Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1888
Specification Accepted, 11th May, 1888
Used thereior.
I, ANDREW JACKSON PHELPS of Syracuse in the County of Onondaga and State
of New York, United States of America, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to presses or apparatus designed for applying to the binders
of packages or boxes inetallic seals of the style shown in my Patent No. 9652, 1887 ;
over which my present invention is a specific improvement, rendering the apparatus
more convenient and efficient in its operation, in that it dispenses with the use of a
hammer or mallet or other separate tool for applying the requisite pressure to the
seal-die, and also affords a more secure hold for the apparatus on the package or box
during the operation of applying the seal.
In the annexed drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved sealing
apparatus applied to a box. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detached side-view of the foot of
the apparatus. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detached isometric view of one of the clamps
which hold the tie-rods of the apparatus in their requisite operative positions. Fig. 4
is a side view of the gripping end of the arm by which the binder is drawn taut round
the box, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view of the die by which the seal is impressed.
Fig. 6 is an alternative form of mechanism for operating the die. Figs. 7, 8, and 9
are plan views of an improved seal in different forms applied to the binder. Figs. 10
and 11 are detached plan views of the component parts of the seal shown in Fig. 7.
Fig. 12 is a transverse section of the said parts united. Fig. 13 is a transverse
section of the same showing their condition after the seal is compressed upon the
binder. Figs. 14 and 15 are detached plan views of the component parts of the seal
shown in figure 8. Figs. 16 and 17 are respectively longitudinal and transverse
sections of said seals. Figs. 18 and 19 are detached plan views of the component
parts of the seal shown in Fig. 9, and Fig. 20 is a transverse section on line
Fig. 9, and figure 21 is a plan view of yet another alternative form of seal, and
Fig. 22 is an end view of same. Fig. 23 is a plan view of yet another alternative form
of seal, and Fig. 24 is a section of same on line z. z. of Fig. 23.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
of

page_text: A represents a metallic frame composed of tubular posts P. P. arranged parallel
side by side a short distance apart, and united at their upper ends by a cross-bar «<,
from which rises a standard, b, all of said parts being preferably formed in one picce
of cast metal.
Vertically through the cross-bar a extends an eye e, in which slides the shank d¹ of
the die d, by which the seal receives the required impression. On the standard bis
hinged a lever, which is formed with a cam or eccentric, c, by which said lever bears
on the top of the shank d¹ of the die. The cross-bar a may however be fitted with a
screw (Fig. 6) having a hand wheel 11, by means of which pressure may be applied
to the dic. The posts P. P. are formed with laterally projecting feet f. f., by which
they rest on the top edge of the box B, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Vertically
through each post P is extended a strap or rod, », to the lower end of which is
connected a gripper, h, formed with a horizontal foot, h, which is adapted to be
introduced under the bottom edge of the box B, and is provided with a spur, i,
which engages the bottom of the box and affords a secure hold thereon for the said
foot. The two grippers h, h, are connected to each other by a strap, g, which serves
to maintain said grippers a uniform distance apart. The straps or rods have
serrated or toothed longitudinal edges, and by means of bifurcated keys, h. k, having
correspondingly serrated jaws embracing the aforesaid straps or rods on top of the
posts P. P., said straps or rods are held taut so as to bind the grippers h h and
posts P. P. respectively on the bottom and top of the box.
In order to guard against breakage of either the frame A or grippers hh by the acci-
dentally falling and sliding down on straps, I place around each of the said straps
above the gripper ha spiral spring, s, which serves as a cushion to relieve the frame and
gripper from the concussion incident to the aforesaid accidental fall of the frame A.
To the side of one of the posts P, I pivot the lever m, to which is hinged the arm n,
the free end of which is provided with a suitable gripper for grasping the binder U in
tightening the same around the box B, as hereinafter more fully explained. The
gripper on the arm n, I prefer to form of a foot-piece n³, projecting from the arm and
under the binder, and a cam or eccentric, o, pivoted to a post, o', on the arm n, which
cam or eccentric has a serrated face, between which and the underlying foot pieco n¹
the binder is grasped, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Said cam or eccentric,
having its longer radius at the side toward the lever m, causes the former to bear on
the binder with greater force as the pressure on the lever is increased and thus the
binder is securely held between the cam or eccentric and underlying foot-piece n¹
during the operation of drawing the binder toward the scaling apparatus.
The operation of my improved sealing apparatus is as follows: The binder C
which is either a wire or metallic hoop or band, is extended around the box B, the
metallic seal is placed under the binder at or near the top edge of the box, and one
end of the binder is secured to a nail, or screw, or staple driven into the box and
either through the scal or in proximity thereto. Thon the frame A is mounted on the
top edge of the box in such a position as to bring the seal between the posts P. P.
The frame is secured in said position by slipping the feet h¹¹ of the grippers h. h.
under the bottom edge of the box, then drawing up the straps, and applying the
keys kk to the straps on the top of the posts. Then the loose end of the binder is
grasped between the eccentric o and underlying foot-piece n, and by drawing the
lever m toward the frame A the aforesaid end of the binder is drawn in the same
direction and after passing it across the top of the seal and tying it to the aforesaid
nail or analogous fastening device the binder is covered or enclosed, either by folding
the edges or flaps of the seal over upon the binder or by placing upon the binder a
soft-metal disc and folding the edges of the seal upon the disc. After the binder has
thus been enveloped in the soft metal sufficient pressure is applied to the lever / to
cause the die to compress the seal upon the binder and leave the impress of the die on
the seal. After the scaling operation is completed the apparatus is readily removed
from the box by releasing the binder from the gripper, on the arm nand removing the
keys kk from the straps rr; then the frame A and the gripper h can be removed
from the hox B

page_text: It will be readily understood that the sealing device consisting of the tubular
posts PP in combination with the lever or screw with wheel " may be sold
and used independently of the wire tightening device consisting of lever m and
gripper O.
The seals employed in connection with my said invention admit of several
modifications in the details of construction, some of which are illustrated in the
annexed drawings, in which a (Fig. 7) represents a solid disc of lead or other suitable
pliable or ductile metal which is placed in a countersink on the exterior of the box
or package to be sealed, and under the binder b, which may be either a wire or
a metal strap extended around the box or package, and tied either by wrapping the
ends of said binder around the protruding head of a nail, or screw, or staple, c,
driven through the disc a and into the box or package, as represented in Figs. 12
and 13 of the drawings, or by bending the ends of the wire at right angles and
driving the said ends through holes in the disc a and into the box, as illustrated
in Fig. 16 of the drawings, or by. tying the hinder before it reaches the seal to
nails or other suitable fasteners driven into the box or package and twisting the ends
of the binder around each other over the disc a, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings.
In either case the disc a is of a greater superficial area than the disc d, which is also
solid and composed of lead or other suitable pliable or ductile metal and separate and
distinct from the disc a, upon which it is placed and made to cover the tied ends of the
binders b. The marginal portion a' of the underlying disc is then folded over and
upon the disc d, and by means of a suitable stamp compressed upon the same, as
represented in Fig. 13 of the drawings. The two discs a and d are thus firmly
united, and the impression made by the seal-press across the junction of the discs
renders it extremely difficult to reunite the discs after the seal has been broken
without being readily detected. The discs or plates a and & may be either round or
rectangular, as shown, or any other suitable shape. The overlying disc may be made
considerably smaller than the subjacent disc a, by providing the latter with slots e e,
and introducing into the said slots the ends of the disc d, which in this case is
preferably of rectangular form, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 19 of the drawings. In
Figs. 23 and 24 the seal consists of a flat tubular piece of metal F having
an inside
slide with a projection f¹. The wire is attached to the nail f" which may be
inserted through the aperture F¹. Before sealing, the slide is inserted in the
manner shown. The seal in Figs. 21 and 22 consists of the piece of metal G, turned
over as shown and in which is slid the sliding piece G¹ having flanges g. The manner
of sealing this said seal is the same as that shown in Figs. 23 and 24.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. An apparatus for sealing packages comprising a frame adapted to be seated on
one edge of the package, a seal-die movably connected to said frame, grippers adapted
to engage the opposite edge of the package, and straps or rods connecting the said
grippers with the aforesaid frame, as set forth.
2. An apparatus for sealing packages, comprising a frame adapted to be seated on
one edge of the package, grippers adapted to engage the opposite edge of the package,
straps connecting the grippers with the frame, a die movably connected to the frame
and a lever pivoted on the frame and adapted to apply pressure to the die, as set
forth and shown.
3. An apparatus for sealing packages comprising a frame adapted to be seated on
one edge of the package, straps connecting the grippers with the frame, a die movably
connected to the frame, and a screw, provided with a hand wheel, passing through said
frame, and adapted to apply pressure to the die, as set forth and shown.
4. In combination with grippers engaging the bottom edge of the box and straps or
rods rising from said grippers, the frame A, consisting of the tubular posts P P, formed
with feet ff, cross bar a, uniting said posts, the die a, guided on said cross-bar, and

page_text: keys kk, for fastening the aforesaid straps on the posts, substantially as described and
shown.
5. In combination with the grippers engaging the bottom edge of the box, and
straps rising from said grippers, a frame mounted on the top edge of the box and
adjustably connected with the aforesaid straps, a lever pivoted on said framo, an arm
hinged on the lever, and a gripper connected to said arm and adapted to grasp the
binder, substantially as set forth.
6. In combination with the grippers engaging the bottom edge of the box, straps
rising from said grippers, the die-carrying frame mounted on the top-edge of the box
and movably connected with the aforesaid straps, and cushions connected to the straps
above the grippers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
7. In combination with a binder encompassing a box or package, a scal composed of
soft-metal discs placed one upon the other, with the binder passing between them, and
the edges of one disc folded and compressed upon the other disc, and a fastener driven
into the box or package and having the binder secured to it, as set forth.
8. In combination with a binder encompassing a box or package, a seal composed
of soft metal and having an internal slide provided with a projection adapted to fit an
aperture in upper surface of said seal substantially as set forth.
9. In combination with a binder encompassing a box or package, a seal composed
of soft-metal bent over to receive a sliding piece provided with flanges, all substantially
as set forth.