Improvements in and relating to Box Filling Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 20th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Box Filling Machines.
I, JACOB PULVER WRIGHT, a Citizen of the United States of America, residing
at 46, Avon Street, in the City and County of New Haven and State of Connecticut,
United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, 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:-
Figure 1 shows a view of the improved box-filling machine, in front elevation;
Figure 2, a plan view of the same;
Figure 3, a view of a section on line x-x of Figure 2;
Figuro 4, a view of the mechanism in side elevation;
Figure 5, a similar view looking at the other side;
Figure 6, a view, on an enlarged scale, of a section on line y-y, of Figures 1
and 2;
Figure 64, a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, showing the arrangement
and construction of the division plates and the match straightening fingers;
Figure 7, a similar view of a section on line 2-z of Figure 1;
Figure 8, a similar view of a section on line ¹¹ of Figure 1;
Figure 9, a detail view showing in longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale,
the box-feeding device and part of the box-supplying device;
Figure 10, a detail sectional view showing, on an enlarged scale, the friction disk
and sprocket wheel, with the means for journalling and supporting the disk ;
Figure 11, a view of a section on line yy of Figure 10;
Figure 12, a similar view of the adjustable friction wheel and the sprocket driven
thereby, with the means for supporting such parts;
Figure 13, a detail view showing the friction wheel in side elevation ;
Figure 14, a view of a transverse section of such wheel;
Figure 15, a detail view showing in side elevation the cam for vibrating the
lever to shake the filling trough;
Figure 16, a detail view showing in side and end elevation the adjustable swing-
ing arm carrying the gear for transmitting power to the means for driving the
lower feed belt;
Figure 17, a detail perspective view showing the pressure shoe for holding down
the lower portion of the upper feed belt;
Figure 18, a similar view showing the bridge for bridging over the space between
the box supplying belt and the lower feed belt;
Figure 19, a detail perspective view of the wooden interior or body of the filling
trough, with the false bottom therein;
Figure 20, a view of a section on line ¹¹ of Figure 19;
Figures 21 and 22, detail views showing, respectively, in side and front elevation
one of the tubular guide pieces attached to the under side of the filling trough;
Figure 23, a detail view showing in side elevation the upper end of one of the
arms for shaking the filling trough, and
Figure 24, a view of a section on line 2-x of Figure 1.
Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

page_text: The object of the invention has been to provide an improved mechanism adapted
to fill boxes with matches or sticks, strips, bars or pieces of other material, and
to this end the invention consists in the mechanism, and in the construction and
arrangement of the parts thereof, as hereinafter specified.
While the invention is herein shown and described as applied to a match making
machine so as to be used in the boxing of matches, it is to be understood that it
is not intended to limit the same to such application, but it is contemplated using
the box-filling mechanism for filling boxes with other materials than matches,
such other materials being in strips, sticks, bars or wires, of any desired substance
or formation.
In the drawings of this case the invention is shown as applied to a match making
machine, which has, as a carrier for the match splints while being treated and
made into matches and for the matches after they have been completed, a series
of perforated plates, each having rolls of perforations adapted to receive the match
sticks.
Only a portion of the match making machine is shown, as the invention has
nothing to do with the means for making and sticking the splints, or for treating
such splints in the manufacture of the matches therefrom.
In the drawings A A, designate a portion of the frame of the match making
machine, to which the invention is to be shown as applied, and B designates the
driving shaft of such machine, journalled in suitable bearings in frame A A, and
to be driven by suitable gearing or connections, from any desired motor or source
of power.
Fixed upon shaft B is a pinion C, which meshes with and drives the gear wheel (1
fixed upon shaft C2 journalled on the frame.
A sprocket wheel C3 is also fixed upon shaft B and drives the sprocket chain C+
which drives the sprocket wheel C5 fixed upon shaft C6, which is journalled in
suitable bearings on frame A A, and has attached to it a pinion C7, which meshes
with and drives the gear wheel C8 fixed upon shaft C⁹.
This shaft, being journalled upon frame AA, carries, fixed upon it, a sprocket
wheel Co actuating the sprocket chain C", running around and driving the sprocket
wheel C, which is fixed upon the hub of a friction disk D, journalled upon a stud
shaft D¹ secured to the side of frame A and carrying a collar 12 fixed to it by set
screw dat a point beyond the outer face of the friction disk hub. Between this
fixed collar and hub there is on the stud shaft 11, a loose collar 13 containing, in
its side towards the fixed collar, a series of recesses d¹ d¹¹ in the inner or opposing
face of the fixed collar.
Springs dd, having their opposite ends seated in the recesses in the fixed
and movable collars, serve to force the movable collar D³ against the hub of the
triction disk I), and so press such hub and disk with a yielding pressure inward,
on the stud shaft, towards the frame A A, for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.
A second stud shaft E, secured to the frame AA, at right angles to the stud
shaft 1, carries journalled upon it a sleeve or quill E, provided with a longi-
tudinal groove e and carrying fixed upon or made in one piece with it, a pinion
A brace rod E³, secured at one end to frame A A, has at its other end, an opening
to receive and support the outer end of the stud shaft E.
Upon the quill or sleeve E', is a friction wheel to engage the flat surface of the
friction disk D, and be rotated thereby as the disk is rotated.
Such friction wheel, as shown, consists of a sleeve E with the projecting peri-
pheral flange E³, an annular plate E6, surrounding the sleeve and secured
to the flange E5 by screws e c¹, so as to clamp between it and such flange the
blocks eee of wood or other suitable material, having their outer faces made
concentric with the flange E³ and projecting a short distance beyond the same,
so that the surface of the friction wheel which is to come in contact with the side
face of the friction disk D, will be formed of the wood or other material of the
blocks.
Instead of the wooden blocks, it is contemplated using blocks of any other

page_text: material capable of affording a good frictional hold upon the face of the friction
disk D, or the wood or other material, instead of being used as shown and described,
in a series of blocks of which the tread of the friction wheel is built up, may be
in the form of a solid ring of greater diameter than the flange E³. A set screw e³,
tapped through the sleeve E and engaging the groove e, in the quill or sleeve E¹,
serves to secure the friction wheel to the latter at any desired point along the same,
the purpose and object of the described connection between the sleeves E¹ and E+,
being to provide for the ready adjustment of the friction wheel to bring its point
of contact with the face of the friction disk D), nearer to or further from the centre
of such face, in order to diminish or increase the speed with which the friction
wheel will be driven with reference to the speed of rotation of the disk.
The springs de d² d², forcing the collar 13 and the disk D inward upon the stud
shaft 11, with a yielding pressure, as herein before described, serve to keep the
friction disk pressed against the periphery of the friction wheel on the quill or
sleeve E, so that a good frictional contact between the friction wheel periphery
and the face of the friction disk will always be maintained unaffected by wear of
the contacting surfaces.
The shaft C carries, fixed upon it, a cam, indicated in dotted lines at F in
Figure 4, which, engaging a pin f on a reciprocating frame F¹ having a slot f¹
embracing shaft C³, reciprocates such frame and the rod F2 attached thereto.
This rod swings the arm F to which its outer end is pivotally connected, and so
rocks the shaft F upon which the arm F³ is fixed.
This rock-shaft F, journalled in suitable bearings on frame, carries two arms F³,
which are connected by rods F F with the reciprocating head F7 moving towards
and from the carrier, portion of which is shown in the drawings, consisting of a
series of plates GG, hinged together, each of which is provided with a series of
transverse rows of perforations gg, to receive the splints or sticks of the matches.
As shown, these carrier plates are provided on their backs or rear sides with
spring clamps g¹g', to receive and grasp .portions of the splints thrust through
and beyond the plate perforations. This form of carrier with the spring clamps is,
however, not necessary to the successful operation of the boxing mechanism. Any
other form of carrier preferably arranged to carry the matches in parallel transverse
rows, can be used without involving any departure from the invention.
Attached to shaft (2 is an eccentric G₁, actuating an eccentric strap G²
which is connected by rod G³ with the rocking disk G* journalled upon shaft G5
supported in suitable bearings in frame A A.
This disk carries a pivoted pawl G6 engaging a ratchet wheel G7 on shaft G5,
and is connected by rod G8 with the rocking disc G journalled on shaft G10, which
is supported in suitable bearings on frame AA, and is provided with a ratchet
wheel G fixed upon it, engaged by the pivoted pawl G12 on the disk G.
The shaft Go carries a pair of toothed wheels G13 G13 which mesh with the
rack teeth gg2 on the backs of the carrier plates G G.
With this construction, as the shaft C³ is rotated, the pawl disk G' will be rocked
once and the ratchet wheel G will be moved one tooth for each rotation of the
shaft C, with the result that the toothed wheels G13 G13 will be rotated to move
the connected carrier plates forward an amount equal to the distance between two
adjoining rows of perforations in the plates, so that each movement of the plates
will bring a new row of perforations opposite a given line.
The reciprocating head F7 herein before described, having a forward and back
movement over guides, one of which is shown at F8 in Figure 6, is provided with
a series of pins f, situated so that, as the carrier plates GG come to rest, after
each forward step in their travel, a row of perforations in one of the plates will be
opposite the pins f, and each pin will be in line with one of the perforations, so
that a forward movement of the head will cause the pins to engage the ends of the
match splints, which are in the plate perforations, and will drive the matches out
of the plate.
The cam F and eccentric G¹ on shaft C³ are so timed relatively that the head F7

page_text: will be moved forward to eject a row of matches from the carrier and returned to take
its ejecting pins f away from the match stick holding devices of the carrier plate
while the carrier is at rest after a forward step in its travel has been completed
and before another step is begun by the ratchet feed mechanism described.
The shaft G can be provided with a pair of toothed wheels like the ones G¹³ G13
on shaft Go, to engage the rack teeth gg on the carrier plates at another point
in the travel of the carrier, but such wheels on shaft Gare not shown in the
drawings, and need not be, as the particular means used for moving and supporting
the carrier at the various points in the travel of the latter can be varied as desired,
without involving departure from the invention.
With the mechanism as described up to this point, and the carrier plates supplied
with and carrying rows of matches, as the machine operates the rows of matches
will be successively ejected from the carrier as they reach a certain point in the
travel of the carrier, and the matches when ejected will fall down in a stream
formed of rows or layers of matches closely following each other.
At the point where the matches are ejected from the carrier, there is provided
a series of thin upright parallel plates H, arranged so that each match in a
perforation of one of the plates G will be separated from the adjoining splints in
the same row by one of the plates H.
These latter plates, extending from a point below the place where the matches
are ejected from the carrier upward for some distance above such plates, have
their upper edges inclined downward and outward, as shown best in Figure 6,
and their outer ends standing slightly within the plane of travel of the match
heads, so that the plates cannot come in contact with such heads as the matches are
moved downward between the plates by the travel of the carrier. All danger of
firing the matches by the contact of the head of any match with the division
plates HH, is then avoided, while such plates extending outward on opposite sides
of the sticks of the matches held in the carrier, will effectually prevent any of such
matches as ejected from the carrier, from swinging to one side or the other so as
to be at an angle to the adjoining matches.
The division plates, extending as shown a short distance below the point where
the matches are ejected from the carrier, will not only cause them to remain
substantially parallel to each other just as they are pushed out of the carrier, but
will keep them from getting out of parallelism in a horizontal plane, until they
are well started down in their fall, and can, consequently, have no longer any
tendency to swing to one side or the other.
The plates HH are, preferably, held in grooves in upwardly projecting
fingers H'H' on the upright plate H supported from the frame AA, and extending
across in front of and close to the outer face of the carrier.
The fingers H'H' are preferably formed by slotting the plate H³ from its upper
edge downward, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, the slots terminating at a point
just below the place where the matches are ejected from the carrier, and having a
width just sufficient to permit the downward travel of the match sticks through
them, as the carrier moves the matches towards the point of ejectment.
The fingers H'H' extend out from the plane of the face of the carrier plates a
ufficient distance to be capable of acting to straighten up into perfect parallelism
with the adjoining matches, any matches that may have become inclined to one
side or the other of the carrier before the plate H is reached. To insure the
ready passage of the matches carried by the carrier into the slots of the plate H³ and
past the fingers HH, and to facilitate the straightening up of any inclined
matches, the upper ends of said fingers are made wedge-shaped, being inclined on
opposite sides, as shown in Figures 3 and 6.
Extending across in front of the carrier, below the place where the matches are
ejected from the latter, is the box-filling trough K, supported upon two or more
horizontal guide studs or pins kk, extending out from the plate H³, and engaging
tubular guide pieces, secured to the under side of the trough. See Figures 1,
3, 6, 21 and 22,

page_text: The openings in these guide pieces engage the pins kk so that the trough will
be capable of free movement horizontally towards and from the plate H2 and the
carrier.
Such movement is imparted to the trough by the swinging arms K'K', secured
to the rock shaft K, and having in their upper portions openings, somewhat
elongated up and down, as shown in Figures 3 and 23, engaging pins ³ ³ secured
in the guide pieces
..
Tho rock shaft K², being journalled in bearings on frame AA, has fixed upon
one end the arm carrying a bearing, preferably, consisting of an anti-friction
roller k, engaging a cam K4 rotating with shaft B. A spring, attached at one
end to the frame AA and at the other to the arm K³, serves to hold the latter with
its roller bearing against the periphery of cam K4, which is shaped so that, in
conjunction with the spring, it will give the arm K³ a series of short vibrations
for each revolution of the cam. (See Figures 1, 2, and 15.)
These vibrations of arm K³ being transmitted through rock shaft K², arms K' K¹,
pins and guide pieces 'k', cause the filling trough K to be vibrated hori-
zontally upon the supporting guide pins or studs kk, for a purpose to be explained
hereinafter.
The trough K is preferably constructed as shown in the drawings, that is, with
its sides composed of upright parallel, longitudinally extending thin plates K³ K³,
which are best made of metal and the body K of wood, to which the plates K³K³
are secured by screws k6. Within this trough, above the wooden body K6, is a
removable bottom K7, preferably, made of metal and secured in place by ribs k³ k
on its under side, extending down a short distance into rebates on opposite sides
of the body K, and lugs, extending down into recesses in the front side of the
body K, and fastened there by some of the screws 6, as indicated in Figures 1,
19, and 20.
This bottom K is made removable in order that it may be readily taken out and
replaced by one which will stand higher in the trough, the object being to provide
for using a higher bottom where shallower boxes are to be filled, in order that,
whatever the depth of the box being filled may be, the upper edges of the box
may be made to be always at the same height with reference to the upper edges
of the trough sides.
The trough bottom, which is to form a support for the boxes while being filled,
is preferably made inclined, as shown, from the point where the boxes enter the
trough downward to the discharge end of the latter, the purpose of this con-
struction being to gradually lower the boxes as they travel across in front of the
carrier plates G G.
The ends of the side plates K K³ at the entrance end of the filling trough K,
are provided with the projecting tongues to form spring yielding guides to
properly guide the boxes from a box feeding trough to the filling trough, notwith-
standing the sidewise vibrations of the latter.
The feed trough from which the boxes to be filled are to be fed to the filling
trough, has the inner plate L, which is secured to the frame A A, and extends out
from the side thereof, and the outer plate L' parallel to the other, and connected
with the same by connecting bolts or distance pieces, which can be increased in
number, and placed anywhere, as desired.
Pivoted upon one of these distance pieces 7 is a frame, consisting of two parallel
side plates LL², connected together by an intervening body L³, preferably of
wood, to which the side plates are secured by screws 1, or otherwise, as desired.
The other end of this pivoted frame has journalled in it a shaft L to which is
secured, between the side plates L2 L2, a roller L³ for supporting and driving a
feed belt Lo which, from roller L³, runs to and around a supporting roller L'
journalled upon the distance piece or bolt l.
The end of the frame carrying the roller L5, is close to the entrance end of filling
trough K and has, pivoted to it at 1³, a bridge 13 whose free end rests upon the
bottom K7 of the filling trough, so as to afford a support for the boxes travelling

page_text: from the feed belt Le into the filling trough, whatever the height of the feed
trough bottom, or the position of the free end of the feed trough with reference to
the filling trough bottom, may be.
The feed belt consists of a strip of leather with the flesh side out, in which are
made a series of cross cuts 1414, which make the belt more flexible in a direction to
allow it to bend easily around the rollers LL', while leaving it stiff and rigid
against bending on a longitudinal line, or turning up at its edges.
Such a belt will run easily around the rollers conforming closely to their
peripheries, and, consequently, getting a firm hold on the roller pulley L³, while
keeping its outer face straight from side to side, so that it will get a good hold
upon the bottoms of any boxes resting upon it.
The wooden body L3, of the swinging frame, carrying the belt L", is adapted
to stand close below and form a support for the upper half of the belt, as indicated
in the drawings, so that the belt cannot sag between its driving and supporting
rollers, but will run in a straight line there.
The shaft L carries a driving pinion L³, meshing with and driven by the gear Lº,
which in turn is driven by the gear wheel Lo journalled upon a stud L" on a
swinging frame L2, pivotted upon the stud L³ projecting out from plate L¹4
secured to frame A A. (Figures 3, 7, and 8.)
The frame L2 is provided with a slot L concentric with the swing of the plate
about the stud L3, through which slot passes the bolt L6 which is tapped into
plate L, and arranged to clamp the swinging frame securely to such plate so as
to hold it firmly at any point of its swing about the stud L¹³.
The gear wheel L₁0, meshes with a pinion M on the sleeve M³, journalled on
stud L3, and, because of the frame L₁ being pivotted on this same stud, will
always remain in mesh with and be driven by said pinion, whatever the position
of frame L12 may be.
The outer end of stud L¹³, is connected by a brace rod M³, with the corresponding
end of stud shaft E.
Fixed to and rotating with the sleeve M¹, is a combined sprocket wheel and band
pulley M³, of which the sprocket wheel part is driven by a sprocket chain M4,
which in turn is driven by the sprocket wheel E2 on the rotating quill or sleeve E¹,
herein before described, journalled upon the stud shaft E.
Around the band pulley part of M³, runs the band M³ which drives a second
band pulley M fixed on the shaft M7 journalled in the plates LL¹ above the
shaft L'.
The shaft M has, fixed upon it, the belt driving roller M8, which supports and
drives a second feed belt M constructed like feed belt Lo, hereinbefore described,
and running from roller MB to and around the roller M10, journalled upon a bolt
or distance piece M" connecting the plates L and L' above the lower belt roller L.
In order that this bolt or distance piece M" may he set further up or lower down.
to bring the roller M10 further from or nearer the roller L, and so adjust the distance
between the feed belts L" and M, at the point where the boxes are to pass in
between them, the threaded outer ends of the said distance piece or bolt are made
to pass out through the upright slightly curved slots mm in the plates LL', and s
are provided with nuts m¹ m', which when screwed in will clamp the respective
plates between them and the ends of the larger main portions of the distance piece,
which overlap the inner sides of the slots mm, as indicated in Figure 9.
To provide for a corresponding up and down adjustment of the inner end of the
swinging frame of the lower feed belt, there is secured to said frame a plate L17,
having the curved slot L18, through which passes a clamping bolt L19 tapped into
the plate L', the arrangement being such that, with the bolt L19 loosened, the free
inner end of the frame, supporting the lower feed belt roller L³, can be swung up
or down, to bring such roller and the feed bolt Le running over it, nearer to or
further from the roller M, and the portion of the upper feed belt M, which runs 5
under the latter roller, and a tightening up of the bolt L" will then clamp the

page_text: plate L against plate L', so as to securely fix the end of the lower feed belt frame
at any desired point of adjustment.
As the free inner end of the lower feed belt frame is adjusted up or down, as
indicated, the swinging plate or frame L is correspondingly adjusted to keep
the gear wheel L10 in mesh with gear L', so that the feed belt driving roller L³
will always be driven from the pinion M on sleeve M¹ through the gear
wheels L, L, pinion L8 and shaft LA.
The band and pulley connections between the sleeve M¹ and the shaft M' are
so timed relatively, that such shaft will be driven at the same speed as shaft LA,
and, consequently, the two feed belts will be moved to carry their opposing faces
towards the box filling trough at the same rate.
These opposing portions of the feed belts are to be a sufficient distance apart to
engage, respectively, the bottoms and upper edges of the boxes fed along between
them.
The described construction of these belts, with their box engaging faces, made of
the flesh side of leather and slit or cut transversely, enables the belts to get the
best hold upon the boxes so as to feed them along regularly at a given speed
without danger of slip and consequent lagging of any box.
The making of the inner portion of the lower feed belt and the outer portion
of the upper feed belt adjustable in the manner shown and described, enables the
distance between the two belts to be adjusted to suit the feeding mechanism for
feeding boxes of different depths. If, for instance, with the feed belts situated as
shown in Figure 9, it be desired to arrange for the feeding of boxes which are
higher or of greater depth than the distance between the belts, the belt roller M8
is lowered and the belt roller M10 is raised a corresponding distance, so that the
opposing faces of the two feed belts, while still being parallel, will stand further
from each other.
To press the under portion of the upper feed belt with a yielding pressure down
towards the boxes passing beneath it, there is provided the plate N, preferably of
metal or other heavy material, resting with its weight upon the upper or inner
side of the belt, as shown best in Figures 8 and 9, such plate being connected with
the plate L by an arm N¹ provided with a slot n, through which a bolt n¹ on plate L
loosely passes, having a washer n² to retain the arm N¹ in place against plate L,
while allowing it to move freely up and down.
The plates L and L' are provided with thin plates n³n³, preferably of brass,
attached to their inner sides and projecting down on opposite sides of the upper
half or portion of the lower feed belt L6, to form guides for the opposite sides of the
boxes being fed along over such belts.
The spring yielding tongues on the side plates K5 K³ of the filling trough,
project outward behind the inner ends of the plates n³ n³ so as to receive the boxes
between them as they issue from between the feed belts, and guide them properly
into the vibrating filling trough K.
For supplying the boxes to the feed belts L6 M³, there is provided a supply
trough O, projecting in between the plates LL' to a point close to the lower feed
belt supporting roller L', and secured to such plates by screws oo, or otherwise,
as desired.
The sides of this trough, which are preferably of metal, are connected together
by a wooden body O¹ to which the sides are screwed or secured in any desired way.
Journalled in these trough sides is a shaft (2, having attached to it, between such
sides, a belt roller 03 over which runs the box supplying belt 04, which can be of
leather or any other suitable material. At the outer end of the supply trough,
this belt runs over a supporting pulley O³ journalled upon a distance piece or
bolt 0, extending across between the trough sides.
The wooden body 04, which extends across between the upper and lower arms
or portions of the belt 04, has its upper face not supporting, but standing at a short
distance below the upper inwardly travelling portion of the belt, upon which the
boxes to be supplied are to rest, the object of this arrangement being to allow the

page_text: belt to yield a little, so that the boxes, as they are moved along will be jigged or
jarred a little in such a way as to ensure their easy movement along past the
enclosing sides of the supply trough.
The shaft O is driven by a band pulley 07, which is fixed on it, and is, in turn,
driven by the band 0%, which, passing over guide pulleys 0909 runs to and is
driven by the band wheel O fixed on shaft C³.
The band pulley 07 and wheel (0) 10 are of such relative sizes that the roller (³
will drive the supply belt 04 at a greater speed than the feed belts L and M³, so
that the boxes on the supply belt will be kept packed up to the mouth between
the feed belts, the friction of the fast travelling supply belt against their bottoms
keeping the boxes moved up closely against each other, so that the feed belts will
be kept fully supplied with boxes closely packed together, without any intervals or
spaces between them.
To prevent any chance of any of the matches, as they are ejected from the carrier
plates GG, being thrown out over the outer edge of the filling trough K, there is
provided the guard plate H³ (Figures 1 and 2) which, being attached at its opposite
ends to frame A A, extends outward from the frame, so as to provide
portions HH parallel with the division plates H H, standing close to the end ones
of such plates to prevent the matches which may come on the outer sides of such
end plates from swinging towards the side of the frame as they are ejected from the
carrier plates. Between these outwardly extending portions, the plate passes
along over the upper edge of the outer side of the filling trough. In order to
support the boxes at the point where they pass from the supply belt O to the feed
belt Lo, there is provided a bridge P, consisting of a plate extending from a point
close to the upper side of the supply belt 04, to a point close to and substantially
on a level with the portion of the feed belt L which passes inward over the top
of roller L', and a downwardly projecting arm P¹ which is secured to the inner-
side of the feed trough plate L.
To receive the filled boxes as delivered from the filling trough, there is provided
an adjustable receiving trough R, supported on an arm R¹ of a plate R2, which is
adjustably supported on frame A A, by means of bolts rr, passing through slots r¹ pl
in the plate. With this construction the trough R can readily be adjusted to bring
its bottom on a level with any bottom K' which may be put in trough K.
The operation of the box filling mechanism, which will be readily understood
from the foregoing description, and the drawings, is briefly, as follows: With
the supply trough O provided with boxes to be filled, as the machine operates,
such boxes will, by the action of the fast running supply belt 04, be crowded up
towards and into the opening between the two feed belts L and M. These feed
belts, with their transversely slit outer surfaces, engage the bottoms and upper
edges, respectively, of the boxes, so as to secure a firm hold upon them.
The plate N, pressing with its weight upon the top of the lower portion of the
belt M, causes such portion to run in a straight line parallel to the lower belt,
and keeps it pressed down upon the upper edges of the boxes.
The distance between the feed belts can be adjusted, as desired, to secure the
feeding of boxes of different depths or heights, by adjusting the inner end of the
swinging frame carrying the roller shatt L up or down, and at the same time
correspondingly adjusting the distance post or bolt M, upon which the upper
feed belt roller M10 is journalled, in the manner hereinbefore described, the swing-
ing frame L being adjusted up or down with the end of the frame carrying
shatt L' so as to keep the gear wheel L10 in mesh with pinion L³.
From between the two feed belts, the boxes pass onward between the two yielding
spring tongues which guide them into the shaking filling trough K, the motion
of which will give the boxes a series of short transverse shakes or vibrations,
while they are passing along between the trough sides.
The boxes are pushed along at a regular rate through the filling trough, by the
action of the feed belts upon the boxes behind those in the filling trough, and as
they move onward over the inclined bottom of the filling trough, they receive the

page_text: matches which are ejected in rows from the carrier plates GG, by the ejecting
devices herein before described.
The carrier being moved intermittently forward, so as to bring successive rows of
matches quickly opposite the ejecting devices, and the latter being operated to eject
each row of matches as it comes opposite the ejecting pins f, the matches will
fall from the carrier plates in a stream of rows or layers quickly following each
other. The boxes, being moved slowly across this stream, will become more and
more filled therefrom as they go on, and if the rate of travel of the box is properly
adjusted, each box will, before leaving or passing beyond the stream of matches,
be filled therefrom.
The rate of travel of the boxes, with reference to the feeding down of the matches,
can be readily adjusted, as desired, by moving the friction wheel which engages
the friction disk D), in or out on the quill or sleeve E¹, to bring the point of
contact between the wheel periphery and the disk nearer to or further from
the centre of the face of the latter. The adjustment of the friction wheel along the
quill or sleeve El can be readily effected by loosening the set screw e³, sliding the
wheel along the sleeve to the desired point and then tightening up the screw again.
It will be understood that with the friction disk D driven at a uniform rate of
speed from the main driving shaft B of the machine, through the connecting
gearing herein before described and shown in the drawings, the friction wheel
will be rotated faster or slower, according as it is situated so as to bring its point of
contact with the face of the disk D, further from or nearer to the centre of such face,
and that the feed belts L6 and M³ will be correspondingly driven faster or slower
through the described connections between the rollers driving such belts and the
sleeve or quill E¹ which carries the friction wheel.
As the matches in the perforations of the carrier plates are brought, by the
action of the step by step carrier driving devices down to the slots or openings in
the plate H³ between the fingers H', any matches which may have become inclined
towards one side or the other of the carrier, so as to be out of parallelism with
adjoining matches, will be engaged by the inclined sides on the upper ends of the
fingers, and forced up into position at right angles to the carrier plate, and, con-
sequently, parallel to each other and to the other properly positioned matches in
the plate.
The sides of the fingers continuing to stand close to the matches, passing down
between them, will keep such matches in their proper positions parallel to each
other, and at right angles to the carrier plate until they are ejected from such plate
by the pins of the described ejecting mechanism.
While the matches are being ejected, and for a short time after beginning their
fall to the boxes below, the division plates HH keep them from swinging or
turning to one side or the other, so as to get out of parallel with each other. The
result is, that they fall down into the boxes in the filling trough, with their sticks
in subtantially parallel, vertical planes, and, when they reach the boxes will fall
into positions therein, which will be substantially at right angles to the line of
travel of the boxes. No shaking or jarring of the boxes in a longitudinal direction,
or at right angles to the positions which the matches are to occupy in the filled
boxes, will then be necessary to get the matches in the boxes lying across within
the latter, parallel with each other.
The shaking or jarring of the boxes which is necessary, is one transverse to the
line of travel of the boxes, or parallel to the matches as they are to lie in 'the
filled boxes, and this shaking or jarring is given the boxes by the vibration of
the filling trough by the arms K' K¹ on the rock shaft K², rocked by the arm K³,
which is in turn vibrated by the action of the cam K and spring .
With the boxes, as they are being gradually filled during their passage through
the filling trough K and across the stream of falling matches, given a series of
short transverse vibrations in the manner described, the matches which, are apt
to fall with the heavier head end lower than the other, will be shaken down into
B

page_text: substantially horizontal positions parallel to each other, the direction of the vibra-
tions of the boxes being such as to most quickly and surely cause the matches to
so settle, because as they reach the boxes after leaving the guiding division plates,
they can be inclined with relation to the positions which they are desired to have
in the filled boxes only in vertical planes, and not in a horizontal plane.
The downward incline of the bottom h³ of the filling trough, over which the
boxes pass while being filled, is for the purpose of lowering the boxes gradually,
as they receive more and more of the matches, and the tops of their contents rise
within them, so that the distance through which the matches have to fall will
always be substantially the same, and they will consequently reach the end of their
fall within the boxes under substantially the same conditions.
It will be understood from the explanation given hereinbefore that as boxes of
different depths are to be filled by the machine different bottoms K' for the filling
trough K are to be employed, to support the box bottoms higher or lower, according
as the boxes are shallower or deeper ones.
The filling machine, constructed as shown and described, is well adapted for use
with many different depths of boxes, all that is necessary to be done for changing
it for use in filling boxes of a different depth being to adjust the adjustably
supported feed belts to accommodate the boxes between them, at the same time to
move the adjustable frame carrying the gear L10, insert the proper bottom K' in
the filling trough and adjust the friction wheel on the quill or sleeve E¹, to make
the feeding of the boxes, and, consequently, their passage along in the feeding
trough, faster or slower, according as the boxes to be filled are shallower or deeper.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed as new
therein and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is :-
1. In a box filling machine, in combination with means for feeding along the
boxes to be filled, means for shaking the boxes sidewise, with reference to their
line of travel, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a box filling machine, in combination with means for feeding along the
boxes to be filled, a support over which the boxes are fed, and means for shaking
such support sidewise with reference to the line of travel of the boxes over it,
substantially as and for the purpose shown.
3. In a box filling machine, in combination with means for feeding along the
boxes to be filled, a trough through which the boxes are fed, and means for shaking
such trough sidewise, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a box filling machine, in combination with a trough through which the
boxes are fed, supports for such trough adapted to allow it to move sidewise, one
or more swinging arms, connections between the latter and the trough, and means
for swinging such arms in a direction transverse to the line of travel of the boxes
through the trough, substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. In a box filling machine, in combination with a trough through which the
boxes are fed, supports for such trough adapted to allow it to move sidewise, one
or more swinging arms, connections between the latter and the trough, a rock
shaft to which the arm or arms are attached, an arm on such shaft carrying a
bearing, a cam engaged by such bearing, and a spring engaging the latter arm,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. In a box filling machine, in combination with a trough through which the
boxes are fed, guiding pieces attached to the trough and engaging guide pins
extending in a direction transverse to the trough, pins on the guide pieces, swinging
arms engaging the latter pins, a rock shaft carrying the arms, another arm on
the shaft, a cam engaging a bearing on this arm, and a spring pressing the arm
towards the cam, substantially as and for the
purpose shown.
7. In a box filling machine in combination with means for feeding the boxes,
a sidewise shaking trough receiving the boxes from the feeding means, and having
yielding guiding tongues projecting on opposite sides of the path of the boxes

page_text: issuing from the box feeding means, and means for shaking the trough, substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a box filling machine in combination with means for feeding the boxes,
and guiding plates on opposite sides of the feeding devices, a sidewise shaking
trough receiving the boxes from the feeding devices, and having yielding tongues
projecting out beyond the outer sides of the guiding plates, and means for shaking
the trough, substantially as and for the purpose described.
9. In a feeding mechanism, a feed belt having its outer face provided with a
series of transverse slits or cuts extending part way through the belt, in com-
bination with means for supporting such belt, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
10. In a feeding mechanism, a feed belt of leather having its outer face pro-
vided with a series of transverse cuts or slits extending part way through the belt,
in combination with means for supporting such belt, substantially as and for the
purpose shown.
11. In a feeding mechanism, a feed belt of leather, having its flesh side outward
slit or cut transversely, with the slits or cuts extending part way through the belt,
and means for supporting the belt, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
12. In a feeding mechanism, in combination with a driving roller and means
for turning the same, a supporting roller and a belt running over such rollers,
having in its outer face a series of transverse cuts or slits extending part way
through it, substantially as and for the purpose described.
13. In a feeding mechanism, in combination with two parallel belts, each having
in its outer face a series of transverse cuts or slits extending part way through it,
driving and supporting rollers for the two belts, and means for rotating the driving
rollers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
14. In a feeding mechanism, in combination with a pair of feed belts, the two
rollers for supporting each belt, an adjustable support for one of the rollers of one
belt, to allow such roller to be adjusted towards and from the corresponding roller
of the other belt, and an adjustable support for the other roller of the other belt,
adapted to allow adjustment of such roller to and from the corresponding roller
of the former belt, substantially as and for the purpose shown.
15. In a feeding mechanism, in combination with a pair of feed belts each having
an inner and an outer supporting roller, to support the belt, at the delivery and
receiving ends, respectively, of the feeding mechanism, an adjustable bearing for
the outer roller of one belt, an adjustable bearing for the inner roller of the other
belt, and means for rotating one roller for each belt, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
16. In a feeding mechanism, in combination with a pair of feed belts, each
having an inner and an outer roller to support the belt at the delivery and receiving
ends, respectively, of the feeding mechanism, adjustable bearings for the inner
roller of one helt and the outer roller of the other belt, each adapted to allow the
adjustment of the respective rollers towards and from the correspondingly situated
roller of the other belt, substantially as and for the purpose described.
17. In a feeding mechanism, in combination with the two feed belts each having
an inner and an outer roller to support the belt at the delivery and receiving ends,
respectively, of the feeding mechanism, adjustable bearings for the inner roller
of one belt and the outer roller of the other, each adapted to allow the respective
roller to be set nearer to or further from the adjoining roller of the other belt,
means for driving the unadjustable inner roller of one belt, an adjustable frame
carrying a gear wheel driven from any suitable source of power, and gearing
supported on the adjustable support of the inner roller of the other belt, adapted
to be driven by the gear wheel on the adjustable frame, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
18. In a feeding mechanism. in combination with the two feed belts, and means
for supporting and driving the same, a pressure plate resting upon the upper side
of the lower portion of the upper belt, and means for retaining such plate in

page_text: position while leaving it free to rise and fall, substantially as and for the purpose
shown.
19. In combination with a feed belt, a supply belt travelling faster than the
feed belt, and means for driving the several belts, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
20. In combination with a pair of opposing feed belts and means for driving
the same, a supply belt for delivering boxes or other material to and between the
feed belts, and means for driving such supply belt at a speed greater than that of
the feed belts, substantially as and for the purpose described.
21. In a box filling machine, in combination with the box feeding devices and
means for moving the same, a rotating friction disk, a friction wheel supported
so as to rotate on an axis at right angles to the axis of rotation of the disk, and
made adjustable to bring its point of contact with the disk, nearer to or further
from the centre of the disk face, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
22. In a box filling machine, in combination with the box feeding devices, a
rotating friction disk, a sleeve journalled on a support at right angles to the axis
of the disk, a friction wheel on such sleeve made adjustable along the same, means
for fixing it at any adjustment on the sleeve, and connections between such sleeve
and the feeding devices to drive the latter, substantially as and for the purpose
shown.
23. In a box filling machine, in combination with a source of supply of the
material to be boxed, a suitable support for the boxes while travelling across the
stream of material falling from the source of supply, feeding devices for feeding
the boxes to and over such support, a rotating friction disk, a friction wheel
adjustably secured to a sleeve extending at right angles to the axis of rotation of
the friction disk so as to be capable of adjustment along such sleeve, means for
fixing the wheel as so adjusted, and suitable connections between the sleeve and
the feeding devices for driving the latter, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
24. In combination with the friction disk, and the friction wheel to be driven
thereby, a shaft upon which the disk is journalled, a fixed collar on such shaft
having a series of recesses, a movable collar on the shaft having corresponding
recesses, and springs having their opposite ends seated in corresponding recesses
in the fixed and movable collars, substantially as and for the purpose described.
25. In combination with a moving carrier provided with means for holding the
matches in rows, means for causing the discharge of the matches from the carrier,
when, by the motion of the latter, they have been brought to a certain point, a
series of dividing plates on opposite sides of which the matches pass, adapted to
separate each match from the adjoining matches, on opposite sides of it, as the
matches are brought to the point of their discharge from the carrier, and means for
moving boxes along under the series of plates, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
26. In combination with a moving carrier provided with means for holding matches
in rows, means for causing the discharge of the matches from the carrier, when,
by the motion of the latter, the matches have been brought to a certain point, and
a series of dividing plates for separating each match from the adjoining matches
on opposite sides of it, as the matches are brought to the point of their discharge
from the carrier, such plates being arranged parallel with the lines of the travel
of the matches and extending out away from the carrier, so as to stand between
the sticks of the matches and not between their heads, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
27. In combination with a moving carrier, provided with means for holding
the matches, a series of dividing plates, between which the matches are carried by the
carrier, having their edges, which are rearward with reference to the travel of the
carrier, inclined outward and forward with reference to such travel, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
28. In combination with a moving carrier, provided with means for holding the

page_text: matches, means for causing discharge of the matches from the carrier, when they
reach a given point, and the series of dividing plates, between which the matches
are moved by the carrier situated so as to divide adjoining matches from each
other after they have been discharged from the carrier and means for moving boxes
along under the series of dividing plates, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
29. In combination with a moving match carrier, provided with means for hold-
ing the matches, from which the matches are ejected at a certain point in the travel
of the carrier, and a series of fingers in line with the spaces between the adjoining
matches on the carrier, adapted to engage only the sticks and not the heads of any
crooked or inclined matches, so as to straighten the latter up towards parallelism
with the adjoining match sticks, before the matches are ejected from the carrier,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
30. In combination with a moving match carrier, provided with means for hold-
ing the matches, a series of stationary fingers to pass between adjoining matches
on the carrier, having their ends projecting rearward with reference to the travel
of the carrier, bevelled on opposite sides, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
31. In combination with a moving match carrier, provided with means for hold-
ing the matches, a series of stationary fingers to pass between adjoining matches
on the carrier, having their ends projecting rearward, with reference to the travel
of the matches with the carrier, bevelled on their opposite sides, and also down-
wardly and outwardly with reference to the face of the carrier, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
32. In combination with a moving match carrier, provided with means for hold-
ing the matches, the series of match separating and straightening fingers, and the
series of dividing plates situated between the paths of adjoining matches carried
by the moving carrier, substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In combination with a moving match carrier provided with means for carry-
ing the matches, the stationary slotted plate having slots to guide the matches,
with their open ends provided with flaring mouths for the entrance of the matches
as the latter are moved along by the carrier, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
34. In combination with a moving match carrier, provided with means for
carrying the matches, the stationary slotted plate having slots with flaring mouths,
and the dividing plates, parallel with these slots, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
35. In combination with a moving carrier, provided with means for holding the
matches, a series of stationary fingers past which the matches are carried, adapted
to engage the sticks of any crooked or inclined matches, so as to straighten such
matches up towards parallelism with the adjoining matches, such fingers standing
close to the carrier, and having their ends projecting rearward with reference to the
travel of the carrier, provided with inclined faces extending outward and forward
with reference to the travel of the carrier, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
36. In a box filling machine, in combination with means for supplying, in a
stream, the material to be boxed, means for feeding the material across such stream,
and means for giving them a series of side-wise shakes transverse to their travel.
while they are passing through the stream of material, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
37. In a box filling machine, in combination with means for supplying in a
stream the material to be boxed, a trough extending across such stream, means for
feeding boxes through such trough, and means for giving the trough a series of
transverse shakes while the boxes are passing through the stream of material,
substantially as and for the purpose shown.
38. In a machine for filling boxes with matches, in combination with means for
supplying matches in a stream, feeding devices to cause boxes to travel across

page_text: such stream and means for giving the boxes, while passing through the stream a
series of transverse shakes in a direction substantially parallel to the matches, as
they are to lie in the filled boxes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
39. In a machine for filling boxes with matches, in combination with means
for supplying the matches in a stream, a shaking trough for the boxes extending
transverse to such stream, means for feeding the boxes to such trough, and means
for shaking the trough transversely from side to side, while the boxes are passing
through the stream of matches and being filled therefrom, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
40. In a machine for filling boxes with matches, in combination with a source of
supply of the matches, means for causing such matches to assume positions in
parallel planes, means for passing the boxes to be filled across below the path of the
matches as they pass beyond the means for causing them to assume the positions in
parallel planes, and means for giving the boxes, as they pass along, a series of
sidewise shakes in a direction substantially parallel to the direction in which the
matches are to lie in the filled boxes, substantially as described.
41. In a machine for filling boxes with matches, in combination with a source
of supply of matches, and a series of division plates between which the matches
ass, means for passing the boxes to be filled along below and past the division
plates, and means for giving the boxes as they pass along a series of side-wise shakes
in a direction substantially parallel to the division plates, substantially as and for
the purpose shown.
42. In a machine for filling boxes with matches, in combination with a carrier
for the matches, means for ejecting the matches from the carrier, guides to
straighten up into parallelism with the other matches any matches which may be
inclined to one side or the other while in the carrier, adapted to act upon the matches
before they reach the point of ejectment, means for passing boxes across the stream
of matches falling from the carrier, and means for giving such boxes a series of
side-wise shakes as they move across the path of the falling matches, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
43. In a machine for filling boxes with matches, in combination with a carrier
for the matches and ejecting mechanism to eject the matches from the carrier,
guide fingers on opposite sides of which the matches are carried by the carrier before
and until they reach the point of ejectment and while they are being ejected,
means for feeding the boxes across the stream of falling matches, and means for
giving the boxes a series of side-wise shakes towards and from the plane of travel
of the match carrier while they are passing across the stream of matches, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specined.
44. In a machine for filling boxes with matches, in combination with a travelling
carrier for the matches, and ejecting mechanism to eject the matches when they
reach a given point, guide fingers close to the carrier on opposite sides of which
the matches in the carrier are carried before they reach the point of ejectment.
such fingers having their ends extending rearward with reterence to the travel of
the carrier, bevelled off on opposite sides, feed devices for feeding boxes across the
path of the matches ejected from the carrier, and means for giving such boxes a
series of side-wise shakes while passing across such path, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
45. In a machine for filling boxes with matches, in combination with a source
of supply of matches, means for insuring that the matches coming from the source
of supply shall lie in substantially parallel vertical planes, means for passing the
boxes across the path of the matches in a direction substantially at right angles
to such vertical planes, and means for giving the boxes, while so passing, a series
of shakes transverse to the line of their travel, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
46. In a machine for filling boxes with matches, in combination with a carrier
for the matches and incans for ejecting the matches from such carrier, a series of
division plates, for dividing and guiding the matches, means for passing the boxes

page_text: across the stream of matches, and means for giving the boxes a series of side-wise
shakes as they are passing across the stream, substantially as and for the purpose
shown.
47. In a machine for filling boxes with matches, in combination with a carrier
for the matches, and means for ejecting the matches therefrom, a series of upright,
parallel division plates between which the matches in the carrier are moved by
the latter before they are ejected therefrom, means for feeding boxes along under
such plates, and means for giving the boxes while passing under the plates a series
of side-wise shakes transverse to their line of travel, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
48. In a machine for filling boxes with matches, in combination with a carrier
for the matches, and means for causing them to leave the carrier, a series of upright
parallel division plates down between which the matches are carried by the carrier
before they leave the same, such plates extending below the point where the
matches leave the carrier, feeding devices to cause the boxes to be filled to pass
along under the series of plates, and means for giving the boxes while so passing
a series of side-wise shakes in a direction transverse to the line of travel of the
boxes, substantially as and for the purpose described.
49. In combination with a series of upright division plates and means for causing
the matches or other articles to be boxed to pass and fall down between such plates,
a shaking support for the boxes extending along under the series of plates, and
means for shaking such support transversely, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
50. In a feeding mechanism for boxes or other articles, two opposing moving
devices to engage the upper and lower sides of the boxes, each having one end
adjustably supported so as to be movable towards and from the other device, the
movable end of each device being opposite the unadjustable end of the other, and
means for actuating such moving devices, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.