Improvements in Machines for Trimming the Edges of Boxes and similar Articles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June 1895-Accepted, 20th July, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Trimming the Edges of Boxes and
similar Articles.
We, HENRY WARD MORGAN of Number 46 Platt Street, in the City of
Rochester, County of Monroe, and State of New York, Manufacturer, and
CHARLES MORTGRIDGE LORING of Number 202 Washington Avenue, in the
City of Minneapolis, County of Hennepin, and State of Minnesota, Manufacturer,
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 improvements in machines for trimming boxes and
similar articles, and has for its object the production of a practical, durable, and
effective device, particularly applicable for trimming the sides of the edges or
corners of boxes or similar articles having the adjacent ends of their sides glued
together and provided with interlocking tongues and grooves; and to this end it
consists in the detail construction and arrangement of the parts, all as hereinafter
more particularly described and pointed out in the claims.
In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing,
forming a part of this Specification, in which, like letters indicate corresponding
parts in all the views.
Figure 1 is an isometric perspective of this trimming machine, illustrating the
general construction and arrangement of its parts.
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on line 2-2, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on line 3-3, Figure 1, a
portion of the projecting arm of one of the movable supports on the frame being
broken away.
Figure 4 is a face view of one of the detached cutters.
Figure 5 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 5-5, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is an isometric perspective of a box, which this machine is particularly
designed to trim; and
Figure 7 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the bearing faces for engaging
the box, and the rotary cutters for trimming the opposite sides of the edge or
corner of the box, lines being drawn in the transverse planes of the bearing faces
and through the axes of the cutters for clearly indicating that the cutters are
arranged at an angle with said bearing faces and are arranged at an angle with
each other greater than a right angle.
It is well known that packing boxes are commonly formed' of shooks having their
opposite end edges provided with interlocking tongues or tenons and grooves, and
that boxes of this construction, although highly durable and efficient, do not
usually present as pleasing an appearance as is desirable. Moreover, they are not
readily stacked or arranged in piles, or provided with labels, stencil work, &c.,
owing to the unevenness of the adjacent sides of their edges or corners composed
of the interlocking tongues or tenons and grooves, and the presence of a greater
or less amount of glue upon said edges or corners. It has, therefore, been
sought to produce a machine, which would practically and effectively triin the
opposite sides of the box edges or corners, and' thereby enhance their attractive
and pleasing appearance, and permit them to be more readily stacked or arranged
in piles and provided with labels, stencil work, &c. Considerable difficulty has,
however, been experienced in producing this machine, as the glue tends to clog
a cutting or trimming device, and destroy its edge, thus necessitating frequent

page_text: sharpening thereof and tending to detract more or less from the efficiency of the
machine.
In this machine the box or other article to be trimmed is so supported that the
opposite sides of an edge or corner thereof are simultaneously subjected to
the action of the trimming device, and said trimming device consists of rotary
cutters of peculiar construction having their faces adjacent to the sides of the
box preferably arranged at an angle therewith, so that the trimmed portions of the
sides incline from the untrimmed portions thereof. This invention is also capable
of ready adjustment to any size of box, and does not require any adjustment of
its rotary cutters when boxes of different sizes are used.
The frame A of the machine may be of any desirable form, size, and construction,
but preferably consists of an upright or standard a having one end a' adapted to be
mounted upon a suitable floor or other support and its other end provided with a
flat supporting face a³ having its central portion cut away or removed, and opposite
journal bearings a³ a³ arranged one in advance of the other at an angle with each
other and preferably at an angle slightly greater than a right angle.
Opposite supports BB' are mounted upon the face a², and are provided with
opposite bearing faces for engaging the opposite sides of the box or other
article to be trimmed, Figure 2. The faces b₁ are arranged at an angle with
each other, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 7, and are preferably formed upon rails B2 B³
removably secured to the supports BB' by screws 1263 or other fastening
means.
The supports B B¹ are preferably adjustable towards and away from each other
for permitting corresponding adjustment of the faces bb', and, as seen at Figure 1,
opposite ends of the longitudinal sities of the face a² are provided with upwardly
projecting ears a' a' in which are mounted suitable adjusters, as screws B4 B³ having
their inner ends engaged with threaded sockets in the supports BB'. The
screws B B are provided with separated shoulders arranged on opposite
sides of the ears a¹ for preventing lengthwise movement thereof, and are also
provided with hand pieces 66. It is, therefore, apparent that, as the screws B* B*
are revolved, the supports B B' are moved towards and away from each other.
Suitable clamps, here shown as screws C C¹, operate to secure the supports B B¹
in their adjusted position. The opposite ends of each side of the face a² are
preferably provided with slots a, and threaded ends of the screws C C are passed
through said slots and engaged with threaded sockets in the lower faces of the
supports B B. The opposite ends of the screws CC¹ are formed with hand
engaging portions e, and their intermediate portions with shoulders ¹ bearing
against an under face a of the upper extremity of the frame A.
One of the supports, as B', is provided with an upwardly projecting arm or
arms B6, and movable lengthwise thereof is a supplemental support B provided
with a bearing face aligned with the face of the support B₁. The bearing
face is preferably formed upon a strip 18 removably secured to the supplemental
support B by screws or other clamps 60, and the supplemental support B is held in
its adjusted position by clamps consisting of screws C2 of substantially the same
construction as the screws CC), previously described.
Each arm B is provided with a lengthwise slot 60 and the threaded end of the
corresponding screw C2 is passed through said slot and engaged with a threaded
socket in the adjacent face of the supplemental support B. The intermediate
portion of the screw C2 is provided with a shoulder bearing against a face 6 of
the arm B and the outer end of said screw is provided with a hand engaging
piece C³. The support. B' is preferably provided with two arms B6, but a single
arm may be used, and if desired, this arm may be suitably bifurcated. The
supplemental support B7 may be dispensed with, although it firmly supports the
outer edge of the side of the box engaged with the face ₁, and enables the operator
to hold the box or other article being trimmed with much greater rigidity than
would otherwise be possible.
The journal bearings a³ a³, previously mentioned, are preferably arranged at an

page_text: angle with each other greater than a right angle, and shafts DD' journaled therein,
are consequently similarly arranged. The adjacent ends of the shafts DD' are
crossed and are provided with rotary cutters EE', which preferably consist of
revolving saws. Each shaft DD' is supported by two journal bearings a³ arranged
one above the other and having their adjacent faces separated, and the intermediate
portion of each shaft is provided with a pulley or other power transmitting wheel D²
for revolving the same. The adjacent ends of the shafts DD' project beyond
the upper bearings a³ a³, and are provided with stationary shoulders e and adjustable
shoulders e¹ between which the cutters E E' are clamped.
As previously stated, the bearing faces bb are arranged at substantially right
angles with each other, as indicated by lines 6-6, Figure 7, and the shafts DD¹
and consequently the axes of the cutters E E', indicated by line 7-7, Figure 7,
are arranged at an angle with each other slightly greater than a right angle, and
the trimmed portions of the sides of the boxes or other articles incline slightly
from the untrimmed portions thereof. The upper faces e² of the cutters EE¹
adjacent to the side of the box being trimmed, as clearly seen at Figure 7, are,
therefore, preferably arranged at a slight angle with the faces bb', and are here
illustrated as formed flat.
The edges or peripheral faces of the cutters E E' may be provided with suitable
cutting edges, but are preferably formed with major cutting teeth ³ having their
lower faces e inclined from their bases towards their free extremities, and their
edges or extremities provided with minor cutting teeth e having their cutting
edges and opposite faces e7e8 inclined inwardly from the bearing or upper
faces 2 of the teeth towards the axis of the cutter. Said cutters are also
provided with additional major teeth e having their cutting edges e10 and their
front faces e forned of substantially the same width as the base of the teeth e³.
This form of cutter is particularly applicable for use with this trimming machine,
but it is evident that other forms of cutters may be used if desired.
In the operation of this machine, the edge or corner of the box to be trimmed is
inserted between the bearing faces bb, and is moved along said bearing faces by
the operator, and, as the opposite sides of the edge or corner of the box pass the
cutters, they are smoothly and effectively trimmed by said cutters, which, as
previously stated, are preferably arranged at an angle with the faces bb. In
order that only the front edges of the teeth of the rotary cutters may engage the
portions of the box to be trimmed, 1 preferably slightly move the rear
adjusters B' B³, so as to force the corresponding ends of the faces bb' somewhat
nearer together than their opposite ends, and as the requisite movement of the rear
ends of the faces bis very slight, the adjusters B4 B have sufficient play in the
ears a and the supports B2 B3 to permit of this adjustment. The faces b' may,
however, be arranged in substantially parallel lengthwise planes. After one edge
or corner of a box or other article is trimmed, as described, its other edges or
corners are subjected to the action of the cutters EE', and the box then presents
an extremely neat and finished appearance, and may be readily stacked or arranged
in piles or provided with labels, stencil work, &c.
This trimming machine is evidently simple in construction, and is highly practical
and effective in operation; its cutters are also readily removed when worn, and may
be quickly and economically ground and replaced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion, and in what manner, the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is--
1. A machine for trimming boxes and other articles, comprising a frame having
separate bearing faces for engaging with two sides of a corner of the box or other
article to be trimmed, separate shafts arranged approximately at right angles with
each other, and separate cutters mounted on the upper ends of the said shafts each
with its upper edge beneath the lower edge of the opposite bearing face,
substantially as described.

page_text: 2. A machine for trimming box and other articles, comprising a frame having
two bearing faces arranged obliquely to a horizontal for engaging with the two
contiguous sides of a corner of the box or other article to be trimmed, the said faces
inclining toward each other from their front to their rear extremities, separate shafts
arranged approximately at right angles with each other and crossed, and separate
cutters mounted on the upper ends of the said shafts with their upper edges
beneath the lower edges of the said hearing faces, substantially as specified.
3. A machine for trimming boxes and other articles, comprising a frame, a pair
of supports mounted thereon and adjustable toward and away from each other,
rails adjustably secured to the said supports and having bearing faces inclining
toward each other for engaging with the two contiguous sides of a corner of the
box or other article to be trimmed, separate shafts arranged approximately at
right angles with each other and crossed, and separate cutters mounted on the
upper ends of the said shafts with their upper edges beneath the lower edges of the
said bearing faces, substantially as described.
4. A machine for trimming boxes and other articles, comprising a frame,
movable supports mounted on the frame and provided with bearing faces oblique
to a horizontal for engaging with the two contiguous sides of a corner of the box
or other article to be trimmed, screws for moving the said supports independently
towards and away from each other, set screws for holding the said supports in their
adjusted position, and separate rotary cutters arranged at an angle with each other,
one in advance of the other, substantially as described.
5. A machine for trimming boxes and other articles, comprising a frame,
supports mounted on the frame and adjustable towards and away from each other
and provided with bearing faces oblique to a horizontal for engaging with the
corner of a box or other article to be trimmed, a supplemental support rising
obliquely from one of the former supports and provided with a bearing face
aligned with the main bearing face of the said support, and separate rotary cutters
arranged at an angle with each other, one in advance of the other, substantially as
set forth.
6. A machine for trimming boxes and other articles, comprising a frame
provided with a supporting face, supports movable rectilinearly on said face and
provided with bearing faces arranged at an angle with each other for engaging the
box or other article to be trimmed, one of said supports being also provided with
an upwardly projecting arm, adjusters for moving said supports towards and away
from each other, clamps for holding the supports in their adjusted position, a
supplemental support movable on said arm and provided with a bearing face
aligned with the bearing face of the support provided with the arm, a clamp for
securing the supplemental support in its adjusted position, and separate rotary
cutters arranged at an angle with each other, one in advance of the other, for
trimming adjacent sides of the box or other article to be trimmed, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 20th day of May 1805
HENRY WARD MORGAN.
CHARLES MORTGRIDGE LORING.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.