Improvements in or relating to Machines for Making Box Blanks.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept, 1898-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1898
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Making Box Blanks.
A Communication from FREDERICK PETER ROSBACK, Manufacturer, of 60, So. Canal
Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 improvement in machines for making blanks for boxes,
the blanks consisting each of a sheet of lumber, or the like, provided on one side with
reinforcing cleats and at its opposite side with strengthening wires or bands, the
sheet and cleats being secured together by means of staples, nails, or the like, which
also pass over or through the strengthening wires or bands, to hold them in place.
When a blank has been formed in the present machine it may have the appearance,
for example, of the blank illustrated in Figures 14-15. It is then provided on its
under or cleated side with three parallel step-mitered cuts, as indicated, for example,
by the dotted lines in Figure 14, at which cuts the blank may be folded to form four
sides of a box, the step-mitered cleats intermeshing at the corner edges and all being
held together by the strengthening wires or bands, which are twisted or otherwise
fastened together at their projecting ends.
The sheet and cleats are placed in guides toward the front end of the machine, and
then advanced by the feed (the cleats moving longitudinally) beneath fastener
duving devices, the strengthening wires or strips being fed at the same time whereby
the fasteners are driven to fasten the wires or strips, sheet and cleats together in
proper relation.
The machine may be provided with three or more staple-forming and driving-
devices, or it may be provided with means for feeding one or more bands or flat strips
of metal or other suitable material in place of the strengthening wires and for
fastening them in place with nails instead of staples. Thus, for purposes of illus
tration, the present machine 18 shown provided with means for feeding strengthening
wires and making and driving staples at opposite edges of the blank, and means for
feeding a wide band along the central line of the blank and fastening it in place with
nails clinched on the under side of the blank.
Referring to the drawings-
Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the right-hand side of the machine; Fig. 2, a view
in elevation of the left-hand side of the machine, certain features, hidden by the
frame, being indicated by dotted lines; Fig. 3, a cross-section of the machine with
the tacking devices removed taken on line 3 of Fig. 1, corresponding with line 3
of Fig. 2, and viewed as indicated by the allows; Fig. 4, a rear end elevation with a
part broken away and with the end brace-bar removed, and the side-bars, at the rear
end. in section; Fig 5, an enlarged broken section taken on line 5 of Fig. 3, corre-
sponding with line 5 of Fig. 4, and viewed as indicated by the aniows; Fig. 6, an
enlarged bioken sectional plan view taken on line 6 of -Fig. 4, and showing only part
of the blank feeding mechanism, tacking-device support and staple-wire feeders;

page_text: Fig. 7, an enlarged detail view of the driving mechanism for the feed-chains; Fig 8,
a broken plan section taken on the irregular line 8-8 in Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a section
taken on line 9 of Fig. 8 and showing a detail of the construction of clutch
mechanism; Fig. 10, a broken sectional view taken on line 10 of Fig. 8 in the
direction of the arrow, and showing details of construction of the tacking-device
support oscillating mechanism; Fig. 11, a broken detail view in the nature of a seo-
tion taken on line 11 of Fig. 6, viewed in the duection of the arrow, and showing a
box-blank in cross-section, Fig. 12, a broken sectional view of details connected with
the nail feeding mechanism, the section being enlarged and taken on line 12 of
Fig. 4 in the direction of the autow; Fig 13, an enlarged bioken section taken on
line 13 of Fig. 3, and viewed in the direction of the arrow, illustrating the blank
feeding mechanism, Fig 14, a top or outer plan view of a completed box-blank;
Fig. 15, a cross-section of the blank taken on line 15 of Fig. 14; Fig 16, an enlarged
vertical section of parts of an oscillating frame which carries the tacking devices, and
showing one of the tacking devices in side elevation; and Fig. 17, a broken view,
showing the lower forward end of a stapling device and the shaft which severs the
strengthening wire.
The main frame of the machine consists of a right-hand cheek A mounted upon
legs tt, a left-hand cheek A¹ mounted upon legs tt', a frame consisting of a right-
hand bar A, a left-hand bar As joined at the front and rear ends by cross-bars, not
shown, the said side-bars being set into the inner faces of the cheeks, as indicated in
Figs. 3 and 4, to be supported thereby at their rear ends, and provided at their for-
ward ends with legs . Intermediate of the said end-bars 18 a cross-bar A', (see
Fig. 4) extending between the cheeks A A¹ above their forward legs, to be out of the
way of wheels and drive-chains.
B Bare parallel longitudinally extending sheet and cleat-guides mounted at opposite
ends upon crosswise extending bars A5, (see Figs. 11 and 13) which are suitably
supported at opposite ends by the side-bars A2 A³. The guides B B are adjustably
fastened upon the bars A5 by means of bolts and thumb-nuts 8 8 which pass through
longitudinally extending slots in the bar A, the said slots extending, say, from the
points to the points r¹ at opposite end-portions of the bar A, as indicated in Fig. 11.
The guides B have overlapping edges 8¹¹ to receive the edges of the sheet Y¹ of the
blank Y, as shown in Fig. 11, the cleats Y2 resting on guide-bars B¹ underneath the
overlapping edges s'. The bars B₁ are provided with downward extending bolts 8º
which extend through the slots in the bars As, being fastened in place by means of
thumb-nuts 88. Surrounding the bolts & are springs s', which tend to hold up the
bars B¹, and render them slightly yielding in the downward direction. The object
of having the bars B¹ yielding is to prevent binding of the cleats and sheet as they
pass through the guides, particularly when, as frequently happens, they vary in size.
C is the main operating shaft of the machine Journaled at opposite ends in the
upper ends of the cheeks A A¹, and provided beyond the cheek A¹ with a belt-
pulley C¹ which, in practice, 18 belted to a line-shaft, or other suitable power. The
pulley C¹ rotates constantly, and between the said pulley and shaft C is suitable
clutch mechanism r. The said clutch mechanism 18 actuated by a rod C² passing
near its upper end through a guide-sleeve on the cheek A¹ (see Fig. 2), and fitting
at its lower end in a guide-block on the floor. Movement of the rod C in the
downward direction causes the clutch to produce engagement between the pulley C¹
and shaft C, whereby the latter rotates, and rise of the rod C³ operates the clutch
to release engagement between the said pulley and shaft, whereby the shaft ceases
to rotate.
Journaled toward opposite ends in the main-frame, near the front and rear ends
of the latter, are cross-shafts D and E. On the shaft D, between the side-bars A² A³,
is a pair of laterally adjustable sprocket-wheels D¹, and on the shaft E 18 a similar
pair of laterally adjustable sprocket wheels E¹. Extending over the sprocket
wheels D' E' are feed-chains F, each provided with two similarly located projecting
blank-engaging feed-lugs F¹, see Figs. 2, 11 and 13.

page_text: When the blank-material is first placed in the guides it is advanced quickly
forward to the tacking-devices by means of preliminary feed mechanism, and is then
released from the preliminary feed mechanism and advanced at a slower and pre-
determined ate of speed beneath the tacking-devices. The preliminary feed
mechanism will be first described:
G 18 a shaft journaled in a bearing on the side-cheek A and carrying a pulley G¹,
which, in practice, 18 belted to a line-shaft, or other suitable power, to rotate con-
stantly. On the shaft G is a sprocket-wheel G. Fulcrumed upon the shaft G is a
bell-crank lever G8 having the aims G and (+4, see Fig. 1. Journaled upon the
free end-portion of the arm Go is a friction-wheel G and a sprocket-wheel G7, the
sprocket-wheel G7 being geared to the sprocket-wheel G2 by means of a drive-
chain G8 On the shaft D 19 a friction drum or pulley D² The friction-wheel Go
may be swung into engagement with the friction-pulley D², but 18 held normally out
of contact therewith by means of a spring G9 (see Fig. 1), fastened at one end to a
lugs on the cheek A, and at its other end to the arm G of the bell-crank lever.
Extending across the machine, and journaled in the cheeks A A¹, is a rook-
shaft G upon which, beyond the cheek A¹, 18 fastened a lever G. Beyond the
cheek A the shaft Go carries a dog G in position to engage the arm G of the bell-
crauk lever. In Fig. 3 the shaft 10 is shown to be bent upward between the cheeks,
and this 18 merely done for the purpose of raising it between its ends above the path
of the box-blanks.
When the blank-material is first placed in the guides B the operator presses down
the lever G to rock the shaft G10 and turn the dog against the arm G of the
bell-crank lever, whereby the latter is swung against the resistance of the spring G
to press the friction-wheel Go against the friction-pulley D³. As before stated, the
pulley G revolves constantly, and, through the drive-chain connection with the friction-
wheel Go, rotates the latter constantly, so that when the lever G11 18 pressed down to
bring about engagement between the friction-wheel G and pulley D the shaft D,
its sprocket-wheels D' and the drive-chains F are moved at comparatively great speed
to cause the lugs F¹ to engage the rear ends of the blanks and push them forward to
the tacking-devices. On the lever Gu, just beyond the shaft G10, is a downward
extending swinging finger Gia; and on the side of the cheek A¹ is a lug or shelf t.
When the lever G₁ is depressed, as stated, the finger G18 is raised and drawn by a
spring G to rest upon the shelf t, and thus hold the friction-wheel Go in
engagement with the friction-pulley D² against the resistance of the spring Gº.
When the blank-material has been advanced to the tacking-devices the preliminary
feed mechanism is stopped, as hereinafter described.
H 18 a shaft extending across the machine, and journaled in the cheeks in the
positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Between the cheeks the shaft H carries a
sprocket-wheel H₁ (see Fig. 8); and on the shaft D is a sprocket-wheel D³,
the sprocket-wheels H¹ Ds being geared together by means of a drive-chain H*.
The sprocket-wheel H' is three times the size of the sprocket-wheel D³, whereby in the
rotation of the shaft D, the shaft H 18 duiven at one-third the speed of the former.
The parts are so constinoted with relation to each other that the shaft H will be
given one complete revolution in the time that the drive-chains F move the
distance of one-half of their lengths. On the shaft H, beyond the cheek A¹, is a disk
or wheel H³, see, for example, Figs. 2 and 8. On the inner and outer sides. of
the disk H3 are annular T-grooves 9 q¹, respectively. Adjustably fastened in
the T-groove 9 18 a projection or roller q. The roller q is upon a bolt q³ having a
head which fits the T-groove The bolt with the roller may be slid to any position
around the T-groove q, and fastened in adjusted position by means of a nut q.. The
finger Gou the lever G", before described, 18 in the path of the roller q²,
and the latter is so positioned upon the disk H8 that it will engage the finger G' and
slide it off the shelf t, when the forward edge of the blank-material arrives at the
tacking-devices Thus, as before described, the friction-wheel G will be disengaged
by the spring G° from the friction-pulley Ds and stop the preliminary feed.

page_text: I is a comparatively short shaft journaled between its ends in a bearing in the
cheek A and side-bar As On the shaft I, at the outer side of the cheek, is a
sprocket-wheel I' geared by means of a drive-chain I to a sprocket-wheel C on the
drive-shaft C. Thus in the notation of the shaft C the shaft I will be rotated. Near
the inner end of the shaft I, and keyed thereto, is a pinion [8 K is a pin 01
stationary shaft fastened to the side-bar A8 and projecting inward just below the
shaft I. On the shaft or pin K is a sleeve K¹ carrying a gear-wheel K³ which meshes
with the pinion 1 and a pinion K which meshes with a gear-wheel D* on the
shaft D. Thus in the rotation of the shaft I the pinion 13 rotates and turns the gear-
wheel K and pinion K8 to tuin the gear-wheel D and shaft D. On the side of the
gear-wheel D is a ratchet-wheel Ds. The ratchet-wheel is keyed to the shaft D while
the gear-wheel D* 18 loose upon the shaft. Mounted upon one of the spokes of the
gear-wheel D¹ is a pawl De which, in the rotation of the gear-wheel, engages the
ratohet and turns the shaft When, however, the shaft D is turned from the fiction-
pulley D, as before described, the ratchet moves beneath the pawl Do, so that the
motion of the shaft D is not conveyed to the shaft I, and through the latter to the
shaft C.
Hung from the shaft C, and loosely fastened thereto at its lower end, is an
oscillating or swinging frame or movable support L consisting of parallel downward
extending bars LL formed with the sleeves L2 L2, which suround the shaft, and a
cross-bar or brace IA, shown, for example, by dotted lines in Fig. 5. The inner end
of the shaft I is reduced, (as shown in Figs 8 and 10) and surrounded by a loose
sleeve p carrying a crank-arm p¹. The sleeve p is fastened normally to the shaft 1,
to revolve therewith, by means of clutch mechanism hereinafter described. On the
crank 18 a crank-pin på A link ps is pivotally connected at one end to the crank-
pin p, and at its opposite end is pivotally connected to the lower end-portion of one
of the side-bars L₁ of the swinging frame L Thus, when the sleeve p and crank-
arm are clutched to the shaft I, the rotation of the shaft I causes the swinging
frame L to be swung or oscillated back and forth on the pivot formed by the
shaft C
Mounted upon a cross-bar I forming a part of the swinging frame Lare two staple
forming and driving devices M M. The devices M may be of any suitable construc-
tion, and in the present connection they each have a staple former or forming bar,
which forms a staple from wire, Z, fed thereto, and a staple driving bar which
discharges and drives the staples as they are formed M is a cross-head which
operates the staple-driving bars and is actuated from eccentrics M on the shaft C
through the medium of connecting rods M³. M is a cross-head for operating the
staple-formers, the cross-head M' being operated by eccentrics M5 M5 on the shaft C
through the medium of the connecting iods Me. It s to be understood that the
staple-forming and driving-devices, with their operating cross-heads M¹ M*, are on
and oscillate with the swinging frame L. In the up and down movement of the
cross-heads M¹M* staples are formed and driven out of the lower ends of the devices M
in each revolution of the shaft C, when staple wire 18 fed thereto.
The mechanism for feeding staple wires Z to the tacking-devices M is shown most
plainly in Fig. 6.
Extending across the rear end-portion of the machine is a shelf N broken
away in Fig. 6 to avoid hiding the sprocket-wheels D¹. In Fig 6 only one staple-
wire feeding device is shown complete, the other being partly broken away, the
construction thereof being similar to the construction of the one shown.
the shelf N, for each stapling-device, is a wire carrying spool N¹.
On
Fastened against the bar I are arms N° just at the lower end-portions of the
staplers M, as shown in Fig 4. These arms move with the frame L between the
positions shown by full and dotted lines On the outer end of each arm №2 18 a wire
engaging feed pawl N³.
Sliding upon the arm N2 19 a sleeve N' carrying a wire engaging pawl N³. The
sleeve N 18 pivotally connected to the end of a rod N, which at its opposite end is
pivotally connected to a pin N' on the shelf N. The wires Z, from which the staples

page_text: are formed, extend from the spools N¹ beneath the pawis N³ N³ to the stapling-
devices M. In the movement of the frame L fiom the position shown in full lines
in Fig 6 to the position shown by dotted lines in that figure, the pawls N³ grip the
wires Z and draw them from the spools In the movement of the frame L from the
position shown in dotted lines to the position shown in full lines, the wnes are held
by the pawls N' and the piwls N³ slide over the wires Thus, in this movement,
the stapling-devices slide over the ends of the wires which are thus brought into
position to be cut and formed into staples.
The strengthening wires Z³ pass between guide-rollers P P mounted on shafts P1 P2.
On the shafts P1 P2 are pinions P³ P', respectively, which intermesh Loosely
mounted on the rock-shaft Ġ¹º is a pinion Po which meshes with the pinion P*. Also
loosely mounted on the rock-shaft G10 is a star-wheel P. On the hub of the
pinion P5 is a ratchet P7, and on the star-wheel 18 a pawl Pa The star-
wheel extends into the path of a crank-arm H* keyed to the shaft H, see Figs 3
and 5.
When the first staples have been driven over the strengthening wires to
fasten them to the box-blank, the strengthening wires will be drawn along by
movement of the blanks. When a box is formed from a blank the ends are
fastened together by twisting, or otherwise fastening together, the ends of the
strengthening wires which are caused to project beyond the ends of the blank
for that purpose, as indicated in Fig. 14. Therefore it 18 necessary to feed the
strengthening wires forward a short distance before the first staples are diven
to fasten them to the blank. This forward feeding of the strengthening wines is
brought about in the initial movement of the shaft H by the arm II engaging with
the star-wheel P6 and turning it part of a revolution. In the turning of the star-
wheel the pawl carried thereby engages and turns the ratchet P7 and pinion P5 to
rotate the pinions P P and consequently the shafts P1 P2 and feed-wheels P In
the travel of the blank through the machine thereafter the wines are drawn between
the feed-wheels P, the rotation of the shafts ant. gears P³ P and P3 causing no
rotation of the star-wheel on account of the fact that the ratchet P7 will slide on the
pawl P8.
The upper surface of the bar L³ of the frame L may form the anvil against which
the staples are clinched
On the lower end-portion of each staple-device M is a tubular backward extending
part M having a strengthening wire guiding opening with a flaing mouth n, and
affording a bearing for a cross-shaft R, see Figs 5 and 16 The shaft R is journaled
at opposite ends in the side-bars L of the swinging frame, and is provided beyond
one of said bars (see Fig. 5) with a crank R' In the shaft are wire cutting slots n²
coincident with the openings n and through which the strengthening wires Z¹ pass.
The slots are of a length sufficient to permit the lateral adjustment of the stapling-
devices according to the width of blank to be produced, and, in practice, the slots
may be of substantially the same length as the slots in the bars A, (see Fig 11)
before described. In front of the shaft R the openings through the wire guide-
projections M7 are but little larger in diameter than the strengthening wires, and the
openings of the slots n at the forward edge of the shaft are reduced to the same size,
80 that wire cutting edges or shears n³ are produced Normally the shaft R 18 in the
position shown in Fig. 5, whereby the passage through the wire-guides M' are free,
so that the wires can pass through unobstructed. The crank R¹ is pivotally connected
at its free end by means of a pin R² to a vertically movable bat or lever R³ having at
its upper end a backward extending lip on projection R. The pin R² forms a pivot
upon which the bar or lever R³ may swing, and the said har or lever has a downward
extending arm carrying a roller R5 A spring Re fastened at one end to a lug upon
the side-bar L, and at its other end to the upper end-portion of the bat or lever R³,
tends to hold the said bai or lever in the retracted position shown in Fig. 5. In the
cross-head M¹ is a groove m
Pivoted upon a pin l, at the side of the same bar L' of the swinging frame, 13 a
lever having an upward extending arm, which bears against the roller R³, and a

page_text: downward extending arm carrying a roller 2 in the path of an arm 18 fastened to the
shaft H. In practice the arm which tuins with the shaft H engages the roller (2
of the lever just before the machine stops, and in so doing swings the lever R³ so
that the lip R engages the groove or recess m of the cross-head MI while the latter 18
rising. Thus in the final upstroke of the cross-head the lever R³ 16 drawn upward to
turn the crank R¹ aud shaft R to out off the wires Z just before the machine stops.
The machine stops just as the arm passes beyond and disengages the roller ³,
whereby the lever R8 is withdrawn by the spring Re from the slot m, and descending,
by gravity, turns the cutting shaft R to its normal position.
As before stated, as soon as a blank is completed the machine stops. This stoppage
18 performed by the following mechanism.
Pivoted upon the cheek A¹ at k (see Fig. 2) is a bell-crank lever pivotally con-
nected at one of its arms to a pin on the rod C³, and provided at the end of its
other arm with a projection. On the circumferential edge of the disk H³ is a pro-
jecting cam into the path of which the projection of the bell-crank lever extends.
A spring fastened at one end to the bell-crank lever, and at its other end to a lug
on the cheek A¹, tends normally to hold the bell-crank lever against the circum-
ferential surface of the disk Hs and to draw the rod 0 downward to the clutch-
engaging position. The cam ke 18 so positioned upon the disk H³ that it engages the
bell-ciank lever k¹ and awings it to its clutch releasing position just after a blank is
completed and the strengthening wires have been cut
On the block is a pawl i connected by a rod ¹ with a bell-oiank lever 1² pivoted
upon a block 13 on the floor. One arm of the bell-orank lever forms a treadle, or
foot-lever, 2+ A spring
2³ tends to press the pawl z against the rod C, whereby when
it is raised to clutch releasing position it engages a notch in said rod. After the
blank-material bus been advanced by the preliminary feed, as before described, to the
tacking-devices, the operator may start the operation of the machine by pressing
down the foot-lever it, to release the rod C³, and cause it to produce engagement of
the clutch-members between the shaft C and pulley C¹, as before described.
It may be stated that when the machine is at rest, after a blank has been com-
pleted, the parts descubed are in the position shown in Fig 2, whereby the cam 1+
will prevent swinging of the bell-crank lever k¹ to start the machine until after
the disk H³ has been moved from that position by the operation of the preliminary
feed.
In the drawings the machine is shown provided with means for feeding and fastening
a band or strip of metal Z3 along the center of the blank instead of a strengthening
wire
Journaled in the cheeks A A¹ is a rock-shaft S provided beyond the cheek A¹ with
a crank 81 connected by means of a crank-rod S* with a crank S³ on the end of the
shaft D Thus, in the rotation of the shaft D the shaft S is rooked. Fastened upon
the shaft S is a nail-reservoir S from which extends a nail-guide S³ to a flexible nail
feeding tube S which extends to a nail positioner S' upon the bar L of the swinging
frame. Mounted upon the bar L5 of the swinging frame, just below the nail
positioner S7, 18 a nail clinching block 8%. The nail-driver or plunger, which works
through the nail positioner S', is fastened to the cross-head M. S 18 the nail 4
feeding valve located between the nail-guide S and feed-tube S. The valve Sº
reciprocates longitudinally in guides upon a brace-bar A° extending between the
cheeks A A¹ On the inner side of the cheek A' is a bracket f (see Fig 12) on which
18 fulcrumed a bell-crank lever f¹ having an arm f2 pivotally connected by means of a
pin with the valve S9 and having an arm provided with a socket f which engages
a knob or lug on the adjacent surface of the side-bar L' of the swinging-frame L.
As the frame L swings, the engagement of the knob with the level oscillates
the latter, causing it to reciprocate the valve S and thus feed oue nail Z³ at the
proper time to the feed-tube Se, which guides the nail to the nail positioning device.
Thus, in each descent of the cross-head M¹ the nail-driver operates to drive the nail, 5
and the staple-drivers operate to drive staples. The band Z 18 fed between rollers P⁹
on the shafts P¹ P, and the feeding is performed in the same way as the strengthening

page_text: wires Z¹. The band passes through a slot n in the rook-shaft R, and is severed in
the same way as the strengthening wires are severed The band Z 18 preferably of
thin metal or wood, and the nails are driven therethrough, and through the sheet Y¹,
and clinched on the under side
If desired nailing devices like the one shown may be provided instead of stapling
devices, and the invention contemplates the use of staple-driving devices alone,
nailers alone, or one or more of each, all being embraced in the term tackmg-devices
employed in the claims.
When the blank Y has passed from the present machine it is provided on its inner
side with preferably step-miter cuts, as before explained, to permit the blank to be
bent and produce the corners or edges of the box. In order that no staples or nails
may be driven at the points where the step-miter cuts are to be produced, in the
present machine skipper mechanism is provided, which will be next described:
The skipping is produced by withholding the driving of nalls or staples at proper
stated intervals, this withholding being effected by temporarily preventing the feed
of staple-wire or nails to the tacking-devices
The oscillation of the frame L, which carries the tasking-devices, 18 produced, as
before described, by the shaft I turning the crank p' on the sleeve p. In the shaft I
at one side 18 a longitudinally extending groove d into which is fitted a rock-shaft d¹
having a reduced end-portion d in the reduced end of the shaft I On the shaft I,
and turning therewith, is a collar ds provided in its side with an elongated recess d'
through which projects a crank do, which is an integral part of the rock-shaft d¹.
The crank d 18 held normally in position to project beyond the circumference of the
collar by a spring do. When the crank projects beyond the circumferential face
of the collar the rock-shaft is turned axially to a position, wherein its reduced
end d projects into a recess in the sleeve p, as indicated in Fig. 10. Thus the sleeve p
is clutched to the shaft I, whereby in the rotation of the shaft the swinging frame I
is oscillated.
T 18 a bar beyond the side-cheek A¹ of the machine, at one end surrounding the
shaft H, and at the opposite end surrounding the shaft I. On this bar is a sliding
block Ti held normally in the retracted position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 by a spring T*,
which spring 18 fastened at one end to a stud on the bar, and on its opposite end
to a stud on the sliding block Adjustably fastened in the annular T-groove q¹ of
the disk H³ are four cam-projections T, which, in the rotation of the disk H³, engage
the end of the block T and slide it longitudinally against the surface of the
collar into the path of the crank-arm d on the clutch or rook-shaft d. Thus
each time a cam T engages and moves the sliding block Tit moves the block against
the collar and into the path of the crank-arm d, thereby causing the clutch or
rock-shaft to be turned against the resistance of the spring d and release the
sleeve p, whereby for one revolution of the shaft I the swinging frame L remains
stationary. Each time the said frame remains stationary it fails to produce the
feed of stapling wires for one staple, and fails to produce the feed of one nail to the
nail positioning and driving devices. Therefore, in the downward plunge of the nail
and staple-drivers no nails or staples will be in position for discharge, and the proper
spaces on the blank will be skipped in the sense that no nails or staples will there be
driven. For blanks of different lengths, to produce boxes of different sizes, the
cams Ts may be adjusted as desired.
It will be understood from the foregoing description that the machine is for the
manufacture of box-blanks comprising, more especially, a sheet, which may be one or
a number of abutting pieces, and cleats all of which are advanced through the sheet
and cleat-guides B, and reinforced with strips which may be strengthening wires or
bands of metal, or other suitable material. The strips, sheet and cleats are secured
together by means of fasteners which may be staples, nails, or the like. The tacking-
devices, which drive the fasteners, are upon a frame or support which oscillates, in
the sense that it moves in the forward direction before each tacking operation, and
during each tacking or fastener driving operation moves in the backward direction
at approximately the same speed as the blank into which the fasteners are being

page_text: driven If strengthening strips, in the form of wires, are to be used for strengthening
the box-blank two, three or more staple-devices are placed upon the oscillating frame
or support, and the proper number of we feed rollers, wire-supplying reels and
accompanying mechanism described placed in position If strengthening strips
in the form of bands are to be provided upon the blank the desired number of tacking
or fastener-driving devices in the form of nailers are placed in the machine with the
accompanying band feeding devices. The sheet and cleat-guides B may be adjusted
toward and away from each other to guide blank-material of any desired width, and
the tacking-devices may be placed upon their supports in the proper position to work
upon the blank. The feed-chains F and their sprocket-wheels may be adjusted
laterally to be in proper position for engaging the sheet and cleats. The various
adjustments may be effected very quickly, so that little time will be required to
change the machine over for the manufacture of any style or size of blank. In the
event that it is desired to form blanks with the sheets and strengthening strips
without the reinforcing cleats, it will only be necessary to raise the guide-bars B¹ and
provide a clincher like the clincher 88 beneath each of the tacking devices employed.
In the event that it should be desired at any time to manufacture blanks without the
strengthening strips this may be done by leaving off the means for supplying the
strengthening strips.
While it is preferred to construct the improvements throughout as shown and
described, it is obvious that they may be modified in the matter of details of
construction without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, & in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim 18.-
1 In a machine for fastening a strengthening strip to a sheet, the combination
of feed-mechanism for advancing the sheet and strengthening strip longitudinally
through the machine, a movable support, a tacking device on the support adjacent
to the path of the strengthening strip, means for actuating the tacking-device to
drive fasteners, and means for moving the tacking-device with the stup and
sheet while the fasteners are being driven, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
2. In a machine for fastening a strengthening strip to a sheet, the combination of
feed-mechanism for advancing the sheet and strip longitudinally through the machine,
a movable support, a tacking device on the support adjacent to the path of the strip,
means for actuating the tacking-device to drive fasteners, means for moving the
tacking-device with the strip and sheet while the fasteners are being driven, and
fastener supplying mechanism for the tacking-device operated by said movement of
the tacking-device, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a machine for forming blanks by tacking a sheet and strengthening strips to
reinforcing cleats, the combination of guides for the cleats, feed mechanism for
advancing the cleats longitudinally in their guides and with a sheet and strengthening
strips through the machine, a fastener driving device adjacent to the path of each
strengthening strip, operating to fasten the strip and sheet, by successive operations,
to the cleats, means for guiding the strengthening strips with the sheet and cleats
across the fastener driving devices, and relative skipping means actuated by the said
feed mechanism, and operating, at predetermined intervals, in the passage of the
sheet and cleats through the machine to prevent a single fastener driving operation
of the fastener driving devices, and thereby produce an increase of the distance
between points of tacking, substantially as described.
4 In a machine for fastening a strengthening strip to a sheet, the combination of
feed-mechanism for advancing the sheet and strip longitudinally through the
machine, a movable support, a tacking-device on the support adjacent to the path of
the strip, means for actuating the tacking-device to drive fasteners, means for moving
the tacking-device with the strip and sheet while the fasteners are being driven,
fastener supplying mechanism for the tacking-device operated by said movement of
the tanking-device, and skipper mechanism operating, relative to the feed-mechanism,

page_text: to withhold movement of the tacking-device, at stated intervals, whereby no fasteners
will be driven thereby, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a machine for fastening a sheet to a cleat, the combination of feed-mechanism
for advancing the sheet and cleat longitudinally through the machine, a movable
support, a tacking-device on the support adjacent to the path of the sheet, means
for actuating the tacking-device to drive fasteners, and means for moving the tacking-
device with the sheet and cleat while the fasteners are being driven, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a machine for fastening a sheet to a cleat, the combination of feed-mechanism
for advancing the sheet and cleat longitudinally through the machine, a movable
support, a tacking-device on the support adjacent to the path of the sheet, means
for actuating the tacking-device to drive fasteners, means for moving the tacking-
device with the sheet and cleat while the fasteners are being driven, and fastener
supplying mechanism for the tacking-device operated by said movement of the
taoking-device, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a machine for fastening a sheet to a cleat, the combination of feed-mechanism
for advancing the sheet and cleat longitudinally through the machine, a movable
support, a tacking-device on the support adjacent to the path of the sheet, means for
actuating the tacking-device to drive fasteners, means for moving the tacking-device
with the sheet and cleat while the fasteners are being driven, fastener supplying
mechanism for the tacking-device operated by said movement of the tacking-device, and
skipper-mechanism operating, relative to the feed-mechanism, to withhold movement
of the tacking-device at stated intervals, whereby no fasteners will be driven thereby,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a machine for forming box-blanks, by fastening sheets and strengthening
strips to reinforcing cleats, the combination of guides for the cleats, feed-
mechanism for advancing the cleats longitudinally in their guides and with a sheet
through the machine, a movable support, tacking-devices upon the support, means
for moving the support back and forth adjacent to the path of the blanks, whereby
it moves in the backward direction at approximately the speed of the blank in the
operation of the tacking-devices, and means for feeding strengthening strips with the
blank-material across the tacking-devices, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
9. In a machine for forming box-blanks, by fastening sheets and strengthening
strips to reinforcing cleats, the combination of guides for the olents, feeding-
mechanisin for advancing the cleats longitudinally in their guides and with a sheet
through the machine, a movable support, tacking-devices upon the support, means
for moving the support back and forth adjacent to the path of the blanks, whereby
it moves in the backward direction at approximately the speed of the blank in the
operation of the tacking-devices, means for feeding strengthening strips with the
blank-material across the tacking-devices, and fastener supplying mechanism for
the tacking-devices operated by said movement of the tacking-devices, substantially
AB and for the purpose set forth.
10. In a machine for forming box-blanks, by fastening sheets and strengthening
strips to reinforcing cleats, the combination of guides for the cleats, feed-mechanism
for advancing the cleats longitudinally in their guides and with a sheet through the
machine, a movable support, tacking-devices upon the support, means for moving
the support back and forth adjacent to the path of the blanks, whereby it moves
in the backward direction at approximately the speed of the blank in the operation of
the tacking-devices, means for feeding strengthening strips with the blank-material
across the tacking-devices, and skipper mechanism operating, relative to the feed
mechanism, to withhold movement of the tacking-devices at stated intervals,
whereby no fasteners will be driven thereby, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
11. In a machine for forming box-blanks, the combination with the feed-mechanism
for the blank-material, of a pivotally mounted support, fastener driving tacking-
devices on the support adjacent to the path of the blank-material, and means for

page_text: moving the support on its pivot in the backward direction at approximately the speed
of travel of the blank-material while fasteners are being driven, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth
12 In a machine for forming box-blanks, the combination with the drive-shaft,
of feed-belts for engaging and moving the blank-material through the machine geared
to the drive-shaft, preliminary feed operating mechanism comprising gear mechanism
which may be thrown at will into operative engagement with the feed-belts to advance
the blank-material into the machine, and adjustable preliminary feed disengaging
mechanism actuated by the advance of the feed-belts to a pre-determined position in
the machine, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
13. In a machine for forming box-blanks, the combination with the drive-shaft and
feed for the blank-material, of a movable support adjacent to the path of the blank-
material actuated from the drive-shaft to move back and forth and in its movement
in the backward direction to travel at approximately the speed of the blank-material,
a cross-head on the support geared to the said drive-shaft, and a fastener driving
tacking-device on the support connected to the said cross-head, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
14 In a machine for forming box-blanks, the combination with the drive-shaft, of
feed-chains for the blank-material, feed-chain driving shafts geared to the said drive-
shaft, a support adjacent to the path of the blank-material geared to one of the belt-
driving shafts to be oscillated thereby, clutch mechanism between the said support
and feed-belt driving shaft, whereby movement of the support may be started and
stopped, a fastener driving tacking-device on the support actuated from the drive-
shaft to drive fasteners into the blank-material in the movement of the support in
the backward direction, and skipper mechanism operating, relative to the feed-belts
to produce engagement and disengagement of said olutch at predetermined intervals,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth
15. The complete machine for making box-blanks substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of September 1898.