Improvements in Corner Fastenings for Cardboard Boxes and Apparatus for Applying the same.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1891-Accepted, 4th July, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Corner Fastenings for Cardboard Boxes and
Apparatus for Applying the same.
A communication from EMIL SALTZKORN, Consul, and LUDWIG NICOLAI,
Manufacturer, both of Dresden, in the Empire of Germany.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E., 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 :-
The object of this invention is a separable corner fastening for cardboard boxes,
or the like, and the mechanism to be used for the application thereof.
Suitable metal plates or strips a (Fig. 1) are provided with slots and then
folded at an acute angle, so that the material between the slots forms projections
or teeth c. The walls or sides of the cardboard box to be fastened together are
then inserted into these notched and folded plates a and the edge of the piece of
cardboard is cut out where it meets the notched portions whereupon the strip is
finally folded together suitable pins being used for fastening it to the cardboard.
The projections or teeth e thus form practically circular hollow spaces. The
notches on both strips being arranged alternately the projections or teeth c fit into
or between each other after the manner of a hinge while the hollow spaces or
sockets formed by the turned down portions coincide and enable a wire d to be
passed through them for the purpose of maintaining the connection between the two.
sides or walls A A' as in Fig. 2. When it is desired to disconnect these parts A A¹
all that is necessary is to remove the wire from the coinciding sockets. This
arrangement enables a cardboard box to be unfolded and spread out flat thus
affording great convenience for packing and exporting purposes. The machine
used for applying corners on this principle is mainly characterised by a guide or
gauge block arranged in its lower part and suitably toothed adjacent to which a
stamp or die is adapted to move first straight down and then sideways and
obliquely.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 represents the metal strip or plate in the different stages of its preparation
for the purposes of this invention."
Fig. 2 shows the complete separable corner fastening.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the machine.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the gauge block with the metal strip and a portion
of the box applied thereto.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the gauge block with one stamp or die shown
in the act of descending vertically.
Fig. 5 is a similar view with the die shown in its slanting motion, and
Fig 7 is a perspective view of the same.
The gauge block 1 is secured to a supporting bed-plate or table 2 in which
close to the sides of the block 1 two adjustable bars 3 are operated by means of
toothed wheels 4 and 5, worms 6 and spindles 7. Other spindles 8 are embedded
in the gauge block 1 on both sides. Each of these carries a yoke 9 in the slots or
guides 10, 11 of which a stamp or punch 12 is guided by means of journals or
pins 13.
To the stamps 12 are pivotted the rods or links 14 arranged to be
operated by lever mechanism not shown in the drawing and which may be operated
by hand or foot as desired. Each stamp is provided on one side near its lower
edge with a pin or stud 15 by which it is guided in a yoke 16 and which thus acts
as its real pivot.

page_text: Ine operation is as follows :-
The metal strips or plates a bent beforehand. the desired angle are placed
against the block 1 on either side-so that the teeth c of the strip a enter and fit the
spaces 17 of the gauge block 1. The two bars 3-of the bed-plate 2 are then moved
towards the block 1 into contact with the smooth edges of the metal strips a. Each
strip is in this manner firmly held in position and prevented from accidental shifting.
The side edges of the sheet of cardboard p (Figs. 4 and 5) placed upon the bed-
plate 2 are then moved up to the block 1 after which the stamp 12 which is bevelled
at its lower part and provided with a number of points 18 is lowered. In so doing
the stamp 12 first moves vertically under the action of the straight slot 10 of the
yoke 9 and during this stage slightly presses one of the edges of the strip a nearer
to the other. In the second stage the curved or inclined slots 11 cause the stamp
to take a slanting direction when the points 18 are driven into the metal and
cardboard.
During the whole of this operation the teeth c of the bands a lie safe in the
recesses of the gauge block 1 so that they are not touched by the stamp and retain
their tubular shape for the reception of the connecting wire.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
1. A separable corner connection for cardboard boxes or the like consisting of
two metal strips or plates each so slotted as when bent over to form alternate
open and closed parts such as and which when two such plates are fitted
together form a hinge-like connection which is completed by means of a
connecting wire substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the
accompanying drawings.
2. A machine for applying corner-fastenings to cardboard or the like in which
the metal strip or plates roughly bent beforehand are closed on the cardboard
by a stamp or punch such as 12 arranged to descend first in a vertical and then
in an inclined direction a gauge block such as 1 being provided into the notches or
recesses of which enter the teeth or projections of the metal strip substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a machinė such as described the combination with a stamp or punch such
as 12 of a jointed arm 14 brackets 16 and yokes such as 9 and pins or projections 13
and 15 substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of May 1891.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant..