Year: 1885

page_text: I JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of 169 Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, 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:–
The invention consists first in providing a box-nailing machine for nailing both
ends of the box or box-frame at the same instant, and by one operation, with nail-
driving mechanism capable of such adjustment that the same machine may be used
in nailing boxes of different lengths or sizes; secondly in providing such a machine
with mechanism for automatically conveying into proper position for nailing the
end pieces of the box or box-frame from the special support provided for the same;
thirdly, in so forming the nail-boxes that they may act as guides for the box or
box-frame during the operation of nailing; and, fourthly, in providing such a.
machine with certain devices for limiting the position of the box or box-frame, or
the different pieces thereof, during the operation of nailing.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a front view of the machine,
Figure 2 a side view, Figure 3 a back view, Figure 4 a top view (but not including
the nail-feeder or nail-tubes), Figure 5 a view in central sectional elevation,
Figure 6 a view in central sectional elevation at right angles to the view shown in
Figure 5, Figures 7 and 8 views in horizontal section, shewing the special support
or rest for the end pieces of the box or box-fraine, the end-piece forwarder, the
end-piece carrier and the shoulders or supports secured to the back plate; and
Figures 9 and 10, detail views of opposite sides of the end-piece carrier.
The nail feeder and nail tubes are not shown in the drawings, there being
several well known forms of the same, and several well known ways of applying
the same to machines of the class referred to.
In operating the invention a frame, A, Figure 1, of iron or other suitable
material, is provided, and on the top of this frame is supported a shaft B, Figure 4,
the journals of which shaft rest in suitable bearings, the said shaft having at the
front end a driving-pulley C, which is driven by a belt from any suitable driving
power.
The driving pulley is loose on the shaft B, and has a conical recess in it into
which fits a conical friction-pulley D. The friction-pulley is so secured to the

page_text: shaft B that, when forced into the conical recess in the driving-pulley and so made
to revolve, the said shaft B is caused to revolve with it. The said friction-pulley
is operated back and forth on the shaft B, being feathered thereon, into and out of
the conical recess in the driving-pulley, by means of a foot-piece E, Figure 2, a
retracting spring, F, a connecting rod G, and a rock-shaft H together with its
arms I and J, the said rock-shaft being supported in bearings on the frame A, and
having the horizontal arm I secured to the connecting-rod G, and two vertical
arms J and K, respectively. The hub of the friction-pulley is provided with an
annular groove L, and the fork in which the arin J terminates, has, at each of its
upper ends, a pin projecting inwardly, and, intended to operate in the said groove L,
for the purpose of forcing the friction pulley in and out of the driving pulley.
The vertical arm K, Figure 1, of the said rock shaft has, in its upper and
terminating end, a roller M, which is intended to press against the cam N, and to
roll into the depression O, Figure 4, in said cam.
A pinion P, Figure 4, at the other end of the shaft B from the driving pulley C,
drives the cog-wheel Q on the end of the shaft R, and so gives motion to the
latter.
On the other end of the shaft R, is the cam N before referred to. Motion is
communicated from the cog-wheel Q to the rocker-arm T, by means of the
pitman U, which has two wrist connections respectively one made with the cog-
wheel Q, near its rim, and the other with the said rocker-arm T. The rocker-arm T
is secured to the rock-shaft V, which latter has another rocker-arm W, Figures 4
and 6, secured to it, and this latter rocker-arm W is connected, by means of a wrist
connection, with a link X, the lower end of which link is pivoted between the two
flanges of the cross-head Y; Figure 6.
There is a seginental gear Z, Figures 4 and 6, on the rock-shaft V, and, from such
segmental gear, motion is communicated to another segmental gear A', provided
with a notch a, so as to enable it to rock back and forth on a rock-shaft B¹ without
coming in contact with the shaft R.
The latter rock-shaft B¹, similar to the rock-shaft V has secured to it a rocker-
arm C, Figure 6, which is connected, by means of a wrist connection, with a
link D¹, which link, like the links X, is pivoted between the two flanges of the
cross-head Y, the purpose and intention being that the two segmental gears,
together with the rocker-arms W and C, and the links X and D', shall work in
unison, intermittently depressing and elevating the cross-head. The cross-head, at
each end, moves up and down a suitable way.
As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the cross-head is provided, at or near each end,
with a nail punch holder E¹, which is formed, preferably, of metal, and which is
secured to the cross-head by means of the set screws F¹, which pass through
the elongated slot G¹ in the overlapping flange of such holder on each side of
the cross-head, and screw into the latter.
Such nail-punch holders are so formed that the desired number of nail-punches m,
two or more, may, in the case of each such holder, be suspended in and from a
groove in the lower part of the holder substantially as shown, there being thus
provided a set or series of nail-punches in each side of the machine.
The position of the nail-punch holders themselves may be adjusted, along the
length of the cross-head, by removing or loosening the set-screws, and then pushing
such holders back or forth on the cross-head, (the limit of such motion being fixed
by the length of the elongated slots, G³), and then by tightening the set screws
when such holders are in the desired position. The ability to make such adjust-
ment of the position of the nail-punch holders is desirable when it is intended to
use the same machine in nailing boxes of different lengths.
The nails are fed to the nail boxes through tubes leading from a suitable nail-
feeder, in any of the well known ways.
The nail-boxes, which are formed as shown in Figure 1, are capable of being
adjusted as to their position so as to co-operate with the nail-punches according to

page_text: the position occupied by the latter, the number of the nail-boxes and of the nail-
punches being the same.
The nail boxes n have mortises H¹, through which they are slid into position on
a supporting bar I', Figures 5 and 6, and then properly secured by means of set
screws, and such supporting bar is itself supported, as shown in Figure 1, by
means of two projecting bars J, one being at each end of the bar I, and secured
to the frame A by means of set screws passing through elongated slots substan-
tially as shown. By means of such elongated slots and set-screws, the position of
the bar I, and the nail-boxes thereby supported, may be adjusted with reference
to the position to be occupied by the nail-punches, which latter are never wholly
withdrawn from the nail-boxes, on which account it is necessary to adjust the
positions of both the nail-boxes and the nail-punches at the same time.
The pinion L, Figure 4, on shaft B, communicates motion to the cog-wheel M³,
on the shaft N', which latter shaft is thereby caused to revolve, carrying with it
the cam O', which is secured to it, and which is provided with the depression P¹,
Figures 2 and 4, into which depression the roller Q1, held in the forked end of the
lever R¹, rolls at the proper intervals, through the action of the spring b, which is
secured to the lever R¹, and to the frame A, Figure 2. The gearing is so timed
that the shaft N¹ will only make one revolution to two revolutions made by the
shaft R.
At the lower end of the lever R¹, Figure 2, which is pivoted to the frame A
at S¹, is an elongated slot, and in such slot one end of the link T¹ is secured by
means of an adjustable pivot U¹.
The other end of the link T, is secured to the rocker-arm W₁, by means of
another adjustable pivot V1, the rocker-arm itself being secured to the rocking
cam-shaft X, which extends through slots in the downwardly projecting side
pieces of the table C, and rests at each end in suitable bearings on the frame A.
The rocking cam-shaft ✗' has secured to it, at proper intervals, two cams Y¹,
Figure 1, provided with suitable inclines Z', which cams operate against the
projections A2, extending down, through elongated slots Bin the table C2, from
the end-piece carriers D2, Figures 6 and 7.
The
The motion of the lever R¹, is controlled by the cam O', (which is so timed as to
cause the end-piece carriers to move forward during every second elevation of the
cross-head, and to move back during the depression of the cross-head succeeding
every such second elevation, as hereinafter explained) and by the spring b.
said lever R¹, thus controlled, and acting through the intermediate parts, causes the
rocking-cam-shaft X¹, to rock, together with its supported cams Y', thereby
controlling, in combination with the spring E2, the position of the end-piece
carriers D'.
A table, or other suitable support, C3, Figures 3 and 5, for supporting the box or
box-frame, or the different parts or pieces thereof, during the operation of nailing,
and extending back far enough to furnish space for the special support or rest F³,
for the end pieces of the box, is provided, and is placed in proper position with
reference to the nail-boxes. Such table is furnished, on its under side, with
stationary nuts G³, which are intended to form part of the vertical screws H⁹, used
in elevating or depressing the table C³, each of the said vertical screws having a
sprocket-wheel c, and the said wheels being connected by means of a sprocket-
chain d.
Motion is imparted to the said vertical screws by means of the hand wheel e,
Figure 5.
The table C, is held in any desired position by means of the set screws I³,
Figure 2, which pass through the elongated slots J' of the downwardly projecting
side-pieces of the table and screw into the frame A, the said slots allowing of all
necessary vertical adjustment.
Under the table C, there is arranged a spiral spring E, Figure 6, connecting
at each end with one of the projections A, extending down, through the slots B
in the table C³, from the end piece carriers, the purpose of which spring E' is to

page_text: pull towards each other, and into proper position for nailing at the proper intervals,
the two carriers containing the end pieces of the box, which end pieces have been
brought forward, by means of the forwarders L³, from the special rest or support F³,
Figure 3, provided for such end pieces, and which is bolted to the back part of the
table C². The rest or support F, is made in the form of a double inclined plane f,
with a base g, (the back-plate M², referred to hereinafter serving as a back) the
end pieces of the box being placed on end on such support F2, and resting against
the back-plate of the table. The end pieces follow one another down the incline,
as required, either because of gravity, or because of pressure of any suitable kind,
if desired, such as weights for instance.
A back plate M2, substantially as shown in Figure 1, is provided for the table C²,
the same being formed preferably of metal, and secured in any suitable manner to
the table, and being so located on the table as to limit the position, in one direction
of the different parts or pieces of the box or box-frame supported by the latter,
and without interfering with the operation of the forwarders L. The back-plate
also serves as part of the special support or rest for the end pieces of the box.
Shoulders or supports N2, sufficiently long to act as supports, and, at the same
time, capable of being used with end pieces of different lengths, substantially as
shown in Figures 1 and 7, are also provided, the same being adjustable on and
removable from the back-plate by means of the set-screws 02, and elongated
slots in the back-plate, the purpose of such shoulders or supports being to
limit the position of the end pieces of the box on the table, and to furnish a
support for the same before and while being nailed.
At the rear of the frame A, and near the top, there is a rock-shaft Q2, Figures 2
and 3, supported in suitable bearings, and provided with the short arms R' and S²,
and with the long arms T2 and Uº, respectively.
The shorter arm R2, has, in its forked upper end, a roller V2, which is intended,
at the proper intervals, to roll into the depression Ws, Figures 2 and 4, in the
cam X on the shaft N.
The longer arms T' and U2 are secured, in each instance, at their lower and
slotted ends, by a stud or pin Y, to a forwarder L, and the two forwarders are
operated back and forth by the said long arms, on the table C, in suitable ways
as shown.
The cam X is so timed that the forwarders move back and forth during every
second depression of the cross-head, as hereinafter explained.
The said forwarders, which are made preferably of metal, and in the form shown
in Figures 2, 3 and 7, are bent inwardly, near their central portion, so as to form
a shoulder or rest for the end piece next to be moved forward for nailing. The
forwarders, one on each side of the table C³, are used in conveying the end pieces
from the special support, or rest, F2, forward on to the end-piece carriers D-the
rear portions of the forwarders preventing the other end pieces from sliding down
the support F' meanwhile.
At the other end of the rock-shaft Q' from the short arm R2 is the other short
arm S to which is fastened one end of a spiral spring Z2 which is secured at its
other end to the frame A the purpose of such spring being to force the roller V³
into the depression W' at the proper intervals.
The end pieces, when brought forward by the forwarders L³, are pushed by the
latter into the carriers D³ which latter are formed preferably of metal and slide
back and forth on the table C in suitable ways, such motion being directly com-
municated to them by the cams Y₁ and the spring E2 which operate on the
projections A³ extending down through slots B2 in the table C. The said carriers,
there being one on each side of the table, are formed with a base h and with an
upright part as in Figures 6 and 10, the purpose of the upright being to hold the
end piece in position and against the shoulder of the back plate M2. Such carriers
are also each provided with an adjustable stop j in the form of an L, which
limits the position of the end piece on the carrier lengthwise. The adjustment
of such stop is made by means of the set-screws A³ and of the slot B³ in the

page_text: upright part i, and the carriers are thus rendered capable of use with the machine
in nailing boxes of different sizes, and in which the end pieces are of different
lengths.
The flat base of the end-piece carrier is intended to be of the same thickness as
the side piece of the box or box-frame to be nailed.
The operation of my box-nailing machine is as follows,-the end pieces of the
box to be formed having been first placed on the special rest or support F³ provided
for them :-
The machine being at rest with the cross-head elevated and the carriers, each
containing one of the aforesaid end pieces, in proper position for the side piece of
the box to be nailed to such end pieces, the latter being held up against the back-
plate M² and against the shoulders N* and the end-piece forwarders being back in
proper position to push forward the end pieces for another box,-the operator
places on top of the end pieces in the carriers the side-piece to be nailed thereto,
such side-piece being held in position by the nail-boxes (the under sides of which
are so formed as to serve as guides) and then quickly and strongly presses his foot
for an instant on the end of the foot piece E, thus depressing it and by means of
the connecting rod G and the rock-shaft H together with its arms J and K. causing
the friction pulley to push or press into the conical recess in the driving pulley
and the roller M in the end of the arm J to be thrown out of the depression O in
the cam N.
The friction pulley bound by friction to the driving pulley, which has meanwhile
been set in motion by the driving power is caused to revolve, and revolving, turns
with it the shaft B to which is secured the pinion P and the cog wheel is thus
made to revolve. The motion of the said cog wheel Q causes the pitman U to
have a reciprocating motion, which latter motion is communicated to the rocker-
arm T, the rock-shaft V, the rocker arm W and the segmental gear Z-The motion
of the rocker-arm W causes the link X together with the link D', to which similar
motion is meanwhile communicated by means of the other segmental gear A',
operating in unison with the segmental gear Z, and by means of the rock-shaft BL
and the rocker arm C¹ to depress the cross head. When the cross-head is depressed,
the nail punches suspended from it, are forced down through the channels in the
nail boxes and drive the nails which are supplied through tubes leading from a
suitable nail-feeder as before set forth. The nails having been driven the crosshead
is immediately caused to rise by the operation of the machine and the carriers
forced back into position to receive other pieces, the roller Q¹ in the end of
the lever R¹ having meanwhile and through the action of the spring b and
as the crosshead ascended been forced into the depression P¹ in the cam O¹ on
the shaft N¹, such depression having come opposite to such roller, and the other end
of the lever having been thereby thrown forward and motion given to the inter-
mediate link T, rocker arm W and rocking cam-shaft X', the cams Y¹ are caused
to rock up in front of the projections A2 and so force back the end-piece carriers.
After the cross-head has ascended the machine stops, the roller M in the arm K
which roller has before been pressing, but not too tightly, against the surface of
the cam N having been forced into the depression O in such cam and the friction
pulley forced out of the driving pulley because of the force of the spring E acting
through the intermediate and connecting parts such spring being released, or
allowed play, to the extent of the depression O in the cam N.
The cross-head being thus elevated and the end-piece carriers out of the way,
the operator turns the box-frame over and places on top the side piece to be nailed
to the end pieces on that side and then again sets the machine in motion: by again
pressing the end of the foot piece E, the crosshead being thus again caused to
descend and to nail on the other side piece. The flat base pieces of the end piece
carriers being of the same thickness as the side piece of the box, the first side
piece will occupy, during the operation of nailing on the second side piece, the
space taken up by the base pieces of the carriers during the operation of nailing on
the first and opposite side piece. While the crosshead has been descending, the

page_text: end-piece forwarders have been pulled forward thus pushing the end pieces into
the carriers which, at the time, are stationary and the said forwarders have then
been forced back again and all within the time occupied by the crosshead in its
single descent.
The forwarders are thus forced back and forth by the action of the rock shaft Q²,
the long arms T2 and U%, the short arms R2 and S2 and the roller V operating
on the cam X2 through the force of the spring Z' which spring forces such roller
into the depression W₁ when opposite the latter. On the other side of the machine
from that shown in Figure 2, the long arm U like the long arm T2 is secured at
one end to the rock-shaft Q2 (which latter extends from one side of the machine to
the other) and operates the forwarder on that side of the machine.
The second side piece having been nailed to the box frame, the crosshead again
ascends and, while ascending, the box frame is pulled forward by the operator out
of the way of the two carriers which, in the course of the ascension of such
crosshead, are again brought into proper position on the table for a side piece to be
nailed to the end pieces carried by them.
The operation of thus nailing on side pieces may be continued indefinitely, or so
long as end pieces are supplied to the special support or rest, provided for them.
In forming boxes differing in height, and in which the end pieces are longer in
some cases than in others, the position of the L-shaped stops j of the carriers, is
adjusted lengthwise of the carriers in each case so as to hold the end pieces of the
box in proper position on each carrier and the position of the nail boxes is likewise
adjusted on the supporting bar by means of the set screws, the position of the nail
punches on the cross head being at the same time adjusted so as to correspond
with the position of the nail boxes from the channels of which latter the nail-
punches are not wholly withdrawn.
In forming boxes differing in length the position of the shoulders on the back
plate is adjusted accordingly and the position of the nail boxes as well as that of
the nail punches on the crosshead is also adjusted.
In forming boxes differing in width, the table may be elevated or depressed as
may be necessary in order to bring the box or box-frame into proper position with
reference to the nail boxes, the connecting parts of the forwarders and carriers
allowing of such elevation or depression through the connecting slots and adjustablo
pivots without interfering with the operation of such forwarders and carriers, or
that of the machine itself.
If it is desired to nail on the top or bottom pieces of a box, the shaft N¹ which
controls the movements of the carriers and forwarders may be thrown out of gear
in any well known way and the shoulders removed from the back plate. The top or
bottom piece may then be nailed on, first elevating or depressing the table, as the
case may be, if necessary. In thus nailing on the top or bottom piece, the nail
boxes formed as they are on their under side so as to act as guides, will also serve
to hold the box or box-frame, or the different parts thereof, in proper position
during the operation of nailing.
The invention is not limited to the exact construction of box nailing machine
herein shown and described, nor to the exact form of the special devices herein
shown and described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated
to me, I declare that what I claim is
1. The combination, in a box nailing machine for nailing both ends of the box
or box-frame at the same instant and by one operation, of a support for the box or
box-frame, a reciprocating cross-head provided at or near each end with a set
or series of nail-punches arranged transversely thereof,-mechanism substantially
as described for adjusting the two sets or series of nail-punches along the length
of the cross head, and nail-boxes adjustable as to their position so as to co-operate
with the nail-punches substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 2. A single box-nailing machine, substantially as herein set forth, provided with
two opposite sets or series of nail punches together with their corresponding sets
or series of nail-boxes, such opposite sets or series of nail punches together with
their corresponding sets or series of nail-boxes being arranged on opposite sides
of the machine and being adjustable upon the machine, the one set towards the
other and opposite set of the same kind, substantially as described, for the purpose
of nailing by means of one operation the two opposite ends or sides of boxes of
different lengths.
3. The combination, in a box-nailing machine for nailing both ends of the box
or box-frame at the same instant and by one operation, of a vertically reciprocating
cross-head provided at or near each end with a set or series of nail-punches
arranged transversely thereof, and adjustable along the length of the cross-head
substantially as set forth,-two opposite sets or series of nail boxes adjustable as
to their position so as to co-operate with the two adjustable sets or series of
nail-punches, a vertically adjustable table to support the box or box-frame, and a
back plate arranged at the back of the table, and extending between and at one
side of the two opposite sets or series of nail boxes, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination, with a box-nailing machine for nailing both ends of the
box or box-frame at the same instant and by one operation, of the forwarders
constructed substantially as set forth together with their operating mechanism to
convey the end pieces of the box forward from the special support or rest provide !
for such end pieces at the back of the table.
5. The combination, with a box-nailing machine for nailing both ends of the
box or box-frame at the same instant, and by one operation, of the forwarder
and carriers constructed substantially as set forth, together with their operating
mechanism to convey the end pieces of the box from the special rest or support
provided for such end pieces into position on the table for nailing.
6. The combination, with a box-nailing machine, of a support for the box or
box-frame, and nail-boxes formed with a shoulder on their under side to act as
guides for the box or box-frame resting on such support, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination, with a box-nailing machine for nailing both ends of the
box or box-frame at the same instant and by one operation, of a support for
the box or box-frame, and two opposite sets or series of nail-boxes formed with
a shoulder on their under side to act as guides for the box or box-frame resting on
such support, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination, with a box-nailing machine for nailing both ends of the box
or box frame at the same instant and by one operation, of the special end piece
support or rest F constructed and arranged substantially as set forth.
9. In a box-nailing machine, the end-piece carriers D³, formed with the stops j
substantially as set forth.