Improvements in or relating to Stapling devices for Box-blank and other Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1899 -Accepted, 10th June, 1899
CUM LEIE
DPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Stapling devices for Box-blank and
other Machines.
A communication from FREDERICK P. ROSBACK, Manufacturer, of 60, South Canal
Street, Chicago, Illinois, in the United States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of London,
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 is in the nature of an improvement upon or applicable to the
machine for forming box-blanks forming the subject of Letters-Patent of Great
Britain No. 18736 of 1898, though in its particular sense it is an improvement
upon the staple-forming and driving-devices hitherto employed by my corre-
spondent in such machines, and also improved mechanism for feeding the blank-
material across the staple-forming and driving-devices.
One form of box-blank which the machine for forming box-blanks is designed
to manufacture is shown in Figures W and W of the accompanying drawings,
and involves a sheet of wood, or other suitable material, Z provided on one side
with strengthening wires and provided on the other side with reinforcing
cleats 7, the sheet, strengthening wires and cleats being fastened together by
means of staples Y'. When the blank has been formed, as shown in
Figures W W, it is passed through a machine for step-mitering box-blanks
which may be of the construction shown in Letters Patent of Great Britain
No. 2451 of 1899. This last-named machine step-miters the cleats and sheet, as
indicated in Figure W, whereby the blank may be folded to form four sides
of a box or shipping case, as represented in Figure Wa. This box may be formed
from very thin wood, to be inexpensive and light in weight, but owing to its
construction is very strong.
In the drawings-
Figure 1 is an end elevation of this machine for making box-blanks, showing,
for clearness of illustration, only one of the improved staple-forming and driving-
devices in place; Figure 2, a plan section on line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing
three of the improved staple-forming and driving-devices; Figure 3, an enlarged
section on line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 3, a plan view of a clincher head;
Figure 4, an enlarged and broken perspective view showing the staple-forming
and driving-device as my correspondent now prefers to construct it, with its
support and the cross-heads which operate it; Figure 5, a plan section on line 5-5
of Figure 4; Figure 6, a view illustrating the first step in the operation of the
staple-forming and driving-device; Figure 6^, an elevation of one end thereof;
Figure 7, an enlarged section on line 7-7 of Figure 6; Figure 8, a view
illustrating a second step in the operation of the device; Figure 9, an enlarged
section on line 9-9 of Figure S; Figure 10, a view illustrating a third step in the
operation of the device; Figure 11, an enlarged section on line 11--11 of
Figure 10; Figure 12, a view illustrating a fourth step in the operation of the

page_text: device; Figures 13 and 14 enlarged sections illustrating the operations of the
staple-forming and driving-bars; Figure 15, a perspective view of a sliding wire-
end guide and cutter; Figure 16, the cutting member of the sliding wire-end
guide; Figure 17, an enlarged section on line 17 of Figure 2; Figure 18, a
section on line 18 of Figure 17; Figure 19, a broken section on line 19 of 5
Figure 18 and Figures W W W and W3 views illustrating, respectively, a
box-blank as made in the box-blank making machine, then step-mitered and then
formed into a box provided with box ends.
A is the box-blank making machine, and B B the improved staple-forming and
driving-devices. C is the drive-shaft of the machine: D, a swinging frame
suspended from the shaft C and having two cross-bars D'D2; and 1D+, cross-
heads actuated from eccentrics on the shaft C to reciprocate in the frame D.
Forming part of the frame A is an end-bar A¹. A2 A2 are shafts carrying
The shaft A2 is actuated from
sprocket-wheels which drive the feed-chains A+.
the shaft C to rotate and move the feed-chains. The pieces of wood forming the
cleats are placed in guides A and the sheet %, which may consist of one or
several lengths of material, is also placed in the said guides upon the cleats. The
feed-chains A carry a feed-plate A6, (see Figures 17, 18 and 19) and on the said
feed-plate are adjustable pusher-bars A which move along the guides A5, and
push the cleats 72 and sheet Z across the lower ends of the staple-forming and
driving-devices B. A8 A8 are stationary bars from which are suspended parallel
sheet presser bars A" which permit the sheet to be moved along by the pushers A7,
but tend to hold the sheet down upon the cleats. The operation of feeding the
blank-material may be substantially as described in said former patent.
Each staple-forming and driving-device may be formed with a block t from g
On the rear side
which extends a rigid arms and a removable face-plate r.
of the block t are upper and lower lugs tt which fit over the bar D¹ of the
swinging frame D. The bar I) has a T-groove q and the device is fastened
thereto with a bolt q. Working in a vertical groove in the block t is a staple-
forming bar E having a longitudinal T-groove p in which works a staple-driving
bar F. The bar E extends at its shoulder E¹ into a groove n in the cross-head D³;
and the bar F extends at a shoulder F' into a groove in the cross-head D. G is
a yielding anvil consisting of a stem m, body-portion m', and upper and lower
jaws mm, with a recess m* between them. The anvil extends through the
socket and is pressed normally forward by a spring m. The upper jaw m³
is cam-shaped. His a wire-end guide and cutter sliding in a guide-recess s¹.
H³ is a bell-crank lever fulcrumed upon a bracket and connected by a link H
with the block H. On the bell-crank lever is an upward extending arm H. He is
a cutter operating bar provided at its upper end with an offset H7 and set-screw H8
over the path of the cross-head 1)+. A spring H tends normally to draw the bar H
downward. The wire-end guide H consists of two relatively moving
members H1 H2, the member H2 being the cutter. On the lower end of the bar Ho
is a lip Ho which engages a lip H on the cutter-block H2. In the face of the
block H2 is a gradually reducing groove H12 terminating in a shearing edge H¹³;
and fastened to the member H is a cutter-plate H having a cutting edge H¹³.
On the arms is a stationary wire-guide and spring-pawl . K is the wire
feeding block which slides upon the arm s and carries a wire-guide K¹ and
The link L is a bell-
spring-pawl K. L is an oscillating bar on links L' L².
crank lever having a slot i at which it is connected by means of a connecting
rod with an eccentric or analogous mechanism operated from the shaft C. The
distance of movement of the bar L may be varied by the adjustment of the
rod in the slot i, as will be readily understood. On the sliding block K is a
post K³ carrying a head K. Mis a connecting rod provided at one end with a
head M surrounding the post K³, and at its opposite end with a yoke M² which
receives a screw-stud L on the bar L. In the end of the yoke is a tightening
screw M³ to engage the stud L. In the movement of the block K a finger
carried by the head K engages the bell-crank lever H³, and a set-screw K
1
1

page_text: engages the arm H³. On the end of the arms is a lug f carrying a set-screw f¹,
and pivoted at f is a wire straightener f³ which is adjustable by means of the set-
screw f
Initially the parts are in the position shown in Figures 3, 4 and 6; and the
wire Y is placed in position by passing it through an eye d on the bar L, thence
under the straightening-block f, through the guide under the pawl, thence
through the guide K under the pawl K, thence through the gradually reducing
groove H2 in the cutter-block member H2. The opening at H H15 is close to and
in line with the space m between the jaws m2 m³ of the anvil G. In the rotation
of the shafts of the box-blank making machine, the bar L and connecting rod M
are moved in the direction toward the right in Figure 3, to feed the staple-wire
across the anvil G, and causing the finger K to slide from the top of the bell-crank
lever H³, and also causing the set-screw K to engage the arm H³ and move the
cutter-block H to the left, away from the anvil G, all as shown in Figure 8. As
soon as the cutter-block arrives at this position the cross-head D engages the set-
screw H8, on the cutter-operating bar, and by lifting the latter, draws the sliding
member H2 of the cutter-block in the upward direction, causing the wire to be
sheared off by the cutting edges H H. At this point the cross-head I reaches
the limit of its rise, while the cross-head D3 is descending. The cross-head D³,
at the upper side of its groove n, engages the shoulder E of the forming bar E, and
presses the latter downward past the jaws of the anvil. The T-groove p of the
forming bar causes the latter to clear the anvil, while the lower end of the bar
moves from the position shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 to engage the staple wire
at opposite sides of the anvil, and form the staple Y¹, as shown, for example, in
Figure 13. As will be seen in that figure, the staple is formed over the jaw m³ of
the anvil, the legs of the staple being in the lateral slots of the T-groove 2 of
the forming-bar. While a staple is being formed as described, the cross-head D*
commences its downward movement. The block K continues its movement toward
the right to feed the staple-wire toward the anvil, and the cross-head D* presses
down the driving bar F. The lower end of the driving bar F engages the cam-
surface of the jaw m² of the anvil and presses the latter out of its path against
the resistance of the spring m³, and engages the top of the staple and drives it
downward out of the forming bar, as illustrated in Figure 14. The cross-head D³
rises while the staple is being discharged, and at the completion of the discharge
the lower edge of its groove n engages the shoulder on the forming bar E and
raises the latter upward past the anvil. The cross-head I also commences
to rise at about the same time that the forming bar commences its
upward movement, so that both the driving bar and forming bar are raised above
the anvil, and the latter is released and springs forward just before the end of the
wire for the next staple reaches the recess of the block t.
The engagement of the finger K³ with the arm of the bell-crank lever H³ moves
the block H very quickly along the staple wire to the end-portion of the latter and
close to the anvil, whereby the cutter-block operates to guide the end of the wire
through the anvil opening m. The cutter-block remains in this position until,
in the final movement of the block K, the screw K contacts with the arm H5 and
moves the cutter-block quickly along the wire to its cutting position, at which
position it remains momentarily stationary, during the change in direction of
movement of the bar L and attendant parts, and at this moment the cross-head I*
reaches the limit of its rise, to raise the cutter-bar, to cut the wire, and starts to
descend, to release the cutter-bar. In the backward movement of the block K the
wire is held against retraction by the pawl, the pawl K2 sliding freely over the
wire; while in the movement of the block K in the direction to the right, the
pawl K grips the wire to feed it, the wire moving readily under the pawl t
The length of one staple leg may be changed by changing the adjustment of
the connecting rod in the slot i to increase or diminish the throw of the bar L,
and the position of the cutter-block H at the time the cutting of the wire is

page_text: effected may be changed by adjusting the set-screw K. Thus the end of the
set-screw may be caused to engage the arm H and move the cutter-block to a
position where the length of the staple-legs will be the same when the cutting
is effected.
In the operation of the box-blank making machine a blank Z and strengthening
wires are fed across the lower ends of the staple-forming and driving devices,
the staples being driven into the blank, to straddle the strengthening wires,
and are preferably clinched. Adjustably fastened upon the bar 12 beneath each
staple-forming and driving-device is a block N to which is secured a post N¹
provided at its top with a clincher-plate N2 of the form shown in Figures 3
and 3. The post N¹ may be raised and lowered, to position it upon the block N,
by means of an adjusting screw N³. As the staples are driven their ends strike
grooves in the clincher-plate and are upset to clinch the staples. Fastened
against the face-plate r is a bar provided at its lower end with a
presser-roller ', and oll the upper end of the bar N¹ is a
presser-
roller N. After a staple has been driven and the blank-material is fed
along, the staple passes between the rollers N, and the clinched ends are
pressed into the under surface of the blank.
This improved staple-forming and driving-device, while particularly desirable
for use in connection with a box-blank making machine such as described, is a
complete device in itself and may be employed alone, or in any other connection
where operating mechanism is suitably adapted.
In the construction described the cutter-block H, it will be understood, performs
two functions, namely, those of a wire-end guide, for directing the wire to the
anvil, and of a wire-cutter. It moves to its wire-end guiding position to insure
the proper positioning of the wire at the anvil, and then moves out of the way
so as not to obstruct the wire in the bending operation. While the wire-end guide
and cutter in the present construction are one piece of mechanism, my corre-
spondent does not wish to be limited thereto, as he believes it to be novel to provide
a movable wire-end guide operating as set forth.
While it is preferred to construct these improvements as shown and described,
they may be variously modified in the matter of details of construction without
departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the claims.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, & in what manner
the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:—
1 In a staple forming device, the combination with the staple-forming anvil
and the wire-feeder, cutter, staple-forming and discharging mechanisms and their
actuating means, of a wire-end guide movable to one position to guide the wire
to the anvil and movable from said position to be out of the way in the staple
bending operation, substantially as described.
2 In a staple forming device, the combination with the staple forming anvil
and the wire-feeder, staple forming and discharging mechanisms and their
actuating means, of a sliding wire-end guide and cutter movable toward the anvil
to guide the wire, and movable away from the anvil to its cutting position, and
means for operating the cutter, substantially as described.
3-In a staple forming device, the combination with the staple forming anvil,
cutter, staple forming and discharging mechanisms and their actuating means,
of a reciprocating wire-feeder, and a wire-end guide actuated by movement of
the wire-feeder to move to one position to guide the wire to the anvil and to move
from said position to be out of the way in the staple bending operation, substantially
as described.
4 In a staple forming device, the combination with the staple forming anvil.
staple forming and discharging mechanisms and their actuating means, of a
reciprocating wire-feeder, a wire-end guide and cutter actuated by movement of
the wire-feeder to move toward the anvil to guide the wire and to move away from

page_text: the anvil to its cutting position, and means for operating the cutter, substantially
as described.
5 The combination with a staple driving device and means for advancing the
material to be stapled, of presser-rollers at opposite sides of the path of said
material beyond the staple driving device for engaging and pressing the ends of
the staples into the surface of said material, substantially as described.
6 In a staple forming device, the combination with the staple forming anvil
and the staple forming and discharging mechanisms and their actuating means, of
a reciprocating wire-feeder, a sliding wire-end guide and cutter between the wire
feeder and anvil actuated by movement of the wire-feeder to move toward the
anvil to guide the wire and to move away from the anvil to its cutting position,
and means for operating the cutter, substantially as described.
7-In a staple forming device, the combination with the staple forming anvil
and the staple forming and discharging mechanisms and their actuating means,
of a reciprocating wire-feeder, a sliding wire-end guide and cutter between the
wire-feeder and anvil, an operating lever for said guide and cutter in the path of
the said wire-feeder and actuated thereby to move toward the anvil to guide the
wire and then move away from the anvil to its cutting position, and means for
operating the cutter, substantially as described.
8-The combination with the cross-heads and their operating means, of a
staple forming and driving device having a staple forming anvil, staple forming and
driving mechanisms operatively connected with said cross-heads, a reciprocating wire
feeder, a sliding wire-end guide and cutter thereon operatively connected with
one said cross-head, the wire-end guide being actuated by the wire-feeder to move
toward the anvil to guide the wire and to then move away from the anvil to the
cutting position, substantially as described.
9 The combination of the operating bar L and means for reciprocating the same
and a staple forming and driving device provided with a wire-feeder actuated from
the said bar, substantially as described.
10 In a machine employing staple forming and driving devices for fastening
sheets to cleats in the manufacture of box-blanks, means for feeding the cleats
and sheets comprising feed-chains A, a plate carried thereby, and adjustable
pushers on the plate.
11 In a machine employing staple forming and driving devices for fastening
sheets to cleats in the manufacture of box-blanks, parallel guides for the cleats.
traveling pushers for feeding the cleats and sheets and presser-guides above the
path of the sheets for holding them down upon the cleats.
Dated thin 10th
1000