Iм- PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BOXES FOR CONTAINING MATCHES AND FOR OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Zenus Barnum Stearns, of Richmond, Virginia,
United States of America, but temporarily of 4, South Street,
Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BOXES FOR CONTAINING
MATCHES AND FOR OTHER ARTICLES."-A communication from abroad
by Henri Gauchot, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
Sealed the 9th October 1874, and dated the 15th August 1874.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Zenus Barnum Stearns
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 15th August 1874, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ZENUS
BARNNUM STEARNS, of Richmond, Virginia, United States of America,
but temporarily of 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BOXES FOR CONTAINING MATCHES AND FOR
OTHER ARTICLES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my

page_text: executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for
the same, and have made solemn Declaration that the same has been
communicated to me from abroad by Henri Gauchot, of Paris, in the.
Republic of France.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Zenus Barnum Stearns, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
scal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, reference being had
to the Drawing hereto annexed and forming part of this Specification,
and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:―
This Invention relates to improved machinery for the manufacture of
boxes for matches, vesuvians, and for other articles.
-
To make the Invention communicated to me better understood I will
proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing
in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the improved machine.
The improved machine for making all kinds of cardboard boxes is con-
structed as follows:-A is the driving shaft, and B a circular paster
dipping into the paste box C, which may be raised or lowered so as to
regulate the quantity of paste supplied by means of the scraper D; E,
hopper for receiving the sheets of cardboard previously cut into pieces
of the required size and placed therein by hand; E', hopper for
receiving wooden mandrels F placed therein by hand, and of the same
dimensions as the boxes to be made. The mandrils F are pushed
forward by the piston G, which receives its motion from the driving
shaft A by means of the levers, connecting rods, and cranks H. It a
will be seen that the successive stages of the making of a box at
cach turn of the driving shaft are as follows:-Tho mandril F¹at its
first movement stamps the sheet of cardboard I, and forms the two
folds J, J, Figure 11, of the bottom of a box similar to that shewn in
Figures 2 and 3. The small corner pieces k, k, are also folded in the
first turn of the machine by coming against the tongue picces L, and
the sides M, M, are also turned up by the thin ribs N. At the second
turn of the driving shaft the box thus far formed passes over the paster
B, and gets impregnated with paste under the remaining sides to be
turned down. At the third turn the box thus pasted comes in front of S
the vertical conduit O. At the fourth turn the box is raised into the
conduit O, and coming against the sides P thereof the two pasted sides
are turned down.

page_text: At each successive turn the box is raised to the extent of the thick-
ness of a box in the conduit O¹, the height of which is sufficient to allow
of the drying of the paste by the time the box reaches the top of the
conduit. As the boxes egress from the top of the conduit O they aro
detached from the mandrils by hand, and the mandrils are replaced in
the hopper E.
The great advantage of this improved construction of machine is that
it prevents the soiling of the boxes with the paste. For if paste passes
at each end beyond the pasted sides it cannot soil the passages in which
the boxes slide, as those parts never touch them, the sides P being
narrower than the boxes, the paste which passes beyond the sides is
never in contact with the surface of the passage for the boxes, and the
same is the case with the other side Q, the conduit O being provided
with grooves R, Figure 4.
The clevating movement of the boxes into the conduit O is effected by
the piston S set in action by the levers and connecting rods T, which
receive their motion from the crank arm H which also works the
piston S.
It will be observed that all the movements of the machine arc
obtained without a cam or gearing.
All the movements are derived from the crank arm H, which sets in
motion the connecting rods in the required direction, according to the
work to be done.
This construction of machine allows of it being worked by two boys,
one for placing the pieces of cardboard one after the other in the hopper
E, the other for detaching the mandrils from the boxes when made and
for replacing the mandrils in the hopper E.
This machine may be rendered self-acting both as to placing the card-
board and detaching the mandrils, so that there remains only to replace
the cut sheets by piles which will last about half an hour. For this
purpose I employ the following arrangement of which Figures 5, 6, 7,
and 8, shew different views. This arrangement consists chiefly in the
taking of the sheet of cardboard by atmospheric pressure, but the
principal characteristic is the mechanism directing this pressure, and
more especially the mechanism which permits of ensuring the taking
only one sheet at a time. This mechanism consists of a hollow plate U.

page_text: communicating alternately with compressed air and with a vacuum.
This change of communication is obtained by means of a slide valve
putting the said plate in communication or not with a general reservoir
of pressure or with a reservoir of vacuum.
The most important part of the machine as before stated is that for
preventing several sheets being taken at a time. It consists besides the
plate U of two stops V (in one piece) moving tangentially, and in the
direction of the plan of the two chamfers made on the plate U at X, X'.
These chamfers are perforated with holes like the surface of the plate U,
and draw in the corresponding corner pieces of the cardboard, then force.
them out. This aspiration and this repulsion take place a certain
number of times in order to detach the first sheet from the others.
Finally this aspiration keeps the corners of the cardboard held on the
two chamfers. At this point the stops V press on the two corners of the
cardboard (without engaging the first sheet), carried by the plate U
from I to I. The stops V thus retain all the other sheets of cardboard
until a second sheet is drawn in by the chamfers X, X¹, of the plato U.
At this point the stops V withdraw and allow the passage of the sheet,
then return and retain all the other sheets, and so on successively.
Figure 7 represents the counterweight piston Y for applying the pile
of cut cardboard Z alternately on the plate when it draws in the corner
pieces X, X', and alternately on the stops V when they retain the pile of
cardboard Z.
The interruptions in the drawing in of the plate or of the blast from
the plate are obtained by means of a slide valve of the same kind as
those of steam engines, and is worked by a cam or other mechanism h;
Figure 1, shews rollers for regulating the pressure of the paper on the
paster; i, Figure 1, screw for regulating the quantity of paste by means
of the carriage J"; J¹, cover made so that it may be easily withdrawn by
means of a knob k. For this purpose it is merely necessary to withdraw
the cover J. from under the catches L to remove it; P, Figure 1, appa-
ratus for tracing on the cover q¹ of the box the folds q, Figure 11. It
consists of a stamp or punch P provided with a piece of india-rubber m,
which punches the cardboard and forms the folds necessary for the
folding of the box cover. This cover being at the time of this operation
between the india-rubber piece m and an iron ribbed plate M¹ with
which each wooden mandril is provided. This apparatus works by means

page_text: of an eccentric, putting in motion the connecting rod S by means
of a lever p set up on the fixed frame 7.
In case of several folds having to be traced above and under the box,
this effect may be obtained by using the piston S as a punch. t, heat
chimney surrounding the conduit O, serving to emboss the boxes, and
also to facilitate the drying of the paste on the boxes.
The roughing of the boxes is effected in the following manner,
reference being had to Figures 13 and 14, in which C is a paster
operating on the bottom of the boxes in their horizontal movement
shewn by the arrow D; E, sand box; F, agitator for the purpose of
depositing sand on the bottom of the boxes during their horizontal
movement; G, moveable wooden conduit serving to receive the finished
boxes. The filling of the boxes with matches may be effected at G.
The horizontal movement D is effected by means of the piston H.
The horizontal movement indicated by the letter I is obtained by
shouldered jaws J, entering the notches J', with which cach mandril is
provided; x, stops for assisting the detaching of the boxes from the
mandrils. The horizontal movement K serving to bring back the
mandrils to the hopper L is obtaiued by the piston M.
aro worked by the piston B; O, springs serving to stop
mandrils which are not supplied with cardboard.
The mandrils N
or hold back the
This improved machinery serves for the manufacture of boxes of all
sizes for matches and for other articles in cardboard, but it is also
applicable to making match boxes of wood.
Having now described the Invention communicated to me and the
best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into effect, what
I claim is,―
Firstly. The general arrangement and construction of the crank armis
and connecting rods for obtaining the various movements of the
machine, as and for the purposes herein-before described and represented
in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly. The means for folding down the last fold for forming the
box, and by which boxes free from soil are obtained, as herein-before
described and represented in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing.

page_text: Thirdly. The employment of a carriage for regulating the supply of
paste, as herein-before described and represented in Figure 1 of the
accompanying Drawing.
Fourthly. The mechanical means for roughing the bottoms of match
boxes, as herein-before described and represented in Figures 9, 10, 12,
13, and 14, of the accompanying Drawing.
Fifthly. The arrangement of mechanism for taking up the sheets of
cardboard, as herein-before described and represented in Figures 5, 7,
and 8, of the accompanying Drawing.
Sixthly. The automatic distribution of the mandrils and the detaching
therefrom of the boxes, as herein-before described and represented in
Figures 12 and 14 of the accompanying Drawing.
Seventhly. The means for facilitating the removal of the cover J¹, as
hercin-before described and represented in Figure 1 of the accompanying
Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Zenus Barnum Stearns, have here-
to set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
W. A. GILBEE.
ZENUS B. STEARNS. (L.s.)

page_text: word "being" to "is."
t
"S" the letter "G."
At line 18 I substitute for the reference letter
At line 28 I commence an erasure, and continue
the same to line 26 of page 4, ending with the word "mechanism." In
the next following paragraph which terminates at line 2, page 5, I make
the following changes:-At line 30 I change "K" to "K¹." At line
31 I alter "L" to "L'," and "P" to "P¹." At line 33 I strike out the
reference letter "P." At line 34 I strike out the word "punches" and
in place thereof insert "presses on;" and at line 1, page 5, I alter "S"
to "8," and where necessary in the Drawings I alter the reference letters
to correspond with the description. At the end of line 4, after the word
"punch," I commence an erasure and continue it to the end of line 21.
At page 6 I strike out the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh claims, after
which the Specification will read as follows:-
This Invention relates to improved machinery for the manufacture of
boxes for matches, vesuvians, and other articles:
To make the Invention communicated to me better understood I will
proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawings,
in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the improved machine, and
Fig 1 is a plan of the bed of the machine.
The improved machine for making all kinds of cardboard boxes is
constructed as follows:-A is the driving shaft; and B, a circular paster.
dipping into the paste box C, which may be raised or lowered, so as to
regulate the quantity of paste supplied by means of the scraper D; E,
hopper for receiving the sheets of cardboard previously cut into pieces of
the required size, and placed therein by hand; E¹, hopper for receiving
wooden mandrils F placed therein by hand and of the same dimen-
sions as the boxes to be made. The mandrils F are pushed forward by
the piston G, which receives its motion from the driving shaft A by
means of the lovers, connecting rods, and cranks H.
It will be seen that the successive stages of the making of a box at
each turn of the driving shaft are as follows:-The mandril F¹ at its
first movement doubles up the sheet of cardboard I, and forms the two
folds J, J, Figure 11, of the bottom of a box similar to that shewn in
Figures 2 and 3. The small corner pieces k, k, are also folded in the
first turn of the machine by coming against the tongue pieces L, and

page_text: the sides M, M, are also turned up by the thin ribs N. At the second
turn of the driving shaft the box thus far formed passes over the
paster B, and gets pasted under the remaining sides to be turned down.
At the third turn the box thus pasted comes in front of the vertical
conduit O. At the fourth turn the box is raised into the conduit.O,
and coming against the sides P thereof the two pasted sides are turned
down.
At each successive turn the box is raised to the extent of the thickness
of a box in the conduit O, the height of which is sufficient to allow of
the partial drying of the paste by the time the box reaches the top of
the conduit. As the boxes egress from the top of the conduit O they
are detached from the mandrils by hand, and the mandrils are replaced
in the hopper E'.
The great advantage of this improved construction of machine is that
it prevents the soiling of the boxes with the paste. For if paste passes
at each end beyond the pasted sides it cannot soil the passages in which
the boxes slide, as those parts never touch them, the sides P being
narrower than the boxes. The paste which passes beyond the sides is
never in contact with the surface of the passage for the boxes. The
conduit O is provided with grooves R, Figure 4.
The elevating movement of the boxes into the conduit O is effected by
the piston S set in action by the levers and connecting rods T, which
receive their motion from the crank arm H, which also works the
piston G.
It will be observed that all the movements of the machine are obtained
without a cam or gearing.
All the movements are derived from the crank arm H, which sets in
motion the connecting rods in the required direction, according to the
work to be done.
This construction of machine allows of it being worked by two boys, 3
one for placing the pieces of cardboard one after the other in the
hopper E, the other for detaching the mandrils from the boxes when
made, and for replacing the mandrils in the hopper E.
h, Figure 1, shows rollers for regulating the pressure of the paper on
the paster; i, Figure 1, screw for regulating the quantity of paste by a

page_text: means of the carriage J"; J¹, cover made so that it may be easily
withdrawn by means of a knob k'. For this purpose it is merely
necessary to withdraw the cover J¹ from under the catches L' to remove
it; P¹, Figure 1, apparatus for tracing on the cover q¹ of the box the
folds q, Figure 11. It consists of a stamp or punch provided with a
piece of india-rubber m, which presses on the cardboard and forms the
folds necessary for the folding of the box cover, this cover being at the
time of this operation between the india-rubber piece m and an iron
ribbed plate m¹ with which each wooden mandril is provided. This
apparatus works by means of an excentric putting in motion the
connecting rods by means of a lever p set up on the fixed frame l.
In case of several folds having to be traced above and under the box,
this effect may be obtained by using the piston S as a punch.
This improved machinery serves for the manufacture of boxes of all
sizes for matches and for other articles in cardboard, but it is also
applicable to making match boxes of wood.
Having now described the Invention communicated to me, and the
best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into effect, what
I claim is,―
Firstly. The general arrangement and construction of the crank arms
and connecting rods for obtaining the various movements of the machine,
as and for the purposes herein-before described and represented in
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly. The means for folding down the last fold for forming the
3 box, and by which boxes free from soil are obtained, as herein-before
described and represented in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly. The employment of a carriage for regulating the supply of
paste, as herein-before described and represented in Figure 1 of the
accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Alexander Bell, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the First day of March, in the
wear of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
SAM². A. BELL. (L.S.)

page_text: To the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.
I hereby grant my fiat, giving leave to the above-named Samuel
Alexander Bell, to file in the Great Seal Patent Office, with the Speci-
fication to which it relates, the above-written Disclaimer and Memo-
randum of Alteration.