Improvements in Apparatus for Making Metal Boxes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5:h Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1891-Accepted 5th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Making Metal Boxes.
I FREDERICK JOHN KING of Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6 Camomile Street in the City
of London Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object to provide a convenient and efficient apparatus
for fixing the bottoms in the bodies of metal boxes without any necessity for
rivetting or soldering. The body portion that is the part forming the sides of the
box may be made from a single strip of metal bent to the required shape and the
ends may be connected together in the manner described in the Specification to
Letters Patent granted to me, and dated as of 20th day of October 1887
No. 14296. For fixing the bottom in the body of the box provide a simple
apparatus for folding the metal as hereinafter described. In the table of the
apparatus is provided a recess or opening corresponding in size and shape to the
body of the box to be made. In or beneath this opening is a plunger or movable
bottom which is capable of being raised and lowered as required. The body of the
box to receive the bottom is placed in the recess or opening in the table. The
lower edge of the body rests on the movable bottom or plunger and the upper
edge thereof projects above the table to an extent required to make the first fold
in the process of securing the bottom. Inside the body is placed an easily fitting
block or anvil which rests on the movable bottom or plunger and is of such a
depth or thickness as to leave projecting above its upper surface sufficient of the
upper edge of the body as is required to secure the bottom of the box. The
bottom to be fixed to the body consists of a plate of the required size having its
edges turned up to a right angle so as to form a tray or dish which plate with its
upturned edges uppermost is placed in the body onto the top surface of the auvil
the upturned edges of the plate extending to about half way up the sides of the
body which project above the top surface of the anvil. The bottom, being placed
in position in the body a top plunger is caused to descend onto the plate or bottom
which plunger is provided with sliding pieces or plates operated by cam surfaces or
equivalent means so as to cause them to project from the edges of the main body
of the plunger and press against the upturned edges of the plate forming the
bottom of the box so as to hold it firmly in position. While the parts are in this
position plates fitted to slide in or on suitable guides on the table of the apparatus
are moved forward by means of levers or otherwise so as to turn the edges of the
body of the box which projects above the surface of the table to a right angle
over the upturned edge of the plate forming the bottom, after which the sliding
plates are withdrawn, and the sliding plates in the top plunger are also withdrawi
into the body of the plunger, and the plunger raised out of contact with the box.
The sliding plates in the top plunger are then again made to project and the plunger
caused to descend onto the turned over upper edges of the body of the box,
causing the said edges to be further folded so as to enclose the turned up edges of
the bottom plate. The top plunger is then raised and the bottom plunger or
movable bottom of the recess in the table on which the anvil rests is also raised so
as to bring the bottom of the box about level with or slightly below the surface of
the table, and the edges of the body of the box which projects above the bottom
above the surface of the table. The sliding plates which before had turned the
upper edges of the body at right angles, are now moved forward so as to fold the
projecting edges of the body, enclosing the upturned edges of the plate forming
the bottom of the box, down onto the surface of the bottom plate and thereby fix
the bottom in the body. The sliding plates are then withdrawn and by means of

page_text: a lever or treadle or other convenient means a plunger is caused to force the anvil
with the box thereon from the recess in the table. Another body is then placed in
position, in the recess and the, finished box, having been removed from the anvil,
the latter is placed in the body and the operations hereinbefore described repeated.
Lids for the boxes may consist of loose trays like the bottoms before being fixed,
or if desired the lids may be hinged to the body in any convenient manner.
Dated this 5th day of February 1891
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Making Metal Boxes.
1 FREDERICK JOHN KING of Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6 Camomile Street in the City
of London, Merchant, 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 :-
My invention is designed more especially to provide convenient and efficient
apparatus for fixing the end plates or bottoms in the bodies of metal boxes by
folding together the edges of the plate or plates forming the body and of the said
end plates or bottoms so as to securely connect them together without the necessity
for rivetting or soldering. It will be evident from the following description that a
similar end plate may be attached to the sides in. a similar way to form a top
provided there be an orifice in the top to allow of an internal anvil such as is
described in Specification of Patent 14296 of 1887 being withdrawn. The body
portion, that is the part forming the sides of the box, may be made from a. single
strip of metal bent to the required shape and the edges may be connected together
by any suitable means but preferably in the manner and by means of the apparatus
described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 14296 granted to me and
dated the 20th day of October 1887.-I will describe my present invention with
reference to the accompanying drawings as applied to the fixing of a bottom plate
to the sides premising that I do not restrict myself to the precise details
illustrated.
$
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of an apparatus construction according
to my invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the table or lower part shewing the folding mechanism.
Figure 3 shews a vertical section and a plan of the plunger which holds the
bottom in position while being fixed to the body of the box and
Figures 4. 5. 6. 7 and 8 are sectional views shewing the several stages in the
operation of fixing the bottom.
In the table A of the apparatus is provided a recess or opening B corresponding
in size and shape to the body of the box into which the bottom is to be fixed, and
surrounded by a rim C forming a chamber to contain the body of the box.. In
this chamber is fitted to slide a plunger or moveable bottom D which is capable of
being raised and lowered as required by means of the lever, or handle E connected
to the rotating portion F of a turntable on which the plunger D rests.
The contiguous or meeting faces of the moveable and stationary parts of the
said turntable are provided with inclined surfaces circularly disposed so that by
turuing the moveable portion in one direction it will be caused to ascend the
inclined surfaces on the fixed or stationary part G whereby the plunger D may be
raised to the required extent and lowered again by rotating the part F in the
reverse direction. The body of the box to receive the bottom is placed in the
recess or chamber B the lower edge of the body then resting on the moveable
bottom or plunger D which is arranged at such a height in the chamber B that
the upper edge of the said body projects above the rim C to an extent required to
make the first fold in the process of securing the bottom. Inside the body is

page_text: placed an easily fitting anvil H which may consist of a solid block as shewn or it
may be buils up of parts as described in the Specification of Letters Patent dated
October 20th 1887 No. 14296. This anvil rests on the moveable bottom.or
plunger D and is of such a depth or thickness as to leave projecting above its upper
end sufficient of the upper part of the body of the box to secure the bottom of the
box. The bottom to be fixed to the body consists of a plate I of the required
size having its edges a turned up to a right angle which may be effected by any
suitable means so as to form a tray or dish as shewn in Figure 4 which plate with
its upturned edges a uppermost is placed on the top surface of the anvil H within
the body of the box the depth of the upturned edges a of the plate I being
such as to extend say about half way up the portions of the sides of the body which
project above the top surface or edge of the anvil. On the upper surface of the
table A is arranged an overhanging bracket L which may if desired be fixed
rigidly to the table or (as shewn) it may be fitted to turn in a socket M into and
out of operating position to facilitate the placing of the body and bottom of the
box in position in the chamber B and for removing the box therefiom when the
bottom is fixed. Fitted to slide. in bearings N in the bracket is a rod Q
carrying at its lower end the plunger P provided with sliding pieces or plates Q
(see Figure 3) which are capable of being projected when required beyond the
edges of the plunger body by a cam surface or cam surfaces R formed on a
plate S carried by a sleeve T fitted to turn on the rod O and provided with
handles U by which to turn the sleeve when required. The sliding pieces
kept in contact with the cam surfaces by springs V secured to the body of the
plunger and acting on pins or projections W on the sliding pieces or plate Q. The
plunger P is raised and lowered by means of a counter balanced lever X centered
to the upper end of the bracket L. The body of the box and the tray to form
the bottom thereof being placed in position in the chamber.B. as described, the
plunger P is caused to descend on to the plate I after which the sliding plates or
pieces are projected by turning the cam surfaces by means of the handles U.
The plates Q when projected press against the upturned edges a of the plate I
and the thickness of the plates Q is such that their upper surfaces are about level
with the top edge of the rim C of the chamber B. While the parts are in this
position plates Y fitted to slide in guides Z on the table A. of the apparatus are
moved forward by means of levers 7 mounted so as to turn on the stems b of the
plates Y. The boss of each of these levers is provided on one side with a
circularly disposed cam surface held in contact with a corresponding cam surface
on the contiguous guide Z by a spring d whilst the opposite side of the boss of
the lever is plane and bears against a collare on the stein so that when the lever
is turned on the stem it will be caused by the cam surfaces to press against the
collar e and force the plate Y forward against the resisting power of the spring d
and press the edge of the box body which projects above the surface of the rim C
to a right angle over the upturned edge a on the plate I as shewn in Figure 5.
are
The projecting edges of two sides of the body may be turned over at one time
by the operator turning two opposite levers Z. The levers and plates Y are
returned to the normal positions by the springs d when the levers are released.
When the projecting edges of the four sides of the body have been turned over
as shewn in Figure 5 and the sliding plates withdrawn the sliding plates or
piéces Q are also retracted or drawn into the body of the plunger by means of
the handles U and the plunger raised by the Figure X out of contact with the
plate I. The sliding plates are then again caused to protrude and the plunger P
brought down so that the protruding plates Q then come on to the turned over upper
edges of the body of the box causing the said edges to be further folded into the
position shewn in Figure 6 so as to enclose the turned up edges a of the bottom
plate I. The plunger P is then again raised and the bottom plunger or moveable
bottom D of the chamber B on which the anvil H and body of the box rests, is also
raised so as to bring the plate I of the box about level with or slightly below the
edge of the rim C as shewn in Figure 7 the edges of the body of the box which

page_text: project above the bottom plate I projecting then above the rim C of the chamber.
The sliding plates Y which before had turned the upper edges of the body at
right angles are now moved forward (preferably two opposite ones at a time) as
before, so as to fold the projecting edges of the body, enclosing the upturned
edges of the plate I down onto the surfaces of the plate I as shewn in Figure 8
and thereby fix the bottom in the body. The sliding plates Y are then withdrawn
and the bracket L turned in its socket M so as to move the plunger P from over
the chamber B after which the anvil H with the box thereon is forced from the
recess or chamber B by means of a rod passing from below through a hole in
the turntable and the moveable bottom D and bearing against the bottom of the
anvil H. This rod may be raised by a treadle if desired or as shewn in the
drawing by a levery centered at to a bracket i projecting from the underside
of the table A to which lever the rod is connected so that by raising this lever
the anvil with the box thereon may be raised sufficiently from the recess to enable
the operator to remove it by hand. The finished box having been removed
from the anvil another box body is placed in the recess or chamber B. the anvil
placed in the body and a plate or tray to be secured therein being placed
anvil the operations hereinbefore described are repeated.
on the
If the bottom plate only is fixed in the way described the lids for the boxes
may consist of loose trays similar to the bottoms I before being fixed, or if desired
the lids may be hinged to the body in any convenient manner but when they are
hinged I prefer to do so in the manner and by means of apparatus described in the
Specification of the Letters Patent No. 5080 of 23rd of March 1889 but as before
mentioned a plate may be similarly secured to the sides to form a top.
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. In apparatus for the purpose described a recess or chamber having a moveable
bottom to contain and support the body of the box while fixing the end plate
thereto an anvil or frame to support the said plate while being fixed, means for
raising the moveable bottom as required and sliding plates for folding or bending
over the edges of the body of the box and the plate to be attached thereto the
whole being arranged substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
2. In apparatus for the purpose described, a recess or chamber having a moveable
bottom to contain and support the body of the box while fixing the end plate
thereto an anvil or frame to support the said plate while being fixed means for
raising the box in the recess or chamber as required, a block or plunger for
holding the said end plate in position on the anvil or frame and provided with
sliding pieces capable of being protruded and withdrawn and sliding plates for
folding or bending over the edges of the body of the box and of the end plate the
whole being arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting an apparatus for
making metal boxes substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 5th day of November 1891.