Improvements in Box-making Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 19th July, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Box-making Machines.
I, MARTIN EUGENE BRIGHAM, Manufacturer, of 248 North Third Street, Philadelphia,
in the County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOX MAKING
MACHINES," and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has reference to box making machines and consists of certain
improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
More particularly my invention is intended for forming boxes of a cylindrical shape
out of cardboard, or similar material; and by the improvements herein set out these
boxes are constructed with great rapidity and completeness in all particulars. The
cardboard is fed to a former where it is rolled into a cylindrical shape, and by
stapling mechanism the edges of this tube are secured together. This tube is then
pushed off or removed from the former (which immediately operates to construct
another similar tube) and is supplied with a bottom which is glued to the tube
forming a completed box. These operations are performed continuously and with
great rapidity, so that my improved machine is capable of a very large out-put in a
limited time.
By stapling the side edges of the tube a very firm box is obtained, and one
that is much less liable, than a box with a pasted or glued seam, to become
loosened.
One of the great advantages of my improvements lies in the fact that the
operations of forming, seaming and capping are all performed automatically upon
the same machine without any interruption or delay. The mechanisms by which
these different operations are performed are so connected with each other so as
to operate in perfect accord as to time, so that each successive operation is com-
menced immediately upon the completion of the preceding one, and while one
box is being capped another tube is being formed and stapled, and the work is never
interrupted.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved box making machine.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the stapling mechanism removed.
Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view through the line of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale of the tube forming
cylinder.
Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through the line y y of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a view in detail on an enlarged scale of the stapling mechanism and
holding devices.
Fig. 7 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the bottom applying mechanism.
Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the bottom feeding tube on the line z z of
Fig. 7.

page_text: spring head C. Arranged close to the spring head C are the holders D D guided in
the frame A and adapted to be brought toward each other by means of cams d to clamp
the cardboard tube supported upon the spring head C.
The spring head C is loosely journaled upon the bearing c so that the cardboard
tube may be held motionless thereon, while the cylinder B is rotating to form another
tube.
The cams d are connected by links D¹ with the lever D' which is pivoted at E with
the segment F. This segment F is connected to an extension of the eccentric G
which is operated by the shaft H. Through the eccentric G and segment F the
lever D is operated and by it, through the links D', the cams d force the holders DD
toward each other. A spring d keeps the upper of the holders normally raised. The
shaft His connected by gearing with the main shaft H', which is rotated by the
driving wheel H³.
The tube forming cylinder B is provided with a shaft B³, which carries a gear
wheel n, whereby, in the manner hereafter described, an intermittent revolution is
imparted to the cylinder B.
Pivoted to the cylinder B is a gripping jaw b, to which is attached an operating
link or ring B¹, which fits in an hole formed in the cylinder and is free to move
therein. A portion of the tube forming cylinder is cut away to receive the gripping
jaw band present an even surface. Passing through the shaft B³ and into the
cylinder B is a rod 1 adapted to reciprocate therein.
The end of this rod is tapered or conical shaped at i and extends through the
ring B¹ which is so suspended from the gripping jaw b that when the rod I is
projected forward, the tapered or pointed end i coming in contact with the ring B
forces it down and thereby depresses the gripping jaw b. The rod I is preferably
provided with a button upon its end to prevent it being withdrawn from the ring B
and to guide the end of the rod beyond the ring. The gripping jaw b is raised
or opened to release the completed tube, after the rod I is reciprocated back, by
means of a spring ³, within the hole or recess of the cylinder B acting upon the
ring or link B¹.
The reciprocation of the rod I to actuate the gripping jaw is accomplished by means
of the pivoted lever I¹ and the rod I, the latter of which is caused to reciprocate
intermittently in the slide by means of a cam I carried by the shaft H. A spring i¹
draws the rod l' and its connections back into normal position after it has been
operated by the cam I³.
J is a stripper surrounding the tube forming cylinder B with a space between it
and the cylinder to receive the cardboard tube and having an open space at the top
to expose the lapped edges of the cardboard. The end of this stripper preferably
does not extend to the end of the cylinder B but leaves a circular rim B³, about which
the edge of the cardboard tube is exposed to receive, as it is rotated, glue or
paste from the tube M. A valve m may be used to control the flow of glue from this
tube.
Secured to the other end of the stripper J are guide rods j. Pivoted to these guide
rods is the lever J' which is in turn pivoted to the rod J. The rod J' is caused to
reciprocate in the slide by the cam J' carried by the shaft H, whereby an inter-
mittent reciprocation is imparted to the stripper J. A spring draws the rod J* and
its connections back to normal position after actuation by the cam J. K are feeding
rollers mounted in a standard and geared together, between which the cardboard I
is fed to the cylinder B. These rollers are provided with a cutter-k to cut-the card-
board-into-the proper lengths. The diameter of the feeding rollers K is preferably
slightly larger than that of the tube forming cylinder B, so that each rotation of the
feeding rollers K will cut the exact length of cardboard required including the
lapped joint of the box cylinder, but it is apparent that the same result might be
accomplished by other means, as by causing the rollers K, K and the cylinder B to
rotate at different relative speeds or by the use of additional cutters k. L is a guide
for the cardboard, preferably having a downwardly curved edge, to guide the card-

page_text: board to the tube forming cylinder where it is clamped by the gripping jaw b and
rolled into the tube. The cardboard is fed to the cylinder after it has been cut by
means of the plate L¹ pivoted on its sides to the guide L terminating in a curved guide
for directing the card under the jaw of the tube forming cylinder. The cardboard L',
fed from the rollers K, K upon the guide L, comes in contact with the guide plate L',
and as it is fed onward, forces the guide plate up (as shown in Fig. 5). A spring
limits the amount this guide plate L' may be forced up or raised by the cardboard
and acts to force the card forward when the jaw is open to receive it.
When the cardboard is cut the jaw 6 is open to receive the card and as the tension
upon the guide plate L' is decreased the spring forces the plate down pushing the
edge of the cardboard forward, between the curved edge of the guide L to the tube
forming cylinder, where it is seized by the gripping jaw b and rolled into the
tube X. I prefer this mechanism for feeding the cardboard, after it has been
cut, to the forming cylinder; but it is apparent that any other efficient mechanism
might be substituted therefor without departing from the principles of my invention.
K is a gear wheel meshing with one of the feeding rollers K and with the gear
wheel K2 which is journaled in the frame of the machine. N is a gear wheel similar
to the wheel K, also journaled in the frame A. The wheel N is geared to the wheel n
on the shaft B and thereby the rotation is imparted to the tube forming cylinder.
Upon the sides of the wheels N and K2 are a series of projections N¹ arranged at
regular intervals. O, O are two arms pivoted to an extension upon the cam slide P
and adapted to engage with the projections N¹ upon the wheels N and K. The
springs o prevent the arms from falling while allowing them to be depressed. The
cam slide P works in guides in the frame A and is provided with an opening P1, in
which the cam P2, carried by the wheel P³, works to cause an intermittent to and fro
reciprocation of the cam slide P. The arms O, being carried by this slide P
engage alternately with the projections N¹ on the wheel N and those on the wheel K,
imparting intermittent rotations to these wheels alternately, and through them to the
tube forming cylinder B and the feeding rollers K, K. The wheel B³ and its cam is
carried by the shaft H¹.
R is the stapling mechanism supported upon the frame A. immediately above the
tube forming cylinder B. These stapling devices, as shown, consist of the hammers r
and staple former which are respectively connected to operate in unison. The
hammers r are provided with a roller r ard the staple formers with a roller . R' is
a cam journaled in the frame A and adapted to come in contact with the roller r' to
operate the hammer r. R2 is a cam also journaled in the frame A and adapted to
operate the staple formers through the rollers 7.
W is a ratchet wheel secured to the cams R' and R². This ratchet wheel is operated
by a pawl W carried by the arm R3 pivoted to the lever D' and thereby operated by
the eccentric G. When this arm R³ moves forward it carries the pawl W forward
engaging with the teeth of the ratchet wheel W; then moving backward through the
operation of the eccentric G, it rotates the ratchet wheel and thereby the cams R¹
and R which are secured to it. Springs draw the hammer and staple formers
back to a raised position. Blocks are located under the hammers during the
operation of the staple formers, and over which the wires V are fed. The staple
formers press the wire over these blocks in descending, cutting and forming it into
staples. When the hammers descend these blocks are drawn out of the way, and
may be made to return again to position after the hammers ascend. The particular
construction of the stapling device is immaterial and the details thereof form no part
of the present invention. I prefer to operate the blocks in the manner shown in
Fig. 12, in which the blocks are supported in guides R' secured to or made a part of
the main frame A, and normally pressed forward by springs 7. The front edges of
these blocks are bevelled and the staple formers are constructed with a bevelled
portion also, which coming in contact with the bevelled edges of the blocks, after
the staple has been formed, pushes the blocks out of the way for the operation of the
hammers r.
When the staple formers and the hammers are lifted the springs +

page_text: again press the blocks forward into the position for the formation of new staples.
The forming cylinder B is provided with curved depressions 6' at the place where the
edges of the tube lap, whereby the ends of the staples x may be forced through the
lapped edges of the tube and doubled over as shown in Fig. 11. The wire V is
fed under the stapling devices from spools V₁ on each side by feed rollers Y,
(see Fig. 10).
These feed rollers are carried on the main frame, or frame of the stapling device,
and are operated through the reciprocations of the stripper or sleeve J by arms Y
pivoted to the ends of a link Y' which is connected by a pivoted link Y' to the slide J
carried by one of the guide rods j. The feeding wheels Y are provided with
ratchets y, with which pawls upon the arms Y¹ engage to turn said guide wheels
and feed the wire under the stapling mechanism. By the forward reciprocation of
the stripper J one set of feed wheels Y is operated and by the backward reciprocation
the other set receives motion.
S is the bottom applying holder consisting of a cylinder provided with an openings
to receive the bottoms X', which are fed thereto in the manner hereafter described
from the feeding tube T. This cylinder is provided with a ratchet s¹ the teeth of
which engage with those of the segment F, whereby the bottom applying holder Sis
reciprocated. S2 is a plunger within the holder S adapted to push the bottom X'
upon the tubes X while in the custody of the holders D when the holder S is pro-
jected forward. S³ is an arm connecting the plunger S with the lever D³ whereby
it is operated. T is a feeding tube to contain the box bottoms X2. By means of a
stop t these bottoms are allowed to drop one at a time into the bottom applying
cylinder S. The stop t consists of two pins extending through the feeding tube T in
the path of the bottoms, and so arranged, that, when the one is withdrawn to allow a
bottom to fall, the other is inserted to prevent the other bottoms from falling also.
This stop toperates synchronously with the bottom applying holder S. T² is a rod
provided with a nut T at its end. T³ is an upright secured to the plungers S³ in which
the rod T works, so that, when the plungers S is withdrawn from the cylinder or
bottom applying holder S, the upright T coming in contact with the nut T* pushes
back the rod and withdraws the lower pin of the stop t, allowing a bottom X³ to
drop through the apertures S. T is a spring to reset the stop t.
Qis a blow pipe connected with a fan or blower and located between the
holders D, D and bottom applying holder S, by which the boxes when completed are
blown out of the way of the mechanism.
U are screws provided on their ends with pieces of raw-hide or similar material u.
adapted to be brought in contact with the wheels N and K2 to create a friction and
prevent them accidentally rotating too far, or in the wrong direction. Any other
friction creating device may be used.
The operation of the machine is as follows: The cardboard L is fed from a roll
to the feeding rollers K and thence to the guide L lifting the guide plate L' in the
manner heretofore described. When the card board is cut the plate L' descends
pushing the edge of the paper between the guide end to the tube forming cylinder B
which is started in rotation by the movement of the cam slide P carrying the arm O
which operates the wheel N geared to the gear wheel n. Simultaneously the rod I' is
operated by the cam 13 and the rod is projected forward operating the gripping jaw b
in the manner described heretofore. The forming cylinder rotating rolls the card-
board into a tube X under the stripper J; leaving the edge exposed, which during
rotation receives the glue or paste from the tube M. At the instant the tube X-las
been rollod-the-arni R turns the ratchet W bringing into operation the stapling
mechanism. The cam J³ then operates the rod J2 and thereby projects the stripper J
forward, which carries the stapled tube forward upon the spring head C and the
holders D D are at the same time operated by the rods D¹ and cains d to hold the
tube when the bottom applying holder S is moved forward and the piston S2 forces
the bottom X upon the glued edge of the tube. The bottom applying holder then
moves back; the holders D D release the box and it is blown out of the way by the
.
いと

page_text: tube Q; and the operation continues as before all of the parts of the different
mechanism being so timed by their relative connections, with each other to perform
their functions, continuously and without any interruption. While the bottom is
being applied to one tube another tube is being formed on the rotating former.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. In a box making machine the combination of a tube former, a feeding device
for feeding the cardboard to the former, a stapling mechanism for securing the edges
of the cardboard forming the tube together and a stripper to push the stapled tube
from the former.
2nd. In a box making machine the combination of a tube former, a stapling
mechanism to secure the edges of the cardboard forming the tube together, a holder
for holding the stapled tube for the application of the bottom and a stripper to push
the stapled tube from the former to the holder.
3rd. In a box making machine the combination of a tube former, a feeding device
for feeding the cardboard to the former, a stapling mechanism for securing the edges
of the cardboard forming the tube together, a bottom feeding mechanism to feed the
bottoms one at a time, a bottom applying holder power devices substantially as set
forth to move the bottoin applying holder to or from the tube former, a stripper to
push the stapled tube from off the former, and holders for supporting the tube during
the application of the bottom.
4th. In a box making machine the combination of a tube former, a feeding device
for feeding the cardboard to the former, a stapling mechanism for securing the edges
of the cardboard forming the tube together, a bottom feeding mechanism to feed the
bottoms one at a time, a bottom applying holder, power devices substantially as set
forth to move the bottom applying holder to or from the tube former, a stripper to
push the stapled tube from off the former, holders for supporting the tube during the
application of the bottom, power mechanism to rotate the cylinder former, reciprocate
the stripper, and operate the holders to or from each other, and connecting timing
devices between said former, stripper, holders and bottom applying holder whereby
they operate in unison and synchronously.
5th. In a box making machine the combination with a rotary former to form a tube
from a strip of cardboard, of feeding rollers to feed the cardboard to said former, a
fixed guide to guide the cardboard from said feeding rollers to the former, and a
pivoted guide plate adapted to act in connection therewith to assist the feeding of the
cardboard to the former.
6th. In a box making machine the combination of a tube former with a staple
driving mechanism arranged close to the surface of the former so as to cause the
staples to pass through the lapped edges of the cylinder on the former, connecting
power mechanism for driving the staples when the former is stationary, and a stripper
for discharging the stapled tubes from off the former.
7th. In a box making machine the combination of a rotating former to form a tube
of cardboard, a pair of gripping holders arranged in front of said former, a stripper to
push the tube from said former between said holders, and devices to move said holders
towards each other to grip the cardboard tube.
8th. The combination of a cylinder or tube holder with a hollow bottom applying
holder having an aperture for receiving a box bottoni, a plunger for pushing the box
bottom toward the open end of the bottom applying holder, power mechanism to
simultaneously reciprocate both the bottom applying holder and plunger to or
from the cylinder holder, a bottom feeding tube, and a stop in said bottom feeding
tube actuated by the plunger to feed the bottoms one at a time to the bottom
applying holder.
9th. In a box making machine the combination of a rotary former for forming
a tube of cardboard, having a gripping jaw, feeding and cutting rolls to feed said

page_text: cardboard toward the former, and cut it into lengths, a guide for the cardboard
between the feeding rolls and the former, a pivoted guide and feeding plate to
feed the cardboard when cut to the gripping jaw of the former, and power mechanism
to intermittently and alternately rotate said former and feeding and cutting rolls.
10th. The combination of the tube former B. feeding rolls K K, gear wheels N
and K2, gearing connecting said gear wheels N and K2 with the tube former and
feeding rolls respectively, projections N' on said wheels N and K2, and cam P³, cam
slide Poperated thereby and carrying arms O adapted to engage with the pro-
jections N alternately upon the wheels N and K to impart an intermittent and
alternate rotation thereto.
11th. The combination of the rotating tube or cylinder former, having a spring
head loosely journaled thereto, stapling mechanism to secure the lapped edges of the
cardboard tube or cylinder, a stripper to push the stapled tube from the former upon
said spring head, and mechanism substantially as described to project said stripper
forward when the tube is stapled.
12th. The combination of the rotating tube or cylinder former, having a spring
bead loosely journaled thereto, stapling mechanism to secure the lapped edges of the
cardboard tube or cylinder, a stripper to push the stapled tube from the former upon
said spring head, holders to support the tube while upon sail spring head, and
mechanism substantially as described to project said stripper forward when the tube is
stapled.
13th. The combination of the rotary tube or cylinder former B, stapling
mechanism to secure the lapped edges of the cardboard tube together, stripper
guide rods secured thereto, cam J³, and connections with said guide rods j
operated by the cam J³, to intermittently project the stripper to remove the stapled
tube from the former B.
14th. The combination of a rotary former for forming a tube of cardboard,
stapling devices for securing the edges of the cardboard together, a stripper to
push the cardboard tube from the former, holders to support the tube when pushed
from the former, and cam mechanism to operate said bolders synchronously with the
stripper.
15th. The combination of a rotary former for forming a tube of cardboard, stapling
devices for securing the edges of the cardboard together, a stripper to push the card-
board tube from the former, holders to support the tube when pushed from the former,
cam mechanism to operate said holders synchronously with the stripper, a bottom
applying holder, and power devices substantially as set out to move the bottom
applying holder to or from the tube former, and timing mechanism to operate said
stripper, holders and bottom applying holder simultaneously.
16th. The combination of the rotating former B, stripper J, holders D D, bottom
applying holder S having rack s¹, segment F and eccentric G, whereby said bottom
applying holder is moved to and from said holders D D.
17th. The combination of the rotating former B, stripper J, holders D D, bottom
applying holder S having rack s¹ segment F and eccentric G, plungers S³, con-
necting arm S³, and lever D³ whereby said bottom applying holder and plunger are
operated synchronously.
18th. The combination of the rotating former B, stripper J, holders D D, bottom
applying holder S, plungers S³, bottom feeding tube T, stop t, rod T, connection T'
between said rod T2 and plunger S³, and power mechanism substantially as described.
to operate said bottom applying holder, plunger, and stop synchronously.
19th. The combination of the rotating tube former B, staple formers ³, hammers r,
cams R¹ and R' connected together, ratchet W connected with said cams and power
mechanism substantially as described to operate said ratchet and cams.
20th. The combination of a rotary tube former for forming a tube or cylinder of
cardboard, stapling mechanism for stapling the lapped edges of said cardboard tube, a
stripper to push the stapled tube from the tube former, and wire feeding wheels
carried by said stripper to feed the wire under the stapling mechanism.

page_text: 21st. The combination of the rotary tube former B, stapling mechanism P,
stripper J, wire feeding wheels Y Y and Y Y, guide rods, link Y', ratchets y
carried by said wheels Y, link Y', slide J and connecting link Y.
Dated this 8th day of March A.D. 1890.
MARTIN EUGENE BRIGHAM.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.