Improvements in or relating to Machines for Making Box Blanks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 2nd May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Making Box Blanks.
A communication from JACOB UHRI, of 15 South Canal Street, Chicago, Illinois,
United States of America, Machinist.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 manufacturing a certain box-blank X,
which blank is illustrated in Figures 70, 71 and 72 of the accompanying drawings.
The blank X consists of a thin piece or sheet X of wood, or other desirable
material, provided on one face with longitudinally extending cleats X3 X³, and on
its opposite or outer face with strengthening-wires c extending parallel with the
cleats, the parts being fastened or tacked together by means of staples d³, which
straddle the strengthening-wires at an angle and pass through the sheet into the
cleats. The blank is of a length to form the four sides of a box to be employed as
a shipping case. To permit the box to be formed the cleats are cut away and step-
mitered at the lines a, which form the edges of the box, so that when the blank is
folded the step-miters will intermesh. When the box is folded the corners are held
together by means of the strengthening-wires, and the projecting ends of the latter
are twisted upon each other to hold the four sides of the box firmly together.
The present machine forms the blank merely, as it is illustrated in Figure 70, and
the step-miter cuts at may be produced by any suitable step-mitering saws, which
form no part of this invention.
Avy suitable staple-forming and driving device may be employed in conjunction
with the box-blank machine.
The drawings have been made from a successfully operating machine which is
capable of manufacturing many hundred box-blanks per day, depending upon the
speed at which it is run; and while the machine is shown in all its details in the
drawings, it is to be understood that many, especially the minor details, may be
changed without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Generally stated, the blanks are formed by placing the cleats in guides B B B
and then placing a sheet X' thereon. When the machine is started the cleats and
sheet are advanced intermittingly beneath staple-forming and driving-devices T
which guide the strengthening-wires c, and form staples from the wires d which are
driven at intervals to straddle the wires and fasten the wires and sheet to the
cleats.
Referring to the drawings-
Figure shows the right-hand side of the machine; Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5
sectional elevations taken, respectively, on lines 2, 3, 4 aud 5 of Figure 6, which
latter is a view in elevation of the rear end of the machine; Figures and 8 plan
sections taken, respectively, on lines 7 and 8 of Figure 6; Figure 9, a view in
elevation of the left-hand side of the machine; Figure 10, a detail view of the
right-hand supporting-rail of the bed-frame, which supports the sheet and cleat-
guides and the feed-rollers, the section being taken on line 10 of Figure 8;
Figure 11, the opposite side of the same rail, the section being taken on line 11 of
Figure 8; Figure 12, a broken plan section taken on line 12 of Figure 10; Figure 13,

page_text: a broken sectional elevation taken on line 13 of Figure 12; Figure 14, an enlarged
broken section taken on line 14 of Figure 35; Figure 15, a section of the bed-
frame taken on line 15 of Figure 8; Figure 16 the inner side of the same rail
viewed from line 16 of Figure 8; Figure 17, a broken elevation of the guide-rail
shown in Figure 15, with certain parts removed; Figures 18, 19, 20 and 21
enlarged sections taken on lines 18, 19, 20 and 21 of Figure 15; Figure 22, an
enlarged section on line 22 of Figure 8; Figure 23, an enlarged section taken on
line 23 of Figure 4; Figure 24, a plan section on line 24 of Figures 4 and 32;
Figure 25, an enlarged section on line 25 of Figures 8 and 26 and showing one
of the staple-clinchers; Figure 26, a section on line 26 of Figure 25; Figure 27,
an enlarged section on line 27 of Figure 7; Figure 28, a detached view of one of
the details shown in Figure 27; Figure 29, an enlarged broken section taken on
line 29 of Figure 27; Figures 30, 31 and 32, broken sectional detail views of
feed-regulating mechanism detached from the machine showing the mechanism in
different adjusted positions; Figure 33, a sectional view of a part of the mechanism
shown in the last-named figures; Figure 34, an enlarged view on line 34 of
Figure 27 Figure 35, an enlarged section taken on line 35 of Figure 30;
Figures 36, 37 and 38, detail views of the rollers which feed the sheet and cleats
through the machine; Figure 39, an enlarged side elevation of a part of the
left-hand side of the machine; Figure 40, a view the same as Figure 39, but with
parts removed; Figure 41, a view nearly the same, but in section taken on line 41
of Figure 42; Figure 42, a broken plan section taken on the irregular line 42 of
Figure 39; Figure 43, a broken section of pawl and ratchet mechanism taken on
line 43 of Figure 44; Figure 44, a section on line 44 of Figures 39 and 43;
Figure 45, a section on line 45 of Figure 44; Figure 46, an enlarged vertical
section taken on line 46 of Figure 39; Figure 47, a section on line 47 of Figure 46;
. Figure 48, a view on a reduced scale taken from line 48 of Figure 47; Figure 49,
a view taken from line 49 of Figure 47; Figure 50, a broken portion of the rear
end of the left-hand side of the machine with parts removed; Figure 51, a broken
section on line 51 of Figure 52; Figure 52, a section on line 52 of Figure 51;
Figure 53, a detail of the construction shown in Figure 52; Figure 54, an enlarged
section on line 54 of Figure 52; Figure 55, an enlarged plan section on line 55 of
Figure 41 Figure 56, an enlarged section on line 56 of Figure 41; Figure 57, a
view of mechanism shown in Figure 56, enlarged; Figure 58, an enlarged section
on line 58 of Figures 41 and 52; Figure 59, a view the same as Figure 58, but
showing movable parts in another position; Figure 60, a section on line 60 of
Figure 41; Figure 61, a broken end portion of a stationary horizontal cross-bar
forming a part of the frame of the machine, and having a movable bar thereon;
Figure 62, a section on line 62 of Figure 60; Figure 63, a broken end portion of
a bar shown in Figures 61 and 62, this view showing the reverse side of the bar;
Figure 64, a section on line 64 of Figure 56; Figure 65, a detail view of part of
the mechanism shown in Figure 47; Figure 66, a section on line 66 of Figure 65;
Figure 67, a section on line 67 in Figures 7 and 15; Figure 68, a plan view of a
rock-shaft; Figure 69, a view of one of the operating shafts and its attachments;
Figure 70, a top plan view of a finished box-blank; Figure 71, a side elevation of
the same; and Figure 72, an end elevation of the same."
A represents the stationary frame of the machine formed with side-frames or
cheeks A A² joined by front and rear cross-bars t-t'. Resting on the cross-bars,
and secured rigidly in place, is a bed-frame B, formed of stationary side-rails B1 B2,
a front cross-bar B³, rear cross-bars B4, and an intermediate bar B2. Resting and
sliding laterally upon the cross bars are outer sheet and cleat-guides B³ B, and
intermediate cleat-guides B', all of which are laterally adjustable. The
guides 13 B are provided at their under sides with lugs B4 which receive screw-
shafts B B journaled at opposite ends in the cheeks. The screw-shafts are
provided, beyond the cheeks A¹, with bevel gear-wheels B10 meshing with bevel-
gears Bi on a shaft B provided with a hand-wheel B1. Turning of the
hand-wheel in one direction moves the guides B B toward each other, and turning

page_text: other.
D is the main drive-shaft of the machine and CC are shafts journaled at
opposite ends in the side-rails B' B', and each carrying a pair of secondary feed-
rollers or feed-wheels C. The end of the shafts C C' rest in vertically adjustable
blocks s which in turn rest upon cam-edged plates & controlled by screws having
bandless. Turning of the bandles moves the plates s' longitudinally and raises
and lowers the shafts C C at opposite ends. On the side-bar B are upward
extending brackets, in which is fastenel a plate 2; and on the side-bar B are
similar brackets having fastened thereto a plate r. The plates 2 afford
bearings for the opposite ends of three upper forward feed-rollers. Beyond the
plate the said feed-rollers carry sprocket-wheels gearel together by means of
a drive-chain 8. The shaft of the rear feed-roller carries a pinion, gearet by
a pinion with a sprocket-wheel ", which is journaled on a pin on the
bracket .
Opposite unrection moves the said guides away from each
Loose upon the drive-shaft D is a driver or pulley D' and a fly-wheel D³,
integral with each other. The inner face of the hub of the fly-wheel forms a
clutch-member adapted to be engaged by a clutch-member D³ feathered upon the
shaft. The pulley and fly-wheel rotate constantly, and the rotation of the shaft D
is started and stopped by moving the clutch-member D³ into and out of engagement
with the fly-wheel clutch. The means for sliding the clutch-member D³ consists of
a rock-shaft 9, at the lower forward end of the machine, carrying a crank q, a
thrust-rod 9 connected at one end with the crank and at its opposite end with
a bell-crank lever q³, a vertical rod connected with the bell-crank lever and
extending upward to a rocking yoke which engages the clutch-member D³, as
shown in Figure 6. On the left hand end of the rock-shaft q is a crank q³
connected with a rod q, moved by a bell-crank handle q', see Figure 9. Movement
of the handle y' to the left draws the rod q' in the downward direction and causes
the clutch-members to engage to rotate the shaft D and start the machine.
Movement if the handle q' to the right forces up the rod and disengages the
clutch-members to stop the machine. On the end of the drive-shaft D, beyond the
cheek A, is a disk p provided with an eccentric pin carrying a crank p³.
Surrounding the pin is a loose ring or collar p³ to which is connected a plunger-
rod p. On the left-hand side of the bed-frame extending through the cheek B² is
a horizontal bracket B15, secured to which is a forward extending bracket B10.
E is a rocking disk journaled on a pin E¹ on the bracket B. Extending
through the disks in the relative positions shown are radial slots ppp. The
plunger-rod connects at its lower end with a bolt p adjustably fastened in the
slot ps. In the rotation of the shaft D the disk E is rocked by the plunger-rod pt.
Extending through and journaled in the bracket B is a rotary sleeve E2 carrying
a ratchet-wheel E on its outer end, and a gear-whee! E on its inner end. Pivoted
upon the sleeve E2 is a short arm E carrying a pawl E which normally engages
the ratchet-wheel. The free end of the arm E is pivoted to the end of a
thrust-bar E', which at its opposite end is pivotally connected to a bolt E
adjustably secured in the radial slot p. Pivoted at the outer side of the ratchet-
wheel is an arm E, carrying at its free end a pawl E. The arm E is connected
by a plunger-rod El with a bolt E12 adjustably secured in the slot p'. The
pawl E is normally out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel.
Fis the feed-shaft which drives the feed-rollers to move the sheet and cleats to
he staple-forming and driving devices T. The shaft F is journaled in the
angers B17 B18 and also in a bracket B on the cheek A. On the shaft F is a
pinion F' which meshes with the gear-wheel E, and the shaft is provided with a
ongitudinal feather-groove . On the shaft are sliding peripherally grooved
ollars F, each provided with a small sprocket-wheel F. The collar and
procket-wheels are feathered upon the shaft to revolve therewith. The grooved
cllars F are loosely embraced by lugs B upon the cleat guide-bars. On the
haft F is a sprocket wheel F. Passing around the sprocket-wheel F under an

page_text: idle sprocket-wheel, and over the sprocket-wheel 1 is a drive-chain," which
transmits power from the shaft F through the pinions 10 to the upper rear
feed-roller, and thence through the medium of the drive-chain to the upper
feed-rollers 76.
Each
3, and
Each cleat-guide B B B' consists in a side-plate n having the vertical
portion n' and horizontal base portion n²; and a bar n³ adjustable thereon.
bar n has a flat-top n affording a guide-surface. Each bar n has a flange n°
affording at its under side a guide-surface no. On opposite end-portions of the
bars are downward extending pins n', which pass through openings in guide-
lugs n on the bars n. Sliding in guides on the bar n are vertically adjustable
arms n having flanges n10 provided with guide-openings for the pins . The guides
for the outer sides of the arms n' are afforded by plates n secured to the bars n.
The plates n", at the forward end of the machine, are marked with scales
the arms n carry fingers n which move along the scales. On the outer faces
of the bars n are horizontally sliding plates 13 14 having cam-recesses 15 into
which project pins 1, the said pins being integral portions of the arms n°. The
plates are connected together by bars n". Each plate n¹³ has an outwardly
extending flange n provided with a threaded opening to receive an adjusting
screw which is mounted in a guide 20 on the bar a and is held against
longitudinal movement by collars . The outer end of each screw is squared to
receive an operating crank n2. The pins n' are provided with collars n, and
between the said collars and guides no are confined stiff supporting springs n. On
the lower ends of the pins n' are stop-nuts 25. The springs n press upward
against the collars n23, and cause the nuts 2 to bear against the under sides of
the guides 10. Thus the surfaces n' of the bars n³ form downwardly yielding
guides for the cleats that are fed to the machine. The bars n³ may be raised and
lowered on the bars n by turning the crank n22, which causes the cam-recesses in
the plates 13 to move upon the pins n'. Each of the bars 3 is provided with
openings coincident with the feed-rollers 6; and journaled in the said bars at the
openings are short shafts n2, carrying lower feed-rollers n27 and sprocket-wheels 28.
The feed-rollers n27 form primary feed-rollers as distinguished from the secondary
feed-rollers C before described. Each rearmost shaft n carries a second
sprocket-wheel n2, geared by means of a drive-chain to the adjacent pinion F.
The three pinions 28 on each guide are geared together by a drive-chain n³.
each drive-chain 0 is a spring-actuated chain-tightener 2. Each cleat-guide is
provided with three guide-fingers ns, the two forward ones being caused by means
of suitable springs housed in their bearings, to press yieldingly against the adjacent
faces of the bars n. The bars n of the outer cleat-guides B B are provided on
their inner sides at the flanges with longitudinal recesses n. Fitting loosely in
the recesses are bars or strips n forming guides for the edges of the sheet.
The strips are held in place by retaining screws 7 and bear against confined
springs 38. The screws slide freely through the openings in the bars n, and the
strips n form yielding guides for the lateral edges of the sheet, and prevent its
sticking or binding at its edges while being fed through the machine. The
flanges n at the strips n overlap the edges of the sheet as the latter is fed through
the machine, so that in the event that the sheet is warped, it will be held down flat
against the cleats. On the ends of the guide-bars B B are vertical guide-
rollers n which facilitate the insertion of the sheets.
At
As before stated, the cleats are placed in the guides and a sheet placed thereon
before the material is started through the machine to receive the strengthening-
wires and to be operated upon by the staple-drivers. Before placing the sheets
and cleats in the machine, the forward feed-roller must be raised, as shown in
Figure 7, and stops m2 lowered into the path of the cleats, so that the cleats and
sheet will be flush with each other at their ends. The said feed-roller passes
through vertically elongated openings in the plates, and are journaled at their
ends in vertically movable blocks m having guide-pins m', carrying cross-bars m³,
which move in slots 15 in the upper ends of the brackets r r. On each block m is

page_text: a downward projecting guide-pin m³, which enters a guide-opening in the guide-
bar. Springs mt in the guide-openings tend to raise the block m, and the forward
feed-roller. Above the said feed-roller is a rock-shaft m. On one end of this
rock-shaft is a crank me provided with a pin m' having a squared projecting head.
On the rock-shaft is an operating-handle m8 having a lug m³ presenting a
shoulder mo. The handle drops normally to the position shown in Figure 30. At
the sockets 15 the rock-shaft carries cam-lugs m", which when the rock-shaft is
turned in one direction press the blocks m downwar.l, and which when turned in the
opposite direction permit the said blocks to be raised by the springs. In turning
the handle m8 from the position shown by full lines in Figure 30 to the position
shown in Figure 31 the shoulder m10 engages the pin m', whereby further turning
causes the shaft to be rocked and turns the lugs ml down to the position shown in
Figure 14, to depress the forward feed-roller to the position shown, for example,
in Figure 36. On the handle m is a lever m2 pivoted at m³ and carrying a
link m. Pivoted at m5 on the lug m is a lever me connected with the link m".
In the end of the lever m¹ is a socket, not shown in the drawings adapted to fit over
the head of the pin m². To rock the shaft me, to permit the roller to rise under
the action of the springs, the handle m³ is raised from the normal position indicated
by full lines in Fig. 30 pressure is exerted upon the lever m¹ to raise it with
the link m, and move the link m away from the handle m³ to turn the lever m¹6,
whereby it engages the pin 7. The handle m³ is then pressed downward to rock
the shaft. When pressure is taken off the lever m¹ the spring m separates the
lever me from the pin m. Parallel with the shaft m is a rod ms provided at its
ends with pins ml which slide in guides Secured upon the rod at the said pins
are fingers m20 formed with cam-portions m2. The fingers extend over the rock-
shaft and on the latter are cams 2. On the rod are sliding collars m3 carrying
rods or stops m2 passing down through guide-openings in brackets . The stops
slide with the cleat-guides in the adjustment of the latter and may be tightened in
place by means of set-screws m2. When the rock-shaft is turned to raise the
forward feed-roller, the rod moves downward with all the stops to the position
shown in Figure 37, and when the rock-shaft is turned, to lower the said feed-roller,
the rod and stops are raised.
The staple-forming and driving-devices T are each provided with a plunger-rod T
adjustably fastened to a vertically reciprocating bar or cross-head N. The bar is
reciprocated by eccentrics N¹ on the shaft D. In the upstrokes of the operating-
rods T2 staples are formed, and in the downstrokes the staples are discharged and
driven into the material, namely the sheet and cleats. The feed-rollers are all so
driven that they advance the material in the upstrokes of the reciprocating bar or
cross-head N, and stop in the downstrokes of the said bar while the staples are
being driven.
In operation, after the rear end of the material has passed the forward feed-
roller and is traveling through the machine, as shown in Figure 37, cleats and a
sheet must be placed by hand against the stops m24, as shown in Figure 38, before
they can be started through the machine. By the time the new material has been
put into position the material last fed will have passed all the rollers, as shown
in Figure 38. It is desirable then to advance the material last fed quickly
it will catch up with the material being operated upon by the staple-drivers. To
accomplish this the ratchet-wheel E³ is caused to be moved by the pawl E10 as well
as the pawl E. The mechanism for bringing about this action will be next
described:
so that
Mounted on the pin m' is a loose collar or guide for a longitudinally movable
operating-bar formed at its end into a handle and provided with a notch 1.
Fulcrumed upon the pin m' is a lever or catch having a notch-engaging end 1,
and a haudle-portion 1º. On the rear end of the operating-rod and secured thereto
is a collar provided with a pin 18. Pivotally connected to the pin 18 is a
rod. The rod carries a block 110 forming a guide for a rod On the
is a block which slides upon the rod P. Surrounding the rod ¹¹ and
rod

page_text: confined between the blocks 10 11 is a spring 13. Fulcrumed in the bracket B¹¢
is a bell-crank lever 1, connected at one end with the rod ", and at its other
end with a lever fulcrumed at Sliding in openings in the bracket B
are pins 17 carrying a cross-bar 18 which is connected to the end of the lever 1.
On the lower ends of the pins is a block having a segmental edge The
pawl E is pivoted at one end upon a pin on the swinging-arm E, and pivoted
between its ends on the pin 1 is a block 2, pivotally connected toward one end
with the pawl, and provided at its opposite end with a spring-pin . When it is
desired, therefore, to cause the three forward upper feed-rollers and three forward
lower feed-rollers to rotate at an accelerated speed, the catch is caused to engage
the notch, whereby in the raising of the handle m³ and turning of the arm m, the
rod will be thrust backward to the position shown in Figure 31. This backward
movement of the rod causes the bell-crank lever to be turned and press down
the bar and block, whereby the latter preases down the pin , and turns the
pawl E into eugagement with the ratchet-wheel E, whereby in the oscillation of
the disk E, and consequent swinging of the pawl, the ratchet-wheel will be turned
in the backward as well as in the forward oscillation of the disk. When the
material thus accelerated catches up with the material in advance of it, the
handle m³ is lowered and the block raised out of the path of the pin, whereby
the pawl E drops out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel.
On the shafts CC are gear-wheels C meshing with an intermediate gear C
which is on a hollow shaft or sleeve C. The sleeve C is on a stationary pin C
passing through a yoke B in which the rollers C Care journaled. The
sleeve C carries a ratchet-wheel C' and a swinging-arm C provided with a primary
spring-pawl C engaging the ratchet-wheel. The arm C is connected with a
rod which at its opposite end connects with a bolt C fastened in the slot p
of the disk E. In each forward oscillation of the disk the pawl E⁹ turns the
ratchet-wheel and rotates the shaft C C and feed-wheels C2. The shafts are
provided with longitudinal grooves j, and the feed-wheels C have feathers j
which enter said grooves. On the cleat-guides B B are bifurcated lugs B" fitting
over the shafts C C and carrying Jokes B provided with tongues which fit
loosely into annular grooves in the hubs of the wheels C. Thus in the lateral
adjustment of the guides B Be the feed-wheels C2 are adjusted along their shafts.
Above the feed-wheels C are upper feed-rollers H I. On the side-frames B¹ B'
are brackets H¹ having vertical sleeve-portions k, and brackets 1 having sleeve-
portions i. On the sleeves are inner adjusting sleeves provided with hand-
wheels. Extending through the sleeves are adjusting-rods provided at their
lower ends with blocks, in which the opposite ends of the roller I are journaled.
Between the sleeves and blocks are stiff springs. Iis a rock-shaft journaled
in arms on the sleeves i and provided with a crank-arm . Pivotally secured to
the roller I are arms 13 connected at their upper ends with arms a rigid upon the rock-
shaft 1. Connected to the crank-arm is a lever I having a handle and
fulcrumed at on the end of a link. The link is pivoted to a lug on the
adjacent bracket I'. The upper ends of the rods are threaded and provided with
nuts. This construction permits the roller I to exert the desired pressure in the
downward direction; and the roller may be lifted against the resistance of its
springs by raising the handle 2º.
in
In the sleeves k of the brackets H are inner sleeves provided with hand-
wheels. Extending downward through the sleeves are rods provided at
their upper ends with adjusting nuts and at their lower ends with blocks
which the ends of the roller H are journaled. Between the sleeves and
blocks are springs which press the roller in the downward direction. The
normal position of the roller H with reference to the feed-wheels on the shaft C
is regulated by adjusting the nuts . On the sleeve k are arms in which is
journaled a rock-shaft H, carrying a crank-arm k'. The crank is connected to
a collar which slides loosely upon the operating-rod 1. On the end of the
rod and pivoted to the collar thereon, is a link connected with a lever k",

page_text: erumed to a Tug on a cylindrical-plug k³ movable in a cylindrical recess in
the bracket H'. Extending through the said plug is a rod k connected with the
lever and also connected at its opposite end with the crank-arm k'. On the
rock-shaft H2 are crank-arms H³ which are connected by means of bars H with
the journals of the roller H. In operation, when the cleats and sheet are initially
fed to the staple-forming and driving-machines, and the upper feed-rollers are
caused to rotate at accelerated speed as described, it is also necessary that the
roller H be raised slightly so that the new material may pass readily beneath it
to the staple-drivers. The turning of the handle 8, to accelerate the feed-rollers
as described, also raises the roller H by causing the rod to thrust the link k
in the backward direction to turn the lever 10, draw the pin 12 and swing the
crank-arm to rock the shaft H2, whereby the crank arms H3 lift the bars H*
and raise the roller H against the resistance of the springs. As soon as the
material has passed beneath the roller H the handle m is swung down by the
operator whereby the roller H is pressed downward by the springs to clamp
the material against the feed-wheels on the shaft C. Journaled on the shaft k
is a rocking disk k to which is eccentrically pivoted a link k pivoted at its
opposite end to the pin 18. When the rod is drawn forward the link ke turns
the disk to a dead center, whereby the rod is held in its forward position
with a desired degree of rigidity. When the rod is thrust backward it causes
the link to turn the disk k nearly to the opposite dead center, whereby the
rod will be held in its backward position and hold the roller H raised against the
resistance of the springs. This construction permits the roller H to yield upward
without affecting the rod 1, when chips or shavings pass with the material under
the roller H.
To advance the material when desired, while the machine is stopped, loose
hangers or arms K are provided upon the shaft F and provided with a lever K.
On the end of the lever K' is a link K' to which is pivoted a bar K³ provided with
teeth K (see Figure 41) adapted to mesh with the teeth of the pinion F.
On opposite sides of the bar are plates K carrying a handle K. By raising the
handle K the teeth K will engage the pinion and the handles are drawn forward
whereby the pinion and gear-wheel E are rotated to rotate the forward feed-
wheels. On releasing the handle K the teeth K+ will drop away from the pinion
and the parts may be swung back to their initial positions. This operation may
be repeated as often as desired to turn the feed-wheels and advance the material.
For the purpose more especially of advancing material into the machine before
the latter is initially started, the following gear mechanism is provided:
Loose upon the shaft F is a belt-pulley L connected by a belt L' with the
constantly rotating drive-pulley D'. The hub of the pulley L forms a clutch-
member. On the cheek A' is a swinging lever L³ connected between its ends with
a bell-crank lever L. The other arm of the bell-crank lever connects with a
thrust-rod L pivoted at its opposite end to one end of a lever Lo, which at its
opposite end is forked and embraces a sliding clutch-member L' feathered upon
the shaft. The lever L is fulcrumed between its ends upon a bracket L'.
Movement of the lever L³ in one direction throws the clutch-members into engage-
ment, whereby the shaft F and the feed-rollers geared thereto are rotated.
Movement of the lever in the opposite direction disengages the clutch-members
whereby the shaft F remains stationary.
While the material is being fed across the staple-drivers it is necessary that at
certain points or transverse lines designated by a in Figure 70, where, as before
stated, the step-mitering machine is to cut away material to permit bending of the
blank to forni the box, no staples should be driven for the reason that they
would interfere with the operation of the step-mitering and also with the bending of
the blank. The means employed in the present machine for preventing the driving
of the staples at those points consist in mechanisin which moves the material at
ncreased speed and therefore a greater distance across the staple-drivers in the
apstrokes of the latter when the points are approached, whereby the said

page_text: points are skipped, in the sense that no staples will be driven there. The mechanism
which accomplishes this result will be next described, and following this description
will be an explanation of mechanism closely co-operating therewith, to sever the
-strengthening-wires and then stop the machine.
On the cross-head N, and movable in a slot A³ in the cheek A2, is a recipro-
cating-carrier M provided with a plate M' formed at its upper and lower ends with
cam-edges h. On the carrier M is a finger M2, and near the upper end of the
cam M, and carried thereby, is a stop M³. The stop M³ consists of a rock-shaft *
journaled in a bracket on the plate M', and having a head provided with three
stop-projections 7. The stop-projection & rests upon a spring-stud which
tends to press the stop against the face of the plate. Also upon the cam-
plate M' is a pin, and directly below the said pin is a laterally swinging finger
pivoted at and having an outward projecting toe 2. On the plate at the side
of the pin is a cam-block 13. Bolted upon the cheek A2 is a plate P provided
on its rear face with spacing-lugs P. The plate P is formed with the plain
upper portion P2 and L-shaped lower portion Ps. Journaled in a bearing P is a
short shaft P provided at one end with a pinion P, which meshes with the gear-
wheel C and provided at its opposite end with a pinion P. Fastened against
the part P3 is a housing Q consisting of a back-plate Q' and a front plate Q'.
The plate Q2 has a lateral flange Q affording a chamber Q. In the plate Q is a
recess Q bounded by a flange Q provided with a T-groove Q. Journaled upon
a pin or screw 9 in the housing is a pinion meshing with the pinion P
Extending through the center of the housing is a pin or shaft g2 surrounded by a
..slceve 93, in turn surrounded by a sleeve g, which latter forms a bearing for the
hub of a large gear-wheel 9. The wheel ge meshes with the wheel g'. The
pin g slides longitudinally in the sleeve g³ and carries a grooved collar g'. The
sleeve g slides longitudinally on the pin g and in the sleeve g and carries a
grooved collar 9. The sleeve g' slides in the hub g' and is provided with a cup-
shaped friction clutch-member g. The hub g' is shaped to form a clutch-member
to be engaged by the clutch-member g in the sliding of the sleeve g. Firmly
secured to the sleeve g is an arm Q. Q is a bracket carrying a disk Q
Fastened to a stud go on the disk and to the hub-portion of the arm Q is a coiled
spring g" which tends normally to cause the arm Q8 to bear against a stop g12.
At intervals around the disk Qo are adjustable studs or posts Q Q Q and Q
comprising cylinder-portions gi³ having laterally projecting arms o. Extending
through the cylinder-portions 918 are pins g18 having T-heads g' to slide in the
grooves and threaded at their outer ends to receive nuts 917. Around the
circumferential edge of the disk Q10 is a graduated scale, and each of the posts
carries a pointer gis. The posts may be slid to any position in the T-groove and
tightened in place by the thumb-nuts g17. On the arm Q8 is a tripping finger gl
provided with a toe 90. The finger passes at its inner end through openings in
the hub of the arm Q and sleeves g g into pivotal engagement with the pin g³ at
a short slot in the latter. Also on the arm Q is a shorter tripping.finger
having a toe g and passing at its inner end through recesses in the said hub and
sleeve g into pivotal engagement with the sleeve 93. The tripping fingers are
pivoted between their ends upon the arm Q. Pivoted between bearing-lugs f
on the rear side of the plate Q¹ is a swinging arm f'. Adjacent to the lugs
are guide-projections for opposite sides of the arm f The free end-
portion of the arm is bifurcated, and carries anti-friction rollers f3 which
ride upon the rear face of the sliding clutch-member 9. The arm carries
a projection forming a cam-block f. Between the clutch-members g g is
a spring 9" which tends normally to press them out of engagement.
Fulcrumed at f is a lever fe, the long arm of which extends past the
side of the housing. Pivotally mounted upon the end of the short arm of
the lever to swing laterally thereon is a finger f7 which at its lower end forms
n cam Above the finger f' is a stop f which limits the rise of the short
arm of the lever. When the said lever is in the position shown in Figure 41

page_text: When
the upper end of the finger f' is in the path of the reciprocating finger M².
the machine is started the first downward plunge of the carrier M causes the
finger M³ to strike the finger f' and drive it downward so that its cam slides
between the spring-stop fio and the cam-block f, whereby the arm f' is swung
to press the clutch-member 9' against the clutch-member and cause the
sleeve to revolve with the wheel 9 and swing the arm Q. The wheel g
rotates intermittingly and causes the arm Q to be turned intermittingly in the
direction away from the stop o" against the resistance of the spring g. The
-posts, in practice, are adjusted with reference to the scale on the disk, so that the
arm Q will pass the post Q" when the first skip is to be made, the post. Q" when
the second skip is to be made, the post Q13 when the third skip is to be made,
and the post Q1 when the end of the blank X passes the staple-forming and
driving machines, at which time the strengthening-wires c are to be cut and the
machine stopped.
On each of the fingers g" is a cam g25. The first three cams, namely, those carried
by the posts Q Q Q, are in the path of the lug or toe 20 on the finger 01,
and the cam on the post Q1 is in the path of the toe g" on the finger g". In the
intermittent movement of the arm Q the toe 920 wipes successively across the
three first cams g, and in the final movement of the arm Q the toe g engages
the cam on the post Q. When the toe g strikes a cam it moves the pin g
longitudinally, and when the toe g2 strikes a cam it moves the sleeve 9 longi-
tudinally. Pivoted upon a stud f13 are swinging fingers f f which at their
lower ends engage the grooved collars 97 98. Mounted in guides is a sliding
plate f In the said plate, see Figure 53, is an opening f, cam-opening f18,
push-pin f, and on the plate is a cam-block f20 provided with a shoulder f
Fastened against the plate P is a leaf-spring f having a cam-projection "
formed with a shoulder f". The cam f23 is in the path of the cam f20, and the
shoulder on the spring is adapted to engage the shoulder f". Pivoted at
25 is a lever f26 carrying a roller 7 which extends into the cam-opening f
Pivoted to the lever f28 is a pin f28 which passes through a guide-opening in the
adjacent spacing-lug P. Confined on the pin is a stiff spring which tends
normally to swing the lower end of the lever " to the left in Figure 52.
Journaled in the plate P is a short shaft f30 provided at one end with a crank f
and at its opposite end with a crank f". The crank f" is connected with the
lever f26 by a link f
On the bracket B1 is a journal-box B" for the shaft C. In the said box are
guide-openings for pins f carrying a cross-barf and a segmental plate f
A plunger-rod 7 is pivotally connected at its upper end to the crank p² on the
shaft D, and at its lower end connects with a bell-crank lever fulcrumed on
the sleeve C. The bell-crank lever carries a pin f" on which is mounted a
secondary pawl f40 normally out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel C.
Pivoted upon the pin f" is a lever f connected by a pin " with the pawl f,
and carrying a spring-stop f. In the rotation of the drive-shaft D the plunger-
rod swings the pawl 0 back and forth along the ratchet-wheel. In the
movement of the arm Q8 each time the toe 920 wipes across the cam g" the
finger 9 moves the pin to the left in Figure 46, whereby the lever fmoves
the pin f against the resistance of the spring f" and the latter out of engagement
with the shoulder f". The plate fi is thus released and raised by the
of the lever 28 in the cam-opening 18, which pressure is due to the spring f
This turning of the lever rocks the shaft f30 and depresses the plate 36,
it swings the pawl into engagement with the ratchet-wheel C. Thus the
whereby
ratchet-wheel, besides being moved by the pawl C, is again moved while the said
pawl is swinging in the backward direction. Thus a double movement is given to
the feed-wheels C so that the blank X is moved a double distance to skip the
lines as shown in Figure 70, and staples are therefore not driven at those
ines.
j
pressure
R is a vertical bar sliding in guides e e¹ and carrying a screw e', upon which is

page_text: in
mounted a roller e. Also upon the bar is a pin e. R¹ is a longitudinally sliding
rock-shaft which passes through an elongated slot in the bar R and the slot
the plate, whereby the shaft does not interfere with the sliding of either the
bar or the plate. On the shaft R' are a came and a crank-arm e. In the top of
the plate P is a pin e pressed down by a finger-spring e8 to give frictional
resistance to movement of the shaft R. Journaled in lugs e is a rock-shaft R2
carrying a crank-arm e0 which enters a socket in the lower end portion of the
bar R. Fastened upon the rock-shaft is a yoke R³ provided with inward
projecting pins e". Extending across an opening P" in the plate P is a cross-
plate Paffording a bearing for a rock-shaft it which 'carries a collare" having a
groove into which the pins el project. A spring e tends to press the shaft R
to the position shown in Figure 58. Loose upon the shaft is an arm R* and fixed
upon the shaft is an arm R. On the arm R' is a hollow stul els having a bearing-
surface and a flange e". Extending through the stud is a pin el which is fixed
to the arm R and slides loosely in the stud. On the pin e18 is a wheel e¹º.
Pivotally mounted upon the lug is a link R' provided with a pin which
projects across one edge of the cam-finger . S is a rock-shaft which extends
across the machine and is provided with a crank S' connected to the link R' by a
pin e Ou the plate P is a bearing-lug P to which is fulcrumed a swinging
lever Rs, carrying at its upper end a roller 22 and connected at its lower end to
the pin e. Housed in a beam A', which forms a stationary part of the main-
frame, is a vertically sliding bar S, which in its movement operates mechanism at
the staple driving devices to sever the strengthening-wires c. The shaft S is
provided with fingers S which enter sockets in the bar S. The said shaft is
journaled in bearings S and at one end carries a crank S. On the clutch-
shipping rod q is a bearing finger q8 provided with a spring-pin q" just above the
crank S.
As before stated, when the arm Q passes the posts Q Q Q it accelerates
the speed of the blank X, between up and down movements of the staple-drivers,
so that the blank traveis virtually a double distance and the lines are skipped,
in the sense that no staples are driven there. The arm Q8 will arrive at the
post Q just as the end of the blank passes the staple-drivers, and the engage-
ment of the finger g with the cam g2 on the post Q" operates to cause the
strengthening-wires c to be cut and the machine to be stopped. This is brought
about by the mechanism described, and in the following manner:
Engagement of the toe g23 with the cam on the post Q1 swings the finger and
moves the sleeve y and finger fs, so that the latter engages the came and pushes
the shaft. R', whereby the crank-arm e extends in the path of the toe 4" of the
finger carried by the carrier M. In the next upward plunge of the carrier the
toe engages the crank-arm e, turns the rock-shaft R' and cam e, whereby
the latter presses down the roller e³ and pushes down the bar R. The bar R rocks
the shaft R and causes the yoke R³ to move the shaft R and press the arm R at
its roller into the path of the cam-plate M. Thus in the next downward
plunge of the cam-plate its edge & strikes the roller e and turns the arms R* R*
to move the link R, whereby the crank S is moved to actuate the strengthening
wire-cutter mechacism and whereby the crank S engages the pin g and raises the
rod g to disengage the clutch-members on the drive-shaft and stop the machine.
The movement of the link R' also turns the lever R to move the roller e into
the path of the cam-surface h of the cam-plate, whereby in the next upward
plunge of the cam-plate, which is the last movement before the machine stops, the
cam h engages the roller 2 and returns the lever R8 and arms R R to their
initial positions.
At the same time that the link K7 is moved to the left in
Figure 41 the pin engages the cam-finger f' and swings it from between the
cam and stop f, thereby permitting the spring g" to separate the clutch-
members and permit the spring 9" to swing the arm Q bak to its initial
position against the stop g". After the finger Ao has acted up a the arm to
actuate the wire-severing mechanism the pin on the plate M¹ in the next

page_text: downward plunge of the carrier strikes the arm and turns it downward, whereby
the shaft R¹is rocked to turn the cam e, so that the bar will be raised by the action
of the spring e. After the pin h has turned the crank arm e the shaft R' is
engaged by the cam 6 and pushed to carry the crank-arm out of the path of
the toe 4 When the swinging cam-finger f' is moved by the pin the weight
of the long arm of the lever will raise the finger f again to its initial
position.
The machine is operated from the drive shaft D, which in turn is operated from
the belt-pulley D' whenever the clutch-members are in engagement. The forward
feed-wheels are actuated intermittingly from the disk E which is rocked by
the plunger p eccentrically connected with the drive-shaft. The rear feed-wheels
are actuated by the plunger-rod so that all the feed-wheels move in unison.
The staple-forming and driving-devices T are mounted and laterally adjustable
upon the beam A, being fastened in place by means of the thumb-screws T'. The
upper ends of the rods T are adjustably fastened to the cross-head N by means of
clamp-screws T. The cross-head is actuated to reciprocate up and down by
means of the eccentrics N' on the shaft D. As before stated the devices T form
staples in the up-strokes of their operating-rods T2, and discharge and drive the
staples in the downstrokes of the rods; and the feed-wheels are so geared to the
drive-shaft with relation to the cross-head N that in the upstroke of the cross-head, to
form the staples, the material or blank X is advanced, and in the down strokes of the
cross-head, to drive the staples, the material is caused o remain at rest so that the
staples will be driven perpendicularly into the material. Below each stapling-device T
is a clincher V. The object of the clinchers is to engage the undersurfaces of the
cleats when stapies are driven and thus receive the impact. Each clincher com-
prises a shell V having a guide-opening V' for a stem V provided with a head or
anvil V. On the stem is an adjusting wheel V, and below the wheel, the stem,
which is threaded, enters the socket piece V to which the wheel is feathered upon
a key V. On the stem is a pin V8 extending through a slot V and provided with
a pointer V10 which moves on a scale V. On the drive-shaft D are eccentrics V₁*
connected by plunger rods V8 with a horizontal cross-head V", on which the
socket-pieces Ve rest. Springs Vis tend to hold the socket-pieces and rods V
down against the cross-head V4. In the downward plunge of the cross-head N,
to drive staples, the cross-head V is raised to move the heads or anvils V*
against the undersides of the cleats. In the rise of the cross-head N the cross-
head V descends to permit the springs V to move the anvils downward out of
engagement with the cleats.
The cleat guide-bars are laterally adjustable and may be fastened in place at the
bar B by thumb-screws . Each cleat-guide is provided at the bar B with a
clamping-block n actuated by a thumb-screw 2. The tops of the guide-bars are
cut away, as shown at n³, to clear the rollers 6 H 1. All the parts of the machine are
rendered adjustable as shown and described so that the parts may be moved as
required in the manufacture of the blanks of different sizes; and on various parts
of the machine are scales as, for example, the scale y' on the beam A', to indicate
the position to which parts may he moved.
The general operation of the machine is as follows:
The operating handle m is turned to raise the forward feed-roller and lower
the stops m Cleats are then placed in the guides against the said stops. A sheet
is then placed on the cleats against the stops, and the handle m³ is turned to depress
the roller and raise the stops. The machine is then started by turning the
handle y'. The primary feed-rollers 7 and secondary feed-rollers C will move
in unison except when the primary rollers are speeded to advance the material
quickly, as before described, or the secondary rollers are speeded or accelerated
under the action of the skipper mechanism. When the machine is started the
lever L may be turned to cause the shaft F to be rotated by the pulley Land
speed the material forward until it arrives at the staple-drivers, when the lever L' is
moved to disengage the shaft F from the pulley L. The staples are formed in the

page_text: -upstrokes of the staple-drivers from the wires d which are wound upon reels d¹ and
the strengthening-wires c are drawn from reels c¹. On the reels are suitable
tensioning-devices d 3. During the rotation of the shaft D the disk E is rocked
and through the rods Co E turns the feed-wheels intermittingly during each
upstroke of the cross-head N.
Thus the feed will always alternate in its action
with the staple-drivers and clinchers. The strengthening-wires pass at their ends
through guide-openings in the stapling-devices below the discharge-openings for the
staples, and the wires are fed by being drawn along by the movement of the
material. Adjacent to the said guide-openings are suitable wire-cutters actuated
by movement of the bar S2. Normally, the material will be fed about two inches
with each movement of the feed-rollers so that the staples will be driven about two
inches, or a little more apart. When the arm Q, with its tripping-mechanism,
passes one of the posts a double speed is given to the feed-wheels C, as before
described, so that at the lines a of the blank the staples will be, say, four inches apart.
When the arm Q³ engages the post Q1 the shaft S is rocked, as before described,
causing the bar S2 to be moved and operate the wire-cutter at each staple-
driver, which cuts off the strengthening-wires a little beyond the end of the
sheet X, so that the ends of the wires will project. At the same time the
shaft S causes the rod q' to be raised and stop the machine. When desired, after
a blank is finished, the roller I may be raised by lifting the lever I to raise the
links 13 which engage the said roller, and the blank thus released and taken from
the machine.
The machine constructed as described is capable of turning out blanks, say six
feet long, at the rate of about two hundred per hour. It is to be understood,
however, that the mechanism shown and described may be modified, more especially
-in the matter of details of construction, without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
It will be obvious that the skipper mechanism, which, broadly considered, is
designed mainly to prevent the driving of staples at or near points in the intended
lines, r, of folding the blank, may for this general function be applied either to the
feed mechanism or to the staple-driving or tacking-devices. The skipper mechanism
consists, broadly, in a means for increasing the distance between staples at pre-
determined points whether accomplished by accelerating the feed as described, or
by restraining the staple-driving devices to the extent of one or more staples.
It is preferred to construct the blank X with cleats X2, which are on edge, and one
or more intermediate cleats X which may extend flatwise. When the blank leaves
the machine the cleats and sheet are cut, as indicated by dotted lines at a, Figure 71,
without, however, cutting the strengthening-wires. A box is formed from the blank
by placing suitable box-ends against the cleats X, bending the blank at the corners
and twisting the opposite ends of the wires c together. The wires hold the sides
of the box together at the corners and the whole tends to form a very strong and
durable shipping-case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a machine for forming blanks by tacking a sheet to cleats, the combination
with intermittingly actuated tacking-devices and with feed-mechanism alternating
in its action with the tacking-devices, to feed the sheet and cleats intermittingly
across the said devices, of skipper mechanism operating, at predetermined intervals,
to produce an increase of the distance between points of tacking, substantially as
described.
2. In a machine for forming blanks by tacking a sheet to cleats, the combination
with intermittingly actuated tacking-devices and with feed-mechanism alternating
in its action with the tacking-devices, to feed the sheet and cleats intermittingly
across the said devices, of skipper-mechanism at the said feed-mechanism, operating,

page_text: at predetermined intervals, in the passage of the sheet and cleats through the
machine, to accelerate the feed and thereby produce an increase of the distance
between points of tacking, substantially as described.
3. In a machine for forming blanks by tacking a sheet to cleats, the combination.
of guides for the cleats, intermittent feed-mechanism, for advancing the cleats.
longitudinally in their guides, and with the sheet, through the machine, comprising.
primary and secondary feed-rollers rotating normally at the same rate of speed, an
intermittingly actuated tacking-device adjacent to the path of each cleat, alternating
in its action with said feed-mechanism to fasten the sheet, by successive operations,.
to the cleats, and skipper mechanism at the said secondary feed-rollers, operating,
at predetermined intervals, in the passage of the sheet and cleats through the
machine, to accelerate the said secondary feed-rollers and thereby produce an
increase of the distance between points of tacking, substantially as described.
4. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening a sheet to cleats, the combination
of guides for the cleats, intermittent feed-mechanism, for advancing the cleats
longitudinally in their guides and with the sheet through the machine, an intermittingly
actuated tacking-device adjacent to the path of each cleat, alternating in its action.
with said feed-mechanisin to fasten the sheet, by successive operations, to the cleats,
and skipper-mechanism actuated by the said feed-mechanism, at predetermined
intervals, in the passage of the sheet and cleats through the machine, to accelerate
the said feed-mechanism and thereby produce an increase of the distance between.
points of tacking, substantially as described.
5. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening a sheet to cleats, the combination
of a drive-shaft, guides for the cleats, feed-mechanism, comprising feed-rollers, a
ratchet-wheel geared to the same, and a primary ratchet-wheel engaging-pawl
actuated from the drive-shaft to turn the said ratchet-wheel and feed-rollers
intermittingly to advance the cleats longitudinally in their guides and with the
sheet through the machine, an intermittingly actuated tacking-device adjacent to
the path of each cleat, alternating in its action with said feed-mechanism to fasten
the sheet, by successive operations, to the cleats, and skipper-mechanism comprising
a secondary ratchet-wheel engaging-pawl actuated from the said drive-shaft and
normally out of engagement with the said ratchet-wheel, and pawl engaging means
operating, at predetermined intervals, in the passage of the sheet and cleats through
the machine, to move the said secondary pawl into engagement with the ratchet-
wheel and thereby accelerate the feed to produce an increase of the distance
between points of tacking, substantially as described.
6. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening a sheet to cleats, the combination
with intermittingly actuated tacking-devices and with feed-mechanism alternating
in its action with the tacking-devices to feed the sheet and cleats intermittingly
across the said devices, of skipper-mechanism at the said feed-mechanism, operating,
at intervals in the passage of the sheet and cleats through the machine, to accelerate
the feed and thereby produce an increase of the distance between points of tacking,
the said skipper mechanism being adjustable to regulate the said intervals,
substantially as described.
7. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening a sheet to cleats, the combination
of a drive-shaft, guides for the cleats, feed-mechanism, comprising feed-rollers, a
ratchet-wheel geared to said feed-rollers, and primary pawl at the said ratchet
wheel actuated from the drive-shaft for moving the feed-rollers intermittingly to
advance the cleats longitudinally in their guides and with the sheet through the
machine, an intermittingly actuated tacking-device adjacent to the path of cach
cleat, alternating in its action with said feed-mechanism, to fasten the sheet, by
successive operations, to the cleat, and skipper-mechanism comprising a secondary
pawl actuated from the said drive-shaft and adjacent to but normally out of
engagement with said ratchet-wheel, a tripping-device movable under the influence
of the feed-rollers, a stop in the path of said tripping-device, and a connection
between said tripping-device and secondary pawl, whereby in the engagement of
the tripping-device with the said stop the said secondary pawl is moved to engage

page_text: the said ratchet-wheel and thereby increase the movement of the feed-rollers and
thus produce an increase of the distance between points of tacking, substantially as
described.
8. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening a sheet to cleats, the combination
of a drive-shaft, guides for the cleats, feed-mechanism comprising feed-rollers, a
ratchet-wheel geared to said feed-rollers, and a primary pawl at the said ratchet-
wheel actuated from the drive-shaft for moving the feed-rollers intermittingly to
advance the cleats longitudinally in their guides and with the sheet through the
machine, an intermittingly actuated tacking-device adjacent to the path of each
cleat, alternating in its action with said feed-mechanism, to fasten the sheet, by
successive operations, to the cleat, and skipper-mechanism comprising a secondary
pawl actuated from the said drive-shaft and adjacent to but normally out of
engagement with said ratchet-wheel, a tripping-device movable under the influence
of the feed-rollers, a scale along which said tripping-device moves, a stop adjustable
along the said scale and in the path of said tripping-device, and a connection
between the said tripping-device and secondary pawl, whereby in the engagement
of the tripping-device with the said stop the said secondary pawl is moved to
engage the said ratchet-wheel and thereby increase the movement of the feed-
rollers and produce an increase of the distance between points of tacking,
substantially as described.
9. In a machine for forming blauks by fastening a sheet to cleats, the combination
of a drive-pulley provided with a clutch-member, a drive-shaft provided with a
clutch-member, shipping-mechanism for said clutch-members operating to throw
them into and out of engagement to throw the drive-shaft into and out of
engagement with its drive-pulley, guides for the cleats, intermittent feed-
mechanism, actuated from the said drive-shaft for advancing the cleats longi-
tudinally in their guides and with the sheet through the machine, a tacking device
adjacent to the path of each cleat and operated intermittingly from the said
drive-shaft to alternate in its action with said feed-mechanism and fasten the
sheet, by successive operations, to the cleats, skipper-mechanism at the said
feed-mechanism, operating, at predetermined intervals, to produce an increase of
the distance between points of tacking, and means actuated by the said feed-
mechanism for moving the said clutch shipping-mechanism to stop the machine,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening sheets and strengthening-wires
to reinforcing-cleats, the combination of guides for the cleats, intermittent feed-
mechanism for advancing the cleats longitudinally in their guides and with a sheet
through the machine, an intermittingly actuated staple-driver adjacent to the path
of each cleat, alternating in its action with said feed-mechanism, to fasten the sheet
and strengthening-wires, by successive operations, to the cleats, means for guiding
the strengthening-wires with the sheet across the staple-drivers, and skipper
mechanism operating, at predetermined intervals, in the passage of the sheet and
cleats through the machine, to produce an increase of the distance between the
points at which the staples are driven, substantially as described.
11. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening sheets and strengthening-wires
to reinforcing cleats, the combination of guides for the cleats, intermittent feed-
mechanism for advancing the cleats longitudinally in their guides and with a sheet
through the machine, an intermittingly actuated staple-driver adjacent to the path
of each cleat, alternating in its action with said feed-mechanism, to fasten the sheet
and strengthening-wires, by successive operations, to the cleats, means for guiding
the strengthening-wires with the sheet across the staple-drivers, skipper-mechanism
operating, at predetermined intervals, in the passage of the sheet and cleats through
the machine, to produce an increase of the distance between the points at which the
staples are driven, and strengthening-wires severing-mechanism actuated from the
said feed-mechanism, to sever the strengthening-wires when the sheet and cleats
have passed the staple-drivers, substantially as described.
12. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening sheets and strengthening-

page_text: wires to reinforcing-cleats, the combination of a drive-shaft and driver therefor,
clutch-mechanism between the said driver and shaft, clutch-shipping mechanism,
guides for the cleats, intermittent feed-mechanism actuated from the said drive-
shaft for advancing the cleats longitudinally in their guides and with a sheet
through the machine, an intermittingly actuated staple-driver adjacent to the path
of each cleat, operated from the said drive-shaft and alternating in its action with
said feed-mechanism to fasten the sheet and strengthening-wires. by successive
operations, to the cleats at intervals in the direction longitudinally of the cleat,
means for guiding strengthening wires with the sheet across the staple-drivers,
skipper-mechanism operating at predetermined intervals in the passage of the
sheet and cleats through the machine, to produce an increase of the distance
between points at which staples are driven, and means, actuated from the said
feed-mechanism, for moving the said clutch-shipping mechanism to stop the
machine when the cleats and sheet have passed the staple-drivers, substantially as
described.
13. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening a sheet to cleats, the
combination of guides for the cleats, intermittent feed-mechanism, for advancing
the cleats longitudinally in their guides and with the sheet through the machine,
comprising primary and secondary feed-rollers rotating normally at the same rate
of speed, an intermittingly actuated tacking-device adjacent to the path of each
cleat, alternating in its action with said feed-mechanism to fasten the sheet, by
successive operations, to the cleats, and means for increasing the movement of the
primary feed-rollers to hasten the movement of the sheet and cleats toward the
tacking devices, substantially as described.
14. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening
combination of laterally adjustable guides for the cleats, intermittent feed-
a sheet to cleats, the
mechanism, for advancing the cleats longitudinally in their guides and with the
sheet through the machine, the said feed-mechanism being formed with feed-rollers
extending cross-wise of the machine in the plane above the said guides and feed-
wheels journaled in the said guides, an intermittingly actuated tacking-device
supported adjacent to the path of each cleat and laterally adjustable on its support
and alternating in its action with the said feed-mechanism to fasten the sheet, by
successive operations, to the cleats, substantially as described.
15. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening
combination of a main drive-shaft, guides for the cleats, intermittent feed-
sheet to cleats, the
mechanism, for advancing the cleats longitudinally in their guides, and with the
sheet through the machine, comprising primary and secondary feed-rollers rotating
normally at the same rate of speed, an intermittingly actuated tacking-device
adjacent to the path of each cleat, alternating in its action with the said feed-
mechanism, to fasten the sheet, by successive operations, to the cleats, a secondary
drive-shaft actuated from the main drive-shaft and to which the primary feed-
rollers are geared, and means for increasing the movement of the primary feed-
rollers, to hasten the movement of the sheet and cleats toward the tacking-devices,
comprising speed-gear mechanism actuated from the main drive-shaft and with
which the said secondary drive-shaft may be thrown into and out of engagement at
will, substantially as described.
16. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening a sheet to cleats, the
combination of a main drive-shaft, guides for the cleats, intermittent feed-
mechanism, for advancing the cleats longitudinally in their guides, and with the
sheet through the machine, comprising primary and secondary feed-rollers rotating
normally at the same rate of speed, an intermittingly actuated tacking-device
djacent to the path of each cleat, alternating in its action with said feed-
mechanism, to fasten the sheet, by successive operations, to the cleats, a secondary
Irive-shaft actuated from the main drive-shait and to which the primary feed-
ollers are geared, and means for rotating the said secondary drive-shaft inde-
endently of the main-drive-shaft, comprising pawl and ratchet mechanism at the

page_text: secondary drive-shaft, and an operating-handle therefor, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
17. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening a sheet to cleats, the
combination with the guides for the cleats and intermittent tacking-devices, of
intermittent feed-mechanism for advancing the cleats longitudinally in their guides
and with the sheet through the machine, comprising a series of upper and lower
feed-rollers, movable stops at said guides adjacent to the first upper feed-roller,
and means for raising the said first feed-roller, and lowering the said stops into
the paths of the cleats and sheet, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
18. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening a sheet to cleats, the
combination with the guides for the cleats and intermittent tacking-devices at said
guides of intermittent feed-mechanism for advancing the cleats longitudinally in
their guides and with the sheet through the machine, comprising a series of upper
and lower feed-rollers, between the forward end of the guides and tacking-devices
and lever mechanism operative at will to raise the first upper feed-roller and the
upper feed-roller adjacent to said tacking-devices, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
19. In a machine for forming blanks by tacking a sheet to cleats, the combination
with intermittingly actuated tacking-devices, of guides for the cleats, yielding
guides for the edges of the sheet and intermittingly actuated feed-mechanism for
advancing the cleats and sheet in their guides longitudinally across the said
tacking-devices, the said feed-mechanism alternating in its action with the said
tacking-devices, substantially as described.
20. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening a sheet to cleats, the
combination with intermittingly actuated tacking-devices, of outer and intermediate
guides for the cleats, yielding-guides for the edges of the sheet on the said outer
cleat-guides, and intermittingly actuated feed-mechanism for advancing the sheet
and cleats in their guides longitudinally across the said tacking devices, the said
feed-mechanism alternating in its action with the said tacking-devices, substantially
as described.
21. In a machine for forming blanks by fastening a sheet to cleats, the
combination with intermittingly actuated tacking-devices, of guides for the cleats,
yielding guides for the edges of the sheet, overlapping guides for the edge-
portions of the sheet and feed-mechanism for advancing the sheet and cleats in
their guides longitudinally across the said tacking-devices, the said feed-mechanism
alternating in its action with the said tacking-devices, substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of February 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.