending across
the path of the matches from such source in a diection substantially it right
angles to the matches nicans for moving the boxes along in the trough, and means
for Living the latter a series of longitudinal reciprocations, substantially as and for
the purpose specified

page_text: 7 In a box filling machine, in combination with a source of supply of the material
to be boxed, the trough through which the boxes to be filled arc moved, divided
transversely into sepirate parts, and separate Jairing devices for such parts
adapted to give the part of the trough through which the boxes first passed a
greater jarring motion than the other, substantilly as and for the purpose set forth
8 In a box filling machine, in combination with a source of supply of the
iraterial to be boxed, the trough extending across the path of the material from
such source of supply, and divided transver-cly into sepirate paits, meins for
moving the boxes through the trough and juring devices for the pective paits
of the trough, whereby that part through which the boxes first pass is given
greater jaring motion than the other part, substantially as and for the purpose
described
9 In a box filling machine, in combination with a trough through which the
noxes are pissed, means for holding the boxes from rising as they pass through
the trough, an adju table friction device to engage the bottoms of the boxes,
and means for Jing the trough, substantially as and for the purpose specified
10 Inbox filling machine, in combination with a trough section through which
the boxes are passed two pins or lugs connected with the tough, a swinging arm,
an inclined bai carried by the litter, engaging the pins and means for swinging
such um, substantially as and for the purpose shown
11 Inbox filling machine, in combination with a trough through which the
boxes are passed, a spring plate engaging the under sides of the boxes, and means
for jarring the trough, substantially as and for the purpose specified
12 In a box filling machine, in combination with a trough section through
which the boxes are passed, two pins or lugs connected with such trough, a
swinging rm, means for swinging the same transversely with reference to the
trough and the inclined bar adjustably attached to the swinging arm, so that its
angle, with reference to the swing of the arm, may be varied, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth
13 In a box filling machine, in combination with a trough section through
which the boxes are passed, pins oi lugs connected with the trough, the arm
swinging transversely with reference to the trough, the inclined bi carried by
such arm and engaging the pins or lugs on the trough, the rock-shaft to which such
arm is at ached, the cam wheel, second arm on the rock shaft, having a bearing
engaging the cam wheel, and a spring forcing such arm towards the wheel,
substantially as and for the purpose described
14 In a box filling machine, in combination with a trough section through
which the boxes are passed, a ti insise rock-shaft having two arms swinging in a
plane longitudinal with reference to the trough section, of which one his its flee
end connected with the litter a cam wheel, incans carried by the second arm on
the rock shift to engage the cam surfaces on the wheel, and a spring tending to
swing the first aim in a direction oppo ite to that in which the cam moves it,
substantially as and for the purpo e specified
15 Inbox filling machine, in combination with the chute down which the
boxes are fed, the rotating fced wheel having fingers to engage the inner side of
the forward ends of the boxes, substantially as and for the purpose shown
16 In a box filling machine, in combination with a chute through which the
boxes are fud, and a support over which the boxes pass from the chute, the
rotating feed wheel has ng fingers to engage the inner sides of the forward ends of
the successive boxes, so as to force the same along through the chute and over the
support for the moving boxes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth
17 In a box filling machine, in combination with a suit-bic support over which
the boxes are moved, and means for so moving them, a series of removable
transverse putitions for each box manged to divile the space within a box up
into several divi ions into which the matches can fill from above the box, and a
moving carrier, carrying such partitions along with the boxes, substantially as and
for the purpose >pecified

page_text: 18 In a box filling machine, in combination with a suitable support for the
boxes, and means for moving the latter along, a serie. of transverse plates for
each box projecting above the level of the box edges and so situated is to divide
the space just above cach box into several divisions, and a moving cartier curv
such plates along with the boxes, substantially as and for the purpose shown
19 In a Lox filling machine, in combination with a suitable support for the
boxes to be filled and means for moving them along moving carrier travelling
with the boxes, having a series of plates for each box, with wedge-shaped uppei
portions situated above the tops of the boxes, so as to diside the space ju t above
each box into several divisions, substantially as and for the pupo e described
20 In a hox filling machine, in combination with suitable support for the
boxes to be filled and means for moving them along, a moving carrier having
series of transverse plates for each box, extending down into and above the box,
and arranged relatively so as to divide the pace within and just above the box
into several divisions, sub tantially as and for the purpose specified
21 In a box filling machine in combination with a support for the boxes to by
filled, a moving chain of links each basmg a plate to project into a box and
engage the inner side of one of its ends substantially is and for the purpost
shown
22 In a box filling machine, in combination with a support for the boxes to be
tilled a moving chain of links each having a plate to project into a box and
engage the inner side of one of its ends, such plate having a portion extendin
up above the box engaging part, substantially as and for the purpose set forth
23 In a box filling machine, in combination with support for the boxes to be
filled, a moving chain of links each having a plate to project down into a box in
contact with the inner side of an end of the box, and an upwardly projecting
put made wedge shaped at its top, substantially as and for the purpose described
24 In a box filling machine, in combination with a support for the boxes to be
filled, a moving chain of links, each having one or more transverse plates adapted
to project down into a box and divide the interior of the latter up into several
divisions into which the matches can fall from a source of supply above the boxes,
substantially as and for the purpose specified
25 In combination with a support for the boxes to be filled, a moving chain of
links, one for each box being filled, each having several transverse upwardly
projecting plates over the respective box arranged so as to divide the space just
above the respective boxes into several divisions, and means for causing the chain
to move with the boxes, substantially as and for the purpose shown
26 In combination with a support for the boxes to be filled, a moving chain of
links, each having a projecting part to engage the inner side of one end of a box,
and one or more transverse partition plates projecting down into the box, situated
so as to divide the box interior into separate divisions, and means for moving the
boxes along, substantially as and for the purpose set forth
27 In combination with a support for the boxes to be filled, a moving chain of
links each having a projection to engage the inner side of an end of one of the
boxes, and one or more transverse partition plates to extend down into the
interior of the box, having their upper portions extending above the box provided
with an edge, and oppositely inclined faces on opposite sides of such edge and
means for moving the boxes along, substantially as and for the purpose described
28 In a box filling machine, in combination with the box receiving trough with
over-hanging longitudinal shoulder, means for moving the boxes through the
trough, and the chain of links, each provided with a projection to engage the
inner side of one end of a box, and one or more partitions to project down into a
box and divide up its interior, substantially as and for the purpose specificd
29 In a box filling machine, in combination with the box receiving trough with
overhanging longitudinal shoulders, means for moving the boxes through the
trough, the moving chain of links each carrying tiansverse partition plates to
project down into the interior of a box, arranged so as to divide up the same into

page_text: small divisions adapted to receive matches falling from a source of supply above
the box, and guiding and supporting devices for such chain to guide it into the
trough with the boxes and raise it from the latter beyond the end of the trough
substantially as and for the purpose shown
30 In a box filling machine, in combination with the trough with over-hanging
longitudinal houlders, nieans for moving the boxes through the trough, a moving
chain of links each having a projection to engage the inner face of the rear end
of a box, and transverse plates with wedge-shaped tops projecting above the top
of the box, and suitable supports and guides for the chain to guide it into the
trough with the boxes so that it will come between the upper edges of the latter,
and the longitudinal shoulder on the trough, and then cause it to rise away from
the boxes at a point beyond the rear end of the trough, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth
31 In a machine for boxing matches in combination with a source of supply of
the matches, a support for the box while being filed, and means for jaring such
box substantially in horizontal direction at right angles to the matches as they
are to lie in the filled box, substantially as and for the purpose described
32 In combination with the trough and means for feeding the boxes to be
filled to and through such trough, a moving chun of links each having the
transverse division plates for the respective box, a spung plate to hold the boxes
down in place, as they pass to the point where the chain of links enters the
tough, longitudinal shoulders on the trough, to hold the chain down in place
on the boxes, as it moves along, guide to guide the cham to the trough,
supporting and actuating wheels to guide the chain upwud from the boxes
beyond the tough end, and return it to the entrance of the trough again, and
means for 1otating one or more of these wheels, substantially as and for the
purpose de cubed
Dated this 30th day of April 1895
JENSEN & SON
77, Chancery Lane, London, WC, Patent Agents