US1976150A - Paper box opening machine - Google Patents

Description

W. P. STEIN PAPER BOX OPENING MACHINE Filed July i7, 1933 2 Sheeis-Sheec l mmm 1. seein;

Oct. 9, 1934. w P, STEIN PAPER BOX OPENING MACHINE Filed July 17. 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "fill"m N NWN;

Patented Det. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES ferais@ .f AT E T Q C 28 Claims.

The invention relates to a paper box opening machine. The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of paper box opening machines more especially that shown and described in Patent Number 1,898,910, granted to me February 2l, 1933, and to increase the strength, durability and emciency of the same and to provide a paper box opening machine designed particularly for cutting off the top, bottom or a side wall of a l0 box or carton to open the same and adapted to enable the top, bottom or wall of a carton to be easily, rapidly and neatly severed from the body of the box or carton without the production of sawdust and at the same time leave an unbroken marginal flange around the severed portion of the box or carton to enable the severed portion to be inverted and replaced in the carton to form a closure for the same when the carton is relled thereby enabling the carton to be used a number 2O of times and at the same time preserving the address on the severed portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paper box opening machine adapted to adjust itself automatically to different thicknesses of corrugated and other cardboard used in the manufacture of boxes and cartons and capable of maintaining the guard for the rotary cutter in close proximity to the wall being cut and at the same time preventing the front end of the guard from digging into the uncut portion of the wall and interfering with a rapid feeding and cutting operation of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved rotary cutter which will not heat excessively and which will operate to spread the walls of the kerf cut by it sufficiently to provide a free passageway for the guard thereby avoiding the expense of bevelling the guard for spreading the kerf and eliminating any friction which might impede the cutting and feeding action of the machine. Y

Another object of the invention is to equip the paper box cutting machine with a feeding device adapted to assist in maintaining a uniform feeding action of the machine and a rapid and effective operation of the rotary cutter. Y

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a paper box opener constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a reverse plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the manner of cutting a carton, the wall being cut being shown in section.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the 55 line 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 4 illustrating the construction of the feeding mechanism.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional View on 5'@ the line 6 6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a detail transverse sectional View on the line '7 7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 8 8 of Figure 2. 75

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the rotary cutter.

Figure i0 is an edge view of the cutter.

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view of the same.

Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of the outer end of the motor shaft illustrating the eccentrically arranged portion thereof for operating the feeding device.

ln the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention the paper box and carton opener comprises in its construction an electric motor l having a suitable handle 2 and provided with a switch 3 for controlling the current to the motor. While the switch 3 is preferably mounted on the handle of the motor it may of course be located at any other convenient point. An oblong plate ll which is preferably rounded at the corners as shown, constitutes with the handle 2 a supporting frame for the motor and the cutting and feeding mechanism of the paper box opener and relieves the motor and armature shaft of any strain incident to the operation of the machine as the said frame is rigidly connected with the motor casing and the strain is taken from the armature shaft and the motor owing to the rigid connection between the supporting frame and the motor casing. The plate 11 is provided with an opening 12 for the shaft 14 of the motor and the handle 2 which is tubular is divided longitudinally into two sections 4 and 5, connected together by transverse fastening devices 6, preferably in the form of bolts, but any suitable means may, of course, be employed for connecting sections of the handle together.

The tubular handle 2 is preferably substantially rectangular` in cross section with rounded corners to afford a firm grip for the operator, and the sectional tubular construction of the handle enables the handle to be wired previous to assembling the handle on the machine. The section 4 of the handle is provided at the inner end with extensions 'E and conforming to the configuration of the motor casing and detachably secured to the sarne by screws or other suitable fastening devices 7a. The inner portion of the handle is tapered or flared as shown at 8, and the section 5 is formed integral with and merges into the marginal fianges 1 1 of the pla-te 11. The side or longitudinal flanges 11 of the plate 1l are extended to forni attaching portions 9 which are fitted against and secured by screws or other suitable fastening means 9' to the adjacent reduced end of the motor casing at opposite sides thereof. By this construction and arrangement the sections of the handle are rigidly secured to the motor casing.

The motor shaft 14, which has an extended outer portion, projects outwardly beyond the front plate and is provided with a terminal eccentric portion 15 (see Fig. 12) which operates a feeding device 16 and which also has mounted on it a rotary cutter 17 arranged concentric with the motor shaft and secured to the same by means of projections 18 and a screw 19.

The screw 19 is threaded into a bore or opening 20 in the shaft 14 which is provided at the outer end with the said projections 18. The rotary cutter is provided with a central opening 21 to receive the screw and it has opposite notches 22 for the reception of the projections 18 whereby the rotary cutter is interlocked with the end of the motor shaft.

The rotary cutter which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as hexagonal may be of other polygonal shape and it consists of a central circular web 23 and a marginal polygonal cutting portion or edge 24 oppositely bevelled, as clearly illustrated in Figure 11 of the drawings, and composed of a plurality of similar angularly related straight cutting edges 25. The cutting portion 24 is enlarged at the angles 26 formed by the adjacent straight cutting edges.

The enlarged corner portions of the cutting edges are of greater thickness than the intermediate portions of the cutting edges which are di'shed longitudinally between the thickened corner portions, as clearly illustrated in Figure l0 of the drawings. This structure provides the thickened corner portions which are oppositely tapered or wedge-shaped in thickness due to the longitudinal dishing of the angularly related portions of the cutting edge which greatly facilitates the spreading of the walls of the kerf. These enlarged portions 26 are adapted in the operation of the cutter to spread the side walls of the kerf cut by the rotary cutter as the thickened corner portions intermittently strike or pound the walls of the kerf. This accomplishes the spreading of the kerf without any undue friction or retarding of the rotation of the cutter. rihe rotary cutter operates wit-h a drawing or shearing action and does not form any sawdust in the cutting operation, and the spreading of the walls o-f the kerf provides a passageway for an inner guard 27, which extends around the inner or lower portion of the cutter for protecting the contents of the box or carton. The spreading of the walls of the kerf avoids the expense of bevelling the guard 27 to provide means for spreading and opening the kerf and by providing a free passageway for the guard frictional contact between the guard and the walls of the kerf is eliminated, which friction might otherwise impede the cutting and feeding action of the paper box opening machine. The web 23 of the rotary cutter 17 is provided with an annular series of openings 23a to prevent excessive heating of the cutter.

The guard 27 extends downwardly through the kerf 28 in rear of the rotary cutter and then forwardly beneath the rotary cutter, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to prevent the cutter from coming in contact with the contents of a box or carton 29. This guard also serves as a guard for thecutter when the machine is not in use to assist in preventing the hand of the operator from coming in contact with the cutter. The guard 2'7 tapers longitudinally as shown and it is provided with an approximately L-shaped attaching arm 30 consisting of a horizontal portion and a depending vertical portion 31 (see Figs. 3, 7 and 8) which is secured to the front of plate l1 in a depression 32 thereof by riveting, spot welding or other suitable fastening means. The horizontal portion of the attaching arm 30 spaces the guard from the front plate and it also forms a support for one end of a substantially segmental housing 33 which forms a xed guard for the upper portion of the rotary cutter. which is approximately L.-shaped in cross section, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, is provided at its ends with attaching flanges 34 and 35, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The

attaching flange 34 is arranged at an inclination and is suitably secured to the front plate. The rear ange 35 is arranged horizontally and secured by riveting or other suitable means to the horizontal portion of the arm 3Q of the guard 27.

The segmental housing 33 The paper box opener during the cutting operation is supported by means of a roller 4l and a resilient shoe 36 consisting of a heavy leaf spring of slightly angular shape and arranged at an inclination when not flexed, as clearly illustrated in Fig.' 2 of the drawings. of the resilient shoe is secured by rivets 57 cr other lsuitable fastening means to the flange 34 of the segmental housing and a clamping plate 38 is fitted against the outer face of the attached end of the resilient shoe to distribute the pressure and strain and prevent any liability of the `resilient shoe cracking at the points where it is attached to the flange 34. The resilient shoe extends downwardly and rearwardly from the flange 34 and is adapted to be flexed to the position ili lustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings when the machine is placed upon the box 29. This enables the machine to adjust itself automatically to 'different thicknesses of corrugated and other cardboard employed in the manufacture of boxes. y The resilient shoe is provided with a longitudinal The upper end g',

erates to maintain the front portion of the guard 27 vin close proximity to the wall of the box being cut and at the same time prevents the front end of the guard 27 from digging into the uncut portion of the wall of the box and interfering with the feed of the machine.

The roller 41 is mounted on a spindle 42 carried by a lever 43 and extending through an arcuate slot 44 in the front plate l1. The slot located adjacent the front end of the front plate r and it permits the roller to move upwardly from the lower end of the slot 44 to the upper end thereof. When the roller is located at the lower end of the slot 44, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, it forms a guard for the rotary cutter and assists in preventing the hand of the operator from coming in contact with the cutter and being injured by the same. The inner end of the roller spaced slightly from the front plate, as illustrated in l of the drawings, and the lever 43 which is fulcrumed on a suitable pivot 44a is offset the inner face of the front plate, as clearly illustrated in Fig. '7 of the drawings, to provide a clearance for permitting the scape of dust. The pivot 44aA preferably consists of the screw shown but any suitable form of pivot may of course be employed and ythe said lever, when the machine is not in use, extends downwardly and forwardly from the pivot 44i it is provided adjacent the pivot with an enlargement 45 having an arcuate slot 46 through which passes the motor shaft 14. The lever is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 47 arranged at an angle to the body portion of the lever, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 of the draws. A coiled spring 48 which extends upwardfrom the arm 4'? has one end attached to the same its other end attached to the marinal flange 1i) of the front plate.

The coiled spring is adapted to urge the roller downwardly towards the lower end of the slot 44 and it is of a strength less than the strength of the resilient shoe so that when the machine is placed upon a box the roller will be moved to the upper end of the slot 44 before any material flexing of the resilient shoe occurs. The roller assists supporting the machine in proper position for cutting. As the spring of the roller is lighter than the resilient shoe the roller will first move to its operative position at the upper end of the slot 44 when the machine is placed in position for cutting. The free end of the spring shoe a `l-.inst the box in rear of the front end of the guard 27 and operates to pull the guard to the inner face of the wall of the box, without causing the front end of the guard which is rounded to dig into the uncut portion of the said wall of the box and interfere with the feed of the machine.

The feeding device 16 which assists in a uniform feeding of the machine during the cutting consists of a substantially straight lever provided at its front end with a head 49 (see 5) having a circular opening receiving ine" ' the eccentric portion 15 which is cylindrical and which, when the shaft is rotated, causes the front portion of the feeding device to move downwardy into engagement with the box and then rearwardly and then upwardly and forwardly. The front portion or head of the feeding device is provided with a pair of tapered teeth 50 which are offset from each other both laterally and longitudinally of the feeding device.

rhese teeth 50 which partially pierce the wall of the box, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, enable the feeding device to obtain a rm grip on the box to insure a uniform feed of the machine during the cutting operation. The rear portion of the feeding device 16 is provided with a longitudinal slot 51 through which passes a transverse pin 52 which forms a fulcrum for the feeding device. rhe pin and slot connection provide for the necessary swinging movement and the longitudinal movement incident to the operation of the eccentric portion 15 of the motor shaft. The fixed pin 52 extends across the space between the guard 27 and the front plate and is supported by the guard and the said plate.

The machine is operated substantially as explained in the said patent. In starting to cut a carton, the device is placed against one corner of the carton and is pressed inwardly or rearwardly until the cutter strikes a corner and cuts `a slot therein of sucient size to permit the interiorly arranged guard to be introduced into the carton through the cut slot. The device is then pressed inwardly against the carton until the roller reaches the limit of its outward movement. This initial cutting is done with a slight backward movement of the device and an initial cut is made of sufiicient site to enable the guard 2'7 to be readily introduced into the carton. Owing to the blunt character of the front end of the guard it is necessary to make this initial cut in order to place the machine in position for cutting.

The device is then drawn forwardly toward the operator until the top, bottom or one of the side walls is completely severed from the body of the carton, the machine passing around the carton in the cutting operation. The handle 2 extends forwardly from the motor and in the operation of the machine, it is pulled forwardly by the operator, instead of being pushed forwardly like the machine of the said patent. The handle 2 is grasped in the right hand and the cutting and feeding mechanism is located at the inner or left hand side of the machine, and greater ease and accuracy in the operation of the machine are afforded b y the arrangement of the handle at the front and the pulling or drawing action in opening a box or carton. Also if desired a cut may be made in the side wall of the carton preferably in a corner to allow for expansion of the carton to receive a severed top. When the top is severed from the body of the carton it will be provided with a continuous flange and may be inverted and placed within the body of the carton to form a closure for the same. The original address will then be located interiorly of the box or carton and may be left intact either for the purpose of identication or to avoid the necessity of removing the address to provide a blank space for a new address. The bottom, top or any one of the side walls may of course be out from the body of the carton to form a closure for the same. Also in cutting the top wall or other wall, instead of entirely severing the same three slde walls only may be cut thereby leaving the top connected with the remaining side wall to form a hinge connection for the top and to prevent the same from being lost from the body of the carton.

What is claimed isz- 1. A portable paper box opening machin-e including a vertically disposed rotary cutter having a periphery of polygonal form composed of oppositely bevelled angularly related cutting edges and having thickened portions at the angles formed by the cutting edges whereby the cutter is adapted to operate with a shearing draw cut and is caused to spread the walls of the kerf made by the cut.

A portable paper box opening machine including a vertically disposed rotary cutter having a continuous cutting periphery of polygonal form composed of similar straight angularly related cutting edges oppositely bevelled and having thickened portions at the angles formed by the straight cutting edges, whereby the cutter is adapted to operate with a draw cut and is caused nected with the feeding device for actuating the same.

le. A box opener oi the class described including a rotary cutter and a feeding device consisting of a lever fulcrurned at one end and longitudinally movable on the fulcrum, and an eccentric connected with the feeding device for actuating the same, said feeding device being provided with teeth arranged to engage a box being cut.

A box opener of the class described includa shaft having an eccentric, a rotary cutter mounted on the shaft, and a feeding device connected at one end with the eccentric and provided at its other end with a longitudinal slot and a pivot extending through the slot and forming a fulcrurn for the feeding device.

16. A box opener of the class described including a motor having a shaft, a rotary cutter mounted on the shaft, a frame provided with a front plate receiving the shaft and provided in advance of the saine with an opening, a lever fulcrumed on the inner face of the front plate and provided with a slot for the said shaft and having a spindle located in advance of the shaft and extending through the opening of the front plate, said lever being also provided with a rear arm, and a roller mounted on the spindle and a spring connected with the rear arm of the lever for maintaining the roller normally at one end of the said opening.

i7. A portable paper box opening machine including a handle and a rotary cutter having a continuous cutting periphery of polygonal form composed of sti1 ight angularly related cutting edges oppositely bevelled, said cutting edges being dished between the corner portions and the latter being of greater thickness than the intermediate portions of the cut ing edges said machine being adapted to be drawn toward the user for operation to open the box.

i8. A box opener of the class described includa motor, a frame comprising a flanged front l te and a tubular handle divided longitudinally 'nto two sections, one of the sections being conv.ected to the said plate and carrying the same, the other handle section having forward extensions conforming to the shape of the motor casing and secured thereto means for securing the sections oi the handle together and means for securing the flanges of the frame to the casing oi the motor.

19. A box opener of the class described including a motor, a frame comprising a front plate and a tubular handle divided longitudinally into two sections, one of the sections being formed integral with the front plate and carrying the same, said frame being provided at each handle section with attaching portions which embrace the motor casing and which embracing portions are rigidly secured to the casing of the motor.

2c. A box opener of the class described including a motor and a frame comprising a front plate provided with marginal iianges and a tubular handle divided longitudinally into two sections, one of the sections being formed integral with the front plate and merging into the iianges thereof, the latter being provided with extensions located at opposite sides of the casing of the motor and rigidly secured to the same, and the other handle section being provided with spaced attaching portions secured to the motor casing at opposite sides thereof.

2l. A paper box opening machine including a rotary cutter, a guard arranged to proj ect through the kerf made by the cutter to protect the contents of a box from the eiective portion of the cutter, a resilient shoe arranged to bear against the exterior of box being out and cooperating with the guard to maintain the same in proper position with relation to the wall being cut, a feeding device operable on the machine, and an eccentric connected with the feeding device for actuating the same.

22. A paper box opening ina-chi; e including a rotary cutter, a guard arranged to project through the kerf made by the cutter uo protect the contents of a box from the effective portion of the cutter, a resilient shoe arranged to bear against the exterior of the box. being cut and cooperating with the guard to maintain the same in proper position with relation to the wall being out, a feeding device opere le on the machine and consisting of a lever fulcrumed at one end and longitudinally movable on the fulcrum, and an eccentric connected with the feeding device for actuating the saine.

23. A paper box opening machine including a rotary cutter', a guard ari to project through the lreri made by the cutter to pr tect the contents oi a box from the erfec ive portion of the cutter, a res f^t shoe arranged to bear against the exterior the box being cut and cooperating with the guard to maintain t1 e sanie in proper position with relation to the wall being out, a feeding device operable on the machine and consisting of a lever fulcrurned at one end and longitudinally movable on the iulcrurn, and an eccentric connected with the feeding device for actuating the saine, said device being provided with teeth arranged to engag box being out.

2d. A box opener oi t lass described including a rotary cutter, a member operating in ad- Vance of the rotary cutter o movable upwardly and downwardly, sn* g connected with said member for non ol aintaining the same at the limit of its downward movement for holding said member in a position to form a guard for the cutter, a resilient shoe at one end at a point in advance of the c tter and above the axis of the latter and-extending downwardly in advance oi the cutter and rearwardly to a point in the rear of the cutter and having its rear end free to bear against the exterior oi a box, and a fixed guard arranged to project through the korf made by the cutter extending beneath the cutter to guard the contents of the box and maintained in proper position with relation to the box by the shoe.

25. A box opener of the class described including a rotary cutter, a guard arranged to project through the kerf made by the cutter to protect the contents of a box from the effective portion of the cutter, a member operating in advance of the rotary cutter and movable upwardly and downwardly, spring means connected with said inember for normally maintaining the latter at the limit of its dowward movement for holding the said member in a position to form a guard for the cutter, a resilient shoe arranged to bear against the exterior of the box being cut and cooperating with the guard to maintain the saine in proper position with relation to the wall being cut, the strength of the spring means of the said member being less than the strength of the resilient shoe for causing said member to move to the limit of its upward movement before the shoe is materially flexed, a feeding device operable on the machine, and an eccentric connected with the feeding device for actuating the same.

26. A paper box opening machine including a cutter, a guard arranged to project through the kerf made by the cutter and extending forward from a point in the rear of the cutter to protect the contents of a box from the effective portion of the cutter, a resilient shoe secured at one end in front of the cutter and arranged to bear against the exterior or' a box being cut and when bearing against a box being out cooperating with the guard for maintaining the guard in proper position with relation to the box wall being cut, said shoe being thereby automatically adjustable to adapt the machine to box walls of diierent thicknesses, a member movably mounted in advance of the cutter, and means for normally maintaining said movable member in a position to form a guard for the cutter.

27A A paper box opening machine including a cutter, a guard arranged to project through the kerf made by the cutter and extending forward from a point in the rear of the cutter to protect the contents of a box from the effective portion of the cutter, a resilient shoe secured at one end in front o the cutter and arranged to bear against the exterior of a box being cut and when bearing against a box being cut cooperating with the guard for maintaining the guard in proper position with relation to the box wall being cut,

said shoe being thereby automatically adjustable to adapt the machine to box walls of different thicknesses, a member movably mounted in advance lof the cutter, means for normally maintaining said movable member in a position to form a guard for the cutter, a feeding device operable on the machine, and means for actuating the feeding device.

28. A box opener of the class described including a rotary cutter, a movable member operating in advance of the rotary cutter and providing a guard at the front of the cutter, a fixed guard arranged to project through the kerf made by the rotary cutter to guard the contents of the box, and a shoe extending downwardly between the movable guard member and the rotary cutter and rearwardly under the axis of the latter, said rotary cutter having portions to successively engage the side walls of the kerf to spread the said walls apart and maintain them apart to provide a free passageway for said xed guard as it travels in said kerf so as to eliminate friction between the kerf walls and the cutter and fixed guard such as would tend to impede the cutting operation.

WILLIAM P. STEIN.

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