Improvements in Machines for Making Paper Boxes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1894-Accepted, 16th June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Paper Boxes.
I, CHAUNCEY WOLCOTT GAY, of Elm Street, West Springfield, County of
Hampden and State of Massachusetts, 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:
This invention relates to improved mechanisms embodied in an automatic
machine for gumming paper box blanks and for folding them and ensuring the
adhesion of the adjacent corner flaps or wings.
The improvements more particularly relate to the gumming and picker mechanism,
the blank conveyor, the folding and setting mechanisms, as to their constructions
and the combination or arrangement of certain thereof to each other, and,
incidentally in connection with these mechanisms, the invention relates to
subordinate features for utility and novelty, as will be hereinafter rendered
manifest.
The invention also has reference to constructions and arrangements whereby the
machine may be utilized for making boxes of different shapes and sizes: And
the invention consists in various constructions and combinations of parts, all
substantially as will hereinafter fully appear and be set forth in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which the invention is
fully illustrated, wherein
Figure 1 is a plan view of the box making machine.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of certain of the driving connections for the
blank conveyor.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine, and
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same.
Figure 4 is an illustration in perspective of one of the end-setting followers.
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing one of the corner wing folders and the
piece to which it is connected.
Figure 6 is a vertical section on a large scale taken through a part of the folding
and end setting mechanism about on the line 6-6, Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a plan view of parts seen in Figure 6, the folding plunger being
shown in horizontal section.
Figures 8, 10, and 12 are vertical sections taken substantially on the plane
indicated by the line 6-6, Figure 1, (and somewhat similar to Figure 6) showing
different stages of the folding operation, while Figures 9, 11, and 13, are sectional
elevations of the same.
Figure 14 is a perspective view on a large scale showing the formation and
arrangement of the parts at the corner of the folding throat or box.
Figure 15 is a plan view of the blank from which the box is produced.
Figure 16 is a perspective view showing the relative disposition of the parts of
the blank at the corner of the completed box.
Figure 17 is a plan view showing a slight modification which may be practicably
made in the form of the blank at the stay section.
Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.
A, Figure 15, and also Figure 1,-represents the blank from which the box is
formed, the same comprising a rectangular middle section, a, as bounded by the
scores or bending lines, a², outside of which are the side sections, b, b, and end
sections, 62, 62, the lengths of which are equal to the proximate boundaries of

page_text: the middle section, the widths being equal to the height of the box (or box
cover).
The blank also comprises the stay sections, d, which are formed as endwise
continuations of the opposite side sections, there being between them and the said
side sections the scores or bending lines, a². These stay sections are of trapezoidal
form, as rendered by the diagonal cut at d. These sections might, however, be
triangular, as indicated in Figure 17.
In making the box the side end sections are bent up at right angles to the
bottom, the wings or stay sections are turned at right angles to the side sections
from which they are unsevered and lie against the inner sides, near their ends, of
the end sections being struck thereto by the gum, or usual adhesive, no separate
stay strips of tape, or other flexible material, being necessary.
In the manufacture of the boxes substantially as described, the blanks are
placed in a pile upon an elevator and automatically raised so as to present the top
of the pile subject to the impact in its descent of the gummer-pickers; the pickers
lift the blanks, one at a time, and while the blank is lifted the blank-conveyor
comes horizontally forward thereunder, whereupon the blank is detached from the
picker and falling upon the conveyor is, by the latter, carried over the folding box,
or throat, and under the folding plunger, all very much in the manner of
handling blanks for envelopes.
The walls of the rectangular throat, or folding box, stand normally opened from
each other leaving the opening larger than the plan of the box, said walls being
inwardly movable, and have movements imparted periodically to them, whereby the
infolded wings are properly brought to the squared form and have their ends
squeezed hard against the plunger to set the gummed stay-sections.
The folded and stuck boxes are then permitted to fall down through the opening
at the bottom of the folding box to be cared for in any suitable manner.
The gummer picker, as seen in Figures 1, and 3, comprises the vertical
reciprocatory shaft, f, the motion to which is imparted in the manner usual in
envelope machines, and this shaft has secured to its lower end the horizontal,
transversely ranging bar, or rigid rod, f². This rod has, adjustably fitted at each
end, the split collars, f³, held by grip-nuts, f, in and through both of which collars
are secured, by their middles, parallel and forwardly and rearwardly ranging
rods, gx, g; on the end portions of these rods are adjustably fitted and held by
the set screws, 92, the split hubs, 93, of the pickers, g'; the picker members,
proper, standing in parallel front and rear pairs, or at the corners of an imaginary
rectangle coinciding with the ends of the end sections of the blank, and all as
plainly seen in Figure 1. The gumming impressions of the pickers are also seen
at 9, in Figure 15.
By properly adjusting the bars, gx, along the bar, f, the pickers may be arranged
for gumming the blank for a box of different length; and with the pickers set for
any given length, by adjusting them individually fore and aft on the bars, g', g',
they may be made to accord with the blanks which are provided for boxes of a
differing width.
The folding box, or throat, the sides of which are movable, are constituted by
the end followers, B, B, and the vertical plates, or blocks, D, D, D, D, front and
rear pairs of which are mounted on the slides, E, E. These parts have, at proper
times and when the folding plunger, F, is well down, their closing-in movements,
as will be hereinafter set forth, but they stand, when the plunger is up, at the
boundaries of a rectangle somewhat larger than the plan of the completed box,
and at, or near, the boundaries of the rectangular opening, a, at the opposite ends
of which are the hinged bottom sections, deriving their swinging movements in the
manner hereinafter described.
The end followers, and their actuating means, are fully and clearly shown in
Figures 1 to 4, and 6 to 7; and each of these duplicated mechanisms comprises a
bottom slide, 20, constrained, for slight extents of horizontal rectilinear recipro-
catory movements, by the grooved formations seen at 22, which ensure support and

page_text: guide engagements with the boundaries of the apertures, 23, transversely formed
in the table, as continuations of the throat-opening, x, And the slide has, at its
inner end, the right angular and upright member constituting the follower proper, B,
the height of which is to be approximately that of the box to be formed in the
machine. The follower-slide is centrally and longitudinally apertured outside of
the upright member, as seen at 24, and has at its top rear end the substantial
bearings, 25, 25, for the trunnion-like journals, 26, 26, of the collar, 27, which has
its location within the said aperture.
Through this collar is the shank of the screw-shaft, 28, the engagement being
adjustably ensured by the two lock-nuts, 29, 29. This screw-shaft forms one
member of a toggle-joint, the other member thereof consisting in the link-
piece, 30, which has the bifurcated formation at 32, receiving pivotal connection
thereat of the said screw-shaft, and which toggle member has its opposite
end pivotally mounted in the apertured support block, 33, firmly bolted to the
table near its lateral edge. The said toggle member, 30), has the depending
ear-pieces, 34, 34, within and pivotally connected to which is the upper end of the
thrust-rod, 35, which is operated through means of the cam, 36, on the main
shaft, C.
The slides, E, E, which are at the front and rear of the said opening, &, have
their reciprocatory movements on the top of the bed towards and from the front
and rear edges of the said opening, and at right angles to the line of movement of
the followers, B, B.
The slides have the slots, 40, longitudinally thereof (which slots are trans-
versely of the table of the machine) in which are set the depending ribs, 42, of
the clamp-blocks, 43, which are provided with the upwardly extended edge
flanges, 44, 44.
The aforementioned vertical blocks, or plates, D, D, have their horizontal right
angular members, 45, fitted in the clamp-blocks, these members, the blocks, and
slide, all being confined by the bolts, the shanks of which pass down through the
parts, 45 and 43, and the slotted slide, the nut locking them in the confinement
when adjusted. It will be seen that the vertical plates, D, D, have their location
within the opposite edges of the aperture, &, their upper edges being, as
will be seen in Figures 6 to 14,-somewhat higher than the upper edges of the
followers.
The properly timed and periodically reciprocatory movements are imparted to
the slides, E, E, by the connection there with of arms, 46, extended from the
rock-shaft, 47, 47, each rock-shaft having a radial arm, 48, with which is connected
the upper end of a thrust-rod, 49, which receives its reciprocatory movement in
one direction by the main-shaft cam, 50, and in the other by the spring, 51.
The plates, D, D, of the front and rear pairs stand in coinciding planes which are
within the ends of the followers, B, the outer edges of the plates being quite near
the working faces of the followers even when the latter are retreated. These
plates, D, are, therefore, as manifest, adjustable edgewise toward, or from each
other, that is, along the lengths of the slides, E, and also are adjustable inwardly,
transversely of the slides, to accord with different-sized box-blanks, the adjustment of
the followers, at their connections with the screw-toggle members, being necessary
to accord with the edgewise adjustment of the plates, D, for changes of length.
Were it not for the purposes of adjustment of these plates, D, as above explained,
a single wider plate of the required formation might be provided non-adjustably as
to its width at, and upon, the front and rear slides.
Each plate, D, stands a little higher than the top of the follower, its upper edge
being upwardly and outwardly bevelled, as seen at 52. And each plate has at its
upper corner towards the follower, the projection, g, which as regarded relatively
to the dimensions of the plate, D, extends longitudinally outwardly from the edge,
and also laterally inwardly from the face of the plate, D. The upper surface, 53,
of this projection is on a bevel corresponding to, and as a continuation of, the
bevel, 52, of the upper edge of the plate, while its inner face, 54, which is opposite

page_text: from the working face of the follower, is downwardly and inwardly bevelled towards
the plane of movement of the vertical end of the plunger, see Figures 5 and 6.
When the follower is forced up to edgewise contact with the plates, D, D, its
upper surface is closely under the aforesaid projections, g, g.
The conveyor, to be soon described in detail, brings the flat blank from the pile,
at the front, to a position over the throat, the side sections, b, b, overlying the
upper edges of the plates, D, D, the stay sections in part overlying the projections, g,
while the end sections overlie the tops of the followers.
The relations of these parts are shown in Figures 6 and 7, the heavy broken
lines in the latter figure indicating the blank, the parts, D and B, being shown as
retreated.
Now, before the said retreated parts move to their contracted relations, the
folding plunger descends and as the middle of the blank is, by the plunger, forced
down, the opposite side sections, b, are bent angularly to the bottom section, a, and
the stay sections, d, are, by the bevelled faces, 54, of the projections, g, caused to
assume, more or less nearly, right angular relations to the side flaps, as well as to
the bottom, all as will be clearly understood on reference to Figures 8 to 16 of the
drawings, in connection with this description.
It will be perceived, Figures 10 and 11, that as the plunger descends so far as to
cause, in its co-operation with the faces, 52, 54, the sections, b, d, to have their top
edges nearly vertical and about coincident with the under surfaces of the
projections, g, and the end sections, 62, to stand angularly to the bottom section, a,
the slides, E, are moved inwardly causing the plates, D, D, and the edge or
corner, 55, of the projection to have positions snugly up to the sides of the plunger,
the said blank sections, b, d, of course assuming positions next to the plunger; and
now each of the followers begins to move inwardly, finally assuming the position
seen in Figures 12 and 13.
As the followers come up and remain hard against the blank sections, 62, d,
ensuring the setting of the adhesive, and at a time when the bottom of the plunger
is level with the bottom of the followers, the hinged bottom sections, G, G, are
forcibly swung up against the bottom end portions of the box, and, together with
the followers, effect the positive shaping and setting of the box.
It will be perceived in the drawings that the end of the plunger is reduced or
rebated, as at 57, at its ends between its corners, so that the entire end pressure by
the followers against the ends of the plunger is next to the corners, where only is
such pressure necessary.
The bottom sections, G, G, are in the form of plain rigid rectangular bars, and
are hinged near the lower corners, at their working ends, of the follower slides, as
fully and clearly shown in the drawings.
Each said hinged section has connected thereto the thrust-rod, 58, operated by
the properly timed and guided cam on the cam-shaft.
Each of the vertical members, B, of the followers has, within its working face, a
recess, 65, in which is set a plate, 66, having its upper portion overturned to form
a hook, 67, which stands outwardly beyond the face of the follower, at a place
opposite the rebated part, 57, of the plunger.
As the plunger, after having forced the blank down against the bottom sections, G,
retreats rapidly upward before the followers have retreated much, should the box
hang upon the plunger it will, by the said hooked clearing device, be stripped
therefrom and will, of course, fall down through the throat opening as the members
constituting it expand or recede.
The blank conveyor comprises the parallel opposing horizontal bars, h, h, each of
which has the longitudinal upwardly extended rib, or feather, 70.
The follower members, B, B, have end wise through them, which is fore and aft
of the machine near their upper inner corners, the ways, 72, for the said feathered
conveyor-bars, said ways having the contracted openings leading to the upper
surface of the follower members so that the feathers, 70, stand with their edges
considerably above the said upper surfaces.

page_text: While the conveyor bars move longitudinally thereof through the conveyors for
the purpose of receiving thereupon the blanks and carrying them to their positions
over the folding box, they necessarily have, by reason of their support upon the
followers, movements transversely of their lengths bodily with the followers; and
to permit this action each of the bars has, at or near its rear end, the angularly
extended perforated lug, 75, while through the perforation, 76, of these lugs is
loosely passed the horizontal bar or rod, 78, to which the cam-operated driving
connections are secured; the last mentioned driving connections are indicated in
Figures 1 and 2 and consist of the links, 79, pivotally connected to the ends of the
bar and the upright swinging levers, 80, 80, which have their upper ends connected
to said links, their lower ends being rigidly supported, as at 82, to suitable parts
of the rock-shaft, 83, which is mounted in suitable bearings therefor of the framing.
This rock-shaft has the radial arm, or crank, 84, which, by a link, 85, is connected
to one arm, 86, of an intermediately pivoted lever, the other arm, 87, of which has
the roller stud in working engagement with the eccentric or cam, 88.
The spring, 89, ensures the movement of the last described parts in a direction
opposite to that in which the said parts are positively forced by the cam.
The rib or feather, 70, which stands above the top of the follower, B, constitutes,
in a certain degree, a former member, or part, coacting in the upward and inward
turning of the end sections, 62, as will be apparent on an inspection of Figure 8 ;
the upper part of the follower, B, might be downwardly and inwardly bevelled
whereby the adequate folding action would be derived, but by the construction
shown, wherein the feather stands above the longitudinal way, 72, at its upper
orifice, there will be no liability of the lubricant, which is liberally provided in the
slide-way, coming onto the surface of the blank.
Inasmuch as the upper edges of the plates, D, are higher than the tops of the
followers, B, and the plane of movement of the conveyor bars, h, the front pair of
the plates have the sheet metal upwardly and rearwardly inclined deflectors, 81, to
raise and guide the rear edge of the rearwardly moving blank as it assumes its
position over the folding throat.
The elevating mechanism for the blanks and the means for supplying the pickers
with gum are not herein particularly described as they constitute no part of the
novelties of this invention and may be substantially as usual and well known in
envelope machines.
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. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the vertical
reciprocatory picker-shaft having fixed at its lower end the horizontal bar, f2, the
bars, g, g, adjustably secured upon, and at right angles to, the end portions of the
said bar, 2, and having the pickers individually supported upon and detachably
connected for longitudinal adjustment along the end portions of said bars, f³,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the vertical
reciprocatory shaft having fixed at its lower end, by its middle, the horizontal
transverse bar, 2, with the adjustably confined collars, f³, at its eads, the horizontal
bars, 9, 9, ranging in parallelisin fore-and-aft and secured in socket-lugs of said
adjustable collars, and the individual pickers having split socket-lugs and set screws
whereby they have adjustable engagements along the end portions of said bars, 9, 9,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the table having the aperture
and reciprocatory folding plunger, movable relative thereto, of the slide-followers
which constitute opposite sides of the throat or folding-box and the bottom sections
hinged to the working ends of the follower-slides and means for imparting
reciprocatory movements to the follower-slides, and swinging movements to the

page_text: hinged bottom sections, while the followers are in their approached, relations,
substantially as described.
4. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the table having the aperture
and the plunger vertically movable relatively thereto, of the followers each
comprising the horizontal slide base with the aperture, 24, and a vertical inner end
member, B, the collar, 27, supported within said aperture and having lateral
journals in bearings at the top of the slide at each side of the said aperture, the
link member, 30, pivotally secured upon the table, the screw-shaft, 28, pivotally
connected to the link member and having its shank extended through said collar,
with the lock-puts thereon at each side of the collar, the cam, and the thrust-rod
actuated thereby which has a connection with one of the said link members,
substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
5. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the movably supported
followers with slide-ways, of the blank conveyor having the slide bars thereof
longitudinally movable through said ways of the followers, and also bodily
movable transversely of their length in unison with said followers, and means for
imparting the approaching and retreating movements to the followers, and for
moving the conveyor bars longitudinally, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
6. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the movably supported
followers with ways, of the blank-conveyor comprising the parallel side bars
longitudinally movable through said ways of the follower and bodily movable
transversely of their length in unison with said followers, and having at their rear
ends the angularly extended perforated lugs, 75, 75, the bar, 78, extended
transversely of said bars loosely through the said perforated lugs, and driving
connections for imparting to said bar a forward and rearward reciprocatory
movement, substantially as described.
7. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the reciprocatory plunger, and
the throat or folding-box consisting of opposing sets of vertical plates, or members,
which are movable towards and from each other, and means for imparting said
movements thereto, of a clearer or stripper set within a recess which is formed
within the face of one of said vertical plates and which has, by a hooked portion
thereof, a position of extension outwardly beyond the plane of the face of said
member, substantially as described.
8. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the plunger and the throat or
folding-box constituted by the plates, D, D, and the follower members, B, B, of
the slides on which said members are mounted and means for imparting to the
respective sets thereof reciprocatory movements at right angles to each other, and
the hinged bottom sections, G, G, secured to the lower inner edges of the
follower-slides and means for swinging them into their horizontal positions when
the followers are in their approached relations to the plunger, substantially as
described.
9. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the plunger and the folding-box
or throat, the walls of which are constituted by upright members of opposing end
followers, and the upright opposing plates, D, D, at right angles to the followers,
and which have projections at the tops of their vertical edges adjacent the
followers, the upper edges of the followers and plates constituting edges by and
upon which are bent, as the plunger descends, the end and side sections of the box
blank while the integral stay sections are, by said corner projections, turned in at
right angles to the side sections, substantially as described.
10. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the plunger, of a folding-box
or throat having one or both of its opposite sides constituted by one or more
upright plates, D, each with an edgewise longitudinal projection, 9, at an upper
corner thereof which is also laterally extended relative to the inner face of the
plate and having with the plate proper the common upward and outward
bevel, 52, 53, and said projection having the inner surface, 54, which is in a plane

page_text: perpendicular to the face of the plate downwardly and inwardly inclining towards
the plane of movement of the vertical end of the plunger, substantially as
described.
11. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the plunger and the follower
slides, 20, and the slides, E, E, and means for imparting slight reciprocatory
movements thereto, of a folding-box or throat constituted by the opposing upright
members, B, B, of the end followers, and the upright plates, D, D, of the slides,
the said plates having a height greater than that of the members, B, and having
their upper edges bevelled, and with the projections g, at the corners near and
above the followers which have the bevelled surfaces, 53 and 54, all substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
12. In a paper-box machine. the combination with a reciprocating folding--
plunger, and the followers, B, B, movable towards and from the ends thereof, and
adjustable for ensuring, at pleasure, variations as to their normal relative dispositions
of the slides at opposite sides of the plunger and having the upright plates, D, D,
which are adjustable along the lengths of the slides, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
13. In a paper-box machine, the combination with a reciprocating folding-
plunger and the followers, B, B, movable towards and from the ends thereof and
adjustable for ensuring, at pleasure, variations as to their normal relative dispositions,.
of the slides at opposite sides of the plunger having the upright plates, D, D,..
which are adjustable on the slides in the direction of the movement thereof, and
which are also adjustable along the lengths of the slides at right angles to the slide
movement, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
14. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the reciprocating folding
plunger and the end followers, of the slides E, E, each longitudinally slotted, and
having the clamp-block, 43, with the rib, 42, and the edge flanges, 44, and the
vertical plates, D, D, with the bevelled upper edges, the upper edgewise corner
projections, g, and having the foot members, 45, which are slotted at right angles
to the slot of the slide, the locking bolt for rigidly clamping the slide, clamp-block,.
and foot-member, and means for imparting a fore-and-aft movement to the slide,
substantially as described.
15. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the end followers, of the side
plates, D, and the slides, E, in which they are mounted, the cams, the rock-
shafts, 47, having arms, 46, connected to the slides and having the arms, 48, and
the thrust-rods, 49, in operative relatious to said cams and connected to said
arms, 48, substantially as described.
16. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the folding plunger and the
end followers and conveyor having its movement at about the level of the top of
the end followers and the front and rear plates, D, D, constituting the side folders,
the upper edges of which are higher than the conveyor, and the front plates, D,
having the deflectors, 81, substantially as described.
17. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the followers, B, B, having
the ways in their upper portions, of the blank conveyor comprising the bars, h, h,.
with the upwardly extended ribs or feathers, 70, movable through the said ways,
the upper edges of the feathers standing above the tops of the followers, substan--
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
18. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the followers, of the conveyor
bars, h, movable in the ways of the follower and transversely bodily movable with
the follower, and the bar, 78, having the sliding connection, substantially as
described, with the conveyor, of the levers, 80, and the rock-shaft, 83, on which
they are mounted, the links, 79, connecting the upper ends of said levers to said
bar, 78, the cam, 88, and the intermediately pivoted lever, 87, one arm of which is
in operative relation to the cam, and an arm on the rock-shaft having a connection
with the other arm of the lever, substantially as described.
19. In a paper-box machine, the combination with a reciprocatory plunger, of a
throat consisting of opposing upright plates with the projections, g, for folding the-

page_text: side and stay sections and the end followers at right angles to the plates which,
together with the said plates are mounted for reciprocatory movements, the said
followers and plate being adjustable in directions of their movement whereby they
may, at pleasure, be caused to have, normally, relations to constitute different sized
folding throats, substantially as described.
20. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the parallel upright front and
rear plates, D, D, with the projection, g, extended longitudinally edgewise and also
laterally inward at the upper outer corners of the plates, of the end followers at
right angles to the said plates and having their working faces of greater extent
than the distance between the plates, D, D, and having their tops slightly
lower than the under sides of the said projections, g, substantially as shown and
described.
+
CHAUNCEY WOLCOTT GAY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.