Improvements in Cabinet, Crate or Box Frame Clamps or Benches.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cabinet, Crate or Box Frame Clamps or Benches.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of 18, Bucking-
ham Street, Strand, W.C., Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, a communication to me from abroad by Otto H. L. Wernicke, of
Grand Rapids, County of Kent and State of Michigan, United States of America,
Manufacturer, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to machines wherein the several parts of cabinets, crates,
or boxes may be placed while being secured together and the objects of the inven-
tion are to provide means for clamping preferably the ends of a crate or box and
to hold the same securely while the other parts are being nailed, screwed or
otherwise secured thereto, to the end that the parts composing the back, bottom
and top will occupy in each crate the same relative position with respect to the
end, and will when secured together, form erates of uniform size irrespective
of variations in the dimensions of the parts, or the warping of the material com-
posing the same, and further to provide adjustable devices to permit the parts of
crates or boxes of different sizes to be placed in the machine and secured together.
The invention consists in a suitable frame, clamping jaws supported by said
frame and adapted to lock therein and means for opening and closing said jaws.
Further the invention consists in providing clamping jaws having both a rock-
ing movement in a supporting frame and a longitudinal movement in their
bearings. Further the invention consists in providing means in connection with
said jaws whereby the proper position of the several parts composing the back,
bottom and top of the crate or box, with respect to the ends may be determined.
Further the invention consists in providing means in connection with said jaws
whereby the proper position of interior partitions may be determined.
Further the invention consists in various constructions and combinations, all
as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet frame clamp embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the machine, the various positions which
a crate or box assumes during the process of nailing being indicated by the dotted
lines.
Fig. is a perspective of a completed crate.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the clamping jaws when open.
Fig. 5 is a similar view with the jaws closed.
Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are detail sectional views showing the various steps,
and the positions of a crate during the process of fastening the parts together.
Fig. 1 is an end view of a completed crate.
Fig. 12 is a detail of a modified form of clamp for use in determining the
position of interior partitions.
In the drawing 2 represents the frame of the machine which may be of wood,
or iron if preferred, and preferably of the rectangular form shown. On the top
of the frame 2 at each end thereof are standards 3 having bearings 31 at their

page_text: upper ends to receive the ends of the exteriorly threaded rockshaft 4 upon which
two or more clamps are mounted each comprising normally stationary jaws 5, 5
alternating in position on the shaft with sliding jaws 6, 6. The stationary jaws
are held in position on the shaft by lock nuts 7, 7 and 8, 8 and one of the
stationary jaws bears at one end against the bearing 31 as shown in Figures 4
and 5. The lock nuts 7, 7 and 8, S may be moved back and forth along the
shaft 4 thereby permitting the adjustment of the stationary jaws in any desired
position to enable the operator to clamp the parts of the different sized crates
during the process of securing them together. These lock nuts not only serve
to hold the jaws in position upon the rockshaft, but also regulate the movement
of the sliding jaws towards the stationary jaws, and as the nuts corresponds
substantially in thickness to the thickness that it is desired to make the end-parts
of the crate, the operator is able to determine whether the parts placed between
the jaws are of proper thickness without the necessity of making any measure-
ments for should an end part be placed between the jaws and prove to be
considerably thicker than the collars or lock nuts, the operator would find it
difficult or impossible to move the locking or cam lever past the center, and on
the other hand if the material was thinner than the collars the end part would
be loose in the jaws and in either case the operator would at once discover that
the material was defective before it was worked into a crate. The jaws 6, 6 are
slidably arranged upon the rockshaft 4 and are prevented from swinging thereon
by a sliding key or spline 61 or in any other suitable way. To aid in moving the
sliding jaws upon the rockshaft I provide curved links 14, and 14' having their
inner ends connected respectively to lugs or ears 13 and 13 upon the inner
stationary and sliding jaws of the clamps. The outer end of said links are
connected respectively to locking cam levers 15, and 151 which are in turn
pivotally connected to lugs or ears 15 or 15 upon the outer sliding and
stationary jaws of the clamp. When these locking levers are operated the
sliding jaws will be moved back and forth upon the rock shaft in the same
direction to open or close the jaws, and when the jaws are nearly closed the pivotal
point between the operating parts will pass over the center, thereby locking the
jaws together without the necessity of using a ratchet or similar mechanism.
The alternate arrangement of the jaws permits a crate to be readily removed
from the machine, which could not be done if the machine were constructed with
both inside or outside jaws stationary owing to the pressure of the stationary jaws
against the ends of the crate. Both the stationary and sliding jaws are provided,
preferably, with grooved or corrugated faces as shown in Fig. 1 one of the jaws
in each clamp being provided with a bracket 11 having a shoulder or stud 12
projecting laterally therefrom, and resting upon a block 13 arranged upon the
top of the frame beneath the clamps, and adapted to hold the clamps in a sub-
stantially horizontal position while the parts are being placed therein preparatory
to fastening them together. Adjustably secured to the inside jaws as shown in
Fig. 1 are blocks 16 having shoulders 17 to receive the edges of the slat that is
to be nailed to the ends of the crate to enable the operator to determine the
exact position which the slat should occupy with reference to the ends to which
it is to be nailed. At one end the shaft 4 is a lever 18, carrying an adjustable
weight 19, said lever being adapted to engage a catch 20 which is actuated by
a strap spring 21 secured to the frame 2. A pivoted arm 22 is provided on the
frame of the machine in position to be controlled by the operator by foot or
knee pressure, and is connected with the catch 20 by a rod 23. Suspended in
the frame 2 by bolts or screws 24 is a frame or platform 25 parallel with the
shaft 4, and provided on its upper surface with the transverse blocks 26 opposite
the blocks 13 at the front of the machine. Suitable means are provided at the
upper end of the screws or bolts 24, such as a head with a transverse opening to
receive a rod or bar for operating the screw, to raise or lower the platform 25
but other means may be employed if desired.
At the rear of the machine upon standards 27 and 28 are telescoping ways 29

page_text: arranged transversely upon the machine, and carrying a nail receptacle 30 having
A link 32
legs or standards 31 secured to the sliding sections of the ways 29.
pivotally connects the nail receptacle with a stud 33 upon a lever 34 that is
clamped to the shaft 4 between the clamping jaws, or at either end of said shaft
outside of said jaws.
For use in determining the proper position of longitudinal shelving in a crate,
I may provide the inside jaws with parallel slots 36 to receive the shelving, and
Suitable templets
hold the same in proper position while being secured in a crate.
may be provided upon the rock shaft between the jaws to be used in determining
the proper spacing between pigeon holes when it is desired to fit up a box or
crate in that way.
When it is desired to secure the parts of the crates together the ends are
placed within the clamps, and by means of the cam levers 15 and 15' the sliding
jaws are moved along the shaft until the ends of the crate are firmly clamped in
position, and any warp or twist that may exist in the material removed. The
operator then places a slat upon the upper edge of the end parts and aided by the
guides 16, determines exactly the proper position of the slat so that the slat
of each crate will occupy the same relative position with reference to the ends
when the crates are completed. The slat is then nailed to the ends and the
clamping jaws are then raised to the position shown in Fig. 7, when the lever 18
will engage the catch 20, and hold the crate and jaws in an elevated position while
the back of the crate is being fastened in place. This being done the operator
by means of the lever 22, disengages the catch 20 from the lever 18 and permits
the shaft 4 to rock carrying with it the clamping jaws to the position shown in
Fig. 6 of the drawings, when the upper edge of said jaws rest upon the blocks 26
as shown in said figure. Slats forming the bottom of said crates may then be
nailed in position upon the ends and the crate completed. During the process
of nailing the parts together the nail receptacle 30 being connected with the
rocking shaft 4 will be moved back and forth with the sliding section of the
ways 29, adjusting itself automatically to the different positions of the crates so
that it will always be within easy reach of the operator.
By means of the vertically adjustable platform at the rear of the machine
the ends of crates of different sizes may be placed in the clamping jaws, and
the top and bottom slats nailed thereto while the ends, during the process of
nailing, are maintained in a substantially horizontal position as indicated in the
figures showing the different positions of the crate while the parts are being
fastened together.
The advantages of this device lie in the fact that the slats forming the tops
and bottoms of a series of interlocking crates may be secured to the ends in their
proper position without any measurements being taken by the operator pre-
paratory to nailing the parts together. This of course greatly facilitates the
work of nailing up the crates, and as the slat at the top of each crate fits into
the space between the slats on the bottom of the superimposed crate it is very
important that these slats should occupy the same relative position in each crate
with reference to the ends, otherwise when the crates are placed one above another
to form a book case the slats either would not interlock easily or would fit so
loosely as to render the bookcase extremely unstable and unsafe. Further, as each
erate or box is provided at either end with a device for joining it to the abutting
crate, it is of the utmost importance that outside surfaces of the end pieces should
be exactly uniform in order that a perfect joint may be made between the ends
of the abutting crates and the forward edges of the crates being in perfect align-
ment when the several crates are joined together to form a book-case.
The clamps being adjustable upon the rock shaft 4 permits the operator to
place the ends of crates of different lengths in the machine and lock them securely
while the slats and back pieces are nailed thereto, and by the use of the lock
nuts or collars of uniform thickness uniform outside dimensions of the crates
are insured for these collars, as heretofore described control the pressure upon the

page_text: end parts of the crates, regulate the travel of the sliding jaws, and enable the
operator without measuring, to determine whether the material to be used is of
suitable thickness.
I do not confine myself to the use of two clamps upon the rock shaft as shown
and described in this application, as it is obvious that a greater number may be
used, and that additional devices may be placed upon the shaft between the
clamps to adapt the machine for use in arranging shelving or pigeon hole
partitions within a crate nor do I confine myself to the details of construction
herein shown and described as it is obvious that the same may be varied without
departing from my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A cabinet frame clamp, comprising a supporting frame, a rock shaft mounted
therein, independently operable clamps carried by said shaft, each comprising
a normally fixed and sliding jaw alternately arranged, means connecting, respec-
tively, the fixed and sliding jaw of each clamp for moving the sliding jaw toward
or from the fixed jaw and said clamps being adjustable upon said shaft to receive
the parts of frame of different size."
2. A cabinet frame clamp, comprising a frame, a rock shaft mounted therein,
normally fixed and sliding jaws alternately arranged upon said shaft, said jaws
being partially revoluble with said shaft and adjustable thereon, means for
moving said sliding jaws toward or from said fixed jaws, and means for limiting
the travel of the former toward the latter and for locking the normally fixed
jaws when adjusted upon said shaft.
3. A cabinet frame clamp, comprising a frame, a threaded rock shaft mounted
therein, clamps comprising normally fixed and sliding jaws alternately arranged
upon said shaft, means for operating the sliding jaws to move the same toward
or from the fixed jaws of the respective clamps, lock nuts 7 provided on said shaft
between the fixed and sliding jaws of the respective clamps, to aid in retaining
the fixed jaws in position and to limit the travel of the sliding jaws toward said
fixed jaws, substantially as described.
4. A cabinet frame clamp comprising, a supporting frame clamps mounted
therein, each comprising a normally fixed and sliding jaw alternately arranged,
said clamps being adjustable to and from each other, partially revoluble and
independently operable.
5. The combination, with a supporting frame, of a rock shaft mounted therein,
clamps adjustably arranged upon said shaft and adapted to describe a partial
revolution therewith, each clamp comprising alternately fixed and sliding jaws,
links 14 and 1 pivotally connected to alternate jaws and cam levers 15 and 15
pivotally connected to the remaining jaws and to said links, substantially as
described.
6. The combination, with a supporting frame, of a threaded rock shaft mounted
in bearings thereon, clamps independently and adjustably arranged upon said
shaft, each clamp comprising a normally fixed and sliding jaw alternately arranged,
independent means for moving said sliding jaws toward or from the fixed jaws
of the respective clamps, and lock-nuts arranged upon said shaft to limit the
travel of the sliding jaws toward the fixed jaws and control the adjustment of
the clamps upon said shaft.
7. A cabinet frame clamp comprising a supporting frame, clamps mounted
therein, each comprising a normally fixed and sliding jaw alternately arranged,
means for moving said sliding jaw toward or from said fixed jaws and said
clamps being adapted to describe a partial revolution to permit access to the sides
and bottom of the cabinet or crate without removing the same from the clamps,
substantially as described.
8. The combination, with a supporting frame, of a rock shaft mounted thereon,

page_text: clamps comprising normally fixed and slidable jaws arranged upon said shaft and
adapted to make a partial revolution therewith, means for operating the sliding
jaws to and from the fixed jaws of the respective clamps, and means for locking
the clamps in an upright position during their partial revolution, substantially
as described.
9. The combination, with a supporting frame, of a rock shaft mounted therein,
clamps arranged at intervals upon said shaft and adapted to rock therewith, means
for opening and closing said clamps, a platform provided at the rear of said frame,
and means for raising and lowering said platform, substantially as described.
10. The combination, with a supporting frame, of a rock shaft mounted therein,
elamps arranged at intervals upon said shaft and adapted to rock therewith, said
clamps comprising normally fixed and sliding members, means for operating
said sliding members, to close and open said clamps, and an adjustable guide or
block carried by said jaws and projecting above the upper edge thereof, for the
purpose set forth.
11. The combination, with a supporting frame, of a rock shaft mounted therein,
clamps arranged at intervals upon said shaft, means for opening and closing said
clamps, a nail receptacle supported in guides upon said frame, a lever 34 upon
said shaft and a link pivotally connecting said lever and said nail receptacle, for
the purpose set forth.
12. The combination, with a supporting frame, of a rock shaft mounted in
bearings thereon, clamps arranged at intervals upon said shaft, each comprising
a normally fixed and sliding member, alternately arranged, the lock nuts upon
opposite sides of said fixed members, the links 14 and 14' alternately connected
with said fixed and sliding members, the cam levers 15 and 15' alternately con-
nected with said fixed and sliding members and with said links, face plates
carried by said jaws, the blocks 13, the vertically adjustable platform at the
rear of said frame and the blocks 26 carried by said platform opposite said
blocks 13, for the purpose set forth.
13. A cabinet frame clamp comprising a supporting frame, clamps mounted
therein, each comprising a normally fixed and sliding jaw alternately arranged,
means for moving said sliding jaw toward or from said fixed jaws, and said clamps
being adapted to describe a partial revolution to permit access to the sides and
bottom of the cabinet or crate without removing the same from the clamps, and
said clamps being also adjustably supported within said frame toward or from
each other to permit the construction of cabinets of different size, substantially
as described.
14. The combination, with a supporting frame, of clamps mounted in rocking
bearings therein, each clamp comprising a fixed and sliding member alternately
arranged, means for opening and closing said clamps, and the inside jaws of said
clamps being provided with parallel slots, for the purpose set forth.
15. The combination with the supporting frame, of a rock shaft mounted therein,
clamps arranged upon said shaft and having a partial revolution therewith, means
for opening and closing said clamps, said clamps normally resting upon said
frame at the limit of their travel in one direction, and a vertically adjustable
mechanism for supporting said clamps at the limit of their travel in opposite
direction, substantially as described.
16. The combination, with the supporting frame of a rock shaft mounted therein,
clamps arranged at intervals upon said shaft and comprising alternately fixed and
sliding jaws, means for operating said sliding jaws to open and close said clamps,
said clamps being adapted to perform a partial revolution with said shaft, a
lever 18, a catch 20 to engage said lever during the rocking of said shaft, a
spring 21, a rod 23 and an arm 22 connected to said rod, substantially as
described.
1000