IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC BOXES AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEBEIN
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Emile Peltier, of Paris, France, Manufacturer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC
BOXES AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEBEIN,"
Sealed the 14th February 1862, and dated the 27th August 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Emile Peltier at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
August 1861.
I, EMILE PELTIER, of Paris, France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
METALLIC BOXES AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to the manufacture of sheet metal boxes pro-
vided with six or any other number of sides; the Invention consists chiefly in
a particular mode of fixing together by bezil setting or pressing together of
the overlapping parts the various parts of the box. For manufacturing for
instance a six-sided box, the body in its extended state, the lid and the bottom
are punched out separately. By means of a suitable stamp and die the rims
along three sides of the body part in its extended state are folded upward,
while the rim of the remaining side of this body part is folded downward, so
that after having bent the said body on a suitable die into the required shape,
the last-mentioned fold is hooked into the fold of the opposite side, so as to

page_text: allow of a proper bezil setting or pressing together of the overlapping parts
taking place on these folds by a suitable press or stamp and die. The rims of
the bottom and the lid have likewise been bent or folded upward all round so
as to form folds corresponding with those existing along the body of the box
in which they are hooked, while the folds are set into a bezil by means of two
hammers or punches acting on the folded part of two opposite sides of the box
with a reciprocating motion given to them, whilst at the same time the
remaining two folds are firmly set by means of two pressers or burnishers
gliding over the said folds. The lid is provided with a hole for filling and
emptying the box, the inner rim of which hole is also folded in such manner
that a leaden washer may be firmly pressed therein so as entirely to shut the
hole, or the box may be provided with a moveable lid.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Emile Peltier in the Great Seal Patent Office, on
the 27th February 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EMILE
PELTIER, of Paris, France, Manufacturer, send greeting.
Her Letters
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of August, in the
year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Emile Peltier, Her special licence that I, the said Emile
Peltier, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Emile Peltier, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC BOXES AND IN MACHINERY
EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Emile
Peltier, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the same was to bo
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Emile Peltier, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
These improvements relate to the manufacture of boxes of sheet metal
having six or any other suitable number of sides, and they consist in certain
improved modes of fixing together the side part or body of the box to the
bottom and top or lid thereof by means of bezil setting or jumped joints,
instead of the soldering, brazing, or welding hitherto made use of for such
pose. The Invention is particularly applicable to the manufacture of boxes of
tin plate, or any other suitable sheet metal, such, for instance, as are made
use of for containing gunpowder or other similar articles.
pur-
In order to make the Invention better understood, I will refer in this
description to the annexed Drawings, in the various Figures of which corre-
sponding parts are indicated by the same letters of reference.
Fig. 1 and 1 bis respectively represent in plan and in longitudinal side view a
piece A, of tin plate, sheet iron, or other sheet metal from which the box is to
be made, punched out in the shape required for forming the body of a six-sided
box; the four angles of this piece A are cut off, as shown in a, whilst the
incisions 6 are to be situated, when finished, at the angles of the box. This
piece A is placed on a suitable matrix c, in the punching press Fig. 2, and the
punch d, fixed to the lower end of the screw of this press by means of the con-
necting head e, is then lowered on the piece A, the pressing surface of the
punch & being constructed in such manner as to form along the two long and
along one of the tranverse or short sides of the piece A a sort of fluting f
(Figs. 2° and 4°), for the subsequent clasping and setting together with jumped
joints, whilst at the same time the opposite short side of the piece A is folded
at right angles by the shoulder g of the punch d, which latter is also provided
with a projecting part h, serving as a bearer for a tumbler i, participating of
the vertical motion of the punch d, whilst a similar tumbler j, turning on a
spindle, fixed to the matrix c, is acted upon by the tumbler i when this latter
is rising, thereby pushing forward a plate 1, gliding in suitable slot holes, and
provided at the short side with a bevilled edge m. It will be evident that if
the punch d be caused to rise by means of the screw of the press, the tumbler i
will act on the opposite tumbler j, and thus push forward the plate l, and as
simultaneously with this action the shoulder g is lifted from between the two
corresponding bevilled edges m and n, these latter will impress the required
fold in the rim of the transverse edge or short side of the piece A, inserted
between these edges m and n. A tappet or arm o, presenting a convex part p

page_text: and a concave q, and fixed to the projection h, passes through a corresponding
hole in the plate 4, and by means of the convexity p pushes back the plate 1,
whilst the concavity 2 allows the bevilled end m of this plate to come in
contact with the bevilled edge n. The foldings of the body A of the box
having thus been obtained, a plate r turning on a spindle is lifted by means
of a rod, worked by a pedal, and thus allows of removing the said body, and
replace the same by another plate A, on which the same operation is then per-
formed; two rods t, each of them provided with a shoulder t¹ and acted upon
by a spiral spring 2, press on the plate A already, previously to the lowering of
the punch on this Intter, in order to prevent the plate A from shifting position
during the punching operation. Figs. 3° and 4° respectively show plan views
of the punch and of the matrix; this latter, with the plate or body A in
position on it. The punching prers having thus given to the body A the shape
shown in plan view in Fig. 5, and in longitudinal side view in Fig. 5, tho
said body is to be folded in the manner shown respectively in plan and in side
view in the Figs. 6 and 7, which is performed by means of the apparatus
represented on a reduced scale in side elevation in Fig. 8. The same consists
of a stand or table, on which a rammer or hammer y, of a proper shinpe,
turning on a spindle y' by means of the arm y and counterweight y. is caused
to strike against the plate A, laid on the mandril ; the lower surface of the
bammer y is provided with suitable small ribs or flutings entering in the longi-
tudinal folds f, for preventing these latter from becoming deformed by the
blows of the hammer; the body A having thus obtained the shape shown
in Fig. 7, both ends of it are hooked together in the manner as shown
in Fig. 9, the folds of the joint being afterwards pressed together into a
jumped joint or bezil setting, by means of the press shown in side clevation
view in Fig. 10; for this purpose the body A, after having been placed on the
mandril B (shown separately in Fig. 11), is stamped into the proper form
by the jumping punch C, a small stake D being put in front of the mandril
underneath the body A during the stamping operation, in order to prevent the
said body A from shifting position; this stake D is guided and kept steady by
means of a slide E, and the same is caused to advance or recede, as required,
by means of a lever F, jointed in F; a stud pin G with which the projecting
arm of the punch C is provided, by the up-and-down motion of this latter, im-
parts the required horizontal to-and-fro motion to this lever F.
Fig. 12 shows the matrix I and the die or punch II, made use of for stamp-
ing the cover J of the box; this cover, punched out in the required form, is
shown in the Figs. 13, 14, and 14, provided with a. hole K for allowing to
fill the box with gunpowder or other substances the same has to contain, and

page_text: discharging these latter therefrom. It is desirable that the inner surface of
this feeding hole or aperture K should offer not only a rim L but a dovetail M
in this latter, in which dovetail the leaden stopper made use of partly enters
so as to give rise to a hermetical sealing up of the box. This dovetail M is
impressed in the rim L by means of a proper punch and die, by which opera-
tion the original shape of the aperture K, as shown in Fig. 13, assumes that
shown in Fig. 14; for this purpose the perforated end of the cover J is placed
on the matrix of the press represented on Fig. 15, so as to allow the punch (
to pass through the hole K, by which means shoulder P, by pressing on the
top of the cover J, will cause the dovetail M to be formed in the rim L. The
bottom (Fig. 28) of the box is provided round its periphery with a fold q,
similar to that of the cover or lid J, and the same differs from this latter only
in not being provided with the aperture K. The body, the bottom, and the lid
of the box having thus been finished separately, they are to be hooked and
finally fixed together by jumped joints. For this purpose a metal base plate R
(Fig. 16) has fixed to its upper surface a projecting well S, corresponding in
shape with the bottom and the lid of the box, which bottom or lid being placed
thereon, the fold F of the body A is inserted in the fold g of the bottom or of
the lid, after which a slight knock is given by means of the handle S¹ against
the fold at each side of the box, which operation I call pointing, and serves to
keep the lid or bottom sufficiently firmly inserted in the body of the box for
allowing to submit the joints to the jumping or bezil setting operation
thereof.
Fig. 17 shows a handle S', turning on the pivot s, for allowing to point
the folds of two opposite sides of the box, without being obliged to remove this
latter at each time from the welt S. All the folds of the body and of the
bottom and the lid of the box having thus been pointed together, the same are
definitely to be fixed together by jumped joints or bezil settings by means of
the apparatus shown in the Figs. 18, 19, and 20 respectively in side and end
elevation and in plan view. The apparatus consists of a suitable table or bed
plate T, securely fixed on a strong frame U; in a rectangular recess in this
table T a corresponding plate V may be lifted and kept at any required height
by means of the set screw X; the top of this plate V is provided with a welt
Y, on which is to be applied the bottom or the lid of the box, these parts
having been fixed by pointing, as above described, to the body A of this latter,
whilst a plate Z, similar to that V, gliding by means of a square tail in a
corresponding bearing 1, may be lowered on the lid of the box so as to keep
the entire box firmly secured between the two plates V and Z; the upper end
of the square tail of the plate Z forms a cylindrical rod 5, gliding in the corre-

page_text: sponding boss 2, a spiral spring 3 being coiled round the upper end of this
rod 5 between the boss 2 and the knob at the top of the rod 5, on which top
acts a handle 4, by means of which handle the plate Z may consequently be
very gently lowered on the top of the box, so as to keep this latter perfectly
steady during the time the several joints are to be jumped or set together.
The plate V is situated in proper recess in a carriage 6, gliding over the bed
plate T with a horizontal to-and-fro motion in two slots 7 and 8; this carriage
is worked by a connecting rod 9 and 10 and winch handle 11, or by loose and
fast pulleys 12 and 13, if the apparatus is to be worked by power. The
carriage 6 is further provided with two jumping or setting tools 16 and 17,
which, by means of the screws 15, may be set at the required distance apart,
for by pressing on the folds at the bottom of the box from these folds into
jumped joints, during the progress of the carriage 6, viz., at two opposite sides
of the box simultaneously, the said tools 16 and 17 being kept steady during
this operation by means of tho steadying screws 18; two other jumping tools
19 and 20 are set in the same manner by the screws 21, and kept steady by
those 22; the front edge or working part of these tools 16, 17, 19, and 20 is
formed into a bevil edge corresponding with the jumped joints to be obtained
by them; each end of the working edge of the tools 19 and 20 is made into a
square, for taking hold of the two opposite corners of the corresponding side of
the box. It will be understood that the box being held on the welt Y during
the to-and-fro motion of the carriage 6, the tools 19 and 20 will press the folds
Fg against this welt, and thus form them into jumped joints, whilst the tools
16 and 17 will act in a manner similar to a burnishing or ordinary jumping
tool. I repeat the same operation for the lid as for the bottom, and I thus
obtain a box of the shape represented by the Figs. 21 and 22. For closing the
boxes when required, a leaden stopper of the shape represented in Fig. 23 is
inserted in the aperture K, the rim L of which latter, as has been mentioned
before, is provided with the dovetail or depression M; the top of this stopper
is a little bulged, and on being pushed into the aperture K by means of the tool
represented in Fig. 24, the sides of the stopper on expanding will firmly be
inserted in the dovetail groove M. The stopper might also have a cylindrical
shape, and be provided with a projecting ring a¹, as shown in elevation view in
Fig. 25, and in top view in Fig. 26, which ring or rim a', when the stopper is
inserted in the aperture K, is pressed into the dovetail recess M of the rim L
of this aperture, whilst the lower part of the stopper fits into the lower or cylin-
drical end of this rim L, thus allowing of having this lower part of the stopper
made of cork or any other resisting material, whilst the ring and the top of
the stopper only require to be made of lead, as a readily expanding matorial;

page_text: this form of stopper consequently allows, after the box has been opened and the
greatest part of the contents should have been poured out therefrom, to stop
the box again by means of the remaining cork stopper.
What forms the conspicuous parts of my Invention is,―
1ly, that I obtain at once the various folds or claspings for forming the joints
of the body of the box without being obliged to work them over again, the
plate for forming the said body having been punched out previously in the
required shape.
2ly, the folding of the said claspings without in any way injuring or deform-
ing them.
3ly, the above described method of pointing or provisionally fixing the bottom
or the lid to the body of the box for allowing an easy setting by means of
jumped or bezil joints.
4ly, the setting or forming the jumped joints by means of the apparatus and
tools above described.
Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of the Inven-
tion, and the mode of putting the same into practical effect, I wish it to be
understood that I do not intend to restrain or restrict myself to the precise
details of the above described apparatusses, tools, and modes of acting, as many
variations may be made therefrom without departing from the main features of
the Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the modes of working and the general arrangement of the
apparatusses and tools described for the manufacture of tin plate or other
sheet metal boxes with any suitable number of sides by bezil set or jumped
joints, so as entirely to do away with any soldering, brazing, or welding.
In witness whereof, I, the said Emile Peltier, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
DREYFOUS,
Eng. Civil.
E. PELTIER. (L.S.)