Improvements in Machines for Making Paper Boxes.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Paper Boxes.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has
been communicated to me from abroad by John Randolph Stout, Engineer, of 107
Gwinnet Street, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America), and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The invention consists of a male and female die of novel construction, both of which
are adjustable in their dimensions for the purpose of making boxes of various sizes;
and it further consists in so designing and constructing the female die that the end
lapping pieces of the box top and bottom shall in the process of manufacture, be bent
and lapped over in place without extraneous aid-the said bending and lapping being
caused by the shape of the female die as the box top or bottom blank is forced into it
by the male die.
And it further consists of an, improved device, combined with the female die, for
pressing the said lapping pieces in place; all of which will be hereinafter fully set
forth.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the speci-
fication, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
figures.
Figure 1 is a plan of the mould or female die.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is an elevation showing the inner face of a portion of an end of the
mould or female die.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the plunger or male die.
In the drawings A represents the mould or female die of which the sides, as shown,
are formed of flanged dimension pieces a, a, which may readily be removed and have
others of different sizes substituted for them in order to make the die shorter or longer,
according to the dimensions of the box to be made, or, to accomplish; the same
purpose, shims or distance plates of any desired thickness may be introduced in the
joints between the said pieces a, a.
C
Each end of this mould or die A is composed of two plates b, b, down through the
upper edge of each of which a curved slot è is made, and the inner face of each plate b
beneath the lower margin of the slot c-is cut away, as shown in Figure 3, so as to
present a sunken face, within perpendicular lines f, f, fashioned into a conchoidal

page_text: shell-like curve g, which effects the proper bending and lapping of the end lapping
pieces of the box top and bottom.
Ordinarily a distance plate or shim h is fixed between the plates b, b. at each end, as
shown in the drawings, and said plates or pieces h, h, may be of any desired width, 5
according to the desired width of the box to be made.
The inner or adjacent edges of these slotted plates b, b, and the distance plate (if
there be one used between them), are projected somewhat above the edge of the die,
and together form a high section x, central between said slots c, so that when a blank
for forming a box top or bottom is pressed down into the female die the ends of the
blank first coming in contact with the tops of these sections x, may be turned up
before the lapping pieces of the box are bent inward in place.
All the parts of the female die have outside flanges and are held together with
bolts k, k, or other suitable devices.
Each plate has an opening below the curve g through which a roll m, set on a.
suitably journaled shaft m¹, projects slightly inward for the purpose of exerting a
rolling pressure on the lapping pieces of the box tops and bottoms, to press them
in place, as said tops and bottoms are formed and forced down through the mould A,
by the plunger or male die B.
These rolls m may be set inward to apply greater pressure upon said lapping pieces,
or be adjusted to apply less pressure by turning the set screws o, o, one way or the
other, as the case may be, as the bearings m² of the shafts m' are large enough to
permit of such adjustment, and the set screws o, o, bear upon said shafts, or such
adjustment may be desirable in reference to the thickness of the cardboard of which
the boxes are made.
The plunger or male die B, Figure 4, is formed of flanged, right-angled end
pieces p, p, and distance or dimension pieces q, q, flanged on the inside and held
together by bolts s, as shown.
This die also can be made of any desired dimensions by substituting wider or
narrower pieces q for those shown, or can be made larger by introducing shims in
the same manner and to the same extent as may be done with the female die.
The slotted plates b, b, of the female die may be constructed as angle plates so as
to form complete corner pieces of the die.
A box top or bottom blank of the form substantially as shown in English Patent
No. 6993 of May 25, 1886, being placed on the top of the female die A, the male die
is applied to force said blank down into said female die; this action causes the ends
and sides of the blank to turn up as desired and as the blank is forced farther
down of the male die the lapping pieces engage in the slots c, c, and are, by the
shape thereof and by the peculiar conformation of the curves g, bent inward and
lapped upon the outside of the box ends, as above.
Then the continued movement of the plunger B forces the said blank further down
to and past the rolls m, which exert the desired pressure upon the said lapping pieces,
and the further action of the plunger pushes the box cover or bottom out through
the open bottom of the die A.
The female die A is designed to be rigidly fixed in a suitable frame, and the male
die B to be reciprocated up and down in performance of its functions, by any suitable
mechanism.
I do not confine myself to the special construction herein shown of the dimension
or distance pieces, as it is evident that they may be made without flanges, and be held
together by other devices than bolts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is :-
1st. In a machine for making boxes a mould or female die formed of a plurality of
plates with interchangeable distance or dimension plates each removably secured
directly to the adjacent plate, whereby the length of said die may be changed without
changing the width and vice versa, substantially as described.

page_text: 2nd. In a machine for making boxes a die formed of flanged plates combined with
flanged distance plates and means for removably connecting the same substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
3rd. In a machine for making boxes a mould or female die formed at its upper edge
with curved slots, the acting edges of which begin flush with the side of the die at
right angles to that side of the die in which the slot is formed, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
4th. In a machine for making boxes the combination with a female die A, constructed
and arranged substantially as herein shown and described, of a male die B, composed
of several plates and made adjustable in length without changing the width and
vice versa, substantially as set forth.
5th. In a box making machine of the character substantially as herein specified,
the combination with a female die having the curved slots and the conchoidal recesses
for bending the box lapping pieces in place, of a die section, central between said
slots, constructed to extend above the general edge of the die, substantially as herein
shown and described, whereby, in the operation of the machine, the ends of the box
may be turned up before the lapping pieces are bent inward, as set forth.
6th. In a machine for making boxes a mould or female die having each end
composed (or partly composed) of two plates b, b, each of which has a curved slot c,
extending down through its upper edge, and has also, in its inner face, beneath the
lower margin of the slot c, a sunken face fashioned into a conchoidal, shell-like curve g,
the inner or adjacent edges of said plates being projected somewhat above the die
edge, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 27th day of November 1888.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.