Year: 1887

page_text: I, ANDREW JACKSON PHELPS of Syracuse in the county of Onondaya and state of
New York, United States of America, Gentlemen 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 my invention relates to the application of seals to boxes and packages, for the
purpose of protecting the same against tampering with the contents thereof during
transportation or storage.
The object of this invention is to provide simple, inexpensive means for applying
the aforesaid seals in an expeditious and secure manner; and to that end it consists in
the peculiar construction of the apparatus and seals hereinafter fully described, and
specifically set forth in the claim.
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1.
Fig. is a side elevation of an alternative form of my invention. Fig. 4 is a plan
of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation shewing the manner in which the seals may
countersunk in the wood. Fig. 6 is a sectional end view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7. is a plan
of the seal as shewn in figs. 5 and 6 shewing the said seal closed. Fig. 8. is a section
on line fig. 2: Fig. 9 is an alternative form of gripper. Fig. 10 & 11 are
respectively elevation and plan of an alternative form of seal, suitable for iron bands.
Figs. 12. 13. and 14. are respectively side elevation, end elevation & plan of an
alternative form of seal suitable for iron bands. Fig. 15 and 16 are respectively
elevation & plan of an alternative form of seal and Fig. 17 and 18 are plans of an
alternative form of seal shewing same respectively open and closed. Similar letters
of reference indicate corresponding parts. A¹ represents a gripper designed to take
hold of one of the edges of the box to be sealed, said gripper consisting of a jaw, a,
adapted to rest against the upper portion of one end or side of the box or package
and provided with spurs or serrations on the side facing the box, so as to prevent it
from slipping thereon. From the top of the jaw a, project at right angles two
arms, b, b, by which said gripper rests upon the top of the box. This gripper is
connected with another gripper, A, by a suitable tightener, by which to draw the
latter gripper toward the gripper A', for the purpose hereinafter explained.
The gripper
A consists of two jaws clamped together by a screw, e, or may consist
of a pawl a pivoted in such a manner that the binding wire is free to pass easily

page_text: under the grip in one direction but is tightly held when pulled in the opposite
direction by the tension in said wire.
The aforesaid tightener may consist of a screw rod, e, working at one end in a
screw-threaded channel in the gripper A and passing freely through a smooth-bored
channel in the arm of the gripper A', which latter channel is in range with the
channel of the gripper A.
Said screw-rod is provided with a manipulating wheel, h, keyed or otherwise
attached to the projecting shank of the screw and which abuts against the
gripper A', and thus affords a hold for the screw rod on said gripper. On the other
arm, b, I clamp a plate P, having slots nn parallel with the screw-rod c. through
which slots the clamping-screws d, d, pass. Said plate is thereby rendered adjustable,
so as to allow it to he shifted on the arm when required.
On the plate P is pivoted a guide, C, adapted to swing in a vertical plane, and in
said guide slides a punch D, which is of a uniform size throughout the length of the
guide, so as to allow it to be readily withdrawn therefrom when required, as hereinafter
explained.
The punch is provided with a head or pin, as shewn, on its upper end, and by means
of a spring, s, interposed between said head or pin and upper end of the guide, the
punch D is supported yieldingly and normally in a raised position.
The aforesaid tightener may however be manipulated by a lever / pivoted to the
gripper A' and connected to the gripper A by means of a suitable guide which
consists of a parallel rod which is rigidly secured to the gripper A and which rod
passes freely through the bearing el. To the lever is pivoted a connecting rod by
means of which the gripper A is brought towards or caused to recede from the
gripper A. To the connecting rod t is pivoted the forked iron T which grips into
the wood, as shewn in fig. 3, and prevents the gripper A from receading when the
wire binding is tightened by depressing the lever l.
I, denotes the seals employed in connection with the before described apparatus
said seals I may form of a tube of lead or other suitable soft or ductile metal, as
represented in Figs. 5. 6 and 7 of the drawings, which tube I provide in the bottom
of its central portion with a hole, o, for the reception of the nail n, by which means
the wire or binder fis fastened to the box or package. The upper part of the central
portion of said tube I provide with diagonal incisions, and thereby form the folding
lips, which are to be bent outward to form an opening, d, in the seal directly over
the nail-hole v. Said seal is designed to be placed in an indentation cut into the
surface of the hox, so as to countersink the seal when compressed. After the said
seal is placed in said indentation the nail is to be inserted in the nail-hole of the
seal, and driven part way into the box. Then one end of the wire b is to be intro-
duced into one end of the tubular seal and wound around the nail, between the head
thereof and underlying portion of the seal, and drawn back through the aforesaid end
of the seal and wound around the outer portion of the wire, so as to securely fasten it
to the nail. Then the wire is drawn around the box and the opposite end introduced
into the tubular seal from the end opposite to that which contains the fastened end of
the wire. The introduced free end of the wire is then to be wound around the nail n,
and back through the end of the tube, and twisted around the outer portion of the
wire. The nail is then to be farther driven into the box, so as to cause the head of
the nail to press the surrounding portions of the wire down onto the base of the seal.
Then the lips or flaps w. w. are bent over and upon the inclosed nail-head and wire,
and by means of a punch said lips or flaps are compressed upon said inclosed parts, as
represented in Fig. 7. of the drawings.
By compressing the seal as aforesaid the edges of the lips or flaps u become so
throughly united to the adjacent edges of the opening d. as to effectually close said
opening and present a solid surface bearing the impression of the punch. The nail
with the wire ends around it is thus completely enveloped in the metal seal, and is
inaccessible without injuring or destroying the impression made in the seal by the
punch.
I do not, however, wish to be limited to the tubular form of the seal, inasmuch as

page_text: my invention is susceptible of various modifications, some of which are illustrated in
the annexed drawings where Fig. 10. shews a seal composed of metal and provided
with suitable projecting studs which are of soft metal and adapted to pass through
the apertures Q when the two folding pieces are bent down over the iron band or
wire, said band being shewn in dotted lines in fig. 11. By placing a hard piece of
metal under the seal when stamped in the manner hereinbefore described, the
projecting studs Q are clenched as indicated by the dotted lines shewn in Fig. 11
and the nail, previously passed through the iron hand and the nail-hole o, firmly held
in place.
Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are respectively side elevation, end elevation and plan of a
seal constructed of soft metal bent over to form inside flanges R over which is secured
the piece of metal R' which for folding lips or flaps r. After having driven nails
through the iron band, through the nail holes o, and into the wooden case, the said
folding lips or flaps, are bent over the said nails, and the seal stamped by either of
the aforesaid apparatus.
Although this said seal is more suitable for iron bands, yet it will be evident that it
may he used for wire bindings to be secured in the manner herein before described.
Fig. 15 and 16 are respectively elevation and plan of a seal constructed of soft
metal & having four triangular folding flaps V two of which have small apertures »
through which the wire after being passed round the nail previously inserted through
the hole is threaded as shewn by dotted lines in fig. 16. The flaps are then bent
down over the nail and stamped with the aforesaid apparatus.
ย
Fig. 17 & 18 are respectively plans of a seal similar to that shewn in Fig. 15 and 16
but instead of the small apertures in the triangular flaps, the corners of the flaps G
are cut away to allow of the binding wire to be passed out of the seal as shewn in
Fig. 18, the dotted lines indicating the seal closed and stamped, and the wire secured
to the nail in the manner hereinbefore described.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-I first place the gripper A' astride
one of the edges of the box to be sealed and then withdraw the punch D from the
guide C, and introduce into the latter an augur, by means of which I bore in the
surface of the box an indentation of sufficient depth to countersink therein the sea! I
when compressed upon the wire or binder, as hereinafter explained. By shifting the
guide-supporting plate P on the gripper A', I am enabled to bring the punch D into
proper position to make the aforesaid indentation or countersink either in on top or on
the edge of the box, as may be desired, and as represented, respectively, by full lines
and dotted lines in Fig. 1. of the drawings. After the indentation is made, I remove
the grippers A A' from the box, and the auger from the guide : then place either
of the seals shewn into the indentation, drive a nail through the nail-hole or nail-holes
of the seal and part way into the box; then pass one end of the wire finto the seal
as herein before described.
Then I place the gripper A' on the edge of the box and over the wire or binder,
and draw the latter around the box and secure it a short distance from the free end
thereof to the gripper A. Then, by turning the screw c, or depressing the lever 1, I
draw the gripper A towards the gripper A', and thus tighten and fasten the wire as
hereinbefore described. I then introduce the punch Dinto the guide C, and drive
said punch down onto the seal with sufficient force to close the lips uu over upon the
wire and nail and effectually compress the seal around the same. It will be observed
that in this manner the nail with the wire ends around it is completely enveloped in
the metal seal and is inaccessible without injuring or destroying the impression made
by the punch. Furthermore, by countersinking the seal in the manner hereinbefore
described the danger of the seal becoming knocked off during the transportation of
the box is obviated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :—
An apparatus for sealing boxes or packages, comprising grippers adapted to seize,
respectively, a portion of the box and the binder, a tightener connecting said grippers,

page_text: and a sealing punch adapted to impress the seal applied to the binder, all in one tool,
substantially as shewn.
2. An apparatus for sealing boxes or packages, comprising grippers adapted to
seize, respectively, a portion of the box and the binder, a tightener connecting said
grippers, and a sealing-punch supported yieldingly and normally in a raised position
and adapted to impress the seal applied to said binder, substantialy as set forth.
3. In combination with the grippers and a tightener connecting said grippers, a
guide pivoted on one of the grippers, and a punch sliding in said guide, as and for the
purpose set forth.
In combination with the grippers and a tightener connecting the same, a guide
support connecting to one of said grippers adjustably in its position thereon, a guide
connected to said support, and a punch sliding in said guides, substantialy as described
and shewn.
5. In combination with the gripper A, the gripper A¹, consisting of the jaw a.
provided with the arms b.the plate P, adjustably connected to one of the said arms,
the guide C. pivoted on said plate, the punch D, sliding in said guide, and a
tightener connecting the grippers, substantialy as described and shown.
b
6. The combination of the gripper A, provided with a screw-threaded channel, the
gripper A, formed with arms 66, and provided with a smooth-bored channel in range
with the channel of the gripper A, the screw c, passing through the smooth channel
and working in the screw-threaded channel, and having a handle abutting against the
gripper A, the punch D. adjustably arranged on the latter gripper, and a tightener
connecting said grippers, substantially as described and shown.
7. Seals constructed of soft or ductile metal all substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
8. The construction and general arrangement of the several parts relating to my
invention substantially as & for the purposes hereinbefore described set forth in the
claims & illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.