Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Attaching or Securing Metallic Clamps or Fasteners to Cardboard Boxes and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 8th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Attaching or Securing
Metallic Clamps or Fasteners to Cardboard Boxes and the like.
I, MAX SCHUBERT, of Charlottenburg, near Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a continuously operating machine for attaching or
securing metallic clamps or fasteners, by means of which continuous strips of sheet-
metal clamps, of say, 100 metres or more in length, are accurately and automatically
fed from the rolls in which they are made up in lengths such as desired (e.g. to suit
the height of cardboard box that it may be desired to clamp), and are automatically
divided and attached or secured by means of a combined cutter and hammer head.
In consequence of the use of continuous clamp-strips of their automatic and
accurate feeding and cutting into clamps of the desired length this machine
combines with the advantage of speedy and accurate construction of cardboard
boxes and other goods, the advantage of avoiding the production of waste ends;
and by means of it sheet-metal clamps stored in the form of rolls can be secured as
required in the most simple and advantageous manner.
Referring to the annexed drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation and
Fig. 2 a sectional side elevation of a machine constructed according to this
invention;
Fig. 3 is a side elevation and Fig. 4 a back elevation of the hammer-head with
the cutter mounted thereon;
Fig. 5 is a back elevation of the hammer-head with the cutter removed;
Fig. 6 is a front elevation and Fig. 7 a side elevation of the cutter with a double
spring hereinafter mentioned screwed thereto;
Figs. 8 to 20 inclusive are detail-views to which reference will hereinafter be
nade;
Figs. 21, 22, and 23 are views illustrating a modified form of feed-mechanism;
Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive, 16 to 20 inclusive, and 22 and 23 are drawn to a larger
scale than Figs. 1, 2 and 21 and to a less scale than Figs. 8 to 15 inclusive.
A clamp-affixing machine constructed according to this invention comprises a
pillar A (Figs. 1 and 2) carrying an anvil a a and an arm B provided with a
hammer-head b. The arm B is arranged to be oscillated about the axis B' by
means of a treadle and thereby to cause a carrier m secured to thin cords v and
(Figs. 9 and 12) to slide to and fro along a bar h (see also Fig. 8), which serves to
receive the continuous clamp-strip r. The cords v and pass round pulleys o o'
and ol and are fastened at their ends to springs and . During the descent of
the hammer-arm B, the carrier m is drawn backwards by the stronger spring g up
to brackets which carry two rolls and are fixed on the guide-bar h, and are
arranged to limit the travel of the carrier m in the direction mentioned.
When the arm B rises, the cords and draw the carrier m forward, to an
extent dependent on the position of a stud which is provided with a thumb-nut
and is adjustable in a slot in the pillar A. If the stud be set in a lower position
in the slot, the carrier m will be drawn more forwards, and if the stud be set in
higher position the carrier m will, on the other hand, not advance so far; the
higher the stud , the earlier will the carrier m reach its position of rest against the
brackets when the arm B descends.
If the ends of the cords and v' were attached to the adjusting-stud 1, the cords

page_text: and might, on the descent of the arm B, become slack form loops, and thus run
the risk of coming between the anvil a a and the hammer-head b.
To prevent this, a very weak spring q is attached by means of an eyelet to the
cords and so as to be adapted to pull the said cords when slack, through the
perforated stud 1. The backward motion of the carrier m commences immediately
as the eyelet of the spring y is held fast by the stud on the ascent of the arm B.
The amount of advance of the carrier m is dependent also on the extent of the
rise of the arm B. When the carrier m moves backwards, pawls or catches n and n
hinged thereto slide over the teeth of the clamp-strip r, but when the carrier m
moves in the opposite direction, the said pawls engage therewith as shown in
Fig. 14 and thereby enable the advance of the clamp-strip r to be effected.
An excessive feed of the clamp-strip is prevented by the bracket of the
rolls and (Figs. 2, 10, 11 and 12), which both act as brakes on the clamp-strip r
and serve to impart to the strip a slight V-form in cross-section, thus producing a
certain amount of stiffness to the strip and also facilitating the affixing thereof.
The bending of the strip may be effected without the upper roll by forcing the
strip against the projecting inner edges (see Fig. 8) of the guide-bar by means
of the lower roll i.
2"
The bar his fixed at its front end to a cutter e (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7) so as to
correspond to the cutting-opening formed therein. The cutter c is elastically
mounted in the hammer-bead by means of springs and p, in the manner of a
shearing-blade. The end of the clamp-strip r which is fed through the cutting-
opening of the cutter c and underneath the hammer-head , is cut off the strip
at the time at which it is being affixed to the pieces of cardboard or wood that are
being secured together the operation being that the cutter e first comes to bear
upon the anvil a a' and the hammer-head then follows, and moves, after
the manner of a shearing-blade, with its hardened cutting edges over the
cutting-opening z of the cutter e, so as to cut off the projecting clamp and affix it
simultaneously.
The feeding of the clamp-strip is effected alternately with the affixing of the
clamps cut off because when the hammer-arm B moves down, a clamp is affixed,
and when the arm B rises, the clamp-strip is led forward.
In order to ensure as far as is possible the proper advance of the clamp-strip,
the striking-faces of the hammer-head are provided with two longitudinal
recesses (Fig. 5) rectangular in cross-section, opening downwardly and corre-
sponding to the width of the clamps.
Since a constantly uniform feed of the clamp-strip is dependent on the accurate
rise of the arm B, the treadle-lever is provided with an automatic locking device
in order to prevent the said arm from being depressed again before it has reached
its normally maximum height for the time being. This device is illustrated in
detail to a larger scale in Figs. 16 to 20 inclusive.
A steel-plate with laterally projecting edges is fixed on the treadle-lever
To the lower end of a screws by means of which the maximum rise of the arm B
can be adjusted, there is secured in such a manner that the screw s can rotate
therein, a block, which holds in an elastic manner by means of a small spring-
plate (Fig. 18 two catches and . A piece of leather. (Figs. 17, 19
and 20) is inserted in the block to act as a cushion between the plate and the
block z.
When the plate of the treadle-lever strikes in its ascent against the piece.
of the adjusting-screw s, the spring catches and " take hold of the projecting
edges of the steel-plate" and thus rigidly lock the lever in position.
It, now, the treadle-plate & he pressed downwards, a fork k', fixed to the treadle-
plate, will press outwards the catches ' and a and thus release the treadle-
leverf. If the treadle-plate & be released, the spring will press the plate and
the releasing-fork back into their former positions, so that the catches and
will be able to repeat the operation just described on the succeeding rise of the
treadle-lever to its maximum height.

page_text: For
In order to ensure that the clamp fed forward may be accurately affixed in the
position desired, it is necessary, since the anvil a a' is not adjustable that the
hammer-head with its cutter c and guide-bar h be capable of adjustment.
this purpose the head is provided with a feathery (Fig. 5) and the arm B is
formed with a corresponding groove Bb (Fig. 1) in which the feather y is capable
of being slid to and fro so that the hammer-head can be brought into a suitable
position relatively to the anvil a a'.
In order that the anvil a a' may be made to correspond to the adjustment of the
hammer-head, the part a' of the anvil is made removable. By these means the
machine may be adapted for affixing clamps of various lengths from that of one
tooth upward.
In order that the hammer-head may, in its longitudinal direction, exert a
uniform pressure upon all points of the metallic strip, whatever be the thickness of
the cardboard or wood under operation, it is provided with a lever-like adjustment
consisting of an incline and two screws to and w'. The thicker the pieces that
are to be fastened together, the more the inner screw ' must be screwed up, in
order to cause the hammer-head to be parallel to the edge of the anvil when in
contact with the article being clamped.
In employing an affixing-machine of this kind, the end of the clamp-strip in the
drum D (Fig. 2) is inserted from the rear into the guide-bar h and is moved forward
until the pawls or catches and n of the carrier m are able to engage therewith.
During this operation the clamp-strip has passed between the bending-rolls i and i
mounted on the bar h (Figs. 10 and 11) and has had imparted to it a somewhat
V-shaped cross-section by means of the said rolls as herein before described. In
this condition it is passed through the cutting-opening of the cutter c and, to a
predetermined length, between the recessed striking faces of the hammer-head b.
On placing the article to be clamped upon the anvil a a' it is merely necessary
by depressing the treadle-lever f to force the hammer downwards, in order that
the projecting clamp may be separated, by the joint operation of the cutter c and
the cutting-edges of the hammer-head b, from the remainder of the clamp-strip,
and that the teeth of the said cut-off clamp may be simultaneously caused by the
recessed faces of the hammer-head b, to enter the sides of the cardboard or wooden
box or other article and thus connect the same firmly together.
During the rise of the arm B, a length of the clamp strip equal to the preceding
length is fed forward by the carrier m, and this takes place automatically after
every blow,
When it is required to affix clamps of about 10 teeth in length a considerably
simplified feed-mechanism may be employed, comprising eccentric slotted guides E
and E for the carrier m as shown in Figs. 21, 22 and 23 of which Fig. 21 is a side
elevation of an affixing-machine according to this invention provided with this
feed-mechanism and Figs. 22 and 23 are respectively a side and a back elevation
of the slotted arms drawn to a larger scale.
The slotted guides E and E' are firmly bolted to the upper part of the pillar A,
and are therefore fixed in position. With this arrangement the cord-pulleys o of
and o, the springs and y, the adjusting-stud and the cords and are all
dispensed with.
In this case, in which the carrier m is moved by means of a guide-pin m' working
in the slots of the guides E and E', during the descent of the arin B, the carrier m
is drawn back without moving the clamp-strip, but when the arin B rises, the
carrier m, moving in the reverse direction, pushes the end of the clamp-strip
forward under the hammer-head b.
In order to cause the carrier m to feed the clamp-strip at any required rate it is
necessary merely to adjust the rise of the arm B. In order that it may be possible
to effect this adjustment in an accurate manner the slotted guides E and E' may be
graduated so as to indicate the number of clamp-teeth that will be fed forward
when the pins m³ rise to various heights therein.
In order that the stroke of the arm B may be of a suitable length to give a

page_text: sufficient blow even when the feed is at its minimum, the lower parts of the slots in
the arms E and E' are arranged in a circular manner with regard to the axis of
oscillation B' of the arm B so as to prevent any further rearward movement of the
carrier m.
It will be understood that the forms of the anvil a a¹ and the hammer-head b
should be modified to correspond to that of the box or other article being constructed
or clamped.
Dated this 2nd day of August 1894.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Attaching or Securing
Metallic Clamps or Fasteners to Cardboard Boxes and the like.
I, MAX SCHUBERT, of 20 Alexanderplatz, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
a Member of the Firm of O. M. Schubert, Manufacturers, 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 a continuously operating machine for attaching or
securing metallic clamps or fasteners, by means of which continuous strips of
sheet-metal clamps of, say, 100 metres or more in length, are accurately and
automatically fed from the rolls in which they are made up in lengths such as
required (e.g. to suit the height of cardboard boxes that it may be desired to clamp)
and are automatically divided and attached or secured by means of a combined
cutter and hammer-head. In consequence of the use of continuous clamp-strips
and of their automatic and accurate feeding and cutting into clamps of the desired
length, the machine combines with the advantage of the speedy and accurate
construction of cardboard boxes and other goods, the advantage of avoiding the
production of waste-ends; and by means of it sheet-metal clamps stored in the form
of rolls can be secured as required in the most simple and advantageous manner.
Referring to the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification,
Fig. 1 is a front elevation and
Fig. 2 a sectional side elevation of a machine constructed according to this
invention;
Fig. 3 is a side elevation and Fig. 4 a back elevation of the hammer-head with
the cutter mounted thereon ;
Fig. 5 is a back elevation of the hammer-bead with the cutter removed;
Fig. 6 is a front elevation and Fig. 7 a side elevation of the cutter with a double
spring hereinafter described screwed thereto;
Figs. 8 to 20 inclusive are detail-views to which reference will hereinafter be
made;
Figs. 21, 22, and 23 are views illustrating a modified form of feed-mechanism;
Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive, 16 to 20 inclusive and 22 and 23 are drawn to a larger
scale than Figs. 1, 2 and 21, and to a less scale than Figs. 8 to 15 inclusive.
A clamp-affixing machine constructed according to this invention comprises a
pillar A (Figs. 1 and 2) carrying an anvil a a' and an arm B provided with a
hammer-head b. The arm B is arranged to be oscillated about the axis B' by
means of a treadle-lever fand thereby to cause a carrier m secured to thin cords v
and (Figs. 9 and 12) to slide to and fro along a bar h (see also Fig. 8) which
serves to receive the continuous clamp-strip The cords and which pass
round pulleys o, o' and o" are fastened at their ends to springs and 7. During
the descent of the hammer-arm B, the carrier m is drawn idly backwards by the
stronger spring g up to brackets 2, (see Figs. 1, 10 and 11), which carry two rolls i
and, are fixed on the guide-bar and are arranged to limit the travel of the
carrier m in the direction mentioned.

page_text: When the arm B rises, the cords v and n³ draw the carrier m forward to an
extent dependent on the position of a stud / (Figs. 1 and 2) which is provided with
a thumb-aut and is adjustable in a slot in the pillar A. If the stud be set in a
lower position in the slot 'than that shown, the carrier m will be drawn more
forward, and if the stud be set in a higher position, the carrier m will, on the
other hand, not advance so far; the higher the stud is set, the earlier will the
carrier m reach its position of rest against the brackets when the arm B descends.
If the ends of the cords and were rigidly attached to the adjusting-stud 1,
the cords and o' would, on the descent of the arm B, become slack and form
loops and thus run the risk of coming between the anvil a a' and the hammer-head b.
This risk is obviated by attaching the spring 9, which may be a very weak spring
to the cords vand o by means of an eyelet whereby the said cords, when slack, are
pulled down through the perforated stud . The forward motion of the currier m
commences immediately the eyelet of the spring 9 becomes held fast by the stud /
on the ascent of the arm B.
The amount of advance of the carrièr is dependent also on the extent of
the rise of the arm B. When the carrier m moves backwards, pawls or catches n
and hinged thereto (Figs. 12, 14 and 15) slide over the teeth of the clamp-
strip r, but when the carrier m moves in the opposite direction, the said pawls
engage therewith as shown in Fig. 14 and thereby enable the advance of the
clamp-strip r to be effected.
An excessive feed of the clamp-strip is prevented by the bracket of the
rolls and (Figs. 2, 10, 11, and 12) which act as a stop, the rolls acting, at
the same time, as brakes on the clamp-strip r. The rolls also serve to impart to
the strip a slight V form in cross section, thus producing a certain amount of
stiffness in the strip and also facilitating the affixing thereof.
The bending of the strip may be effected without the upper roll by forcing the
strip against the projecting inner edges (see Fig. 8) of the guide-bar h by means of
the lower roll i.
The bar his fixed at its front end to a cutter c (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7) so as
to correspond to or be opposite the cutting-opening formed therein. The cutter c
is elastically mounted in the hammer-head by means of springs t and p, so that it
can act in the manner of a shearing-blade. The end of the clamp-strip r, which is
fed through the cutting-opening of the cutter c and underneath the hammer-
head b, is cut off the strip r at the time at which it is being affixed to the pieces of
cardboard or wood that are being secured together, the operation being such that
the cutter c first comes to bear upon the anvil a a' and the hammer-head & then
follows, and moves, after the manner of a shearing-blade, with its hardened
cutting-edges over the cutting opening of the cutter c, so as to cut off the
projecting clamp and simultaneously affix it.
The feeding of the clamp-strip is effected alternately with the affixing of the
clamps cut off; because when the hammer-arm B moves down, the clamp is affixed,
and when the arm B rises, the clamp-strip is fed forward.
In order to ensure as far as is possible the proper advance of the clamp-strip,
the striking faces of the hammer-head are provided with two longitudinal
recesses (Fig. 5), rectangular in cross section, opening downwardly, and corre-
sponding to the width of the clamps.
Since a constantly uniform feed of the clamp-strip is dependent on the accurate
rise of the arm B the treadle lever is provided with an automatic locking device
in order to prevent the said arm from being depressed again before it has reached
its normally maximum height for the time being. This device is illustrated in
detail to a larger scale in Figs. 16 to 20 inclusive.
A steel-plate with laterally projecting edges is fixed on the treadle-lever f.
To the lower end of a screw s, by means of which the maximum rise of the arm B
can be adjusted, there is secured, in such a manner that the screws can rotate
therein, a block, which holds in an elastic manner, by means of a small spring-
plate (Fig. 18), two catches and ". A piece of leather * (Figs. 17, 19,

page_text: and 20) is inserted in the block e to act as a cushion between the plate and the
block r. With this arrangement when the plate of the treadle-lever / strikes, in
its ascent, against the piece of the adjusting-screws, the spring-catches and
take hold of the projecting edges of the steel-plate and thus rigidly lock the
lever fin position.
If, now, the treadle-plate & be pressed downwards, a fork k¹, fixed to a treadle-
platek, pivotted on the treadle-lever f, will press outwards the catches & c¹¹ and
thus release the treadle-lever When the treadle-plate is thus released, a
spring will press the plate & and the releasing-fork k¹, back into their former
positions, so that the catches & will be free to repeat the operation just
described on the succeeding rise of the treadle-lever to its maximum height.
In order to ensure that the clamp fed forward may he accurately affixed in the
position desired, it is necessary, since the anvil a a' is not adjustable, that the
hammer-head with its cutter e and guide-bar / be capable of adjustment. For
this purpose the head is provided with a feather y. (Fig. 5), and the arm Bis
formed with a corresponding groove B (Fig. 1) in which the said feathery is
capable of being slid to and fro so that the hammer-head can be brought into a
suitable position relative to the anvil a, a'.
In order that the anvil a, al may be made to correspond to the adjustment of the
hammer-head, the part a¹ of the anvil is made removable. By these means the
machine may be adapted for affixing clamps of various lengths, from that having
one tooth upward.
In order that the hammer-head may, in its longitudinal direction, exert a
uniform pressure upon all points of the metallic strip, whatever be, within suitable
limits, the thickness of the cardboard or wood under operation, it is provided with
a lever-like adjustment consisting of an incline and two screws and . The
thicker the pieces that are to be fastened together, the more the inner screw w
must be screwed up, in order to cause the hammer-head to be parallel to the
upper edge of the anvil when in contact with the article being clamped.
In employing an affixing machine of this kind, the end of the clamp-strip r
wound on the drum D (Fig. 2), is inserted from the rear into the guide-bar ½ and
is moved forward until the pawls or catches » & of the carrier mare able to
engage therewith. During this operation the clamp-strip has passed between the
bending-rolls i & mounted on the bar h (Figs. 10 & 11) and has had imparted to
it a somewhat V-shaped cross-section by means of the said rolls as hereinbefore
described. In this condition it is passed through the cutting-opening of the
cutter e and, to a predetermined distance, between the recessed striking faces of the
hammer-head b.
On placing the article to be clamped upon the anvil a a', it is merely necessary
by depressing the treadle-lever to force the hammer-head 6 downwards in order
that the projecting clamp may be separated, by the joint operation of the cutter e
and the cutting-edges of the hammer-head b, from the remainder of the clamp-strip.
and that the teeth of the said cut-off clamp may be simultaneously caused, by the
recessed faces of the hammer-head, to enter the sides of the cardboard or
wooden box or other article being constructed and thus connect the same firmly
together.
During the rise of the arm B, a length of the clamp strip equal to the preceding
length is fed forward by the carrier m, and this takes place automatically after
every blow.
When it is required to affix clamps of about 10 teeth in length, a considerably
simplified feed-nechanism may be employed, comprising eccentrically slotted
guides E&E for the carrier m as shown in Figs. 21, 22, and 23, of which
Fig. 21 is a partial side elevation of an affixing-machine according to this
invention provided with this feed mechanism and
Figs. 22 & 23 are respectively a side and a back elevation of the slotted arms
drawn to a larger scale.
The slatted guides E & E' are firmly bolted to the upper part of the pillar A,

page_text: and are therefore fixed in position. With this arrangement, in which the card-
pulleys o, o¹, & o", the springs g & 7, the adjusting-stud l, and the cords & are
all dispensed with, the carrier is moved by means of a guide-pin m' working in
the slots of the guides E & E', so that during the descent of the arm B the
carrier m is moved back without moving the clamp-strip, but when the arm B rises,
the carrier m, moving in the reverse direction, pushes the end of the clamp-strip
forward under the hammer-head b.
In order to cause the carrier m to feed the clamp-strip to any required extent at
In order
each operation it is necessary merely to adjust the rise of the arm B.
that it may be possible to effect this adjustment in an accurate manner the slotted
guides E&E may be graduated so as to indicate the number of clamp-teeth
that will be fed forward when the pins m³ rise to various heights therein.
In order that the stroke of the arm B may be of a suitable length to give a
sufficient blow even when the feed is at its minimuin, the lower parts of the slots
in the arms E & El are arranged in a circular manner with regard to the axis of
Oscillation B of the arm B, so as to prevent any further rearward movement of
the carrier m during the motion of the pin m' along these parts.
It will be understood that the form of the anvil à a' and the hammer-head b.
should be modified to correspond to that of the box or other article being
constructed or clamped.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what!
claim is :-
1. A machine for affixing metallic clamps by impact, comprising a pivotted
hammer arm B with hammer-head and cutter, an anvil or support for the work, a
guide-bar and a carrier m mounted to slide on said guide bar and provided with
pawls & n' adapted to engage with the teeth of a clamp-strip r and to force the
said clamp-strip, when the arm B is rising, between recesses uz formed in the
hammer-head, the arrangement being such that during the ascent of the arm B,
the clamp-strip will be bent between rolls i & and be thereby prevented from
unintentional forward movement, whilst during the descent of the armn B, the
carrier m will move back inoperatively, and the portion of the clamp-strip situate
in front of the cutter will be cut off and will be affixed by the hammer-head & when
the cutter and the hammer-head respectively are brought to bear on the anvil
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a clamp-affixing machine of the kind specified in the preceding claim, an
adjusting stud adapted to move in a slot, and connected by cords & with the
carrier m, for the purpose of enabling the amount of feed of a clamp-strip to be
regulated, the said cords & being connected to a spring y by which they are
drawn through the stud / and prevented from becoming slack when the hammer
arm descends substantially as herein before described.
3. In the clamp-affixing machine specified in Claim I, a hammer-head having
its face adjacent to the arm B formed with an upwardly inclined surface and
provided with a feather y guided in a groove Bb in the lever arm B so that the
hammer-head can be adjusted longitudinally and set to correspond to the material
under treatment, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. In the clamp-affixing machine specified in Claim 1, a locking-device for the
hammer-arm B, consisting of a treadle-lever f which is connected to the hammer
arm B, is provided with a treadle-plate k, and is arranged to be held fast by
catches and ", engaging a plate mounted on the treadle-lever f, until
pressure is exerted upon the treadle-plate k to cause the said catches by means of a
fork k', to release the said plate and thus to allow the hammer-arm B to descend,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The modified arrangement for operating the carrier m, in which the said
carrier is caused to move to and fro by slotted arms E E' during the motion of the
hammer-arm B substantially as hereinbefore described.

page_text: 6. My improved clamp-affixing machine constructed arranged and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in Figs. 1
to 20 inclusive of the drawings, or modified as herein before described with reference
to and shown in Figs. 21 to 23 inclusive of the said drawings.
Dated this 8th day of September 1894.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.