US2084048A - Automatic lid nailing machine - Google Patents

Description

June 15, 1937. H. PAXTON ET AL 2,084,048

AUTOMATIC LID NAILING MACHINE Filed pt. 5, 1933 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 "652440 a: wra/v' hAPPV 5:460

June 15, 1937. H. PAXTON ET AL 2,084,048

AUTOMATIC LID NAILING-MACHINE firmemzk June 15, 1937. H. PAXTON ET AL 2,084,048

AUTOMATIC LID NAILING MACHINE Filed Sept. s, 1935 11 Shets-Sheet a June 15, 1937. H. PAXTON ET AL 2,084,048

AUTOMATIC LID NAILING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1955 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 H6.&

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4% pvt M7025 a June 15, 1937; H. PAXTON ET AL AUTOMATIC LID NAILING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 5 lllaltrllrvlllillIt!!!vllllllllliflilf!lilrl Filed Sept. 5, 1955 y a fig M mww m W 5 4 w Wh June 15, 1937. H. PAXTON ET AL 2,034,048

AUTOMATIC LID MAILING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1955 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 June 15, 1937. H. PAXTON ET AL AUTOMATIC LID NAILING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1953 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 June 15, 1937.

H. PAXTQN ET AL AUTOMATIC LID NAILING MACHINE 11 Shets-Sheet 11 Filed Sept. 5, 1933 aimacmmn Patented June 15, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Harry D. Benson,

Santa Ana, Callf., assig'nors, by mesne assignments,

to Food Machinery Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application September 5, 1933, Serial No. 688,104

65 Claims.

Our invention relates to the nailing and strap ping art and has particular utility in nailing and strapping lids on boxes overfilled with fresh farm products.

While our invention has wide utility, it is particularly useful in nailing and strapping lids on shipping boxes overfilled with fresh citrus fruit, and an embodiment of the invention particularly adapted for this purpose will be disclosed in this application.

Among other objects, this invention is directed towards producing a simpler, more compact, and stronger machine for nailing and strapping covers on boxes, one which is less expensive to build and operate, one which is easier to service and repair, one which is more dependable in operation, and a machine which is easier on the fresh farm products being packaged.

It is a further object of our invention to produce such a machine in which clutches and other complicated mechanisms are eliminated and yet render the machine completely responsive to the operator and fast enough for the proper performing of the work. It is to be noted that many features of our invention are applicable to cover presses, some are applicable to nailing machines generally, some have particular application to lidding machines alone, while others relate particularly to strapping machines.

It is a further object of our invention to provide such a machine having an improved mechanism for feeding boxes into and from the machine.

Yet another object of our invention is to produce a machine for one or more of the purposes above referred to which is capable of handling work varying in height and width without adjustment and work varying in length with a minimum of adjustment.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects, as well as further objects and advantages, will be made manifest in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment a of our invention.

nailed and strapped to a box and the operator's foot released from the control pedal. r

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the control switch of said machine.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 'i is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 6 showing the control pedal depressed and the resulting elevation of a box by said machine in the performance of a lid nailing and strapping operation.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view illustrating operation of the side flushers of our invention on the higher of two boxes varying in height which these flushers are adapted to automatically perform a fruit gathering function on. I

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. '1 illustrating the construction of the brake mounting of our invention. v

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on the line 6- of Fig. 3 and illustrating the construction of the brake release mechanism of our invention.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detailed horizontal sectional view taken on the line i|il of Fig. 10 and looking upward.

Fig. 12 is a detailed fragmentary perspective view of a box stop of our invention illustrating its manner of operation.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detailed perspective view of mechanism for operating the tilting elevator table of our invention.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the stop shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 illustrating the stop of our invention in the act of stopping a box.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary plan view of the box feed mechanism of our invention operating in conjunction with the elevator of our machine to feed boxes thereto, said view being taken in the direction of the arrow it in Fig. 3.

Fig. 1'7 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line il-i'l of Fig. 16 and illustrating the stop of said feed mechanism while depressed.

Fig. 18 is a view a box passing over the stop of said feed mechanism into said machine.

Fig. 19 is aview similar to Fig. 17 showing the parts of said feed mechanism as positioned immediately after said box has been fed into said machine with the stop in elevated position as shown in Fig. 3.

similar to Fig. 1': illustrating Fig. 20 is an enlarged transversesectional view taken on the line 29-29 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on the line 2|-2l of Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 21 illustrating the parts shown therein in operating position.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the nailing units of our invention illustrating the nail stripper and feed mechanism thereof with the stripper pan inclined downwardly.

Fig. 24 is a view similar to Fig. 29 illustrating the stripper pan in upwardly inclined position.

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary detailed view taken on the line 25-29 of Fig. 26.

Fig. 26 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 29-29 .of Fig. 9, and showing the strapper of our invention positioned as when said machine is at the beginning of a strapping operation.

Fig. 27 is a view similar to Fig. 29 illustrating the strapper after the first step in a strapping operation which results in preshaplng the strap.

Fig. 29 is a view similar to Fig. 2! illustrating the strapper afterthe next step in a strapping operation which results in the shaping of the cover and tensioning of the driver actuating springs.

Fig. 29 is a view similar to Fig. 28 illustrating the strapper Just after the final step takes place in the strapping operation which results in the release of the drivers permitting these to make a strap securing movement relative to the strap positioning Jaws.

Referring specifically to the drawings, we have shown therein a preferred embodiment of our invention comprising a lid nailing and strapping machine II, this machine including a frame 96, an elevator 31, a nailing mechanism 39, a strapper 99, and a control mechanism 49.

The frame 36 rigidly secured to the corners of the base 4| and extend vertically upward therefrom. As seen in Fig. 4, end pairs of the posts 43 are connected by bars 49 and by spacers 41.

Upper ends of side pairs of the posts 49 (Fig. 4) are connected together by relatively heavy side plates 49 which perform an important function of the frame I! which will be explained hereinafter. While the side plates 49 might be formed integral with the corner posts 49, they are preferably bolted to said posts and are provided with pairs of holes 49 and It, as shown in Fig. 2, the purpose of these holes being made evident hereinafter.

Retained in a suitable aperture in the forward side plates 48 is a push pin ll (Figs. 1, 3. and 4) these posts.

The frame 99 also includes a channel iron 59 shown in Figs. 3 and 6, said channel iron being preferably welded at its ends to the frame bars 49. The channel iron 59 has an aperture formed vertically therethrough at its middle through which a hollow standard I59 extends, the lower end of this standard resting on the channel iron The 18001 3? The elevator 91 and associated devices will now be described. This elevator includes an electric motor 95 bolted onto the motor struts 99. as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7, this motor having a drive pinion 99 which is preferably formed of fiber. The pinion 99 meshes with a jack gear 91 having a nut 89 formed within the hub thereof, this gear being rotatably mounted on a hear-- ing 99 inserted in the upper end of the hollow standard, as clearly shown in Fig. 9.

Covering the pinion 96 and gear 91 is a gear housing brake 19 having, a brake lining ll of the fiat ring type, this lining being disposed Just above the outer rim of the gear 91, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The brake III is positioned in a horizontal plane and has its vertical movement upward limited by cap screws 12, compression springs 19 coiled about these screws constantly urging the brake ill into disengaged position, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9.

Screwed downwardly through the nut 69 is a jack screw 14 which is preferably double pitched as shown, this screw having a cap plate 15, as clearly shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 10. Provided on the lower end of the screw 14 is a guide spider Resting on and rigidly secured to the cap plate 15 is a central cross-beam 19 of a nailing table 90. This table Ill includes longitudinal side beams 9i and 92 which are welded to opposite ends of the cross-beam 19 and have their opposite ends connected by end cross-bars 9i and 99. The opposite ends of these crow-bars extend into the angles produced by adjacent flanges of the angle iron posts 49, as clearly shown in Figs. l0, l2, and 13, so that said posts are adapted to guide any vertical movement of the table 90.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 10, the cross-beam 19 is seen to be an inverted channel iron with upper portions of the flanges thereof notched for a purpose which will become evident hereinafter. Provided on the beam 19 as by welding so as to be integral therewith are hollow cylinders 91 having flanges 99 at their lower ends and screw caps 99 provided on their upper ends. The screw caps 99' have central apertures to provide access to the interior of the cylinders 91. Provided in each of the cylinders 81 is a plunger cylinder 99 which is also hollow, and has an annular flange at its lower end which retains therein a solid plunger 95, the latter being flanged at its upper end to prevent its complete removal from the cylinder 90. A high compression spring 96 is provided in the cylinder 90, this being held downwardly against the plunger" by a screw plug 91. annular recess in its outer surface leaving an annular shoulder 99 at its lower end. Disposed in the upper end of the cylinder 81 between the cap 99 and the plunger cylinder is a relatively light coil spring 99 for normally retaining the plunger cylinder 90 in the lower end of the cylinder 91. Lying in suitable slide ways formed in bosses projecting from the bodies of the 03/1- inders 91 are latches I99 which are connected by a rod NH and normally held inwardly over The plunger 90 is provided with an 2,os4,o4e

in Fig. 1a, is a bell crank us having a roller on I on has a finger I83 which extends forwardly and downwardly for a purpose which will become evident hereinafter.

The table 88 (Figs. 3, 6 and 7) also has provided thereon a pair of side flushers H8. Each of these flushers has a shaft III, opposite ends of which are journalled in suitable apertures in the table end cross-bars 85 and 86, and each of these shafts is provided at its opposite ends with upwardly disposed cam arms H2 carrying rollers H3 adapted to travel on the cam tracks 58 and downwardly extending arms H4, end pairs of the arms H4 being connected by springs H5 which yieldably hold the cam rollers H3 against the cam tracks 58.

Secured, preferably as by welding, to each shaft III and extending upwardly therefrom, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6, and '7, are pairs of spring flusher arms H8. Just below their upper ends these arms I I8 are bent outwardly to form recesses II1. Secured to the upper ends of each pair of spring arms H8 (Fig. 8) is a main fiusher blade H8. Each of the blades H8 has an upwardly extending lid centralizing flnger I I8. Extending downwardly and outwardly from opposite ends of each flusher blade II8 are brackets I28 through which screws I2I extend, inner ends of these screws screwing into auxiliary flusher blades I22. Compression springs I23 between the blades I22 and the brackets I28 constantly urge each auxiliary blade inwardly into the same plane as its main flusher blade I I8.

As will be noted in Figs. 3 and 4, the flusher blades H8 by the use of a slot and bolt connection are mounted on the spring arms H8 in such a manner as to permit a limited degree of vertical adjustment thereon.

Fixed on spring arms H8 on each of the side flushers H8 is a box guide rail I28, opposite ends I29 01 this rail being adapted to engage sides of a box on the table 88 so as to centralize this box laterally when the flushers I I8 are swung inwardly.

Mountedon the endmost spring arms H8, as

clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6, and "I, are box locating cams I38, the function of which is to centralize said box longitudinally, when said flushers are swung in, by engaging the ends of the box in a longitudinally trapping relation therewith. I

Provided. in the side beams 8I and 82 of the table 88, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4', and 12, are holes I3I and I32. In Fig. 12 these holes are both shown as empty. In Figs. 3 and 4 cap screws I33 are shown extending through the holes I3I to support rollers I34 between said beams 8I and 82 at opposite ends of the table 88.

A screw I33 is removed in Fig. 12 to indicate the position of one of the holes I3I in the beam 8 I. Each of the rollers I34 has a relatively heavysolid shaft I35 which is supported at its opposite ends by the cap screws I33 which are threadedly received therein. The rollers I34 also are cut away centrally to provide stop accommodating spaces I36.

Pivotally mounted on the shaft I35 (Figs. 10, l1, and 12) at the discharge end of the table 88 is a tilting roller conveyor I48, this conveyor including side members I4I which have holes I4I (Fig. 3) for freely receiving the other shaft I35, and an end member I42 (Fig. 13) which is preferably welded to the side members to rigidly space these, the member I42 being at the re ceiving end of the table 88. Pivotally mounted on the end bar of the table 88, as clearly shown one arm thereof engaging the lower surface of the member I42 and having the other arm; thereof connected by a link I44 to one of the downwardly extending flusher arms H4. The operation of the bell crank I43 and link I44 is such that when the table 88 is'in lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 3, the conveyor I48 is tilted. Provided on the conveyor I48 in-between the rollers I34 is' a series of idle rollers I45. The oppositeends of the tilting conveyor side members I4I are'also provided with skatewheel rollers I48, as clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The

roller I45 at the middle of the table 88 is shorter than the balance of these rollers, as clearly shown in Fig. 10, and is pivotally mounted at its ends on U-shaped brackets I41 which extend around the cylinders 81 and permit access to these cylinders from above the table 88.

Referring now to Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15, a box stop I53 is here shown in the form of a plate having a vertical body I54 bent therefrom, the latter being mounted on four bolts I55 which are supported on the cross-bar 85 and a plate I55 extending downwardly from this cross-bar. Also pivotally mounted on cross-bar 85 is a bell crank I51, one arm of this bell crank being loosely connected by a link I58 to the stop I53, and the other end of the bell crank being connected by a link I59 to an adjacent downwardly extending arm II4 of one of the flusher shafts III, as clearly shown in Fig. 12. When the table 88 is elevated it is thus seen that the bell crank I51 is rocked by the swinging of the-side flushers to draw the stop I53 downwardly.

Provided on the front table beam 8I, as clear-'- ly shown-in Figs. 3 and 4, is a downwardly extending shut-off cam I85 and a safety rod guide and shut-off finger I56, the purpose of these being made evident hereinafter.v

Referring now particularly to Figs. 3, 4, 16, 1'1, 18, and 19, it is seen that we have provided a novel box feeding mechanism I81 for feeding boxes into the automatic lid nailing and strapping machine 35. The apparatus I61 includes a bracket I88 mounted on the table end crossbar 86 and pivotally carrying a catch I53 having a release finger I18 and urged into upright position by a spring I1I.

Supported on adjacent corner posts 43 of the machine 35 and on legs I12 is a skate wheel roller section of conveyor I13 having the rollers disposed on opposite sides of a central space in the conveyor. Pivotally mounted in said central space and continually urged upward by a spring I14 is a stop I15 having a hook finger I18 which lies in the path of the catch I69 as the latter moves vertically with the table 88 duringthe operation of the machine 35. Also pivotally a power conveyor I8 I this conveyor being adapt-.

ed to run continuously excepting when the bell crank I88 is depressed, this depression tem porarily disconnecting thepower from the conveyor I8I. Disposed in between the powerconveyor I8I and the conveyor section I13 is an idle roller conveyor section I82 which is adapted to act as an accumulator for boxes discharged from the power conveyor I81.

Disposed at the discharge end of the machine 35 is a discharge conveyor I83, one end of which may be supported upon an adjacent pair of the corner posts 43.

The nailing mechanism The nailing mechanism 88 consists primarily of two nailing units I88 and I88 (Fig. 3) these being substantially identical so that a description of one with an explanation of the diiferences will sufllce for both. The nailing unit I88 (Figs. 2 and 20) has side slide bars I88 having pins I8I by which the unit may be supported upon the side plates 48 of the frame, these units normally being rigidly mounted upon the side plates. by cap screws I88 extending either through pairs of holes 48 or through pairs of holes 88 in the side plates 48 and being threadedly received in suitable holes provided in the side slide bars I88. Becured to lower ends of the side slide bars I88 are chuck beam stops I84, the front stop I84 having a lid guiding hook I85 secured thereon. Extending between and preferably rigidly connected at its opposite ends to the upper ends of the side slide bars I88 is across-bar I88, this bar having stripper supporting ears I 81 (Figs. 2 and 20 through 23), a bearing I 88 provided by a rearwardly extending end thereof, an upwardly extending spring hanger I88, and a picker operating cam lever 288 plvotally mounted thereon. The spring hanger I88 is connected to the cross bar I88 by a single cap screw 28I. Formed in the lower face of the cross-bar I88 is a groove 285, and square nail drivers 288 have their upper ends held in place in the groove 288 by a key 281 which extends into suitable notches provided in the drivers 288, the key 281 being secured in any suitable manner to the lower face of the crossbar I 88.

Disposed between the side slide bars I88 (Figs. 2 and 23) is a chuck beam 288 having guide shoes 288 provided on its oppositeends, these guide shoes embracing the side slide bars I88 so as to guide the chuck beam vertically thereon. The

chuck beam 288 is reinforced by welding blocks 2I8 along its upper edge and blocks 2I I along its lower edge adjacent the guide shoes 288 and then by blocks 2I2 welded in spaced relation along the lower edge of the chuck beam. One of the blocks 2I8 at the front of the machine provides a mounting for a picker cam actuating roller 2 I8. Secured to the guide shoe 288 at the front of the machine and on nailing unit I 88 alone is a control rod guide and release finger 2I8, Provided on the upper edge of the chuck beam 288 at the middle of the beam is a lid centralizer spring lug 2I8. As shown in Figs. 20, 21, and 22, stra'pper limit bar lugs 228 extend inwardly from the central portion of the chuck beam 288. Pivotally mounted at their opposite ends on the spring hanger. I88 and on opposite ends of the chuck beam 288 are telescopic spring spindles 22I on which heavy compression springs 222 are mounted under constant tension. Provided on the lower edge of the chuck beam 288 and extending inwardly is a pair of crown sheet attaching eyes 228.

Formed on the chuck beam 288 (Figs. 21 and 22) and extending inwardly across its entire length is a chuck spring supporting boss 224,

I chuck springs 225 being secured by screws to an inclined lower face of this boss and extending through suitable notches in the lower edge of the chuckbeam 288 and downwardly on the opposite side of the chuck beam. The lower ends of the chuck springs 225 are bent to extend vertically downward and pockets 228 are formed in these springs, preferably by expressing the material thereof outwardly.

Resting on top of the lower reinforcing blocks guideways other of which is disposed 2I2, disposed between the upper reinforcing blocks 2", and yieldabiy held against the chuck beam 288 by springs 288 is a compound spring chuck block 28I which is clearly shown in Fig. 2. This block 28I has a pluralityof driver guideways 282 (Figs. 2, 21 and 22) provided therein In the preferred embodiment of our invention,

and a rearwardly extending boss 288 opposite there are six guideways 282 shown in the com-" pound chuck block 28I, the endmcst pairs of these guideways being closer together than the inner pairsso that theouterpairofbosses288 are formed as a single unit. As shown in Fig. 2,

only one of each of the endmost pairs of the guideways 282 is used, the purpose of these two operation upon boxes differing considerably in width, as will be explained hereinafter. When anyof the guideways 282 are not used, it has been found preferable to cover up their lower ends as by dummy chuck springs 288 secured both to the boss 288 and to the boss 224 opposite this guideway.

Removably supported in each of the ducts 284 and connecting therewith is a nail funnel 281.

Mounted on the chuck beam reinforcing block 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. are brackets 242, these plvotally carrying opposite ends of anend tucker 248 and. a lid depressor and centralizer 244. The end tucker 248 comprises two substantially cylindrical bodies, one of which is disposed on the axis of rotation of the tucker and the parallel with the first body and radially therefrom, the two being connected by a substantially continuous web of metal. After extending through the rearmost bracket 242 the tucker which extends outwardly therefrom, as shown in Fig. 2. The tucker 248 normally extends downwardly at an angle as clearly shown in Fig. 21 so that it is adapted to support an end of a box lid as shown in this figure. Secured on the tucker 248 to provide a stop for the rear edge of such a lid is a cam member 248. Also formed in the tucker 248, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 20, 21, and 22, is a pair of slots 24''.

The lid depressor and centralizer 244 has a cross-section as shown in Figs. 21 and 22 which includes a body 248 having arcuate guards 248 extending downwardly into the grooves 241 in the tucker 248, and a lip 258 which extends inwardly from the body 248 at the upper edge thereof and is provided with suitable notches 288a opposite each of the nail driver guideways 282. The lid depressor and centralizer 244 has an upwardly extending hump 2II (Figs. 2, 21, and 22) to which is pivotally secured a clevis 252 carrying a rodbeing close together being to permit 248 provides an arm 248 a rear well an, and side walls as, the inner ends of the latter being pivotally connected to the hopper mounting lugs I81. The hopper side walls are alsoconnected by links 264 to the reinforcing block 2! l of the chuck beam 268. Extending from the upper edge of the rear wall 262 to spaced points in the floor 26! are nail agitating rods 266, there being nail advancing slots 266 extending forwardlyfrom these rods to a front edge 261 (Fig. 24) of the floor 26!. Formed in the edge 261 adjacent each of the slots 266 is a relatively small notch 268. The hopper 266 has a fixed baiile wall 268 extending between the walls 268 and rigidly secured thereto, there being clearance between the lower edge of the wall 268 and the floor 26! adjacent the slots 266 to permit nail heads to pass underneath the baflle wall 268 as the stems of the nails extend through the slots 266. I Pivotally mounted between the walls 268 is a pivoted baille 216, this baiiie having a flange 21! at its upper end and a set screw 212 for limiting its downward swinging movement when the hopper 266 is extended upwardly, as shown in Fig. 24. Also extending between the walls 268 is a rod 218 on which are pivotally mounted a series of traps 214, these being held in spaced relation by spacers 215. Each of the traps 214 is disposed over one of the slots 266, as clearly shown in Figs. 23 and 24.

As shown in Figs. 20, 21, and 22, two brackets 286 are connected to the lower surface of the hopper floor 26! and extend forwardly beyond the front edge 261 of said floor. Slidably mounted on these 'brackets'is a picker bar 28! having -a pair of slots 282 through which cap screws 288 extend, these screws then screwing into suitable aperturesin the brackets 286. Disposed between the heads of the cap screws 283 and the picker bar 28! so as to cover the slots 282 are guard washers284. Fixed on the picker bar 28! is an actuating arm 285, the extremity of which is bent as shown in Fig. 23 to extend into the upper bifurcated end of the cam lever 266 by which the picker bar 28! is adapted to be actuated. As shown in Figs. 1 and 20, a coil spring 286 attaches to one of the brackets 286 and to the picker bar 28! so as to constantly urge this picker bar into the position in which it is shown in Figs. 26 and 23.

The picker bar 28! has its lower edge both parallel and close to the front edge 261 of the hopper floor 285, and this edge of the picker bar is provided with a series of pairs of notches, one pair for each of the slots 266 of the hopper fioor. Each of these pairs of notches comprises a small notch 28?! and a large notch 288, the notch 281 of each oi these pairs being opposite one of the notches 268 when the picker bar is positioned as shown in Fig. 23, while the large notch 288 of that pair is on the opposite side of that notch 268 from the slot 266 adjacent that notch 268. The notches 281 and 288 are spaced apart the same distance from their centers as is each of the slots 288 and adjacent notch 268.

In the operation of the machine, a considerable quantity of nails are carried in the hopper 266, which apply a considerable pressure to the pivotal connection between the links 264 and the inner portions 268' of the hopper walls 268. Owing to the fact that these links and inner portions of the walls 268 form toggle joints and the weight of the nails thus applied to the intermediate pivots of these joints tends to maintain the links of these toggle joints in extended relation, the weight of these nails is thus effective in strongly restricting the elevation of the chuck beam as. .Theweight of these nails on these toggle joints, however. is yieldable and as will be.

pointed out hereinafter,- is overcome in the operation of thd against the chuck beams 268, so that the-links 264 lift, swinging the hopper pans and the load of nails carried thereby upwardly and collapsing said toggle joints formed by the links 264 and the hopper .walls, 268,-(see Fig. 23).

We have now congpleted the description of the nailing unit I88. The nailing unit I88 is an exact duplicate of bailing I88 excepting that instead of a hook 86'.bei ng formed on the forward chuck beamstop .884, the corresponding chuck beam stopin unitl88 merely has a shallow V-shaped,ll .d ..gnd guide 288, as shown in Fig. 3. Connecting the lugs 228 of the nailing units I68 and 188 is a strapper height limit bar 286.

The mapper s9 machine by the upward pressure- The lower end oi each of these cams 281 has an oblique cam face 288.

Blidably vertically between the bridge bars 282 and-the rollers 284 and spring heads 285 is a strapper stem 288, this stem consisting of two plates 866 having a roller 86! rotatably mounted between these plates on a suitable spacer. The lower ends of the plates 866 extend on opposite sides of and are rigidly secured to-a saddle bar 862, the stem and saddle bar having a vertically elongated opening 868 through which the strapper height limit bar 286 extends.

Thesaddle bar 862 (Figs. 25,

imately withthe transverse shape which it is desired that this bar transmit to the middle portion of-a lid to be strapped. "The lower face of this bar is provided with a recess 861 (see Fig. 25) which connects at its opposite ends to vertical strap jaw guideways 868 through which extend pins 368 mounted on opposite ends of said saddle bar. Pivotally mounted on the pins 868 in the recesses 368 are strapper jaws 8i6, each jaw comprising a pair of plates 8 which are spaced at their lower endsby a strap end stop 812. The lower extremities of the plates 8!! (Fig. 25) are bent outwardly to form strap end guides for assisting in feeding a strap into the strapper 88.

Disposed between the plates 3!! and also pivotally mounted on the pins 868 of each jaw 8l6 is a driver 1H6, the function of which is to secure an end of a strap to a side of a box. An upper end of each driver M3 is connected by a clevis 8 to a rod 3!.5 which extends through a spring head 285. "A coil compression spring 8 i 6 surrounds the rod 8 !6 and is maintained under tension by a head 8" on the end of the rod 3l5. The upper end of each driver 8|3 also pivotally connects to a link 822 of a toggle 828, the other link 824 of this toggle being pivotally connected to the jaw 3l6 by a pin 825. The links 822 and 824 are connected together by a pin 826, this pin having a spring 821. (see Fig. 28) attached to one of its extending ends, the other end of the spring being attached to .the saddle bar 862. The op- 28, and 29) has an archedconiormation corresponding approxcam face 238 of one of the cams 231.

.Journalled in the bearings I33 ofthe crossbars I96 of the two nailing units I66 and I66 is a shaft 332 having arms 333 at its opposite ends, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, these arms being connected by links 334 with the arms 246 on the end tuckers 243. As shown in Figs. 26 to 29 inclusive, the shaft 332 carries an arm 336 opposite the strapper 33, this arm having a.clevis 336 pivoted .thereon, a rod 331 on this clevis extending through the spring head 236 and carrying a coil compression spring 336 which'constantly tends to rotate the shaft 332 and maintain the end tuckers 243 rotated into their downwardmostpo'sition in which extending ends of these tuckers engage the brackets 242 as shown in Fig. 21.

Pivotaliy connected to the upper end of the arm 335 is a wedge 333 which overlies one of the rollers 234 and extends beneath the strapper stem roller 36I,'as shown in Fig. 26.

Pivotaliy connected at their outer ends to crown sheet ears 223 and loosely connected at theirinner ends to the strapper saddle bar 362 by bolts 362' provided on said bar, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 20, 21, 22 and 25, are halves 346 of a crown sheet 3. Lugs 346'provided on the crown sheet halves 346 slide horizontally on the bolts 662' whenever there is relative vertical movement between the saddle bar 362 and the chuck beams 268. Pivotaliy mounted on the crown sheet halves 346 along their edges as shown in Fig. 1 are cover slat spreader jaws 342, the inner ends of which are lifted .bysuitable springs disposed thereunder so as to permit the outer ends of said laws to swing upwardly and outwardly when brought into vertical engagement with theside slats of a lid, said jaws thus being separated to spread said side slats laterally.

' The control mechanism 46 The control mechanism 46 of our invention in-' cludes a switch 343 which is preferably mounted on a suitable bracket 344 fixed upon the channel member 42, as shown in Fig. 6. The switch 343 is diagrammatically shown in-Fig. 5 and is an ordinary reversing switch interposed between the main line conductors a, b, and c and the three terminals of the motor 66. The switch 343 includes a stem 345 having two sets of contact makers X and Y. When the stem 345 is positioned as shown in Fig. 5, the motor 66 is shut oil' and no contact is made by either of the contact makers X or Y. When the stem 346 is moved upwardly the electrodes a, b, and c are connected with the motor through a circuit X 'to cause the motor to run in a direction so as to elevate the table 86. When the stem 345 is moved downwardly from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5, the electrodes a, b, and c are connected through a circuit Y with the motor 65 to cause the motor to run in the opposite direction or so as to lower the table 66. Connecting with the lower end of the stem 346 is a spring :46 which maintains the stem at in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5 unless a lifting or depressingforce is applied to this stem. Extending upwardly from the stem 345 is a rod 341 having collars 346v and 343.

Pivotaliy mounted at its opposite ends in the cross-bar 46 (Fig. 4) of the frame 36 is a control rock shaft 366 having two arms 36I and 362 (Figs. 6 and 7) extending forwardly therefrom,

two arms as: and :04 extending upwardly therefrom, and one'arm 366 extending rearwardly therefrom. The arm 366 is pivotally connected to a link 366 which extends downwardly, as shown in Fig. 6, and is provided with a horizontal loop 361 which encircles the rod 341 between the collars 346 and 346. The arm 363 engages the downwardly extending shut-oil cam I65 whenthe table 66 is in its lowermost position, as shown in Figs. 3 and '6, so as to rock the shaft 366 and relieve the switch stem 346 of all pressure from the eye 361 andpermit this switch to assume the position shown in Fig. 5

in which it shuts offthe motor 66.

Pivotaliy connected with the arm I is .a rod 316 which extends'downward through a guide bracket 31 l m ounted'on the frame base 4i and connects at its lower end to a foot pedal 312 which is pivotally mounted on the base H. The rod 316 has a collar 313, a compression spring 314 between this collar and the bracket 3", and a pair of lock nuts 316 beneath the bracket 3" to limit the action of the spring 314 on the rod 316 when the pedal 312 is relieved from all manual pressure.

Connected by a clevis to the arm 362 (Figs. 3 and 4) and extending upwardly. is a safety shut-off rod 316, this rod extending upwardly through suitableholes in the safety shut-01f fingers I66 and M6. Mounted on the upper end of this rod is a head 31 1 (see Fig. 34), this head having a suitable opening therein having a chamfered edge and adapted to receive the push pin 55 so as to adjust the rod 316 vertically in such a position that the switch 343 will shutoff the motor 56. In other'words, and as'will appear more particularly hereinafter, the open- 1 ing in the head-311 is so positioned relative to the pin 55 that when the latter is inserted into said opening, the head 311 will be held in such a position vertically that the rod 316 will, through the arm 362, shaft 366 and arm 365, so determine the vertical location of the link 366 that the eye 361 of the latter pressesneither against the collar 348 nor the collar 343, thereby permitting the switch spring 346 to neutralize switch 343 as shown in Fig. 5, and shut 01!, motor 66.

Adiustably mounted on the rod 316 is a collar 316, which is normally so positioned that when the nailing table 66 is lifted without a box thereon or with a box thereon which is lower than 4 the lowest box which the machine is designed to accommodate, the finger I 66 on the table 66 engages the collar 316 and lifts upon the rod 316 so as to rock the shaft 366 to depress the eye 361 as shown in Fig. 4, which operates the switch 343 to stop the motor and even to reverse the latter until the table shall bemoved back downwardly enough to allow the eye 361 to rise a short distance from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4,'providing the operator's foot is held on the pedal 312. Whenever the table would thus be stopped by engagement of the finger I66 with the collar 316, it would immediately give warning to the operator that a box not suitable for lidding was deposited in. the machine, and the operator would thereupon immediately relieve the pedal 312 from the pressure of his foot permitting the spring 314 to rock the shaft 366 and actuate the switch 344 to throw the motor into reverse as shown in Fig. 4, thereby returning the table 66 under power to its lowermost position as shown in Fig. 3.

- 35, the parts thereof are positioned as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12 13, 14, 16, 17, 20,21,

23, 25, and 26. The balance of the views are views illustrating the machine during its operation. To begin with, the motor I84 (Fig. 16) is started which drives the power conveyor I8! through the clutch I85 owing to the fact that the bell crank I is not depressed. Also the conductors a, b, and c are connected to a suitable source of three phase current capable of driving the motor 65 in opposite directions when these conductors are' connected with this motor through the circuits 2; and Y'.

As will be noted in Figs. 3, 5, and 6, the control eye 361 of the switch 343 is now disposed out or! contact with either of the collars 340 or 349, thus permitting the spring 346 of the switch 343 to neutralize the switch stem 345 and shut off the motor 65. As before mentioned, this position of the eye 361 results from engagement between the table shut-oil arm 363 and the shut-on? cam I65 when the table 601s inits lowermost position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

It is also desired. to point out that at this time the plungers 95 are held downwardly, as shown in Fig. 10, by the latches I00 engaging with the shoulders 36 so that the plungers 95 hold the gear housing brake 10 downwardly with thelining 1I pressed against the gear 61, as shown in Fig. 6. It is also noted that the side flushers IIO are swung outwardly as shown in Fig. 6, and that the receiving end of the tiltable conveyor I40, is as shown in Figs. 3, 13 and 1'1. At this time also the stop I15 is held downward by the catch I69, as shown in Fig. 1'1. A box B being fed from the power conveyor I8I onto-the accumulator I82 is eventually pushed onto the conveyor section I13 by B passes over the bell crank I80 which shuts off the conveyor I8I by disconnecting the clutch I85. Owing to the depression of the stop I15 and the inclination of the conveyor section .I13 in the direction of the-machine 35, the box B now rolls by gravity onto the tilting conveyor I40 where its foremost end engages the stop I53, as shownv in Figs. 3 and 15. The box B is shown as overfilled with oranges O, a superposed layer 0 of which extends above the upper edges of the box. As the .box B passes over the release finger I10 it swings this, as shown in Fig. 13, to release the hook finger I16 from the catch I69. As the stop I15 is uncovered by the box B before the finger I10, this stop is lifted into its upward position by the spring I14, as shown in Fig. 19. It is also noted that as the I80 this is permitted to rise again as shown in Fig. 19, thus throwing in the clutch I and starting the power conveyor I81. This action again starts the feeding of boxes from this conveyor onto the accumulator I82 so that box B, which follows box B, is pushed onto the conveyor section I13 and rolls down this against the stop I15. In this position the box B depresses the bell crank I80, thus discontinuing operation of the power conveyor I8I.

' Either before the box B enters the machine 35 or after it has come to a stop, as shown in Fig. 3, the operator takes a strap S which is preferably in the form of a straight wire having naillike pointed driving ends E bent from its ends, and inserts-this strap in the strapper 39. When 'strap .8 is thus inserted, the strap ends rest parallel longitudinal following boxes until box box B uncovers the bell crank against the stops 312 (Fig. 26) and the body of the strap is arched upwardly so as to extend into the notch 301 along the lower faced the saddle bar 302. The space between the plates 3 of the Jaws 3I0, as shown in Fig. 25,1is just sufficient to slidably receive the strap ends E.

The operator now inserts a lid L in the machine, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 21, and26, so that ends of the lid rest upon the end'tuckers 243, the rear edgeof the lid engaging the stops 246 provided on'these tuckers. The lid L is a unitized lid formed of a pluralityof spaced slats of relatively thin material, such as ply wood, connected at their opposite ends by relatively thin transverse end cleats stapled or nailed to the slats.

The machine 35 is now ready for initiating a power cycle of operation for nailing and strapping the lid L to the box B. The entire operation is brought about by thejoperator stepping on the foot pedal 312 and the progress of the operation is retained under control of the operator by his manipulating this pedal. As shown in Figs. 6 and '1, depression of pedal 312 rocks the control shaft 360 so as to swing the arm 364 forwardly. This arm engages the finger I03 and withdraws the latches I00 from over the shoulders 93. Thus released, the plunger cylinders are thrust upwardly by the springs 96. The gear housing brake 10 is thus relieved from the pressure of these springs and the relatively light pressure of'the springs 99 is substituted therefor. This release of the brake 10 from pressure by the springs 96 permits this brake to be lifted by' its springs 13, as shown in Fig. 9, thus releasing the gear 61 from the brake 10.

Simultaneously with or shortly following this release of the brake 10, the eye 361 engages the collar 348, as shown in Fig. '1, and lifts this to cause the switch 343 to complete the circuit X between the conductors a, b, and c and the motor 65. This causes the motor to rotate in the direction of the arrow D in Fig. '1 so as to rotate the gear 61 and the nut 68, thereby lifting the jack screw 14 and the table 80 mounted thereon.

As the nailing table 80, carrying the box B, starts upwardly the flusher cam rollers II3 (Fig. '1) are shifted inwardly by the corner post flusher cams 56, thus rocking the shafts III, swinging the side fiushers I I0 inwardly into flushing position,andswingingthelower arms I I4 on the shafts II I outwardly. The outward swinging of the arms I14, to certain of which are attached links I44 and I59 (Figs. 12 and 13), results in rocking the bell crank I43 to lower the tilting conveyor I40 into horizontal position, as it is shown in Fig. 4, and also in rocking the bell crank I51 so as to draw down on the stop I53 while it is under pressure of the springs I60, as shown in Fig. 15. As this. stop comes below the bottom edge of the box B it is urged by the springs I60 into the space I36 (Fig. 14) beneath this box, thereby no longer being in a position to prevent discharge of the box from a machine at the conclusion of the lidding and strapping operation.

the sides of the box B are of such a height as to permit the auxiliary flusher blades I22 of the flushers IIO to pass inwardly over these sides as shown in this view. This moves in side rows of the superposed layer of oranges 0, these oranges being engaged by both the main flusher blades As will be noted in Fig. '1, the upper edges of I H9 and the auxiliary blades I22. In case a higher box than the box B were to be used, as the-box B" shown in Fig. 8 in which the sides of the box come Just below the lower edges of the main flusher blades I9, the auxiliary blades I22 engage the outer surface of the sides of the box so as to compress the springs I23 and permit the main blades II9 to extend inwardly over the upper edges of the box sides and shift the side rows of the oranges O inwardly over the sides.

The swinging in of the side flushers II9 also brings the box centralizers I29 into engagement with sides of the box B, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, thus centralizing this box laterally on the nailing table 99 while the springs and longitudinal box centralizing cams I39 engage the ends of the box and centralize this longitudinally in proper position on the nailing table 99 for performing a lidding and strapping operation on the box. As shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6, and '1, the lateral centralizers I29 engage the box at points spaced longitudinally from the points at which these centralizers are attached to the arms II6. This permits a slight yielding horizontally of the centralizers I29 when a box of excessive width is being handled in the machine. Adaptation of the side fiushers II 9 to boxes varying in width is eflected by the springy nature of the arms II6 on which the flusher blades are carried.

The flushing movement of the side flushers H9 is timed with the elevation of the table 99 by cam tracks 56 so that the lid positioning fingers II 9 are brought inwardly as they come opposite the lid L and positively position the lid L laterally for application to the box B.

At the moment the side fiushers I I9.come into flushing position, as shown in Fig. 7, the box B has been elevated practically to the position in which it is shown fragmentarily in Fig. 21. As box B continues thereafter to rise the end tuckers 243 contact the ends of the box B and end oranges in the layer As the box lifts the end tuckers 243 these end tuckers swing inwardly, tucking these end oranges inwardly over the box ends and holding these oranges in inward position as they are brought into contact with the lid L which is disposed immediately thereabove. As the oranges O' engage the lid L the lid is lifted bringing its ends against the lip 269 of the lid depressor and centralizer 244. The upward swinging of the end tuckers 243 causes the lid ends to engage the lips 269 and swing the centralizers 244 upward. In case one of the lid ends should not be of suflicient bulk to accomplish this the lid stop cam member 246 lifts this lid depressor and centralizer 244 substantially to the position in which this is shown in Fig. 22. In comparing Figs. 21 and 22, it is clear that the upward rocking of the end tuckers 243 on which the lid stop cam member 246 is mounted, inevitably brings this lid stop member against the element- 244 asthe box moves upwardly. Normally, of course, the member 244 is swung upwardly by the pressure of the cleated lid end against the lip 269 when the end of the box lifts on the tucker 243 and the latter pushes upward on the cleated lid end. Obviously, the centralizer body 249 and downwardly extending arcuate guards 249 engage the ends of the lid L and centralize this longitudinally for application to the box B. The guards 249 prevent the lid extending between an end tucker 243 and the centralizer body 249 thereabove.

. Y. the table 99 under power until the shut-oil cam Fig. 21 shows a cross-section of a chuck beam 299 in the position in which this remains until the box B has risen to press the ends of the lid L onto the ends oi the box by forcing the lid ends upwardly against the lips 269, these lips being then lifted by the lid ends and pressed upwardly against the bottoms of the chuck beams 299. Up

to this point the tension under which the springs 222 are maintained urges the chuck beams 299 into their lowermost positions on the sidev slide bars I99 as shown in Figs. 2,20, and 21. When the lid ends have thus been completely pressed upon the box B, however, further continued upward movement of the box B lifts the chuck beams 299 so as to cause the drivers 296 to drive nails N from the recesses 232 downwardly from between the chuck springs 226 and 236 through the lid ends, and into the ends of the box as clearly shown in Fig. 22. In the embodiment disclosed, the nails N and drivers296 do not move downwardly but remain stationary while the box and the lid are pushed upward onto the nails.

When the box B has been elevated to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 22 the release finger 2I9 on the chuck beam 299 of the nailing unit I99 (Figs. 3 and 3a) has been lifted to engage the head 311 on the safety shutofl rod 316, this engagement rocking the control shaft 369 so as to lift the pedal 312 against the action of the operator's foot and depress the eye 361 to neutralize the switch 343 and shut oi! the motor 66. When this occurs the operator releases the pedal 312, as shown in Fig. 4, this permitting the spring 314 to lift the rod 319 and thereby rock the shaft 369 to press the eye 361 downward and thus lower the stem 346 of the switch 343 to connect the conductors a, b, and c with the motor 66 through the reverse circuit The motor 66 is thus reversed and lowers I66 engages the arm 363 to rock the shaft 369 against the action of the spring 314, neutralize the switch 343, and shut oil. the motor 66. Following the shutting of! of the motor 66, the motor and the gear 91 continue to rotate owing to their momentum and are stopped by the gear housing brake 19 being forced downwardly by engagement therewith of the plungers 96, as

clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 10. This halts rotation of the motor 66 and gear 61 with the table 99 returned to its original position.

As the table 99 descends the side flushers II9 return to their outward position shown-in Fig. 6, this releasing the box from the longitudinal positioning cams I39 and swinging the downwardly extending arms I I4 inwardly to lift the receiving end of the tiltable conveyor I49 into its elevated position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 13, and release the stop I63 (Figs. 12, 14, and 15) so that it will be free to rise up into the path of the next box to be received by the machine 36.

Owing to the inclination of the conveyor I49 on the table 99, the box B is now automatically discharged from this tablev by gravity onto the discharge conveyor I93. Descent of the table 99 also causes the stop I16 to be depressed as shown the chuck beam stops I84 provided on the lower ends of the side slide bars I88. .This reciprocation of the chuck beams 288 in each nailing operation accomplishes through the links 284 the oscillation of the nail hoppers 288 between positions as shown in Figs.

downwardly inclined 21 and 23 and upwardly inclined positions as shown in Figs. 22 and 24. Y

A quantity of nails N are maintained in the hoppers 288 so that these are gradually fed into the slots 266 owing to the oscillation of the hoppers. The nails thus fed into the slots 286 slide downwardly in the slots beneath the transverse baille walls 268 and 218 and the traps 214. Thus, when the hoppers 268 rock downwardly. as shown in Fig. 23, the traps 214 retain the nails which have passed under these traps from returning back into the hopper. A supply of nails is thus always maintained in the slots 286 ad- Jacent the mouths thereof.

When the chuck beam 288 moves upwardly in each nailing operation, it not only tilts the hopper 268 upwardly, as shown in Fig. 24, but the roller 2i3 shown in Fig. 23 engages the picker operating cam lever 288 so as to shift the picker bar 28l into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 24. This causes a nail to be fed from the mouth of each of the slots 266 into the small now disposed opposite this slot. As the hopper 2'68 starts to swing downwardly the roller 2 l3 releases the lever 288 permitting the spring 286 to shift the picker bar 28| to its other position as shown in Fig. 23. This brings the notches 281 opposite the notches 268 in the front edge 261 of the floor 26! with this floor in downwardly inclined position as shown in Fig. 23. The nails N carried in the notches 281 are thus transferred to the notches 268. As the shifting of the picker bar 28L back to its nail receiving position starts before the hopper 268 has again been swung into its upwardly inclined position, the nails N thus delivered to the notches 268 remain in these notches when the picker bar 28! moves back to its position as shown in Fig. 24. Thus, with the upward swinging of the hoppers 268 the nails in the notches 268 are discharged therefrom through the large notches 288 and these nails fall downwardly into the nail funnels 231 with the latter positioned as shown in Fig. 22. Operating in this manner, the hoppers 268 deliver a single nail to each of the nail funnels 231 of each of thenailing units I88 cycle.

The operation of the strapper 38 occurs simultaneously and automatically during the operation of the nailing mechanism 38. In describing this, reference is made to Figs. 2, 21, 22, 26, 2'7, 28, and 29. When the ends of box B engage the end tuckers 243 so as to lift these upwardly from the positions indicated in Fig. 21 to the positions indicated in Fig. 22, the arms 245 on these end tuckers are swung downwardly, thus pulling down on the links 334 and the arms 333 of the shaft 332 so as to rock this shaft and move the wedge 338 from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 26 to v the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2". 'lin this action the wedge 338 engages the roller 38l and lifts the strapper stem 288 and saddle bar 382 so that the springs 3l6 swing the drivers 3" about the pins 388. This movement is transmitted through the toggles 323 to the jaws 3i8 so that the latter are swung into substantially ver- .tical positions as shown in Fig. 27. 'This action of the wedge 338 is thus seen to shape the ends of the strap S inwardly and bring the inner faces bar 382, as shown in Fig.

picker bar notch 281- and I88 during each nailing makes special care by entirely releasing it move the table of the jaws :3" into parallel relationship and spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the width of the box B. This inward swimi'ng oftheiawsllltakesplaee iustastheuppe'redges 6f the sides of the box B come opposite the lower jaws (Fla-2'1),v so that with portions of these further elevation of the box 3 the laws slide vertically on the sides of the box. owins to the box B being positioned between the laws 3". these laws cannot swing any further inwardlyv towards each other and the saddle bar 382 aceordinfll! is not lifted by contact of the lid L therewith until the pressure between the lid and the saddle bar is sufncient to compress the springs 8. when the latter is accomplished, however, the cover has been shaped laterally to conform to the saddle The final elevation of the box B to liftthe chuck beams 288 and complete the nailing, operation of the ends of the lid to the ends of the box lifts the saddle bar 382 to bring the rollers 328 on the toggles 323 into engagement with the oblique faces 288 of the driver release cams 281, as shown in Fig. 28, and this contact throws the rollers 328 outwardly over dead center, thus releasing the drivers 3l3 from being locked to the jaws M8 by the toggles 323 and permitting the springs 3I8 to swing the drivers 3'l3 suddenly inward, thus driving the pointed strap ends It into the sides of the box B and securing the ends of the strap 8 to the sides of the box, as shown in Fig. 29.

With the lowering of the table 88, the box 3 merely drops away from the strapper 38 and the strapper resumes the condition in which it is shown in Fig. 26 excepting for the fact that it is emptied of its strap.

It is noted that the crown sheet 3 is expansible vertically owing to the fact that its halves 348 are loosely connected to the strapper 38 (see Fig. 25) and the strapper 38 is yieldable vertically independently of the chuck beams 288 (see Figs. 26, 2'7, 28, and 29) to which the outer ends of the crown sheet are pivotally connected. It is preferable to limit this vertical expansibility of the crown sheet 3 by the strapper limit bar 288 which connects the chuck beams 288. In the drawing box B is shown as having a pack of medium height. The height limit bar 288 is thus shown in Figs, 28 and 29 as disposed a considerable distance above the bottom of the slot 883 in the strapper 38 through which thisbar extends. In the event a box with a pack of maximum height were to be strapped in the machine '36, the strapper 38 would be lifted so that the bottom of the slots 383 would engage the bar 288, thus limiting the upward extremity to which the center of the crown sheet could be lifted. This is for the purpose of preventing the arching of the lid L to the extent of drawing the ends of the lid inwardly, from their proper positions over the ends of the box.

' In the operation of the machine 35 the end tuckersand side flushers guard the edge rows of fruit in the superposed layer of oranges 0' and the operator for guarding these oranges almost unnecessary. However, the operator has complete control over the vertical movement of the table 88 at all times and is able manipulation of thefcot pedal 312 to either stop vertical movement of this table by neutralizing this pedal or by pressing the pedal down or 88 either upwardly or downwardly respectively.

when the lid L is forced upwardly by the and this is accomplished

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