Improvements in Machines for Making Shells for Sliding Boxes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Making Shells for Sliding Boxes.
A communication from THE STECHER LITHOGRAPHIC COMPANY, of Rochester,
Monroe County, New York, United States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
The present invention has for its object to provide a machine for making the
exteriors or shells of sliding boxes, whereby such shells can be made in quantity
and at a nominal cost, the complete machine shown herein being so constructed and
operated that the blanks or strips of cardboard, each preferably adapted to form
a number of shells, may be fed to the machine, the cardboard scored or creased at
the points where it is desired to fold it, and then pasted and formed into a flat
tube, each side of which embodies two of the proximate sides of the complete shell
with a scored line between, then bending back or "breaking" the cardboard on
said scored or creased lines on which it has not been bent during the folding, and
finally delivering the tubes so that they may be cut up into separate shells, if
desired, the scored or creased lines being sufficiently broken or rendered flexible,
so that the shells may be readily set up to receive the slides. It is obvious that
though the present machine is adapted to accomplish all of these operations and
that automatically, the various novel instrumentalities employed may, some of
them, be used in other connections or on a machine of a different class.
It is found that it is eminently desirable that the cardboard tubes or shells be
bent on the scored lines before they are delivered from the machine, as otherwise
in the attempt to set up the shells by band there is a liability of bending or
breaking the beard at other places than where it is scored or creased for the
purpose, and therefore there is embodied in the present machine means for causing
this breaking back and for feeding out or packing the long tubes in compact piles,
so that they may be readily transported to the cutting machine adapted to sever
these tubes into the desired number of smaller shells.
With the above objects in view the present invention consists in certain
improvements, all as will be hereinafter described and the novel features pointed
out in the claims at the end of this Specification.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with this
invention;
Fig. 2, a horizontal section on the line a-b of Figure 4, looking down ;
Figure 3, a plan view of the feeding end of the machine;
Figure 4, a longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the machine
showing the blank folding and feeding mechanism;
Figure 5, an elevation of the other side of the machine from that shown in
Figure 1;
Figure 6, a sectional view on the line c-d of Figure 4;
Figure 7, a sectional view on the line e-f of Figure 6;
Figure 8, a longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of the machine,
showing the rolls for breaking or folding back the tubes, with one side of the
main frame broken away, the driving mechanism of 'said rolls being omittel;

page_text: Figure 9, a horizontal sectional view on the line t-u of Figure 1, the driving
devices for the breaking-rolls being omitted;
Figure 10, a plan view of the feeding-out or packing devices;
Figure 11, a sectional view on the line g-g of Figure 10; Figure 12, a similar
view on the line h-h of Figure 10;
Figure 13, a sectional view taken at the end of the shaft carrying the delivery-
grippers; Figure 13ª, a sectional view showing the cain for operating said
grippers;
Figure 14, a sectional view on the line i-i of Figure 4; Figure 15, a similar
view on the line -j of said figure; Figure 16, a similar view on the line k-k;
Figure 17, a similar view on the line m-m; Figure 18, a similar view on the
line n―n;
Figure 19, a section on the line o-o of Figure 1;
Figures 20 to 32 are sectional views taken through the various refolding or
tube-breaking rollers, showing the succeeding steps in the operation of breaking
back or refolding said tubes.
Figure 33, Sheet 1, is a detail sectional view, showing the driving devices
operating the frame carrying the feeding-in belt and driving the glue-wheels;
Figure 34, a vertical sectional view on the line p-p of Figure 5;
Figure 35, a horizontal sectional view on the line 7-9 of Figure 4, showing the
glue-wheel in plan view;
Figure 36, a sectional view on the line r-r of Figure 5;
Figure 37, a vertical sectional view of the glue-pot, taken on the line s-s of
Figure 4, the glue-wheel and part of the glue-pot being in elevation;
Figure 38, a perspective view of the push-bar of the blank-ejecting mechanism;
Figure 39, a perspective view of a portion of the blank after being scored and
before folding; Figure 40, a similar view of the tube after being folded, glued
and as its end appears when entering the refolding device and also after being
refolded or bent and as it appears when delivered; Figure 41, a similar view of
the tube after being refolded or bent on the scored lines on which it was not
bent during its formation.
Similar reference letters and numerals in the several figures indicate similar parts.
The tubes to be formed by the present machine are of such length that several
shells for slide-boxes may be cut from them, and in Figure 40 there is shown such
a tube as it is delivered from the machine, the blank for such tube having been
previously printed or lithographed, and in Figure 39 there is shown the rear or
inner side of a blank after being creased, but before folding. This blank may, of
course, be creased on any suitable lines; but in the present machine it is to be
creased longitudinally on the lines B-B and C-C, forming the broad panel A,
the middle panel A', and the narrow sides or panels D D', and next to the latter is
a narrow pasting flap or edge E, the under side of this pasting-flap being adapted
to have the glue applied thereto, so that when the tube-blank is folded by the
folding mechanism (to be described) on the lines B-B the blank will appear as in
Figure 40, which figure, however, shows the tube turned over as it is delivered
from the folding and pasting devices to the refolding or breaking mechanism, and
Figure 41, shows a similar view after it has been refolded or "broken
creased lines C C, on which it was not folded during the formation and pasting of
the tube, although it is delivered from the machine in the form shown in Figure 40,
being broken or folded back to the form in which it was delivered to the refolding
mechanism.
on the
The main frame of the machine may be constructed in any suitable manner, but
in the present arrangement consists generally of two sides 1 connected by suitable
cross-bars and bolts, and to the upper portion of this frame is secured a supple-
mental frame 2, consisting of one or more sections and carrying the devices for
feeding and folding the blanks, which portion of my invention will be first
described in detail.
The blanks from which the tubes are to be formed consist of strips of more or

page_text: less flexible cardboard and are placed upon the table 3 between guides, preferably
adjustable, as shown in Figure 3, and from the channel thus formed are moved, by
hand or otherwise, upon the two travelling belts 5, arranged side by side, as shown
in Figures 3 and 4, said belts passing over a series of pairs of pulleys 6 arranged
upon suitable shafts supported in the sides of the frame, one or more of said shafts
being adjustable by means of screws 7, by which to tighten said belts, when
desired. The belts 5 also pass around a large roller or drum 8, mounted upon a
shaft 9 in the frame, which drum is provided with suitable grooves 10 in its
periphery for the accommodation of the creasing or scoring ribs or projections 11,
formed upon or connected to a creasing-roller 12, secured to the shaft 13, mounted
in bearings 14 in the frame and adjustable by means of screws 15, as shown
particularly in Fignres 1, 4 and 35. This roller 12 is preferably made up of
sections on a sleeve 16 having a clamping-nut 17 and is provided in its periphery
with grooves 18 for the accommodation of the belts 5, but may be otherwise
constructed, as will be understood.
19 indicates two belts passing around suitable pairs of pulleys 20, arranged upon
suitable stationary cross-shafts 21, and also around pulleys 22 on a shaft 23,
arranged in suitable bearings in the ends of bars 24 pivoted upon the shaft 25, said
arms having connected rigidly to them an arm 26 and constituting a frame pivoted
upon the shaft 2) and capable of a movement to bring the lower horizontal
stretchers of the belts 19 into contact with the upper portions of the belts 5, and
as these portions of the belts are travelling in the same direction and at the same
speed they may serve to grasp a blank and feed it to the scoring-rollers, previously
described. The preferred means for operating this movable frame consists of a
link 27, having at its end a roller or projection 28, upon which operates a cam 29
on the shaft 9 of the female erensing-wheel, said cam giving a longitudinal
movement to the link 27, which will raise and lower the outer end of the movable
frame, as will be understood and as shown particularly in Figure 33. Pivoted to
one of the side frames 2 is a lever 30 connected by a link 31 with the under side of
the frame 24, while the inner upturned end of said lever is slotted for the
accommodation of a lug formed upon a slide or stop 32, which is held normally
pressed upward by means of the spring 33, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, this
construction being such that when the frame 24 is raised the stop 32 is projected
above the level of the belts 5 and will arrest any blank that might be placed upon
said belts; but when the frame is brought down the stop will be moved below the
level of the belt, the blank will be fed by the two travelling belts, a yielding stop
being provided so that if the frame 24 should be raised before the belt had carried
off the preceding blank the stop would be held down by the blank; but as soon as
the blank had passed it would automatically rise to intercept the next blank and
hold it until the frame is raised again. When the blanks are brought down
between the belts, they are delivered between belts 19 and pulley 20%, with which
latter they are in contact, and then underneath the belts 5 upon the creasing-
wheel 8, which also serves as a support for the blank while the glue is being
applied to the under edge of the lap.
The glue-pot in the present embodiment of this invention is clearly shown in
Figures 4, 35 and 37, the glue-receptacle proper, G, in which the glue-wheel
operates being connected by a supply-pipe 34 with a reservoir 5 containing liquid
glue, the receptacle G having a water-chamber 36 around it, and the reservoir 35
having a water-chamber 40 around it, said two chambers being connected by
circulating-tubes 37, in one of which the glue-supply pipe 34 is arranged to prevent
chilling during the passage of the glue to the receptacle G. The water-chamber 40
is supported on suitable standards 263 (see Figure 37,) (omitted from the other
igures for clearness) and the chamber 36 and contained parts are supported by the
water and steam pipes or otherwise. Beneath the water-chamber 36 is a steam-
chamber 38, having steam entrance and exit pipes 39, and serving to keep the
water hot, which water circulates around the reservoir and receptacle and keeps
he glue at an even temperature. This arrangement is found advantageous, as it

page_text: enables me to employ a comparatively small glue-receptacle, such as is necessary
in connection with the construction shown, and enables the glue to be kept in good
condition at all times.
It will be understood that the glue is supplied to the reservoir and gravitates
into the receptacle G, the level in the two being the same.
41 indicates the glue-wheel, driven by a chain 41* from the cross-shaft 41",
operating in the glue-pot and arranged with its periphery close to the overhanging
edge of the scoring-roll 8, a small grooved roller 42 on the arm 43 bearing on the
upper edge of the blank and preventing its curling when the glue is applied to it,
as seen more particularly in Figure 37. The arm 43 is adjustably secured upon an
arm 45 on the main frame.
Inasmuch as in the operation of a machine of this kind, in which the previously-
printed blanks are to be formed into tubes and the printed portions of the blank
must register when the tube is completed, it is essential that the blanks be entered
in the machine straight and with the edges parallel and that they be scored on lines
parallel with the edges before they are introduced into the folding devices, and
provision is made for guiding the blanks on the belt when they enter the machine
by arranging on one side of the belts 5 a rigid guide 45 secured to arms 45', which
are fastened to arms or studs 45 on the main frame 2, and on the other a yielding
guide 46 operated by a light spring 47 and guided by suitable studs 48 passing
through a rigid bar 49, as seen more particularly in Figure 3, and it will be noted
that after the blank has been entered between the two pairs of belts and adjusted
with its edges parallel, that it is bent over the rearmost roller 20% and then beneath
said roller, forming a reverse curve by the time its end is entered between the
belts 5 and the surface of the drum or female creasing-roller 8, guide-plates 206 are
arranged at the ends of the roller 8, so that if the end is entered approximately
correctly there is no possibility of the blank being creased on other than lines
parallel with its edges.
One of the important portions of the machine is means for bending the blank
around the roller or pulley and holding.it in this position while the glue is being
applied and it is being creased, as the curving of the blank stiffens it materially
and prevents curling and wrinkling. A pair of belts 5 and a pair of belts 19 are
employed; but it will be understood that single ones could be employed, if
described.
After the blank has been creased and glue applied to one of its edges it is fed by
means of the belts 5 into the devices for folding over the sides of the blank and
securing the glued edges in contact.
Referring particularly to Figures 4 and 14 to 19, 50 indicates a plate secured to
the sides of the frame 2, and supported a short distance above it is a blank-
supporting plate 51, and supported above this is a suitable forming plate or shoe 32,
held upon arms 53. (Shown particularly in Figures 2 and 4.) Arranged at
suitable intervals in the length of the plate 51 are pairs of feeding-rolls 54, which
grasp the blank, and being positively rotated move it along toward the rear of the
machine, the shoe and plate being cut away at suitable intervals, as will be under-
stood, and between these rollers and at suitable intervals are arranged pairs of
folding-rollers adapted to gradually fold the edges of the blank over on the
lines B B, previously creased, one side overlapping the other. The first pair of
these rollers 5 is shown in Figure 14, and they operate to turn the edges of the
blank over the shoe, and are mounted upon the shaft of the first pair of feed-
rollers 54. The next pairs 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 and 61 operate to gradually turn the
edges over, as shown in full in dotted lines in Figures 15, 16 and 17, so that when the
blank leaves the folding apparatus the sides are bent over and lapped, the under side
of the overlapping portion having been previously glued, and then it passes to the
rollers 62, 63 and 64, but the overlapping edge is not pressed down tightly until the end
of the blank reaches the periphery of a large drum or roller 70, the upper roller 62
holding the lapping edge down, but not tightly, merely sufficiently to feed the tube
which is somewhat elastic at this time, the reason for delaying the final pressure being

page_text: that if the entering end of the tube is pressed tight before the folding operation is.
nearly completed the printing on the lapped portions will fail to register properly.
and the sides of the tube will not be parallel, but will be narrower at the
front end.
In-tead of making the first pair of folding disks or rollers 55 continuous a portion
of their peripheries may be cut away at 55, as shown in Figure 4, and of timing
said rollers, regarding the rotation of said rollers relative to the feeling mechanism,
so that the feeding rollers 54 will engage the end of the blank before the rollers or
disks 55 touch it, thereby insuring the proper feeding, as otherwise the rollers 55
being of greater diameter would fold up the sides, first lifting the end of the blank
against the shoe; but this is not an essential construction; as in practice this makes
but little difference the only objection being that there is a tendency to tear the
blank on the scored line next the short sile with the continuous disks.
At the extreme end of the main frame of the machine is a large drum or wheel 70-
mounted upon a shaft 71 supported in suitable bearings in the main frame, and
connected to this shaft is a large gear 72 driven from a pinion 73 on a shaft 74, to
which latter is also applied a main belt-pulley 75. The periphery of the large
wheel 70 is smooth, and arranged around about half of its circumference are a series
of rollers 76 mounted upon shafts 77 arranged in suitable boxes 78 guided in radial
slots in plates 79, attached to the rear of the main frame and forming a supplemental
frame around a portion of the large wheel or drum, suitable adjusting-screws 80
serving to press said rollers 76 76 tightly against the periphery of the drum. Each
of the rollers 76 is provided with an annular rib 81 adapted to press the lapped
edges of the tube tightly upon the drum while the glue is setting, and two conveying
and holding belts 82 are arranged upon opposite sides of the ribs on the small rollers,
the said belts being held by the rollers against the periphery of the drum to hold
the sides of the tubes down upon the surface of the drum. The shafts 77 of each
of the rollers 76 has upon its outer end a pinion 83 meshing with a large gear 72
connected to the drum-shaft, and the belts and rollers are therefore driven at the
same surface-speed as the druin, thereby preventing the tubes from slipping on the
periphery of the latter and insuring a rolling-pressure between said rollers and
the drum, and the lowermost pressing-roller has connected to it a beveled pinion 84
meshing with a corresponding pinion 85 on a longitudinally-extending shaft 86.
The belts 82, it will be noted, pass around a pulley 87, the lowermost stretches of
said belt being nearly horizontal, as shown particularly in Figure 8, and serving to
deliver the tubes to the refolding or breaking devices.
In Figure 40 there is shown a view of the end of the tube in the shape in
which it enters the refolding or breaking mechanism, (at the right of Figure 8).
and it will be noted that the board has only been bent on the scored lines B B
during the operation of forming. The means employed for turning the blank
and bending it on the scored lines C C is a series of pairs of rollers arranged on
a suitable supporting plate or frame 96 in the lower portion of the main frame,
and in Figures 1, 5, 8 and 9 said rollers are indicated only diagrammatically-that
is to say, their position and arrangement is shown-but for the sake of clearness
the means employed for positively driving said rollers has been omitted although
in Figure 34 a means is shown for driving one pair of rollers, and this by means
of belts 90 passing around the pulleys 91 on horizontal counter-shafts 92 arranged
above them, and it will be understood that similar belts are employed for driving
each of the pairs, suitable guide-rollers 93 being employed to direct the belts
from their driving-pulleys to the driving-pulleys connected to the rollers. The
counter-shafts 92 are in the present embodiment driven from the shaft 86 by
means of a sprocket-chain 94, and said two counter-shafts are connected by a
chain 95, and are therefore both driven at the same speed.
In Figure 40 is shown a view of the blank when it enters the first pair of
refolding rollers, (marked 100) the succeeding pairs being marked 101, 102, and
so on up to 113, and the positions of these rollers and the shape of the tube while
passing between them is clearly shown in Figures 20 to 32, inclusive, a detailed

page_text: description of the specific construction and arrangement of these rollers not being
necessary, as they are clearly shown in the figures mentioned. Suffice it to say
that when the blank passes out from between the rollers 110, Figure 29, it is in
the shape shown in Figure 41, being bent or broken on the scored lines C C, while
the rollers 111, 112, and 113 bend it back again to the shape shown in Figure 40, the
machine as a whole having bent the pasteboard once on the lines B B during the
tube-forming operation and once when folded back to the form in which it is
delivered and once on the lines C C. It will be noted that these refolding-rollers
are driven at the same surface-speed at which the tube has been travelling through
the machine, and it is found desirable to make the rollers 104 and 107, which
engage the shell when nearly in rectangular form-that is, just before and after it
is bent on the scored lines CC-with the grooves 114 and 115, the angles of the
sides of these grooves being however a little less than the angles of the sides of
the tubes, so that the corners of the tube will not be crushed, but the sides will be
engaged at a short distance from the corner, as clearly shown in Figures 24 and 27.
This construction is found to be advantageous, more particularly of the rollers 107,
because the blank is to be bent on the new creased lines at this point, and extreme
pressure would be liable to crush the corners of the tube.
The refolding or breaking-back device formed by the rollers is in effect a die
with four sides movable for conveying the tubes, the shape being approximately
indicated by the cross-sections of the tube, (see Figures 20 to 29) said sides
turning gradually around the plane of the longitudinal axis of the die, and two of
the sides approach or are close together at the entrance and gradually separate,
while the other two are separated and gradually approach until the center of the
die is reached, where the four sides form a substantially-rectangular aperture, and
then the two previously-contracted die sides separate and the two previously-
separated die sides approach, as shown in Figure 29, at this point the sides of the
die having been given a half-turn on the longitudinal axis.
While the positively-driven rollers are preferred for constituting the inovable
sides of the die, it is not desired to be confined to this construction, as equivalent
travelling carriers, otherwise shaped, could be employed, and it is obvious that
though the tube or box is shown as oblong in cross-section it could be square, if
desired.
It is desirable, although not essential, that the tubes after being folded once, as
in Figure 29, be refolded again on the creased lines B to the shape shown in
Figure 40, and the rollers 111, 112 and 113 could be dispensed with, the blanks
being delivered to the feeding-out devices in this shape; but it is better to bend
the tubes back to the shape shown, as the creased lines are then more flexible and
the tube can be set up by band easier for the reception of the slides.
After leaving the last pair of rolls 113, which refold the blank to the shape
shown in Figure 40, the tubes pass between belts 120 and 121 extending around
pulleys 122 and 123, respectively, which are driven at a slightly greater surface-
speed than rollers 113. The lower stretch of the belt 120 and the upper stretch
of the belt 121 are in close contact and serve to carry the tube along between
them until removed by the ejecting and packing devices, which are shown more
particularly in Figures 10 to 134. The shaft on which the driving-pulleys 122
are mounted is driven by a cross-belt, 125 (see Figure 1) through a pulley 126 on
a cross-shaft 127 arranged in the upper portion of the machine, and the shaft 123
carrying the pulleys 123 is driven by a gear 128 from a shaft 122, so that said
belts will travel at the same surface speed.
a series of
130 indicates a shaft arranged below and a little to one side of the belts 120
and 121 and driven by a gear 131 on a shaft 132, with which meshes a gear 133 on
the shaft 86, (see Figure 10) and upon said shaft 130 is arranged
disks 134, said shaft being also provided with a series of co-operating grippers 135
mounted upon a rock-shaft 136, which latter is in turn supported upon brackets 137
on the shaft 130, said shaft 136 also having a crank-arm 138 at its end adapted to
engage adjustable cam-plates 139 secured to the end plate or casting 140, as shown

page_text: in Figure 13, and a spring 141 connected to the shaft 136 and to one of the
disks 134 thereon operates to turn the shaft and hold the grippers in the position
shown in full lines in Figure 13; but as the shaft 130 rotates the crank-arm 138
will engage the cams 139 and cause the grippers to be turned to the position shown
in dotted lines in said figure, gripping the edge of the tube, which has been carried
between the belts, and as the shaft 130 rotates, sail tube will be carried around to
the lowest position in dotted lines in said figure, where it will be released by the
projection on the lower cam-plate 139 engaging the crank. The tubes carried
along between the belts 120 and 121 are ejected or pushed from between the belts
into the gripper by a pusher 142 having rearward arms 143 operating in suitable
guides in the frame 144. Connected to the arms 143 are links 145 pivoted to the
upper arms of the levers 146 mounted upon a shaft 147 supported in suitable
hearings, an arm 148 secured to said shaft having connected to it a link 149
slotted for the passage of the shaft 132, upon which latter is arranged a can 150
operating upon a pin 151 on said link, said can normally holling the pusher
retracted, as shown in full lines in Figure 12; but when the pin 151 drops into
the lower portion of the cam a spring 152 connected to the arm 146 will operate
the pusher to eject the blauk from between the belts and nove it into the grippers.
Upon the engaging-face of the pusher 142 are provided lugs, 153, inclined and
cut away at their upper edges, as shown in Figures 10 and 38, so that if there is
any tendency on the part of the tube to sag on the rear side it will be lifted by
said inclined lugs, and its proper positioning will be insured when the pusher moves
forward to eject it.
As before stated, the grippers after having removed the tube from between the
belts are opened when they have carried the blank over substantially level with
the top of the receiving and packing table 154. This table is provided with slots
at its edge, as shown, and also with guides to receive a suitable sliding frame 155
having packer-fingers 156 that normally lie to the rear of the gripper-disks, as in
full lines, Figure 11; but after the tube has been carried around and released by
the gripper this packer operates to move the tube and the preceding ones along
the table, as shown in dotted lines in said figure. The particular means for
causing the movement of the packer-fingers 156 consists in the present instance, of
a link 157 connected to the upper end of the lever 158 loosely mounted upon the
shaft 147, the lower end of said lever being connected to the link 159, which is
slotted for the passage of a shaft 132, and the projection 160 is operated upon by
the cam 161, also upon said shaft 132, said cam causing the positive motion of the
packers, while their retraction is caused by the spring 162 connected to the movable
frame 155 and to the stationary frame.
In order to prevent the tubes from being carried too far by the belts a stop-
plate 163 is arranged over them, as shown in Figure 13^, the depending edges of
which project below the space between the belts and serve to engage the en 1 of the
tube, which might have become slightly displaced in its passage through the
machine. The parts last described are so timed relative to the feeding-in devices
of the machine that when the extreme end of the tube reaches, or just hefore it
reaches, the stop 163, the pusher will operate to eject the tube from between the
belts, the grippers at the same time engaging it and carrying it around until
deposited upon the top of the receiving-table, when the packers will move it out of
the way of the next succeeding tube.
Although other conveying devices for the tubes could be used in place of the
belts 120 121, it is preferred to employ the latter, as they not only feel the blanks
well, but the tubes may be readily removed laterally from them by reason of a
slight yielding of the belts between their pulleys, which is also preferable in
connection with the gripping devices movable in a plane at an angle to their plane
of movement, the tubes not being bent longitudinally at all, as the belts might be
slightly separated between their pulleys when the tube is carried out and down.
It is advisable to pack these tubes on edge, as they then occupy less space and may
be readily handled.

page_text: The means employed for driving the various rollers and shafts have not been
described herein; but such gearing and belts are indicated on the drawings as
are necessary for a clear understanding of the construction and operation of the
parts by one skilled in the art, and specific description is therefore not deemed
necessary.
The operation of the parts will now be understood. The blank strips of card-
'board are fed into the machine and are creased while firmly held from lateral
movement, and then glue is applied to one edge, and the sides are folded on two
of the creased lines and the lapped edges pressed in contact and firmly held on a
travelling support until the glue has united them firmly, when the tubes thus
formed are bent back or broken on the previously scored or creased lines, and they
are ejected from the machine complete and ready to be cut into suitable sections
constituting shells for slide-boxes.
While it is preferable that the tubes be made of sufficient-length to be severed
into a number of shells, it is obvious that single shells or that complete folding
boxes could be made on this machine by varying the construction of the scoring-
rolls so as to cut and score on different lines and the relative arrangement of the
folding and re-folding rolls changed, as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
1. As a means for refolding or "breaking back" a flat tube of cardboard
previously creased longitudinally, a series of positively driven rollers arranged
in pairs to form a die with moving walls through which the tube is passed and
which gradually changes its shape in cross-section from approximately a line at its
entering end to a rhomboidal, then rectangular, then rhomboidal again, with the
angles reversed from the previous one, and then approximately a line, substantially
as described.
2. As a means for refolding or "breaking back" a flat tube of cardboard
previously creased longitudinally, a die having moving walls or sides through
which the tube is passed and which gradually changes its shape in cross-section
from approximately a line to rhomboidal, then rectangular, then rhomboidal
again with angles reversed from the previous one, and then approximately a line;
substantially as described.
3. As a means for refolding or "breaking back" a flat tube of cardboard
previously creased longitudinally, a die having moving walls or sides and contracting
the tube gradually at the sides from the entrance end of the die, and widening in a
direction at right angles to the sides, and then gradually widening it in the direction
of the sides of the tube and gradually contracting in a direction at right angles
thereto; substantially as described.
4. As a means for refolding or "breaking back" a flat cardboard tube, the
opposite sides of which have been previously creased longitudinally near the
opposite edges, a die composed of a series of pairs of driven rollers arranged to
gradually press the edges of the flat tube toward each other bending it gradually
on the said creased lines, and then flattening said tube again by pressing the sides
together, bending it sharply on the creased lines; substantially as described.
5. As a means for refolding or "breaking back" a flat cardboard tube, the
opposite sides of which have been previously creased longitudinally near the
opposite edges, a die composed of a series of pairs of driven rollers arranged to
gradually press the edges of the flat tube toward each other bending it gradually
on the said creased lines, a pair of rollers, each engaging the tube on opposite sides
of the creased lines and having a groove for the edge of the tube, and rollers
engaging the sides of the tube and pressing it flat, bending it abruptly on the
crensed lines on which it was last bent; substantially as described.
6. As a means for folding or "breaking back" a flat cardboard tube, the
opposite sides of which have been previously creased longitudinally near opposite

page_text: edges, a die having four moving sides extending gradually around the longitudinal
axis of the die, two of said sides at the entrance being close together, and two
separated, and the two separated ones gradually approaching, and the two close
together gradually separating until the die is of rectangular form, and then the two
previously separated ones approach and the two formerly close together separate
again to the normal width; substantially as described.
7. As a means for refolding or "breaking back a flat cardboard tube, the
opposite sides of which have been previously creased longitudinally near opposite
edges, a die having four moving sides extending gradually around the longitudinal
axis of the die, two of said sides at the entrance being close together, and two
separated, and the two separated ones gradually approaching and the two close
together gradually separating until the die is of rectangular form, and then the two
previously separated ones approach and the two formerly close together separate
again to normal width, and two pairs of rolls with their axes in a plane approximately
at right angles to the plane of the exit end of the die, the rolls of the first pair
being more widely separated than those of the second pair, the whole arranged and
operating to bend the tube in rectangular form, then flatten it, bending it on the
creased lines, and finally flattening it again in the form in which it entered the die;
substantially as described.
8. The combination in a machine such as described with a pair of creasing-rolls,
of a blank-conveying belt having a horizontal stretch for receiving a blank and
passing around one of the creasing-rolls, a second conveying-belt having a stretch
parallel and in contact with the horizontal stretch of the first-mentioned one, a
supporting-roller therefor over which the blank passes, and a guide roll for
delivering the blank between the first-mentioned belt and one of the creasing-rolls;
substantially as described.
9. In a machine such as described, the combination with a pair of creasing-rolls,
a belt co-operating with one of said rolls operating to hold and curve a blank
thereon, and a gluing device arranged below the surface of the creasing-roll and
applying glue to the curved overlapping edge of the blank; substantially as
described.
10. The combination with a supporting-roll and holding devices for curving a
blank around it with its edge overlapping the edge of the roll, of a glue-applying
device for applying the glue to the inner curved overlapping edge of the blank;
substantially as described.
11. The combination with a supporting-roll and holding devices for curving a
blank around it with its edge overlapping the end of the roll, of a glue-receptacle
and a glue-applying wheel operating therein and arranged inside the periphery of
the supporting-roll; substantially as described.
12. The combination with a pair of creasing-rolls, and devices for curving and
holding a blank around one of them, of a glue-wheel arranged at one end inside the
periphery of the creasing-roll adapted to apply glue to the overlapping edge of a
blank; substantially as described.
13. In an organized machine for operating upon separate blanks, the combination
with blank conveying or feeding devices, of a pair of creasing-rollers, holding
devices, substantially as described for curving the blank around one roller of the
pair, a blank-guide at one end of said roller, a gluing device, folding devices
substantially as described for forming the creased and glued blanks into tubes, and
conveying devices, substantially as described for conveying the blanks from the
creasing rollers and through the folding devices; as set forth.
14. The combination with a blank-supporting roll, as 8, and devices for curving
a blank around it and holding it in contact therewith, of a glue-applying wheel
inside the periphery of the roll and at one end thereof, and a grooved guide outside
the periphery of the roll against which the blank edge is held by the glue-roller;
substantially as described.
15. The combination with the upper and lower conveying-belts having horizontal
stretches in contact, of a pair of creasing-rolls and guide-rollers for directing the

page_text: lower conveying belt partially around one roll of the pair, the blank-supporting
roller around which the upper belt passes arranged to direct the blank between the
creasing-roller and lower belt; substantially as described.
16. The combination with two travelling blank-conveyers (as belts) relatively
movable toward and from each other to feed a blank between them, a yielding stop
connected to and actuated by the relative movement of said conveyers toward and
from each other, said stop projecting between the conveyers when they are
separated and removed when they are brought together; substantially as
described.
17. The combination with the frame, the lower blank-supporting belt having the
horizontal stretch, the upper movable frame, the conveying-belt thereon having the
horizontal stretch, a yielding stop for arresting a blank on the lower belt connected
to and actuated by the movable belt-carrying frame substantially as described.
18. The combination with the main frame, the belts 5 and 19, the movable
frame 24, the movable arm 30 connected thereto, and the spring-actuated stop 32,
arranged and operating substantially as described.
19. As a means for forming separate paper blanks into tubular form, the
combination with the slotted shoe or former and a series of rollers for engaging the
outer sides of the blank and gradually turning them both, causing one side to overlap
the other, of a series of pairs of feeding-rollers located at intervals between the
folding-rollers, and arranged to grip a single thickness of the blank between the
sides thereof and feed it positively, while the sides are being folded; substantially
as described.
20. In an organized machine for forming separate paper blanks into tubular form,
the combination with blank supporting and conveying devices, a device for applying
glue to one side of a blank, and a slotted shoe or former, of a blank-folding device
embodying a series of rollers engaging the outer sides of the blank and gradually
turning them both to form a tube as the blank is moved between them, and a series
of pairs of positively-driven feeding-rollers located at intervals between the folding-
rollers arranged to grip a single thickness of the blank between the sides thereof
and feed it positively while the sides are being folded; substantially as described.
21. In an organized machine for forming separate paper blanks into tubular
form, the combination with a device for applying glue to one side of a blank, and
a slotted shoe or former, of a series of rollers for engaging the sides of the blanks
and gradually folding them both over, one upon the other, a series of pairs of
driven feeding-rollers located at intervals between the folding-rollers and arranged
to grip single thickness of the blank between the sides thereof and feed it
positively while the sides are being folded, and pressing-rollers for exerting
pressure on the lapped and glued edges of the folded blank; substantially as
described.
22. In an organized nachine for forming separate paper blanks into tubular
form, the combination with a pair of creasing-rollers, and a
gluing device for
applying glue to the blank, of a slotted shoe or former, a series of rollers for
engaging the sides of the blank and gradually turning them both over and lapping
them, and a series of pairs of driven feeding-rollers located intermediate the
folding-rollers and arranged to grip a single thickness of the blank between the sides
thereof and feed it positively; substantially as described.
23. In an organized machine, the combination with a gluing device for applying
glue to one edge of a blank, and a shoe or former, of folding devices for gradually
folding over the edges of the blauk with the glued surface between, a large drum, a
gear connected therewith, a series of rollers arranged around the drum and pressing
directly on the lapped edges of the blank and having gears meshing with the
larger gear and belts or tapes for holding the blanks on the drum; substantially
as described.
24. In an organized machine, the combination with a gluing device for applying
glue to one side of one edge of a blank, and a shoe or former, of folding devices for
gradually folding over the sides of the blank one upon the other with the glued

page_text: surface between, a wheel or drum, a series of rollers arranged around said drum
having a raised portion or rib for engaging the lapped edges of the folded sides,
and the blank holding and conveying belts arranged between the lower parts of the
rollers and the drum; substantially as described.
25. In an organized machine, the combination with a slotted shoe or former, of
a series of rollers on opposite sides thereof operating to gradually fold the sides of
the blank one upon the other, a series of pairs of feeding rollers arranged above
and below the blank to engage a single thickness thereof and positively feed it
through the folder, and a pair of feed-rollers, as 62, operating to feed the folded
blank, but not compress the lapped edges tightly; substantially as described.
26. The combination with devices for folding blanks into tubular form, of a
forming-shoe, having a slot, a blank-feeding roller operating in the slot of the shoe,
a feed-roller below the shoe and co-operating with the other feed-roller, and a pair
of turning-disks on the shaft of one feeding-roller arranged on opposite sides of the
shoe, whereby the blank will be simultaneously fed by the rollers and its edges bent
up at the sides of the shoe; substantially as described.
27. The combination with devices for folding blanks into tubular form of a
forming shoe, a pair of feeding-rollers arranged above and below the blank and
rotating in the plane of its movement, and two turning rolls or disks arranged on-
the shaft of the lower roll of the pair and larger than the feed-roll thereon for
engaging the sides of the blank and turning them upward, a portion of the periphery
of said disks or wheels being cut away to permit a blank to be caught by the feed-
wheels before the edges are turned by the disks; substantially as described.
28. In a blank-folding mechanism, the combination with a shoe, of a pair of
blank-feeding rollers arranged above and below it, and a pair of disks or wheels
larger than the feed-roller arranged on the opposite sides of the lower roller, and
having portions of their peripheries cut down to substantially the periphery of the
feed-roller; substantially as described.
29. The combination with blank-conveying devices, substantially as described for
moving folded tubes, etc., end wise, of the movable pusher for pushing the tubes
laterally from the conveyers, and gripping devices movable laterally of the
conveyers for positively engaging the tube and removing it; substantially as
described.
30. The combination with the two conveying-belts travelling in contact, of the
pusher movable laterally of said belts for moving a tube from between them, and
the grippers for grasping the sides of the tube; substantially as described.
31. The combination with the two belts travelling in contact, of the pusher
movable laterally of the belts, the rotary shaft, and the grippers thereon, and the
slotted receiving-table; substantially as described.
32. The combination with the two belts travelling in contact, of the pusher
movable laterally of the belts and having the supporting-lugs thereon, and gripping
devices for receiving the blanks from the belts; substantially as described.
33. The combination with the two belts travelling in contact, of the pusher-bar-
movable laterally of the belts, having the inclined and tapering lugs therein, and
gripping devices for receiving the blanks from the belts; substantially as described.
34. The combination with the two belts travelling in contact, of the pusher movable
laterally of the belts, the rotary shaft having the grippers thereon, devices substan-
tially as described for operating the grippers, the receiving-table and the packers
operating between the grippers; substantially as described.
35. The combination with the blank-conveying devices, and the pusher movable
laterally thereof, of the shaft having the grippers, the cams for operating them, and
the slotted receiving-table; substantially as described.
36. The combination with the blank-conveying devices, and the pusher movabl
laterally thereof, of the shaft having the grippers, the cams for operating them, the
receiving-table, the packers operating between the grippers and connections for
operating the pusher when the grippers are open beside the conveying devices;
substantially as described.

page_text: 37. The combination with the two conveying-belts, the pusher movable laterally
thereof, the shaft having the disks, and movable gripping-fingers thereon, and
arranged below and at one side of the belts, the cams for operating the fingers, the
receiving-table, the packer, the cam-shaft and connections between it and the
pusher, and the packer; substantially as described.
38. In an organized machine, the combination of blank-feeding devices, creasing-
rolls for creasing the blanks longitudinally on four lines, a blank-gluing wheel,
folding devices for folding the blanks on two of the creased lines and securing their
edges, a tube-refolding die having travelling sides operating to refold the tubes on
:he creased lines on which they were not folded during the forming operation,
1ollers for bending the tubes back on the creased lines on which they were bent
during the forming operation, travelling conveyers for receiving and conveying the
tubes longitudinally, and ejecting devices for removing the tubes laterally from the
conveyers; substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 12th day of March 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.