Improvements relating to Apparatus for Making Boxes and Filling the same with Cigarettes or other Articles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Apparatus for Making Boxes and Filling
the same with Cigarettes or other Articles.
I, WILLIAM HENRY BUTLER, of No. 25, Madison Avenue, in the City, County
and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 relates to box filling and covering machines, and in certain
features of my invention to machines for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar
articles. Its object is to provide improved means for opening or squaring the
shell, or outer cover of the box to enable the box to be inserted into the shell
and for holding the shell while the box is being inserted therein and for discharg-
ing the completed article; it has also for its object to provide means for feeding
into a box, along with the cigarettes, a row or rows of cigarette tips, or holders.
and also means for causing the cigarette tips or holders to present a substantially
level surface when placed in the box: it has also for its object to provide improved.
means for turning up and down the flaps to make the box and also to provide
certain other improvements in the construction of a box filling and covering
machine, to be hereafter described. It consists of the improved devices herein.
shown and described.
In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming part hereof, I
have shown and will now proceed to describe, the preferred form of my improved
devices, similar reference characters in the different figures representing corre-
sponding parts of the mechanism.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved box filling and covering machine':
Figure 2 is a central longitudinal vertical section through a part of the same, and
Figure 3 is a plan of the said part; Figure 4 is a detailed side view of the interior
face of a side wall of the box-blank magazine; Figure 5 is a central longitudinal
vertical section of the remaining part of my machine, and Figure 6 is a plan of the
said part; Figure 7 is a vertical cross section taken on the lines of 7-7 of Fig. 3,
viewed as shown by the arrow: Figure 8 is a vertical cross section on the lines
8-8 on Fig. 6 as viewed by the arrow; Figures 9 and 10 are detailed view of
the wheels for feeding the cigarette tips or holders.
Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the magazine for box blanks and the magazine for
cigarettes and cigarette tips and connecting mechanism viewed from the opposite
side to that of Fig 1. Fig. 12.is a vertical longitudinal section through the maga-
zine for cigarettes and cigarette tips. Fig. 13 is a vertical longitudinal section of
the feeding devices taken on a line between the said feeding devices and the
hopper Fig. 14 is a detail of the clamping devices, and Figs. 15 and 16 are
enlarged views of the wedge shaped device for opening and squaring shells, Fig. 15
being a vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 16 a plan of the same.
Fig. 17 is a side view of a form of my improved machine containing my
improved means for turning up and down the flaps to make the box and for
holding the shell while the box is being inserted therein and for discharging it

page_text: when completed: Fig. 18 is a plan view of the rear part of the machine shown in
Fig. 17 Fig. 19 is a central longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 20 is a detailed
view of the cam plate for moving folders H: Fig. 21 is a cross-section through the
trough taken through the widened part; Fig. 22 is a similar section taken on the
lines 22-22 of Fig. 18: Fig. 23 is a similar section taken on the lines .23-23 of
Fig. 18 Fig. 24 is a side view of the rear part of the machine shown in Fig. 18;
Fig. 25 is a side view of an improved form of the folder for turning the rear flap
forward and down: Fig. 26 is a central longitudinal section of the same and
Fig. 27 is an end view of the same device.
My improved devices are shown in the drawings herein and will be described
in connection with a machine for automatically making cigarette boxes out of flat
box-blanks, inserting cigarettes into the box. closing the box, inserting the filled
box into an outer cover or shell and discharging the covered box from the
machine. My improved devices may, however, be used in or in connection with
other kinds of box filling and box covering machines, although I prefer to use
them in a machine in which all of the above operations are continuously and
automatically performed.
In the machine shown in Figs. 1 to 16 inclusive of the drawings an endless belt
A passes over and is driven by two pulleys B-B¹. In one part of its course it
passes above the table C of the machine and during this part of its movement it
receives the box-blank and carries it forward during the various steps of forming
it into a box, filling it with cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders, turning down
the upper flaps so as to completely close the box. inserting the box into an outer
cover or shell, and discharging the completed and covered box from the machine.
Dis the magazine for the box-blanks. E is the trough in which the belt and box-
blank move forward, the sides of the trough gradually assuming an inclined
position more and more toward the perpendicular for turning up the side flaps of
the blank. F is the magazine for cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders and G the
plunger for forcing the desired number of cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders
into the box, H are the fingers or folders for turning up the forward flap and
bending it down upon the top of the box, I are the folders for turning up the
rear flap of the box-blank, J are the toothed wheels for turning down the rear
flap upon the top of the box, I is the magazine for holding the flattened covers
or shells, L is the plunger for forcing the shells separately from the said magazine
into position where the shells can be opened by mechanism presently to be
described, whereupon the closed box is inserted into the shell and discharged from
the machine by mechanism presently to be described. I will now proceed to
describe in detail the different parts of my improved devices shown in Figs. 1
to 16 inclusive.
The belt A is driven by the pulley B₁ in the direction indicated by the
arrow in Fig. 5, the pulley being driven by any suitable driving mechanism. To
insure the steady revolution of the belt and to avoid slipping upon the pulleys
pins project from the pulleys and take into holes a in the belt.
con-
The box-blanks, out of which the boxes are formed, have the form shown in
Figure 3, in which part 2 is to form the bottom of the box and the forward flap
3 to form the top. The bottom 2 has two side flaps 4-4, and a rear flap 5
creased along the line 66. The top 3 has side flaps 7-7, with a part
necting it with the bottom of the box. The side flaps are creased along the line
joining them to the bottom or top of the box, the rear flap 5 is creased along the
Jine joining it to the bottom 2 and the part S is creased along the lines joining
it to both the bottom 2 and the top 3. The magazine D is made of a shape corre-
sponding in horizontal cross section to the shape of the box-blank, having
ribs 9-9 separating the part holding the bottom from the top of the blanks, and
ribs 10-10 in the forward part of the magazine as shown in Fig. 3. for the
purpose of securely holding the blanks in proper position. Each rib has a
piece 11 secured by a slot in rih 9 (not shown) and screws so as to be adjustable
up and down as shown in Fig. 4, for the purpose of adjusting the size of the

page_text: opening 12 to accommodate it to different thicknesses of box-blanks, in order to
prevent the escape of more than one box-blank from the magazine at a time..
This opening 12 and opening 13 in rear ribs 14 of the magazine are for the
purpose of permitting one blank at a time to be pushed out by the plunger. I
preferably employ a weight 15 to be placed upon the box-blanks in the magazine.
Part of the weight lies inside of the magazine upon the top of the box-blank
and part of it 15 a lies outside of it on either side, the two parts being con-
nected by a front connecting bar 15. When the weight has reached the opening
16 in ribs 10 it can be drawn forward by means of the handle 17 through the
openings 16 out of the magazine. The plunger 18 has two pushers 19-19 for the
purpose of pushing one box-blank at a time partially out of the magazine. The
plunger 18, is given a reciprocating motion to accomplish this purpose through
the following chain of gearing and connections, namely, gear 20 driven by the
shaft of pulley B, gear wheel 21 on shaft 22, crank 22a, pitman 226, bell
crank 23, rod 24, pivoted to plunger 18. Screws 25 in slots 26 act as guides for
the plunger and its reciprocating movement. The plunger 18 moves forward and
backward twice at each revolution of pulley B-cach time pushing a box-blank
partially out of the magazine. 27 are pickers which are secured to the endless
belt at regular stated intervals. After a box-blank has been partially ejected
from the magazine by plunger 18, the pickers 27 strike against the rear edge
of the box-blank and force it forward out of the magazine and along trough E.
In Fig. 2 the box-blank is shown in the process of being pushed out of the
magazine by the pickers. As the box-blank advances along trough E, the side
Haps 4 and 7 are turned up by the sloping sides 28 of the trough, these sides
sloping up more and more toward the perpendicular as the box-blank advances
until the side flaps of the box-blanks assume the position shown in Fig. 7
immediately under the cigarette magazine F. Wheels 29--29 aid in this work
bending the box along the indented or creased edges between the side flaps and
the bottom or top of the box-blank. In both sides of the trough running from
the magazine to the first wheel 29 is a slight groove 30 to receive the edges of
the blank to insure the blank being kept down in the trough so as to pass
under the wheels 29. The box-blank with its side flaps turned up as shown in
Fig. 7, has its bottom immediately under cigarette magazine F, when it reaches
this point in its course ready for receiving the cigarettes and cigarette tips or
holders. The mechanism for supplying the magazine with cigarettes and cigarette
tips or holders will now be described: The magazine is constructed in any suitable
manner but preferably with vertical partitions 31 to separate the vertical rows
of cigarettes from each other and from a vertical row of cigarette tips or holders.
As shown, I have arranged for five vertical rows 32 of cigarettes, and one vertical
row 33 of cigarette tips or holders. The cigarettes are supplied to the magazine
in any well known manner through hopper 34. A vibratory motion is given to
the hopper through lever 35 pivoted at 36 and having at its lower end a slotted
guide, with the slot or groove irregularly curved and the pin 37 attached to the
top of rod 38 adapted to take in to the said slot or groove. This rod is provided
with gear teeth 39 on its under side, which mesh with the teeth 40 of segment 41.
A reciprocating motion is imparted to this segment and thence to rod 38 through
pitman 42, crank arm 44 pivotally connected to pitman 42 at 43 and mounted
on shaft 22 and gear wheel 45, secured on the shaft of pulley B. Rod 38 as it
moves forward and backward thus gives a vibratory motion to hopper 34 as well
as imparting motion to various other parts of the mechanism to be described. By
the above means the cigarettes are fed into the different vertical receptacals
intended for them.
The devices for feeding cigarette tips or holders into the magazine are as
follows. In my preferred form of devices for this purpose the cigarette tips or
holders are fed forward by suitable feeding devices toward the magazine in two
rows from opposite directions, the mouth pieces in one row pointing one way,
and the mouth pieces in the other row pointing the other way, a certain pre-

page_text: Thus
determined number of cigarette tips or holders in each row being seized by
suitable gripping devices and fed forward away from the remaining tips or holders
in the row, the latter being also preferably seized and held from being carried for-
ward with the said predetermined number by means of suitable clamping devices,
so that sets of nested cigarette tips or holders of the predetermined number are
fed into one of the vertical spaces in the magazine, one set having the mouth
pieces of the cigarette tips or holders pointing in one direction, the next set
above it with the mouth picces pointing in the other direction, and so on.
each two sets of cigarette tips or holders in the vertical space of the magazine have
a level surface. This operation I preferably accomplish by means of the following
mechanism: 46 46 are two inclined tables for holding and nesting cigarette
tips or holders. The cigarette tips or holders are nested together as shown in
Fig. 3 so that a row of nested cigarette tips or holders lies along the lower part
of the table preferably in the groove 47, the mouth pieces of the cigarette tips
or holders in the row on one table pointing one way and the mouth pieces of the
cigarette tips or holders in the row on the other table pointing the other way,
as shown in Fig. 3. The mouth pieces as shown point toward the magazine in
each case, one table being upon one side of the magazine and the other table
being upon the other side. The feeding devices for feeding forward each row
of cigarette tips or holders consists of two wheels 48-49, one above the other,
as shown in Fig. 1. These wheels have concave rims and the two wheels are
arranged in reference to each other so that there is barely room for the row of
cigarette tips or holders to pass between them. Wheel 48 is driven positively
through toothed segment 50, toothed segment 51 meshing with the teeth 40 of
segment 41. Segment 50 is mounted on shaft 52, which carries ratchet wheel 53.
Meshing with the teeth of this ratchet wheel is a pawl 54 mounted on arm 55
which is secured to sleeve 56. Upon this sleeve is also mounted wheel 48. As
segment 50 rocks in one direction the ratchet wheel 53 through pawl 54 and
arm 55 rotates sleeve 56, and with it wheel 48, causing the latter to feed forward
the row of cigarette tips or holders a certain distance. When segment 50 rotates
in the other direction pawl 54 slips idly over wheel 53 and wheel 48 accordingly
remains at rest.
In order to insert into the magazine at each feed the exact number of cigarette
tips or holders required, I use gripping devices for seizing upon a predetermined
number of cigarette tips or holders for carrying them to the proper place for
insertion into the magazine. These gripping devices consist of two sets of spring
grippers 57, both sets mounted upon a carriage 58, one set at one end of the
carriage facing one way and the other set of grippers at the other end of the
carriage facing the other way. A reciprocating movement is given to this carriage
.60 as to feed it backward and forward. When it feeds in one direction, the
spring grippers at one end slip over a predetermined number of cigarette tips
or holders in the row of cigarette tips or holders on one side, and when the limit
of its movement is reached, it snaps over and seizes the said number of cigarette
tips and on its return movement draws them toward the magazine. Each gripper
consists of a spring arm fastened to the carriage having a hook at its end. Iu
Fig. 3 one set of the grippers is shown as gripping and carrying a number of
cigarette tips or holders. In the drawings I have shown five cigarette tips or
holders carried by the grippers at each feed. The grippers carry these tips
toward the magazine until they reach the inclined wall 59 of the magazine down
which they pass into the vertical space at one side of the magazine reserved for
cigarette tips or holders. Another set of five cigarette tips or holders from the
other row of cigarette tips or holders on the other side of the magazine is then
seized by the grippers on that side and is drawn over and inserted into the box.
The two sets lie one on top of the other and as the mouth pieces of the cigarette
tips or holders face in different directions the two layers make an even horizontal
surface.

page_text: When a set of grippers seizes a number of cigarette tips or holders as for
instance five, as shown in the drawings, in order to carry them forward for inser-
tion into the magazine, it is necessary at the moment the grippers seize the said
cigarette tips or holders to hold the sixth and remaining cigarette tips or holders
in the row in order to prevent the grippers from carrying them forward with the
five cigarette tips or holders which it has seized. In order to prevent the sixth
cigarette tip or holder and the other ones behind it remaining in the row, from
being carried forward by the grippers along with the five cigarette tips or holders
seized by the grippers, I provide a clamping device for seizing and holding the
sixth cigarette tip or holder. The clamping device which I prefer and which is
shown in the drawings consists of two semi-circular parts, one a fixed part 117
supported upon a bracket 118 secured to the shaft upon which wheel 49 loosely
rotates; the other a moveable part 119 supported upon a lever 120 pivoted in a
support 122 pendant from the shaft upon which wheel 49 rotates, said lever 120
having a spring 121 which when free to act tends to push the moveable part of
the clamp toward the fixed part of the clamp to grip a cigarette tip or holder and
also having a knob 122 a at its other end. 123 is a wheel mounted on shaft 52
and reciprocating, with it and having notches 124 in its surface adjacent to
lever 120. The knob 122 a of lever 120 normally presses against the side sur-
face of wheel 123 and holds the movable clamp against the action of the spring
away from the fixed part of the clamp. As wheel 123 rotates, knob 122 a slips
into one of the notches 124 and permits spring 121 to throw the movable clamp
toward the fixed clamp thus seizing the sixth cigarette tip or holder, or such
other as it is desired to hold. This grip separates the fifth and sixth cigarette
tips or holders and prevents the latter and the ones behind it from being drawn
forward by the grippers.
The mechanism for giving a reciprocating motion to carriage 58 consists of a
swinging arm 60 keyed to shaft 52 having pivoted to its end a rod 61 which is
pivoted to a block 62 connected by support 63 to and forming part of carriage 58.
Block 62 and carriage 58 are supported upon sliding bar 64 which slides freely
back and forth in bearings 65 in the frame work of the machine.. As shaft 52
rocks, reciprocating motion is imparted to carriage 58 through the parts just
described, causing the grippers at one side to advance and seize a predetermined
number of cigarette tips or holders and then carry them backward for insertion
into the magazine. The other set of grippers meanwhile during the above opera-
tion carrying to the magazine another set of the same number of cigarette tips
which they had seized from the opposite row and then retreating to seize another
set as the first mentioned grippers carrying their cigarette tips or holders to the
magazine. In this way rows of cigarette tips or holders with the mouth pieces
pointing in opposite directions are alternately fed from one side and the other
into the magazine. Feeding devices, for feeding forward the other row of
cigarette tips or holders from the other table, consists of a similar set of wheels,
and their connections. The mechanism for imparting motion to these wheels
consists of a rod 66 pivoted to swinging arm 60, and swinging arm 67 pivoted
to it, and at its other end keyed to shaft 68, the latter carrying with it ratehet
wheel 69.
Meshing with this ratchet wheel is a pawl 70, mounted on an arm 71 which
is secured to the sleeve 72 upon which wheel 48 is rigidly mounted. The
teeth of ratchet wheel 69 point in the opposite direction to the teeth of ratchet
wheel 53 on the other side and the pawl 70 points in the opposite direction to
that of the pawl 54. By this arrangement while ratchet wheel 53 is, feeding
forward wheel 48 at one side of the machine, pawl 70 slips idly over the other
ratchet wheel 69, but when the motion of swinging arm 60 and rod 66 is in the
reverse direction pawl 70 is moved to turn wheel 48, while the other wheel 48
remains at rest. In this way the feeding devices on one side for feeding one row
of cigarette tips or holders feed forward, while the feeding devices on the other

page_text: side for feeding the other row of cigarette tips or holders remain at rest. Each
set of feeding devices has an intermittent feeding motion which is always,
however, in the same direction.
The devices for forcing the requisite number of cigarettes and cigarette tips
or holders from the magazine into the box consist of the plunger G, which
reciprocates back and forth at each forward movement, pushing out of the
magazine ten cigarettes and two sets of cigarette or holders, and any suitable
mechanism for driving the plunger, not shown and described. It is timed so
as to force the cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders to fall into the box when
the latter is in such a position, that the cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders
will fall exactly upon the bottom 2 of the box-blank, after its edges have already
been turned up.
'
The devices for turning up the forward flap or top 3 of the blank and of turn-
ing it over and down upon the lower part of the box and the enclosed cigarettes
and cigarette tips or holders and the devices for turning up the rear flap 5
shown in Figs. 1 to 16 inclusive, will now be described. The devices for turning
up and over the top 3 consist of the fingers or folders H mounted on rocking
shaft 73. These normally lie in the position shown in Fig. 5 until top 3 of
the box flap reaches them and begins to ride up on them, when rocking shaft 73
is rocked so as to throw the fingers H upward by hook 74 on rod 38 striking
pin 75, which projects over rod 38 from an arm 76 keyed to shaft 73. Fingers H
are held in their normal position downward by means of spring-pressed arm 76 a
pressing against roller 766 on arm 76. The fingers H thus force top 3 first up
and then press it down upon the top of the box into the position shown in
Fig. 5. Meanwhile rear flap 5 is turned up by means of folder I. This folder
normally lies in the position shown in Fig. 2 until its lower part 77 strikes
ridge projection 78 on the table when it is forced into the position it occupies
in Fig. 5.
As its upper arm rises it turns up rear flap 5 into the upright position shown
in Fig. 5. Folders I are secured to and carried by the belt. From this point
on the folder I pushes the box forward instead of the picker. Arms H are
rocked sufficiently high to allow rear flap 5 to pass under them into the position
shown in Fig. 5. The devices for turning down this flap upon top 3 consist
of the toothed wheels J mounted upon shaft 79. These toothed wheels revolve
rapidly in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 5, and strike against upright
flap 5 and press it down upon the top of the box as the box passes under the
wheels. Wheels J are driven by the following train of gearing, namely, gear
wheel 80 mounted on the shaft of pulley B, gear wheel S1, mounted on shaft 82,
gear wheel 833 mounted on the same shaft, pinion 84 and gear wheel 85 on the
shaft of toothed wheels J. 86 is an upper plate or guide lying over the belt
immediately beyond wheels J. 87 is a plate lying under guide 86 and immediately
over the belt and at its rear end resting upon the bottom of a wedge-shaped
device to be presently described. The guides 86-87 and the sides of the trough E
act as guides for the box in its movement at this point of the machine and aid
in bringing it to the proper point to enter the wedge-shaped device to be inserted
into the shell in a manner presently to be described. Guide 86 is pivoted at
its rear end on stud 88. The object of thus pivoting the guide is to permit the
raising of guide 86 in case of any clogging of the machine at this point. In
all machines of a similar nature to the one described in this application great
difficulty has been encountered heretofore in finding out the trouble and
doing away with it whenever any clogging has occurred in this part of the
mechanism.
The devices for opening or squaring a shell preparatory to the insertion
into it of the covered box I will now describe. K is the magazine for the outer
covers or shells. These shells are made with one or both ends open and are
flattened down and in that position lie in the magazine upon one another. The
front wall of the magazine has an opening 89 at its lower end just large enough

page_text: to allow a shell to be pushed out. This is performed by plunger L by means
of pushers 90-90. Motion is imparted to plunger L by means of a toothed.
segment 91, meshing with teeth 92 on the lower side of rod 93. This rod
moves freely in bearings 94 and is connected by arm 95 with plunger L. As
the segment 91 reciprocates one way or the other plunger L moves with it, through
the means above described. Segment 91 is driven by means of pitman 96 pivoted
to crank arm 97 mounted on shaft 98. On the same shaft is keyed gear 99 which
meshes with large gear 100 on the shaft of pulley B¹. As the pulley shaft revolves
plunger L is reciprocated backward and forward feeding forward one shell at
a time.
As the shell is forced by pushers 90 out from the magazine it falls upon the
swinging platform 101. This platform is pivoted at 102 and is supported at its
outer end by curved arms 103, carrying at their lower ends friction rolls 104.
These rolls 104 press upon and are supported by cams 105 mounted upon and
turning with shaft pulley B. When a shell is discharged upon platform 101
the cam is in such position that the platform is supported in its horizontal.
position, as shown in Fig. 5. After the box has been completely inserted into
the shell, the cams have reached the point where they allow rolls 104, cam 103
to sink downward thus tilting platform 101 downward sufficiently to cause
the covered box to slide off from the platform into any proper receptacle.
nis a wedge shaped device for opening and squaring the flattened shells.
As shown in the drawings, it consists of spring plates forming the top, bottom
and sides of a wedge shaped device. In the form shown in the drawings the
wedge shaped device has a top plate 106, two bottom plates 107 and two side
plates 108. Each of these are secured at its ends furthest removed from the
shell magazine. The wedge shaped device enters the flattened shell and squares
it. The box is then forced by the belt forward into the open end of the wedge
shaped device forcing the spring, top, bottom and sides of the latter apart
and passes into the shell. To assist the wedge shaped device in opening or
squaring a shell I provide devices for exerting a pressure on the sides of the
flattened shell as it comes from the magazine to cause the flattened shell to
open sufficiently to permit the wedge shaped device to enter the shell, and also
to aid the wedge shaped device generally in the work of squaring a shell. These
devices consist of cams 109, one on each side of trough E. Each cam has a
short segmental rack 110. the teeth of which mesh into a straight rack 111.
The latter rack carries a pin 112 at its end toward the magazine. As plunger L
moves forward to force a shell from the magazine, the part of its surface near
the pushers strikes pin 112 toward the close of the forward movement of
plunger L, moves racks 111 and rotates thereby cams 109. As cams 109 rotate,
part of their cam surface project forward striking against both sides of the
flattened shell partially opening the shell to permit the wedge shaped device
to enter. On the return of plunger L to its original position shoulders 113
on each side strike against pins 112 carrying them and the racks 111 and the
cams back to their original position. 114 are stops one on each side against
which the back part of the shell rests, after it has been opened and squared
and while the box is being inserted into the shell. These stops prevents
the shell from moving backward during this operation. Immediately over the
wedge shaped device, platform and other parts of the box covering mechanism
is a cover 115. This is pivoted at 116 so as to allow the cover to be raised in
case of clogging.
Heretofore in devices for squaring shells for inserting boxes into them, the
devices for squaring the shells have always, so far as I am aware, acted entirely
upon the outside of the flattened or collapsed shell. In my improved devices for
this purpose the devices operate mainly from the inside of the shell. My improved
device is accordingly more certain in its operation. In prior existing devices it
has always been necessary to have the flattened box folded in the same way,
or with the same side up, or the devices would not operate to open and square
.

page_text: .
the shells, the shell if wrong side up, buckling or clogging the mechanism.
In my improved devices no such difficulty exists as the shells are always opened.
positively no matter which way the flattened shells lie folded in the magazine.
My improved device has the further advantage that as the box passes through
the wedge shaped device, all danger of collision between the box and the shell
is avoided.
My improved devices for filling boxes provide means for inserting rows of
cigarette tips or holders into the box along with the cigarettes. So far as I
am aware this has heretofore never been done by a machine or automatically,
it always being necessary heretofore to put the tips into the box by hand. My
improved device furnishes a simple and automatic means for accomplishing this
result, and for placing the cigarette tips arranged in two adjoining rows with
the mouth pieces of one row pointing one way, and the mouth pieces of the
other row pointing the other way, so that the two rows fit closely together and
present a level surface, without waste of room. The wedge shaped device which
I prefer to use for squaring a shell is composed, as shown, of separate pieces or
sides each movable independently of the other pieces or sides and each pivoted-
at its end which is furthest removed from the magazine. In the drawings I show
these sides or pieces as composed of a top piece or side, two bottom pieces and two
side pieces. The number of such pieces can, of course, be varied as desired. By
means of such a construction I am enabled to square a shell positively from the
interior of the shell and also to permit the filled box to pass through the wedge
shaped device, between the movable sides thereof, as it enters the shell, thus
effectually preventing any collisions between the box and shell and any consequent
clogging of the machine.
set.
The carriage 58 which carries both sets of grippers is shown as bent downward
toward one side so that one set of grippers works on a lower plane than the other
The feeding devices and the table on the same side of the magazine are also
placed lower than the same devices on the other side of the magazine. This is
to prevent any collisions between the opposing rows of cigarette tips or holders as
they are fed out towards each other in opposite directions and this enables me
to feed cigarette tips or holders forward from both sides faster than would be
possible, if the two rows of cigarette tips or holders were exactly opposite to each
other.
In the preferred form of my improved machine all the operations are con-
tinuously and automatically performed, the mechanism, actuating the different
parts for accomplishing the different steps, being operated preferably by the
driving mechanism of the machine.
In the machine shown in the drawings I have shown the cigarettes and
cigarette tips or holders as fed into a magazine preparatory to being inserted
into the boxes. My improved devices for inserting cigarette tips or holders
could, however, be used, if desired, to feed them directly into the box that is
to be filled; I prefer, however, to use the magazine as it is much more satisfactory
and the filling process can then be more quickly and efficiently performed. Many
other modifications may be made in the devices shown in the drawings described
herein without departing from my invention. Thus the form and construction
of the wedge shaped device can be varied without departing from my invention,
as long as the wedge character is preserved with a comparatively small portion
at one end adapted to easily enter a partially opened shell, and with a larger
part toward the other end for the purpose of fully squaring the shell after the
wedge shaped device has entered the shell.
In Figures 17 to 27 inclusive I have shown improved means of turning the
flaps up and down to make the box, and for holding the shell while the box is
being inserted therein, and for discharging the covered box when completed,
which I will now proceed to describe. The 'mechanism shown in these figures
for filling the box with cigarettes and cigarette tips, for opening and squaring
the shells and for taking all the other steps aside from turning certain of the

page_text: flaps up and down and for holding the shell in position during the insertion of
the box and for aiding in its discharge, are exactly the same as already described
in reference to Figures 1 to 16 inclusive, and accordingly such parts of Figures 17
to 27 will not be further described. Figure 17 shows the general connection of
my said improved means for turning the flaps up and down, and for holding the
shell with the other parts of the machine.
As
In order to ensure that the side flaps 7, 7 of forward flap 3 shall, when forward
flap is turned upward and backward and downward upon bottom part 2 of the
blank, go outside of side flaps 4, 4, I widen trough E at points 125 (see Fig. 18),
and at this part of the trough I place an upright metallic plate 126 on each side
of the trough in line with the narrower part of the trough. The trough is widened
and the plates 126 are placed in the trough E at the point where the forward
flap 3 is raised and bent backward and down upon the rest of the blank.
flap 3 emerges from the narrow part of the trough, flaps 7, 7 as they rise spread
outward slightly, owing to the elasticity of the paper, passing outside of plates 12Ḥ
and between these plates and the wall of the trough. Accordingly when flaps 3
and 7, are forced downward over flaps 2 and 4, 4, flaps 7, i will always lic
outside of flaps 4, 4 the flaps 4, 4 being meanwhile confined by plates 126, 126
within their narrower limits..
In order that the folders H, H shall rise at the proper time to turn upward
and backward flap 3, and then shall press the same down upon the top of the
box; and in returning to their original position shall then rise in order to clear
rear flap 5, I provide a cam plate 127 which is secured to and moves with rod 38
and has a cam groove 128 in its surface shaped as shown in Fig. 20. Upon rocking
shaft 73, upon which folders H are mounted as above described, I also secure an
arm 129 carrying at its end a pin 130 which projects into cam groove 128. As
plate 127 oscilates forward and backward with rod 38, shaft 73 is rocked first
upward so as to carry folders H to their highest limit of movement, thus raising
flap 3, then slightly downward, pressing flap 3 down upon the box, and on the
return movement of plate 127 shaft 73 is again rocked upward slightly to cause
folders H to clear rear flap 5 and then it is rocked backward to bring the folders
down into their original position ready for the next operation.
Cams 131 are for the purpose of holding down forward flap when the folders
I are raised from the box (see Figs. 18, 19 and 22). These cams are shaped as
shown in Fig. 18 and are pivoted at 132, each having an arm 133 at the end of
which is secured a spring 134. This spring tends to throw the outward end of
cams 131 outward over trough E. They are normally, however, held backward
out of the trough and against the pressure of the spring by means of wings 135
secured to folders H. This position is illustrated in Fig. 18. When the folders
are raised, wings 135 are withdrawn from contact with the cams, and the latter
move outward so that their outer edges lie over the trough E and they press upon
the box, holding the flap down upon the box. In order to remove cams 131 out
of the way of rear flap 5, I provide a pin 136 projecting out on each side far
enough to be struck by the box in its forward progress. Each pin 136 is secured
to a movable stud 137 mounted in the sides of the trough. This stud carries at its
upper end an arm 138 which is pivoted to a rod 139 pivoted at its other end to
cam 131. Pins 136 are so placed that the forward part of the box will strike
these pins and move cams 131 backward or away from over the trough in time to
permit the free passage of rear flap 5,
In Figures 25 to 27 inclusive I show improved means for turning forward and
down the rear flap 5. The mechanism for this purpose consists of the following.
Secured to plate 127 is a cam 140. It is pivotally secured to the plate by
screw 141 and a slot 142 in the cam, through which projects a screw from plate 128
from which a slight rocking of the cam on screw 141 as a center can take place.
143 is a roller projecting from the end of arm 145 fixedly mounted on rock
shaft 146. On this same rock shaft is also fixedly mounted an arm 147 and to its
end is secured rod 148. This rod is pivoted at its other end to a swinging arm 149

page_text: Also pivotally secured
is pivotally secured to
Folder 153 is pivotally
freely swinging upon shaft 144 mounted in standard 150.
to swinging arm 149 is a rod 151. At its lower end it
rod 152, the latter carrying a pivoted swinging folder 153.
connected to rod 152 near one extremity of the folder, and near its other extremity
it is pivotally connected to the lower end of swinging arm 149. Spring 154
mounted on swinging arm 149 is adapted to press against the upper end of rod 151
to cause folder 153 to the right substantially parallel to swinging arm 149 as
shown in Fig. 26. 155 is a piece of standard 150 depending in the path of arm 151
for the purpose presently to be described. 163 is an arm projecting from
arm 147. Spring 164 is connected to the end of arm 163 and to the upper part
of piece 155. This spring tends to keep swinging arm 149 in its upward and
outward position as shown in Fig. 26. The operation of parts is as follows.
In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 25 and in full lines in Fig. 26, rod 38
is moving in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 25. Roller 143 on arm 145
is forced upward by the inclined face of cam 140 rocking rock shaft 146 to the
left and through arm 147 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 26.
This brings folder 153 downward and inward toward the box. In the first
part of this, downward movement folder 153 lies parallel to swinging arm 149
and becomes slightly more vertical in position. Before the end of the move-
ment the upper end of rod 151 strikes against the lower part of piece 155, forcing
rod 151 to assume a position more nearly parallel to swinging arm 149 in throw-
ing folder 158 downward and into a horizontal position as shown in dotted lines
in Fig. 26. During this operation folder 153 strikes upon the back of flap 5
and as the folder is brought into its horizontal position it folds this flap down-
ward upon the box and for short distance folds the box inward or to the left
until flap 5 goes under guide 86. During this slight forward motion of folder 153,
roller 143 is travelling along the upper level part of cam 140 until it reaches the
vertical right hand side of the cam, when roller 143 drops downward to the lower
part of the cam and spring 164 restores swinging arm 149 and the other parts
to their normal position. Roller 143 in the backward movement of rod 148
travels along on the under side of cam 140 and slightly beyond the toe of the
cam. As it passes from under the toe of the cam, the cam drops downward of
its own weight, so that roller 143 on the next forward movement of rod 38 strikes
the inclined face of the cam when the same operation as above described is repeated.
My improved devices for holding the shell while the box is being inserted
therein, and for aiding in the discharge of the completed box, as shown in Figures
17, 18, 19, 23 and 24, consist of the following mechanism. To rod 93 is secured
piece 156, the 1orward end of which 157 is adapted, as rod 93 is moved forward,
to strike against the under side of a shoe 158 projecting below and secured
to shaft 159. Upon this same shaft are mounted two weighted pieces 160,
each provided with a stop pin 161 projecting downward, as shown in Fig. 19.
The lower surface of pieces 160 form a flat surface adapted to rest upon the
top of the shell during the insertion of the box into the shell. The end 157
of piece 156, as rod 93 moves forward, strikes against shoe 158, partially rotates
shaft 159, raising pieces 160 until the lower surface of these pieces is in line
with the upper surface of the flattened shell when opened and squared. The
flattened shell passes under these pieces and is opened and squared and the
shell inserted in the manner heretofore described. As rod 93 advances piece 156
and 157 slips under shoe 158. Shoe 158 and its shaft and pieces 160 are thus
held in the position into which they had been forced by piece 156 until the
.latter piece on its return slips from under shoe 158. Pieces 100 are weighted
so that the weight of the pieces will rotate shaft 159 and shoe 158 back to their
original positions as shown in Fig. 19. Pin 161 acts as a back stop to hold the
shell from being pushed backward when the box is being inserted. 162 is a chute
into which the completed covered box passes after sliding downward from plat-
form 101. Picces 100 when returning to their positions shown in Fig. 19, press

page_text: down upon the top of the completed covered box and aid in forcing it down
the platform and into the chute.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A machine for filling boxes with cigarettes or similar articles characterized
by mechanism for feeding cigarettes into a box, and devices for automatically
feeding cigarette tips or holders into the box, substantially as set forth.
2. A machine for filling boxes with cigarettes or similar articles characterized
by mechanism for forming boxes out of box-blanks, and for filling such boxes with
cigarettes, and devices for automatically feeding cigarette tips or holders into
the box, substantially as set forth.
3. A machine for filling boxes with cigarettes or similar articles characterized
by feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders;
mechanism for driving said feeding devices, grippers for seizing and carrying the
proper number of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the box, mechanism
for actuating the grippers, a clamp for seizing and holding the remaining cigarette
tips or holders in the row, and mechanism for operating and releasing the clamp,
whereby the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row will be prevented from
being carried forward by the grippers, substantially as set forth.
4. A machine for filling boxes with cigarettes or similar articles characterized
by mechanism for feeding cigarettes into a box, supports upon opposite sides
of the box for holding rows of cigarette tips or holders, one row having the
mouth pieces of the tips or holders. pointing in one direction and the other row
having the mouth pieces of the tips or holders pointing in the other direction,
feeding devices for feeding forward alternately from opposite sides a predetermined
number of cigarette tips or holders, whereby rows of cigarette tips will be fed
into the box with the mouth pieces of the tips in adjacent rows pointing in
different directions, substantially as set forth.
5. A machine for filling boxes with cigarettes or similar articles characterized
by a magazine for holding cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders, feeding devices
for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders, mechanism for
driving said feeding devices, grippers for seizing and carrying a proper number
of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the magazine, a clamp for seizing
and holding the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row, and mechanism
for operating and releasing the clamp whereby the proper number of cigarette
tips or holders will be inserted into the magazine, and a plunger for forcing
cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders from the magazine into the box, sub-
stantially as set forth.
6. A machine for covering boxes with flattened shells for forming outer covers
for the boxes characterized by a wedge shaped device for entering the interior of
the flattened shell and for opening and squaring the same, and means for inserting
a box into the shell.
7. A machine for covering boxes with flattened shells for forming outer covers
for boxes, characterized by a magazine for flattened shells, a wedge shaped device
for entering and squaring the shells, means for forcing a shell from the magazine
into contact with the wedge shaped device, devices for exerting a pressure on the
sides of the flattened shell to cause it to partially open to permit the wedge
shaped device to enter the interior of the shell, whereby the flattened shell will
be opened and squared, and means for inserting a box into the open shell, sub-
stantially as set forth.
8. A machine for covering boxes with flattened shells for forming outer covers
for the boxes characterized by a magazine for flattened shells, a wedge shaped
device for entering and squaring the shells, means for forcing a shell from the
magazine into contact with the wedge shaped device, whereby the shell will be

page_text: opened and squared, means for inserting a box into the open shell, and a stop for
holding the shell during such insertion, substantially as set forth.
9. A machine for making boxes characterized by a trough with sides gradually
becoming more inclined to raise the side flaps of the blank, folders for raising
the front flap of the blank and turning it backward and down upon the bottom
of the box to form the top of the box, a widening of the trough at the place where
the top is raised to permit the side flaps of the top to spread and pass down
outside of the side flaps of the bottom of the box and upright plates through
such widened portion of the trough in line with the narrow part of the trough
to prevent the spreading of the side flaps of the bottom, substantially as set
forth.
10. A machine for making boxes characterized by cams for pressing down upon
the top of the box after the folders have been raised, means for moving theni
into position over the trough, and means operated by the box in its passage,
for moving the cams away from over the trough, substantially as set forth.
11. A machine for making boxes characterized by folders for the front flap of
the box, means actuated by the endless belt for first raising the folders to their
full height to raise the front flap and then partially lowering the folders to cause
them to bend the front flap back to form the top of the box, then for raising them
slightly again to clear the rear flap and then for lowering them to their original
position, substantially as set forth.
12. A machine for making boxes characterized by a pivoted swinging folder
for the rear flap, means actuated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for
swinging and turning the folder to cause it to strike and press the rear flap
forward and down upon the box, substantially as set forth.
That DOLL..... ex
1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.