Improved Means and Apparatus for Scoring or Grooving and Severing the Corner Pieces from Cardboard and like Substances Used for Forming Boxes or Cases.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 1st Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1887
Improved Means and Apparatus for Scoring or Grooving and Severing
the Corner Pieces from Cardboard and like Substances Used for
Forming Boxes or Cases.
1 JOHN GEORGE HORSEY of The Elms Catford, in the County of Kent, Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
For the purpose of carrying out my Invention I place the cardboard upon a flat
table over which travels (in a line parallel to its edge) in a groove or frame, a cutter
of such shape as to make an indentation or groove by cutting partly through and
along its surface-Whilst such groove is being cut the cardboard is held flat and
stationary upon the table either by means of a long strip of wood or metal
mechanically or otherwise pressed down during the process or by a lug or projecting
piece travelling with the cutter-When one groove is formed the cardboard is moved
round to receive three other grooves parallel to and equidistant from the three
remaining edges of the cardboard thus allowing the same to be subsequently turned
up at, and with such grooves inside the completed box which is thus formed―
Simultaneously with such scoring or grooving of the cardboard, or immediately
thereafter, and before another groove is made, two knives placed over the two ends
of the cardboard respectively, in a line with the groove, and properly set in the
required position, cut through the cardboard-this and a similar subsequent action of
the same Knives at right angles when cutting the intersecting grooves, form corner
pieces thus detached and required to be removed-The cutting edges of these Knives
may be straight or curved and they may descend in a direct line, or with a curved
motion, or so that one end of the cutting edge of the Knife enters the cardboard
before the other-Such corner pieces when detached either fall through an opening
in the table or are removed mechanically or by hand-Instead of the Knives being
so formed as to entirely sever the corner pieces they may be only so as to partly cut
them away, or to cut only a perforation so as, in either case, to allow of the corner
piece being easily removed.
Dated this Thirty first day of January 1887.

page_text: 11L.12
Improved Means and Apparatus for Scoring or Grooving and Severing
the Corner Pieces from Cardboard and like Substances Used for
Forming Boxes or Cases.
I JOHN GEORGE HORSEY of The Elms Catford, Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare
the nature of my said 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 my invention is to groove cardboard at any required distance from
the edge and to simultaneously cut into or through the cardboard where the corner
pieces are to be removed so that said boards thus prepared are suitable for forming
boxes when the sides and ends are folded up, the grooving being on the inside of the
box and with the corner edges so cut that their meeting edges are mitred the
operation being completed by an attendant if the box is to be of square shape by a
continuous operation, that is to say, he can groove and cut through the ends of the
grooves for each side of the board in succession, or when the box is to be of
rectangular shape said attendant can first set the knives for slitting or stabbing
through the grooves at the ends of the two long sides, then by adjusting the knives
he can operate upon the narrow ends of the board in a similar manner the corner
pieces being either completely removed simultaneously with the grooving operation
or instead of cutting the corner pieces completely away they may be slit by the
cutters for after removal by hand if desired.
The apparatus by which the abovenamed operations are carried into effect is
composed of a slotted frame supported at its ends upon a table, said slot having a
travelling block carrying a cutting tool and also a pressure plate which pressure
plate bears upon the cardboard which is laid upon the table to prevent the cardboard
buckling while the grooving tool is travelling through the upper surface.
The frame before mentioned has a V or other shaped groove in its face in which
plates can be fixed at any desired distance apart said plates having vertical action
knives within them which are capable of being forced down by means of a jointed or
loose fitting cam or wiper attached to the block by which the grooving tool is carried,
so that after the grooving tool has passed through a or along given portion of the
cardboard the cam causes the first knife to descend through the groove thus made,
but at the end only and as the grooving tool passes out of the groove at the farther
end of the cardboard the second knife is acted upon by the cam to sever or penetrate
that end of the board but in the groove which the grooving tool had cut. The
knives are returnable by springs.
The four edges of the board are treated in a similar manner so that as one groove
is formed and the ends slit by the cutting knives the board on being turned at a
right angle a corresponding groove and end slitting is effected which slitting com-
pletely severs the corner piece from the board.
The construction of my apparatus is shown in part perspective view Figure 1.
Figure 2 being a section through the frame just in front of the grooving tool carrier

page_text: block and Figure 3 a section through the frame where one of the slitting or corner
cutting out knives is situate.
I place the cardboard upon a flat table A against a fixed edge guide B and against
a guide C this being at the back and adjustable by fly nuts or set screws D.
Above the table A travels (in a line parallel to its edge) in a groove E of a-
frame F, a cutter G of such shape as to make an indentation or groove (the
preferred shape is that shown at Figure 4) by cutting partly through and along its
surface. Whilst such groove is being cut the cardboard is held flat and stationary
upon the table either by means of a long strip of wood or metal mechanically or
otherwise pressed down during the process, or by a lug or projecting piece H
travelling with the cutter G. When one groove is formed the cardboard is moved
round, if the box is to be of square form, to receive the other three
in
grooves
succession parallel to and equidistant from the three remaining edges of the card-
board thus allowing the same to be subsequently turned up at and with such grooves
inside the completed box which is thus formed; but if the box is to be of rectangular
shape two sides, say the two longer ones are operated upon in succession and then
the two narrow sides or ends are similarly treated, the groove in each case being
equidistant from the edge of the cardboard so that the sides when turned up are of
equal height.
Simultaneously with such scoring or grooving of the cardboard or immediately
thereafter and before another groove is made two knives I, J, (arranged within
pocket plates K arranged over the two ends of the cardboard respectively in a line
with a Vor other groove L in the face of the frame F and properly set in the
required position laterally by means of pinch screws K') cut through the cardboard;
this and a similar subsequent action of the same knives at right angles when cutting
the intersecting grooves form corner pieces thus detached and required to be
removed.
The cutting edges of these knives I, J, may be straight or curved and they may
descend in a direct line or with a curved notion or so that one end of the cutting
edge of the knife enters the cardboard before the other, such corner pieces when
detached either fall through openings M, M, in the table A or are removed
mechanically or by hand.
Instead of the knives I. J. being so formed as to entirely sever the corner pieces
they may be only so as to partly cut them away or to cut only a perforation so as
in either case to allow of the corner piece being easily removed.
N is a loose fitting cam or wiper attached to the block P by which the grooving
tool G and pressure plate H are carried said cam pressing upon the curved top edge
of each knife I. J, as it travels along causes the knives to descend and cut through
and slit the cardboard in the groove but as soon as the cam N has passed the
knives I, J, said knives are drawn up out of the cardboard by the springs I, J.
The cam N when the block P is drawn back swings over the tops of the knives I. J,
and exerts no action upon them. It is during the backward travel of the block P
that the board can be turned round and placed against the guides B. C, for a fresh
end to be grooved and slit.
The holder Q by which the grooving tool and pressure plate is attached is adjustable
as to depth of groove to be cut, by the nut R.
The strip removed from the cardboard by the grooving tool G travels with the
tool and as the block P is completing its stroke the shoulder S of the tool holder Q
strikes against a lug T and causes a brush U which forms part of same to catch hold
of the strip so that as the grooving tool starts on its back travel the strip is held by
the brush U, but as soon as the grooving tool is clear the strip is released and falls
through the opening V in the table A. This brush appliance may be dispensed with
as the strip is invariably carried clear of the guides B, C. and do not interfere with
the successive operation of grooving and slitting the board.
Although I have described the simultaneous operation of grooving the cardboard
and slitting the corner portion 1 do not limit myself thereto, as the corner cutting

page_text: knives may be fitted in a separate frame F for the slitting operation after the grooving
has been effected by the travelling tool.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The apparatus shown at Figure 1 of the annexed drawings for scoring or
grooving cardboard and for severing the corner pieces from said cardboard and like
substances used for forming boxes or cases as described and substantially as shown in
the annexed drawings.
2. The travelling grooving tool G fitted for operation substantially in the manner
shown on the drawings, whether the corner slitting knives I, J, be in connection
with the same frame having the grooving tool, or not.
The 1st day of November 1887
JOHN G. HORSEY.