Improvements in Boxes and in Machines for Making the same.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1891-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1891
COLE DELM LOTION
Improvements in Boxes and in Machines for Making the same.
1 JOHN HOWENSTINE, of 171 East Wayne Street, Fort Wayne, in the County
of Allen and State of Indiana, United States of America, Machinist, 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 boxes, egg cases fruit crates, and similar receptacles, and
has for its object to produce strong, light, shapely and cheap receptacles from any
suitable material by a novel method of construction, whereby the sides, bottom and
top are stiffened and held connected, so that they may be erected into a rectangular
form or be extended in one plane as a knock-down box.
With this object the crates or boxes are made of light material and the sides and
bottom are separated at the junctional corners slightly, the end walls and brace
rods holding these parts together. When a box is to be flattened for shipment, the
staples that hold the sides and bottom onto the end walls being withdrawn and the
end walls removed, the straightening out of the braces or stay rods that are bent at
the corners of the box will dispose the sides and bottom in a flat sheet without
injury to any part of the box, which may be restored to box form in an obvious
manner.
A further object of my invention is to provide a simple and practical staple
forming and setting machine which may be operated by manual or other power and
furnish means for the rapid formation of staples from a coil of wire, and the
insertion of the staples as they are formed into the material of the boxes, the parts
of which are secured by the staples, as formed.
My invention further contemplates the provision in a staple forming machine
used to make boxes, of means to set the staples as they are formed, causing them
to embrace the stay rods of wire, and attach such stiffening rods to the material of
the boxes, said stiffening material being carried on the machine and fed from a coil,
proper lengths being cut therefrom as the work of box formation progresses.
To these ends my invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations
of the same, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all the views.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box with its lid open;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the box taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the staple forming and setting machine, in section,
taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 6, the parts being adjusted to cut off a staple
blank from the inserted end portion of a wire strand which has been fed from a
reel on the machine;
Figure 5 is a side elevation, broken, of the working parts shown in Figure 4.
said parts being represented in relative positions assumed by them during the
formation of the staple, and the projection of said staple from the machine into the
sides and ends of a box, during its manufacture;
Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 in Figure 4, viewed in
the direction of the arrow 2, showing both side portions of the machine assembled
and secured together;
Figure 7 is a broken rear elevation of the device represented in Figure 6,
showing its lower portion viewed in the direction of an arrow in Figure 6; and

page_text: Figure 8 is a reverse plan view, broken, showing the working parts of the stapl
forming and setting machine, and their supporting frame embraced between th
points in Figure 4.
In order to clearly distinguish the parts, figures will be employed in reference to
features of the construction of the improved box, and letters and figures combined
will be used in the description of the staple forming and setting machine, to locate
the parts as they are described.
As the improved box requires for its rapid and perfect manufacture, the provision
of a suitable mechanism, the article of manufacture, and the means whereby it may
be successfully produced are included in the present application. A description of
the box or packing receptacle will now be given, and then an explanation of the
mechanical device preferably employed in the production of said box.
The preferred form for the box 1, as shown in the drawings is rectangular, but
other shapes may be given to the structure if desired, and embody the features of
my invention. Any suitable material in thin plates, sheets or slabs may be utilized
for the formation of the improved box, but to secure stability, lightness and facility
in the manufacture at a minimum cost, for production, thin wooden sheets or boards
are preferred. To afford a light and strong structure, the sides 2 of the box are
made of one or more thin pieces of boards cut of proper and equal width and
length, the grain of the material, when two or more pieces are used, being crossed
at a right angle in these pieces, so that when they are united, they will mutually
stiffen each other, and prevent warping of the material. The bottom 3, and lid 4,
of the box are cach made of one or more thicknesses of material, and when more
than one piece is used, these are disposed to cross the grain of the stuff in a manner
similar to the construction of the sides 2.
At evenly spaced intervals on the outer surface of the sides 2, bottom 3 and
lid 4, of the box 1, there are stiffening wire rods 5, secured, which rods are made of
a thickness proportioned to the dimensions of the parts they are attached to. The
ends of the stiffening rods 5 are bent into hook-form, and are hooked upon the top
edges of the sides 2, said rods being made of such length as will permit them to
embrace the sides and bottom of the receptacle 1, bends being made at 6 to fit the
corners of the box body and allow the stiffening rods to lie closely upon the outer
*surface of the same, said bends being made when the sides are erected in parallel
planes to form a box, but may be straightened out when the box is to be flattened
or shipped.
By proper means the rods 5 are clamped fast to the sides 2 and bottom 3 of the
box body, 1; preferably the staples 7 are used for this purpose, and are inserted
through the wooden or other material of which the sides and bottom are composed
and are clinched within; said staples being made to embrace the rods 5, when
fully inserted and secured, serve to bind them upon the sides and bottom walls of
the box body so as to render the structure substantial.
The end walls 8 of the box 1, are each made of two thin pieces of material cut
into proper shape to fit between the vertical sides 2 and are of proper height to
conform with the top edges of the sides when in place. The ends may also be made
of one piece and fastened in a similar manner. Preferably each of the end walls 8
is made intercellular by the use of vertical spacing strips 9 which are inserted
between the two thin portions of each end wall, so as to separate them a slight
distance and retain these pieces parallel to each other when they are properly
secured together. Any suitable number of strips 9 are employed, there being one
at each side edge of the composite end walls, as shown in Figure 1.
The end walls 8 of the box body 1 are set in a short distance from the ends of
the side walls 2, to permit the battens 10 to be located on the end walls and have
their outer edges secured to the end portions of the side walls by the staples 11,
the thickness of the battens being so proportioned that they will form a strong
reinforcing brace for the ends of the box body, when they are attached thereto by
the staples 11 or other similar means. The nitred ends of the battens 10 are
notched into steps 13, as shown in Figure 1, which form of construction will prevent

page_text: an outward wedging action at these points of contact it the box, when closed is
made to sustain weight on its lid.
The lid 4 of the box is provided with stiffening rods 14 which are given equal
spaces with the vertical rods on the sides 2, so that the adjacent ends of these rods
may be hooked together at one side edge of the lid, formning a series of hinged
joints for the lid that loosely connect the lid and box body together. Each of the
rods 14 is secured to the lid by the staples 15 that embrace the rod and are affixed
in the lid by clinching or other means, and the ends of said rods which are projected
toward the free edge of the lid 4 are hooked over said edge, as represented in
Figure 1. The lid 4 is also furnished with batten strips 16 which are attached to
its ends and depend therefrom to interlock with the side battens 10 and rest on
their upper ends when the lid is closed.
As a convenient means for securing the lid in place when closed, two turnbuckle
latch hooks 17 bent from wire are loosely secured on the depending batten strips 16,
by insertion of a portion of the wire shanks of the latches through holes made
transversely in the strips, and then bending the projecting portion at a right angle
to the parts in the wooden battens, thus forming a handle 18 on the outside of the
battens, that will afford means for the rocking movement of the hooks 17 which
will engage with cross pins 19 and hold the lid shut.
The machine represented, as before stated, is designed to form staples from a
coil of wire and drive them through the box material, and over a stiffening wire
rod, so as to embrace the wire rod and secure it in place on the box it is intended
to strengthen, as will fully appear in the description. As shown the staple forming
machine is adapted for use as a portable implement which is operated by hand
power, the working parts being retained in co-operative relation to each other upon
a frame which is comprised of two sections A, A', which are joined together by
the transverse bolts a, see Figure 4, the transverse fulcrum bolts d³, n², and
assisting to retain the parts secured together.
m,
At a nearly central point on the upper side of the casing section A, a vertical
handle B is secured, which is used to hold the implement erect and locate it at any
point where a staple is to be inserted in the side of a box. Upon the inner
surface of the frame section A, a vertical channel b of proper depth is formed,
which extends through the frame piece, said channel having a location forward of
the handle B and near to it.
The channel is cut deeper toward its rear edge in an obtuse angular form,
producing a short wall, which is perforated as at in a plane parallel to the
inner face of the frame section A, and at a right angle to the vertical direction of
the wall, so that a strand of wire c that will loosely fit the perforation may be
forced across the channel, as shown in Figure 4. In the channel which is
designed to serve as a guideway for the vertical reciprocating die C, said die is
located and consists of a steel plate or block, which conforms in shape to that of
the channel, wherein it slides, so that its lower edge is adapted to engage a wire
inserted through the perforation 63 and shear it off if the die block is forced
downwardly across the perforation.
To render the cutting action of the die complete, there is a thin steel die plate C¹
inserted in the channel from its lower terminal upwardly. This die plate
conforming to the shape of the channel, extends to the points above the lateral
perforation of the channel wall, and is also perforated in alignment with the said
small aperture, so as to form a reliable co-acting shearing edge for the separation of
the wire strand that is passed through it.
The die block C is longitudinally slotted from its lower end and near its trans-
verse centre to a point near its centre of length, and is perforated near its upper
terminal in alignment with said slot d for a pivotal engagement as at 2, with
the link which is loosely secured at its upper end d to the side of a lever D,
which is pivoted at d³ to the frame pieces A, A' and adapted to vibrate between
vertical and parallel flanges on said frame sections.
As represented in Figures 4 and 5, the flat body of the lever D is peculiarly,

page_text: From the cam toe e there is a
straight part formed on the edge of the lever D which extends to a point e³
where another cam toc is produced on the lower edge of the lever and thence the
shanke is extended to receive a handle D' which is secured thereon. The toes e, e²
are so relatively located with regard to the fulcrum of the lever D and the
position of the die block C, that when the latter is in elevated adjustment, the
cam toe e will lie above the die block and removed therefrom the distance defined'
by the length of the link (2.
shaped, having a cam toe or swell formed as at e.
From the fulcrum 3, the lever D is curved downwardly, terminating in a finger
piece which is adapted to engage working parts that lie in a cavity formed
between the frame sections A, A rearward of the die block C. The inner face of
the frame section A¹ opposite the channel is made convex, as shown at ; this
contracts the space between the face of the section and the die plate C¹ which will
prevent a lateral movement of a wire strand when it is inserted in the perforation b³.
The die C is shaped to fit the space thus formed as shown in Figure 8.
At opposite points on the frame sections A, A', the vertical grooves 9, 91 are
formed, which align with each other and coincide with the slut d in the die block C.
The vertical groovey that is located within the frame section A, cuts through the
back wall of the channel d continuously from the top to the lower edge of the
same, the parts of the section A being united by the top and bottom flanges A'
and the lug As, but the groove does not entirely separate the die plate C', a short
slot g² only extending from the lower edge of the die plate upwardly a proper
distance. The groove g¹ is formed in a rib A' on the frame section A'.
In the vertical groove ga staple former bar E is pivoted at h near its centre of
length in the lug A³, the lower end portion of which bar extends nearly to the
bottom of the frame section A and is cut away on the edge nearest to the die
plate C¹ so as to loosely embrace the upper or unslotted portion of said die plate
and project a staple forming anvil through the short slot g³ in the die plate C¹
and beyond it a proper distance.
Above the portion of the die plate C¹ there is an abutment ledge h³ produced
on the staple former bar E by the removal of the material from the edge of the
bar above the upper terminal of the ledge, so that an offset or rounded shoulder i
formed on the adjacent face of the die block C will engage the ledge h³ and push
the anvil out of the path of the die block when it is moved down a proper
distance; the die block being cut away or made thinner below the shoulder
affords room for the ledge and permits a reciprocation of the die block.
There is a finger spring k, see Figure 6, secured on the exterior face of the
frame section A by its lower end, the free end of said spring having contact with
the exposed portion of the staple former bar E and pressing the same inward so
that the anvil is normally projected below a staple blank c which is to be cut off
by the die block C. A reel & is provided for the support of a quantity of staple
wire which is wrapped upon it, the free end portion c of said wire being extended
downwardly in the recess formed between the frame sections A, A' and passed
through the looped lower end c² of an arm H, see Figure 4, which is pivoted by its
upper end at m to the adjacent walls of the frame sections.
C
There is a feeding dog m¹ pivoted between the doubled lower portion of the
arm H which dog has an angular toe m² formed on its lower end which will bite on
the wire strand c if the dog is rocked toward the die block C. Upon the upper
end of the dog m' a connecting bar I is pivotally attached by one end at n, the
opposite end n of said connecting bar having a jointed attachment to the outer
end of the cam lever J which is pivoted to the frame sections A, A¹ at n³, the
inner end portion of the cam lever having a sloping cam shoulder o formed on its
upper edge at a suitable distance from the terminal free end o¹ of the lever, the
flat portion of the lever, which lies between the end o¹ and the cam shoulder o
being adapted to have contact with the cam toe e on the main lever D and be
actuated thereby to rock the lever J downwardly when the main lever is similarly
moved.

page_text: In the vertical groove y¹ that is formed in the frame section A³, a pusher bar L
is located, free to reciprocate a limited distance. A lateral foot p is integrally
formed on the lower end of the bar L which foot projects toward the staple
former bar E and has its concaved lower face p' in vertical and lateral alignment
with the anvil of the former bar E. The inner side of the rectangular pusher
bar is cut away a proper distance near the upper end of said bar sufficiently to
afford the clearance for the free vertical movement of the link d' that is pivoted
at 2 to the side of the die block C.
At p* there is a shoulder formed on the inner surface of the pusher bar L by a
further reduction in the thickness of the said bar, thus affording room for the
circular head of the pivot bolt 2 which loosely connects the lower end of the
link to the upper end of the die block C, the shoulder p having such a relative
position with regard to the lower terminal pi on the foot piece p of the pusher bar,
that the latter named will be elevated so as to carry the curved face above the
perforation when the die block C is fully elevated. There is a projection 7,³
formed on the pusher bar L which presses against the die block C and retains the
pusher bar in the groove g', the other portion of the inner side of the pusher har
being reduced below the foot piece to reduce friction of the working parts.
In the operation of forming the staples successively and pushing them from the
machine into the material, the end portion of the wire strand c from which staples
are to be formed is given a suitable bend so as to enter it in the portion of the
arm H, as before stated, passing below the toe m³ of the feeding dog m¹ and thence
below a detent dog 9 through the perforation and across the space in the die
plate C¹ until it strikes the opposite face of the die as shown in Figure 4, the wire
resting where it is engaged by the dog m³ and y on a curved horizontal face or
offset produced on the frame section A.
The several parts being adjusted as represented in Figure 4, by the elevation of
the lever D, a depression of the lever will first move the die block C downwardly
a sufficient distance to shear off the staple blank c', the shape of the die plate and
die block sloping the ends of the staple .blank as they are cut off at b. The
severed piece of wire c¹ is engaged by the lower limbs of the bifurcated die block
and pressed over the rounded top of the anvil h³, the continuation of the downward
movement of the die block bending the blank into a staple, as shown in Figure 5
by full lines. When the staple has been formed, the depression of the lever D will
5 have caused the cam toe e to strike the straight portion of the cam lever J that
lies between the rounded end o' and the cam slope o on said lever, which in turn
will be depressed at this end moving the pusher bar L downwardly with it.
The downward movement of the main lever D has carried the shoulder i on the
die block C down so that it will impinge on the ledge and rock the anvil ³ out-
ward, leaving the staple which has been completely formed, free to be engaged
by the lower curved face p¹ of the foot p on the pusher bar L, which adjustment
of parts is so timed that the anvil will recede an instant before the foot strikes
the staple C'. The die block C is now nearing the lower end of its stroke when
the cam toe e engages the cam slope o on the lever J and by reason of the change
of position of the main lever D and the proximity of the sloping cam face o to the
pivot centre n² of the cam lever J, an acceleration of movement is given to the
pusher bar L, and the completed staple is driven from the machine as shown by
dotted lines in Figure 5.
It will be apparent that the movement of the maim lever D in an upward
direction, will cause the finger d³ to engage the lever J and throw its outer end
downward, which will in turn cause the bite of the feeding dog m¹ as before
mentioned and the forward movement of the wire strand c, so that a staple blank
will be placed in the die C¹ ready for cutting off by the return stroke of the die
block C. When said die block is so moved as to shear and bend the staple blank
into form, a contact of the cam toe e with the cam lever J will move the outer end
of the latter named upwardly, and release the toe m³ of the feeding dog m!, a
further movement causing a stud t on the side of the feeding dog to impinge on the

page_text: edge of the arm H and rock it upwardly a proper distance to feed another staple
blank when the lever D is elevated, the detent 7 holding the wire strand from
rearward movement.
In using the machine for the manufacture of packing or other boxes which are
reinforced by securing wire rods at spaced intervals on their outer surfaces, there
is a reel M secured on the side of the frame section A¹, which will supply the
stiffening rods as they are required. The wire rod material u is fed through the
aperture and thence below the anvil h³ in alignment with it, so that staples c¹
will straddle a rod u and secure it to any material the rod lies upon. At va
pendant vibrating cutter bar N is pivoted near the lower part of the frame section A
on its outer surface, the projecting chisel shaped end being adapted to cut off the
end of the wire rod u and form a hook u² on the extremity of the wire end portion.
The chisel lipe is on the outer edge of the cutter bar end, and is separated from.
the inner corner v² of the same, by a vertical V shaped groove as shown in
Figure 8; the cutting lip shearing off the wire strand a between its sharp edge and
the adjacent end w³, of the L shaped abutment block w; and as the inner corner v
is slightly rounded and will not cut, its impingement upon the end portion of the
wire rod, will bend the latter over the car wo on the frame, thus producing the
hook before mentioned. The hook by its engagement with the ear to on
the frame serves to prevent the wire from retiacting until the first staple is set,
when a movement of the machine to unwrap the rod material from its reel and set
another staple will release the hook from the ear to. There may be a lever o
pivoted on the frame of the machine that by its vibration in any convenient
manner at the proper time will cut the wire rod u and form the hook u² as before
explained.
The machine herein described is not to be considered as a hand power machine
exclusively, as it is readily converted into a stationary device that may be operated
by other power than manual exertion to rapidly form and set staples.
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. A box having its top, bottom and side walls reinforced by stiffening rods,
substantially as described.
2. A box having its top, bottom and sides reinforced by stiffening rods which
are secured in place by staples, substantially as shown and described.
3. A box having its top, bottom and sides reinforced by sets of wire rods which
are secured in place by staples and hooked over the edges of the box walls and lid,
substantially as described.
4. A box having its walls each made of pieces of thin material and stiffened
by rods that are bent around the box body and secured thereon by inserted staples,
substantially as described.
5. A box having its side walls, bottom wall and lid each made of pieces of thin
material which are secured together by outwardly applied stiffening rods and
staples that embrace the rods and project through the pieces of material, sub-
stantially as described.
6. A box having composite top, bottom and side walls which are reinforced by
stiffening wire rods held in place by staples, and end walls which are intercellular
and are secured to the side walls by end battens that are held to the sides and end
walls by the staples, substantially as described.
7. A box having its sides, lid and bottom edge made of two pieces of material
reinforced by wire rods and staples that hold the rods in place, and walls which are
intercellular and secured to the sides and bottom by end battens which are
notched into step-form at their mitres and turn-buckle latches which are located on
depending battens of the lid and adapted to interlock with cross pins in the end
walls of the box, substantially as described.
8. The combination, with a frame, of a cutting and forming die block, a mating

page_text: perforated die plate on which the die block slides, a main lever for the die block,
a movable anvil that co-acts with the die block, a staple moving pusher bar that
sets a staple when it is formed, and a wire feeding device, substantially as
described.
9. The combination, with a frame composed of two sections, one section having
a vertical die and a main lever having a link connection with the die, of a
mating die plate that is perforated for staple wire introduction and is adapted to
define the length of a staple blank, a wire feeding mechanism which propels the
staple wire forward when the main lever is raised, a vibrating vertical staple
forming bar carrying an anvil, and a pusher bar, substantially as described.
10. The combination, with two frame sections that are adapted to receive and
support working parts between them, a vertical reciprocating die block, a mating
die plate that the die block slides against and that is perforated for the insertion of
a staple wire, and a staple wire feeding device, of a pivoted vertical staple forming
bar that has an anvil projecting laterally, a vertical moving pusher bar, and a main
lever that actuates the parts, substantially as described.
11. The combination, with a staple forming and setting device, and mechanism
to feed the wire to this device, of a means to supply wire rod continuously below
the staples as they are formed and expelied, and a cut off mechanism which is
adapted to sever a rod from the roll of wire and form a hook on its end, substan-
tially as described.
12. The combination, with a frame comprised of two sections which are separably
joined and are adapted to receive and support working parts between, a main lever
having cam toes on it, and a depending finger, a wire reel for staples, and a staple
wire feeding device which is moved by the reciprocation of the main lever, of a die
block that is connected by a link to the main lever and reciprocates with it, a
staple forming anvil moved by the die block, and a sliding pusher bar operated by
the main lever cams, substantially as described.
13. In a staple forming machine, the combination, with the reciprocating die,
the staple forming anvil, and the operating handle provided with a cam toe, of the
arm H provided with the dog m¹ and the lever J connected with the dog m and
having the cam surfaces o o², substantially as described.
14. In a staple forming and setting machine, the combination with the recipro-
cating die, the former bar E having the anvil h² and the shoulder h³, the pusher
bar L having the foot p and the shoulders p², p³ and the operating handle having
the cam surface e, e¹, e, of the arm H provided with the dog m³, and the lever .J
connected with the dog m' extending over the pusher bar L and having the cam
surfaces o, o, substantially as described.
Dated July 21st 1891.