Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Paper, Cardboard, and other Boxes, and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 23rd May, 1891
Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Paper, Cardboard, and
other Boxes, and the like.
I, PAUL ADOLPHE CARTIER, of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, Manu-
facturer, 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 an improved machine for automatically manufacturing
boxes or cases of paper, card-board, and the like, the main feature of which consists
in the employment of a continuous band or strip of paper previously coated or
prepared on one side with glue, size, dextrine, gum, or the like and which on being
cut into sections forms the circumference or the sides of the boxes while another
continuous band or strip is used for the tops and bottoms of the boxes the whole
being accomplished automatically by the machine itself according to the require-
ments of the work. For all the operations the machine is to perform in the various
stages of the manufacture of boxes, motion may be imparted thereto by the main
shaft driven by means of a belt and pulleys.
The continuous and properly prepared or sized paper, cardboard or other band
is grasped by a set of grippers, moistened at the edge and cut to the desired length.
The grippers convey each of the cut portions to a mandrel whereon it is wound
by a series of circular cheeks. By this time the top and bottom pieces of the
boxes which have in the meantime been automatically cut out of another continuous
band are brought one by one over the mandrel and inserted into the body of the
box, whereupon a punch or die descends and embosses the top or bottom piece (as
the case may be) while at the same time it fixes it on to the circumferential
wall or body of the box. An ejector discharges the boxes as they are completed.
Instead of continuous paper I sometimes employ bottoms or tops previously cut

page_text: The shaft B carries a pinion C which gears with a wheel D mounted upon the
cam shaft B¹.
As will be hereinafter explained all the operations of the machine
are under the control of or.derived from this.cam shaft.
The cam E Fig. 2 secured to the cam shaft B₁ at each revolution raises the
vertical shaft 17 which is adapted to slide in the frame F of the machine and at
its upper end is connected to a lever G. This lever is pivoted at H to the machine
head and operates another vertical shaft which carries a punch I'. The
shaft F is provided at its lower end with an anti-friction roller J adapted to render
the alternate rise and fall of the shaft F smooth and even.
The continuous paper or equivalent band wound in a coil upon a spool a
(Fig. 1) follows the carriage support K and is guided by a rule or gauge o
(Fig. 6) provided with springs.
The carriage-support is provided with a dove-tailed recess in which slides
the carriage O (Figs. 1 and 8) supporting the grippers. The paper after
having been grasped by the grippers is conveyed between the shear blades
or cutters and by them cut into lengths corresponding to the size of the box to
be made.
The carriage of which Fig. 8 shows a plan and an end view consists of a
dove-tailed bar a sliding within the support K (Figs. 1 and 6).
The gripper
support n (Fig. 1) is secured to the carriage by means of screws 1 and 2 (Fig. 8).
The reciprocating motion of the carriage is produced by means of a bell-crank
lever L (Figs. 1 and 6) pivoted on the spindle N projecting from the frame. Upon
this spindle is mounted a lever Q carrying a roller P. A spring Qone end of
which is secured to the foot of the frame and the other to the bent portion of the
lever L constantly tends to press the roller P against the cam O mounted upon
the shaft B'.
The upper bent end of the lever L is pivoted to a horizontal rod M adjustable at
will by means of nuts. To this rod is attached an arm t which is also connected
by means of a nut to the carriageo (Fig. 8). This arm is pivoted to the rod M
and capable at the same time of swinging about a pivot projecting from the slide or
carriage o. The extent of this movement is limited by stops t¹ and o' the latter
being situated next to the extension 3 of the arm t.
As before stated the gripper-support n is screwed on to the carriage at 1 and 2.
The grippers and u¹ which are shown in an inverted position at Fig. 9 are
mounted upon the ends of two shafts one of which g is hollow and secured to the
support and carries the gripper u¹. The shaft adapted to turn freely within
the hollow shaft q carries the gripper u at one end and a lever arm controlled by
a springs at the opposite end.
The operation of these grippers whose object. is to feed the paper to the shears or
cutters, is as follows:
When by the rotation of the cam 6 the lever L is allowed to move towards the
left of Fig. 1 the rod M moves the gripper-carriage backwards through the medium
of the arm t which is capable of a slight rotating motion about the pivot which
connects it to the carriage the extension 3 of which is therefore displaced and
strikes the lever arm of the grippers which are thereby opened. It will thus be
seen that the grippers open as soon as the rod M is moved backwards.
In its forward movement the arm t under the action of the rod M resumes its
original position; the extension 3 releases the lever arm r of the gripping device
and the grippers under the action of the springs close and in so doing grasp the
paper which they are to carry along with them. When the carriage has completed
its stroke the rod M again moves back, but by that time the arm t has been
shifted and its extension 3 by pressing upon the arm r causes the grippers to open
and release the paper.
At the same time as the paper is fed forward it should be moistened at its upper
edge. As before stated the continuous paper-band is sized or equivalently prepared
beforehand on one side. The device used for moistening this side is shown at 4
(Fig. 7 in side elevation and in plan); it is attached to the frame in position to

page_text: reach the paper as it travels along and it consists of a box or recepta
water in which is immersed a felt band held between two metal plates. This
moistened felt band being in frictional contact with the upper edge of the paper-
band moistens it as it passes through the machine. This water reservoir may be
heated by means of a gas flame or the equivalent. It is adjustable at will both
vertically and horizontally by means of screws 5 and 6.
The paper is fed by the grippers between the two shear-blades shown in Fig. 1
in side elevation and in Fig. 10 in front view and in plan.
which
The two blades 7 and 8 pivoted at R are controlled by springs r and
keep the blades or cutters apart so as to allow of the passage of the grippers
carrying the paper.
The blade 7 is provided with an extension S which is raised by a vertical rod
or shaft T (Figs. 1 and 6) guided in sockets 8 and 9 integral with the frame of
the machine. The shaft T is intermittently raised by means of an arm U which
ordinarily rests upon a boss X integral with the cam O. Upon this cam is mounted
a roller V which when the cam turns raises the arm U and consequently operates
the shaft T. As soon as the roller has left the arm U the shaft T is drawn down
by the spring 10.
The upper end of the shaft T in rising comes into contact with the extension S
of the blade 7 (Fig. 10) while a projecting piece T¹ (Fig. 6) mounted upon the
shaft T presses upon the rounded or cam surface of the other shear blade 8 so
that the shears or cutters close and in so doing cut the paper.
The grippers are caused by a second projection or tooth provided on the cam o
to carry the lengths of paper-band as they are cut off against the mandrel pl
(Figs. 2 and 3), after which they move back and open again. At the moment
when the shears close in order to cut the paper the end of the length of band cut
off, which is intended to form the wall of the case or box, should be moistened so
that when it is subsequently caused to overlap the other end the two ends will
adhere to each other.
For this purpose a metal box or reservoir 12 is provided as shown in Figs. 1
and 10. This reservoir is fixed against the shear-blade 8 and the water in it may
When
be heated by means of a gas or equivalent flame conveniently arranged.
the shears close, this reservoir 12 follows the movement of the blade 8 and a brush
of felt is pressed against the portion of the paper which is farthest from the shears
and which is thus moistened.
The band of paper previously sized, cut up into suitable lengths, each of which
is moistened at one end and at its upper edge, is then carried to the mandrel
by the grippers, the stroke of which is so adjusted that they bring the central
portion of each length of band against the mandrel p¹ (Figs. 2 and 3). The
length of band is then retained on the mandrel by the piece 13 (Fig. 3)
screwed upon a slide Z moving against the frame and which is reciprocated by
It only
two tappets a and b provided on each side of the toothed wheel D.
remains after this to place the top or bottom of the box against the mandrel,
to roll up the band which is to form the side wall of the box around such
mandrel and to turn down the edge of the wall so formed upon the top or
bottom plate. The length of band is held against the mandrel by the two
pieces nn, Fig. 3, and the finger c that moves a flexible needle do and is thus
prevented from advancing. The grippers are for the time being withdrawn and
two rounded cheeks n' n perform the winding of the paper around the projecting
mandrel (Figs. 2 and 3).
Motion is imparted to these cheeks by means of the links m' m" each connected
with a bell-crank lever K K (Fig 2).
Each of these bell-crank levers is pivoted to the end of the links d d connected
by a cross-piece 14 (Fig. 4) upon which is mounted a carriage c sliding in the frame
of the machine. At the end of this carriage is provided a roller 15 resting within
the groove of a hollow cam 16 which is preferably integral with the gear-wheel D.
As the gear-wheel turns, the cam 16 raises the roller 15 which in its turn raises

page_text: the carriage c.
This carriage operates the links d d which through the medium of
the bell-crank levers K' K and of the links m¹ m¹ cause the cheeks to open or
close as the case may be. Before these cheeks have wound the paper around the
mandrel p¹, the top or bottom plate of cardboard cut to the desired shape is
conveyed to the mandrel by a set of devices which shall be hereinafter more fully
described. The band being wound upon the mandrel in the manner before stated,
the punch I¹ descends and folds the projecting edge of the paper-band down upon
the top or bottom plate.
This edge being still somewhat moist owing to the continuous band of sized paper
having moved in contact with the moistening device 4 (Fig. 1) the edge thus turned
down at once adheres to the top or bottom plate.
The cheek n (Fig. 3) carries at its end a hinged piece n which a small inner
spring constantly tends to move away from the mandrel. As the punch or
plunger I descends it carries along with it a finger whose end acting as a
spring comes in contact with the said hinged piece n¹ and forces it against the
mandrel.
as the
Thus while the box is being completed the two ends of the band forming the
said wall or circumference of the box are firmly held together and
uppermost of the two overlapping ends has been previously moistened they adhere
to each other.
The reciprocating motion of the punch or plunger I is obtained by means of a
roller J and cam E (Figs. 2 and 4) mounted upon the shaft B. The roller J
mounted upon the lower end of a sliding frame 17 presses upon this cam.
The
frame which is hollow, supports a threaded shaft 18 which receives, in a space
limited by two nuts, a cross-head 19 to both ends of which are pivoted levers G G¹
(Fig. 5) whose axis of rotation is situated at H (Fig. 2). The two levers are con-
nected with two vertical links 20 and 21 connected to the ends of a cross head 22
secured on the extension of the punch or plunger I. The punch I is raised by a
spiral spring F¹ arranged at a certain point of the lever G.
When the box is completed the punch or plunger I is raised and causes the
cheeks to open and the cylindrical bush or sleeve 23 (Fig. 2) which surrounds the
mandrel is also raised by means of the forked arms operated on by a cam 7¹
mounted upon the shaft B¹.
The bush or sleeve 23 is caused to resume its initial position by the forked arm s¹
which descends under the action of the spring 28 and rod 27 and in order still
further to ensure this movement the shaft upon which is mounted the forked arm s¹
carries another arm 26 (Figs. 3 and 2) the end of which is operated on by a cam i
provided on the wheel D.
A finger g (Fig. 13) actuated by a tappet which is secured to a slide f
receiving in due course a forward movement from the tappet 25 on the toothed
wheel D finally expels the completed box from the machine whence it is discharged
upon an incline and allowed to fall into a collecting box or basket.
The arrangement employed for performing the cutting of the top and bottom
pieces is shown in Fig. 11. The top or bottom pieces are cut by the machine itself
according to requirements out of a continuous paper band wound on the spool or
core v.
=
This continuous band is brought over the cutting device through the medium
of a cheek pivoted to a support 28 which is itself supported by a slide y. Above
the cheek is provided a slotted arm a¹ in which engages the end of the link b
which latter receives motion from the lever K' through a stud K" (Fig. 3) secured
to the lever K This link as it reciprocates (the extent of its reciprocating
motion being equal to a diameter of a top or bottom plate plus the distance between
two such plates) presses upon the slotted arm a' from right to left (as in Fig. 11)
and thereby causes the cheek to open while at the same time pushing it in one
direction say towards the left; when it has completed its stroke and commences
to return to the right it lowers the cheek again and enables it to carry the paper
along.

page_text: Motion is imparted to the cutting device by the lever armi (Figs. 12 and 1)
which presses upon the lower end of the cutter thereby raising it while a spring 29
(Fig. 11) is adapted to carry the cutter back to its initial position. The lever
arm i is mounted upon the same hollow shaft as the lever arm J from which it
derives its motion the lever arm J itself being operated by the cam K (Fig. 1).
A similar arrangement is used where the top plates to be cut out are printed
beforehand upon the continuous band of paper. For this purpose to make the
cuttings exactly correspond to the impressions suitable guiding perforations ABCD
(Fig. 16) are made by the machine in which the printing is performed.
In this case the cheek Z (Fig. 11) which feeds the paper as has been before
explained is on either side provided with a tooth O (Fig. 11) which extends into
a corresponding slot or recess P. These two teeth are intended to enter the said
guiding perforations which are made wider than these teeth. The imprint on the
paper band is thus presented to the cutting device precisely in the position in which
it should be cut out.
Each top or bottom plate is driven away from the cutter by a metal plate 30
(Fig. 11) sliding in a support 31. Near the end of this metal plate there is an
upwardly projecting finger 32 acting as a spring and the object of which is to
retain the top or bottom plate in position. This plate however is prevented from
slipping as it travels towards the mandrel by the two cheeks 33¹ of a hollow
guide 34.
The reciprocating motion of the said plate 30 is produced partly by the bell-
crank lever d (Figs. 1, 11 and 12) pivoted to the link a which is connected to the
guide through the post or projection 33 and partly by the lever f pressing upon the
cam g.
In Fig. 15 I have shown an auxiliary or alternative device for feeding top or
bottom plates cut out beforehand. In this case the top or bottom plates are cut
out separately and piled up in a tube or magazine 34 secured over the cutter
(Fig. 11) so that it is situated above the guide. The pusher plate 30 assumes the
same shape as in the previous arrangement and operates in the same manner except
that the finger 32 is dispensed with as the top or bottom plates to be pushed away
in this case are thicker. Fig. 14 shows a supplemental cutter adapted to be used
in case the top or bottom plates are to be perforated.
This supplemental cutter shown in Fig. 14 consists of an upright shaft A. guided
near its upper end in a sleeve B (bolted to the frame of the machine at c" (Fig. 1)
while its lower end enters the piece G of the support D bolted at E" (Fig. 1). This
shaft A which a spring F tends to raise is provided at its lower end with punches
adapted to perforate the band as they descend and pass through corresponding
openings formed in the die or bolster G¹. The descent of the shaft A is obtained
by an arm H of appropriate shape secured upon the shaft I" (Fig. 1).
The continuous paper band is brought underneath this first perforating punch by
the cheek mechanism (Fig. 11) described above. When the first cutting device
has made the required perforations in the paper-band the latter passes on to the
next cutting device (shown in Fig. 11 and described above) which cuts out the top
or bottom piece. This piece is then carried to the mandrel by the means described
above.
Fig. 14 shows a conveying mechanism consisting of rollers suitable gearing, and
a pawl which may be used for carrying the paper to the perforating and cutting
devices.
In this case the paper band passes between two rollers I and I' (Fig. 14) which
receive intermittent motion through the medium of a pawl J gearing with a ratchet
wheel K upon the shaft of which is mounted a toothed wheel L gearing with a
wheel M mounted upon the shaft of the roller I and imparting motion to the same.
The said pawl J is operated by the link (Fig. 3).
It will be seen that in the foregoing description the manufacture of circular
boxes of paper cardboard and like material is chiefly contemplated. I do not
however limit myself to the production of these boxes as the principle of my

page_text: invention also involves manufacture of boxes or cases of oval square octagonal
and other shapes.
The arrangement of the machine may be varied as practical experience may
suggest and without departing from the spirit of the invention it may be con-
structed so as to manufacture boxes of oval, square, octagonal or other shape.
Owing to the employment of the machine herein described boxes are obtained
consisting of two parts namely the body and the cover which being obtained in a
similar manner fits the said body, its diameter being proportionately increased and
its depth diminished.
The machine may however also be adapted to the manufacture of boxes con-
sisting of a top and bottom plate of equal diameter connected by a band fixed to
both and constituting the side or wall of the boxes or cases, employing for this
purpose bottoms and tops previously cut in another machine. The sides will be
made from a band of paper not previously provided with gum or other adhesive matter,
but the gum will be applied only to those parts of the band which are to adhere.
It is easy to arrange a device performing this, according to the requirements of the
work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In the manufacture of boxes or cases of paper, cardboard or the like the
employment of two continuous paper bands one of which is adapted to form sides or
walls of the boxes or cases and the other the top or bottom plates thereof substan-
tially as described.
2. In a machine for manufacturing boxes or cases of paper cardboard or the like
the employment of a continuous paper band sized or gummed on one side and
carried or fed through the machine intermittently by means of grippers which first
cause it to pass between shears whereby it is cut up into suitable lengths and then
conduct such lengths towards a projecting mandrel between which and semi-circular
cheeks the paper is clipped substantially as described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
3. In a machine for manufacturing boxes or cases of paper cardboard or the like
the combination with the band or divided lengths of band claimed in the first
claiming clause of another continuous paper band from which the top or bottom
pieces of the boxes are automatically cut out and if necessary perforated and then
moved towards the mandrel by a pusher and acted upon by a vertical punch or
plunger which folds and pastes the edge of the side-piece to the top or bottom
piece substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a machine for manufacturing boxes or cases of paper cardboard or the like
the combination with the band or divided lengths claimed in the first claiming
clause of top or bottom plates or pieces cut out beforehand and piled up in a
receptacle from which they are expelled and automatically conducted to the
mandrel by means of a pusher substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
5. In a machine for manufacturing boxes or cases of paper cardboard or the like
the combination with the band or divided lengths of band claimed in the first
claiming clause of a second band of paper on which the top or bottom plates are
printed beforehand and which is provided with guiding perforations corresponding
to each impression the top or bottom pieces being cut out of this band and carried
to the mandrel automatically substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
6. In a machine for manufacturing boxes or cases of paper cardboard or the like
the combination with the band or divided lengths of band claimed in the first
claiming clause of a second paper band perforated beforehand and from which the
top or bottom plates are cut out and carried to the mandrel automatically substan-
tially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 7. In a machine for the manufacture of paper cardboard or similar boxes or the
like the employment of the whole of the devices claimed in the preceding claiming
clauses in combination with the operating mechanism and with the different parts
the arrangement of which enables each device to receive its proper motion thus
producing boxes or cases of paper cardboard or the like automatically and without
any hand labour the whole substantially as described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
8. In a machine for the manufacture of paper cardboard or similar boxes or the
like the employment of continuous bands printed beforehand and perforated or
not for forming the tops or bottoms of such boxes or cases substantially as
described.
9. The employment for the manufacture of boxes or cases of continuous bands
unprovided with any size or gum beforehand such size gum or other adhesive
substance being in such a case applied to those parts of the band only which are to
adhere to each other by means of special devices performing this according to the
requirements of the work substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of February 1891.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.