Improvements in or relating to Match Packing or Boxing Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 14th Aug., 1897
Improvements in or relating to Match Packing or Boxing
Machines.
I, ALEXANDER LAGERMAN, of Jönköping in the Kingdom of Sweden Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to a machine for filling matches into their boxes, which
machine in order to increase the output is so constructed as to fill several boxes at the
time. For this purpose the empty drawers of the match boxes, inserted into their
respective cases as well as the matches are placed in wide magazines the former in
horizontal rows the latter so as to form a pile which is continuous at the top and
divided at the bottom into several divisions or branches. From the magazine
containing the boxes the bottom row of boxes is ejected onto an endless chain which
transports it to the match magazine at which the filling takes place. The box and
match magazines form so to speak, division points or stations in the endless path
described by the transport-chain and while travelling from one to the other the
drawers of the boxes are at another station pushed sufficiently far out of their cases
to allow of the matches being introduced into the former. The boxes then pass on to
the starting point in the path of the chain, where they are ejected from the machine
through an outlet provided for the purpose. While passing from the match magazine
to said point the drawers are only partly inserted in their cases so that the machine
tender can easily see if proper filling of the boxes has taken place.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 shows the part of the machine for filling the boxes in a vertical section
oa line y-y of Figure 3.
Figure 2 represents a front elevation of the box filling division;
Figure 3 shows a top view of the same in section on line x-x of Figure 1.
Figure 4 shows the method of piling the empty boxes and of removing the filled
boxes, in a vertical section on line v-v of Figure 5.
and
Figure 5 illustrates the same from above, being a section on line z―z of Figure 4 ;
Figure 6 represents a front elevation of the entire machine.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged sections of the working parts of the box-filling
division, and
Figures 10 and 11 are details of the transport mechanism.
The machine is provided with three legs or supports A, Figures 1 and 6, two of
which carry a frame B to which the greater portion of the mechanism is attached. B¹
is a shaft (see Figure 2) provided with loose aud fast pulleys B2 and B³ a pinion B*
and two eccentrically turned journals B5 by means of which an up and down motion is
communicated to the frame C which embraces the shaft and carries a leather covered

page_text: or like brush C, Figure 1 which faces towards the match magazine E. The pinion B+
Figures 2 and 6 engages with the spur-wheel D which is fixed to the shaft D₁ and has
a crank pin D² said crank pin by means of a connecting rod Ds and an arm D¹ giving
an oscillating motion to the shaft D: On the shaft D₁ there are mounted cams
D' D D D D D D11 D12 and a grooved cain D E¹ is a corrugated strip.pressing
on the pile of matches in the magazine E and keeping them in their proper positions.
E are channels or chutes into which the matches, gradually find their way and
descend. Fare shutters, Figure 3 movable of shafts F" and shaped so as to commence
cutting off the string or supply of matches near their tipped ends. G are bottoins
Figs. 1, 7, 8, and 9 which are movable up and down and resting on the springs G
can spring downward around the pin G1 in case matches should adhere to the
underside of the shutters F. The bottoms G are mounted on the frame G2 to which
an oscillating motion up and down is communicated by the cam D10 by means of the
arm G³.
The shutters Fare moved out and in by the rod F3 Figs. 1, 2 and 3 which
is connected with the crank shafts F¹. The rod F3 is oscillated by the arms F4 and
the arm F which latter with its lug F bears against the cam D. The latter has
small indentations at the places where it is to bring the shutters F together, said
shutters being thus given a shaking motion in and out which increases their power
of penetrating the pile of matches. When the rod F³ recedes the shutters Fare
opened. While moving in the reverse direction the shutters are acted on by springs F7,
Figure 3.
The rod F3 consequently does not bring the shutters positively together since the
springs F will give in case the shutters are unable to penetrate the pile of matches:
H are plungers which serve partly to push the detached bunches of matches from
the lowered bottom G into compartments or cells I as shown in Fig. 7 and partly to
push them into the drawer of the match box Fig. 9. The plungers are attached to a
flat bar Fig. 1 to which are fixed two round rods H2 passing through the frame B
said rods being moved downward by the arm H³ which by means of the arin H* is
moved by the cam D'. The rods H2 are returned upward by a spring not shown in
the drawings. The cells I are attached to the frame I¹ that swings like a lever and
is moved up and down by the cam Ds. The cells I have movable ends K which both
prevent the matches from advancing too far as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 and serve to
depress them into the drawer of the match box as shown in Fig. 9. Said ends of the cells
therefore may be termed depressors. These depressors K are mounted on the frame K¹
Fig. 1 which is set in motion by the arm K2 from the cam D. I and I³ are flaps
Figs. 7 8 and 9 swinging on pins journalled in the cells I and by the action of weak
springs bearing against in the advancing bunch of matches so as to keep the latter in
order while they are being pushed forwards. L are corrugated or rifled surfaces which
bear against the untipped ends of the matches as shown in Fig. 8, said surfaces being
attached to the bar L' Fig. 1. The bar L1 is journalled in brackets E3 fixed to the
magazine E. To the bar L there is attached an arm 12 which is grasped by a fork on
the arm L³ the latter being provided at its lower end with a roller L travelling on the
cam D and thus giving the surfaces L an out and in motion. M. are hooks,
Figs. 1, 3 and 9 mounted on the frame M which hooks catch round the edges of the
cases of the match boxes for drawing off said cases. Said hooks are made thin and
wide so as to enable them to guide the matches into the drawers. Motion is
communicated to the hooks by means of the arm M1 and the cam D7. M2 is a
plunger Figs. 1 and 3 which is pulled back by the catch M of the frame M' when the
match box case is being pulled off and which by the action of the spring M5 pushes
said case over the matches in the drawer.
N are thin sliding bottoms Figs. 1, 7, 8, and 9 which support the bunches of
matches while the latter are being pushed into the drawers. These sliding bottoms
are withdrawn by the hooks N₁ attached to the bar N2 by means of the arm N³
which is moved by the cam D12, Fig. 2 when the bunch is to be depressed into the
drawer. When the cells I are in their lowest position the hooks N¹ have entered into
slots in the sliding bottoms N which consequently can be moved back and forth by N¹.
When the cells ascend N¹ releases said bottoms which afterwards remain stationary.

page_text: As may be seen from Fig. 2 the magazine E is at its lower part divided into three
channels or chutes and for each of these branches there is of course provided a
mechanism consisting of the parts II L K L etc. as described for the purpose of
filling three boxes at the time.
O are metallic plates connected by the joints 0¹ so as to form the endless chain
previously mentioned. This chain travels around the hexagonal dises 02 and 03
Figs. 3 and 5 the plates hold six boxes in width and are at one edge provided with a
thin flange O for ensuring the correct position of the boxes. Each metal plate has
at its underside a stud 05 which is grasped by a rod O' Figs. 10 and 11 the latter
being reciprocated by the arm O' which is provided with a roller Os that works in the
grooved cam D13. The rod carries a frame (dog) (10 having two lugs O" which grasp
the studs of the metal plates. When receding the rod rotates in such a direction
that the lugs O¹¹ can clear the studs 0% In each movement of the rod the chain
advances the length of half a plate. 1" is a wide pusher which can enter at the
bottom of the magazine R and press out the bottom row of boxes on to the chain O.
The pusher P is advanced by the weight P2 acting on the strap P³ attached to the
extension P of the pusher and is withdrawn by the arm P on the shaft D'. The
arm P also oscilliates a sliding frame R Fig. 4. The pusher P has a projecting
lug P10 which can enter into the aperature 0 of the ring 0" when not impeded by the
latter which is mounted on the disc O³ Fig. 5 R' is a trough in which the filled boxes
are gathered when ejected from the plates 0, and R2 is a movable tray on to which
the filled boxes are pushed from the trough R¹.
S is a frame provided with a weight S2 which frame is movable round S5 and raised
and lowered by the roller S1 journalled on it, when said roller runs on to the cam-
bar R7 of the sliding frame R. To the underside of the frame S there is attached a
rubber disc P which drops on to the empty boxes resting on 0 and holds their cases
while the drawers are being pushed out by the plungers P. The latter are advanced
by weights P suspended from the bell-cranks P' acting on P' and with-drawn by the
sliding frame R' which in its receding motion is brought in contact with P. From
this description of the construction of the machine its mode of operating may be
easily understood it being as follows:-
The brush C which rubs quickly up and down against the untipped ends of the
matches compels the closely packed matches to branch off into the channels or chutes E2
the latter having a width corresponding to the inside width of the drawers of the
match boxes. When the plungers H move into their extreme back position the arms C
are given a thrust causing the brush C¹ to move slightly away from the matches the
motion of the brush thus approximately imitating that of the hunan haud in evening
off a pile of matches. The aforesaid movement of the brush is effected by H' to
which the brush is connected by a chain not shown in the drawings.
The bottoms G supporting the matches in the channels at first descend lower than
the depth of the bunch and then ascend to the proper height, the shutters F
afterwards cutting off a bunch of the proper depth which bunch is lowered sufficiently
to allow the plungers H to push it into the cells I, Fig. 7. The cells now ascend
while the depressors K are in the position with reference to the cells I shown in Fig. 8
and the rifled surfaces L are brought in contact with the untipped ends of the
matches whereupon the cells I move slightly up and down causing 1 to rub the
matches in such a manner as to bring their heads which are often quite large to meshi
more intimately with one another. The cells having returned to their lowest position,
the plungers H push the matches on the advancing bottoms N down into the drawers
of the match-boxes as shown in Fig. 1 in the meantime the hooks M Fig. 9 have
pulled off the cases just enough to still leave them a hold upon or engagement with
the drawers and guide the matches down under the edge of the cases. When the
matches have reached the bottom of the drawers the sliding bottoms N are withdrawn.
The depressor K now depresses the untipped ends of the matches into the drawer as
shown in Fig. 9 whereupon the hook M returns and the catch M³ allows the plunger M²
driven by the spring M to push the case over the matches in the drawer. When
the cells I afterwards are raised the chain O moves the filled boxes along around the

page_text: hexagonal disc 02 and meanwhile the machine tender is able to see all the boxes are
properly filled.
If required the drawers now may by a special mechanism be completely inserted into
their cases before returning to the magazine R for the empty boxes. As may be seen
from Fig. 4 the pusher P* forces out the bottom row of boxes from the magazine R said
row of boxes at the same time ejecting the filled boxes from the chain O down the
inclined plane R³ whence they reach the sliding carriage R4 which is attached to the
sliding frame R. When the latter recedes the boxes drop and stand upright on
the bottom of R' and in the next forward movement of the carriage R+ they are
pushed along by the latter in the position indicated by the row R5.
The carriage R is reciprocated at each stroke of the machine whilst the pusher P*
is ordinarily prevented by the ring O' from being advanced by the weight P2, two of
the plates corresponding to each aperature 0 in the ring 0". The pusher P
therefore pushes out the bottom row of boxes in the magazine R only once for each
two plates O. The boxes then push one another along to R³ whereby a larger
number can be removed at once. The plate chain O now travels with the empty
boxes around the hexagonal disc 03 and arrives with them under the frame S which on
its underside is covered with rubber P or like material for holding the cases of the
match boxes while the plungers P7 press out the drawers. The plungers P7 are not
positively but conditionally advanced by means of the weights P actuating bell-
cranks 1" so as not to injure the drawers in case for some reason or other they should
refuse to leave their cases. The plate chain then continues in its motion to the
filling division, the empty boxes being open to inspection on their way to the latter
point. The machine described thus fills three and feeds out twelve boxes at a time;
it is evident that the machine may be easily so modified that the number fed out will
equal that filled and that the system described may equally well be applied to a
machine for filling a larger number of boxes at one time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A match packing or boxing machine comprising a magazine (R) containing the
empty boxes arranged in horizontal rows another magazine (1) containing the matches
an endless transport chain (0) for receiving the boxes as they are pushed out of the
former magazine (R) by means of a wide pusher and for transferring them to the
latter magazine (E) plungers (P) situated close to the chain between the magazines
(R and E) for pressing the drawers of the match boxes out of their cases movable
cells (I) for receiving the matches from the magazine (E) and guiding them into the
match boxes plungers (H) for pushing the matches from said cells into the boxes other
plungers (K) forming movable end walls of the cells (I) and also serving to depress
the matches in to the drawers of the boxes a plunger (M2) for pushing the cases over
the filled drawers and means for carrying the boxes further on the chain substantially
as described.
2. In match packing or boxing machine a brush (C¹) covered with skin or other
soft material which brush by intermittently rubbing against the untipped ends of the
matches contained in the magazine (E) acts to bring the matches closely together
and causes them to descend to the point of feeding substantially as described.
3. In a match packing or boxing machine the arrangement of shutters (as F F)
which at the point of feeding enter between and divide off the matches having such
a shape or movement that they will begin to enter between the matches near their
coated ends substantially as described.
4. In a match packing or boxing machine mechanism whereby the shutters
(as F, F) which enter between and divide off the matches at the point of feeding are
given a slight vibrating or shaking motion while they are penetrating the pile of
matches for the purpose of facilitating the division and packing of the latter
substantially as described,

page_text: 5. In match packing or boxing machines mechanism whereby the shutters (as F, F)
which enter between and divide off the matches at the point of feeding are given a
yielding forward movement between the matches by means of springs (as F) for the
purpose of bringing the shutters to a stop when the resistance is great substantially
as described.
6. In match packing or boxing machines mechanism whereby the shutters which
divide off the matches at the point of feeding turn on spindles provided with cranks
which are actuated in one direction (which opening the shutters) by a common rod or
the like and in the reverse direction by springs (F), for the purpose of opening the
shutters by said rod (F³) and closing the same by the respective springs (F)
substantially as described.
7. In match packing or boxing machines the arrangement of cells (I) located
opposite the measuring channels of the match magazine and adapted to receive the
detached bunches of matches from the latter, said cells having inclined bottoms and
being capable of descending to the empty match boxes carried in front of them, and
end walls (K) being adjusted to be lifted so as to allow of the matches by means of
plungers (H) or the like, being pushed into the boxes, substantially as described.
8. In a combination with the parts described in claim 7: inclined sliding
bottoms (N) in the cells, said bottoms being adapted to be pushed into the boxes, on
the descent of the cells to the latter, so as to admit of inserting the matches into said
boxes, and to be afterwards withdrawn, allowing the matches to drop, substantially as
described.
9. In the arrangement described in claim 7: made in the shape of a plunger acting
to depress the matches previously inserted into the match boxes, substantially as
described.
10. In the arrangement described in claim 7: a swinging flap combined with each
shell (I) and adapted to settle on the top of the matches inserted into the cell
substantially as described.
11. In the arrangement described in claim 7 a corrugated or rifled surface (L)
adapted on the insertion of the matches into the cell (I) to bear against the untipped
ends of the matches and by gentle rubbing the matches producing a relative motion
of said surface and the cell to cause the heads of the matches to settle together
substantially as described.
12. In a machine of the kind described in Claim 1 hooks (M) situated opposite the
match magazine and adapted to grip around the edge of the box cases and to pull the
latter almost entirely off the drawers and being of a width and shape enabling them
to guide the matches under the edges of the cases substantially as described.
13. In a machine of the kind described in Claim 1 a plunger (M²) adapted to be
forced forwards by a spring (M) and to be withdrawn by means of hooks the rear
portion (in common to all of said hooks) being to this end provided with a special
catch (3) and said plunger while the catch (M³) is being advanced pushing
the cases of the match boxes over their filled drawers substantially as described.
14. In an endless chain of the character described the arrangement of links (0) in
the shape of plates holding several boxes the latter being held against an edge
projecting from each plate the chain travelling round horizontal discs of polygonal
shape journalled at the ends of the machine substantially as described.
15. In a machine of the character described a wide magazine (R) containing the
empty drawers inserted into the cases of the match boxes piles up in horizontal
rows, and a wide pusher (P) adapted to push out one row of boxes (the bottom row)
at a time on to the chain (0) travelling by the magazine substantially as
described.
16. In a machine of the character described plungers as P' movable at an angle to
the chain (0) and actuated by weights (PS) so as to push the drawers out of their
cases and a pressure bar (S) applying a pressure to the latter for retaining them
stationary on the chain during the pushing out of the drawers substantially as
described.
17. In the arrangement described in Claim 16 bell-cranks (P) by means of which

page_text: the weights act upon the plungers (P7) and a sliding frame (R) adapted to turn the
bell crank thereby returning the plungers substantially as described.
18. In a machine of the character described a ring (0°) mounted on one of the
discs (03) of the chain (0) and provided at fixed places with apertures (08) and a
lug (P) projecting from the pusher (P4) said lug being impeded by the ring (0°)
except when one of the apertures in the latter is brought in front of it, for the
purpose of regulating the number of boxes fed out substantially as described.
19. In a machine of the character described a trough (R') located at an angle to
the chain (0) opposite the box-magazine (R) and into which the filled boxes are
ejected from the chain by the empty boxes fed on to the latter, and a tray (R2) placed
on a movable support at the outer end of said trough for receiving the filled boxes as
they are fed along in the trongh (R¹) by means of a sliding carriage (R') substantially
as described.
20. In combination with the chain (0) a feed mechanism consisting of studs (05)
on the underside of the links of the chain and a part (0) reciprocated by means of
a lever (0) and a grooved cam (D¹³) or the links and adapted while moving in one
direction, to engage with the stud (05) thus carrying the chain along and to pass
clear of the stud (05) while moving in the reverse direction substantially as
described.
21. In match packing or boxing machines the arrangement of bottoms (G) in the
channels of the match magazine said bottoms adapted to be raised and lowered a
frame (G2) in which said bottoms are fulcrumed and springs (G°) normally keeping
the bottoms in a fixed relation to the frame (G³) while allowing them to vibrate if too
great a resistance is encountered substantially as described.
22. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete match
packing or boxing machine substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
11
C
1007