US2228932A - Machine for making open boxes - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 14, 1941. H. B. THOMPSON MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN BOXES Filed June 18, 1938 '7 Sheets-Sheet l 5 mw m T40 m5. m Vl on@ m Hm WLM Jan. 14, 1941.` H. B. THoMPscN MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN BOXES Filed June 18, 1938 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR #5A/Hr T60/14H50 BY )VK Nava;

JQ 4 f( ATTOR Jan. 14, 1941. H. B. THOMPSON MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN BOXES Filed June 18, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN-ron `#5A/Ry THe/11,050

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7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 14, 1941. H. B. rTHOMPSON MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN BOXES Filed June 18, 1958 INVENTOR M/w27 ATTORNEYS '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 14, 1941. H. B. THOMPSON MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN BOXES Filed June 1a, 193s Jall- 14, 1941- H. B. THOMPSON 2,228,932

MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN BOXES Filed June 18, 1958 "7 Sheets-Sheet 6 /0'61 INVENTOR HFA/RJ 5. THMPSO/V Mmm Jan' 14, 1941 1H. B. THOMPSON 2,228,932

I MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN BOXES Filed June 18, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 f/////// Z u n lNvENToR MEA/Hy 5. WMM/50N ToNEYsz Patented Jan. 14, 1941 PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN BOXES Henry B. Thompson, Jenkintown, Pa., assgnor to Peter Paul, Inc., Naugatuck, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application June 18, 1938, Serial No. 214,470

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for making or forming open boxes or receptacles.

More specifically stated, the invention relates to an automatic machine for folding blanks into open receptacles or boxes.

The invention has for its salient object to provide a simple, practical and etlicient machine for forming open boxes or receptacles from blanks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described having relatively few parts that can be economically manufactured.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a machine of the character described so constructed and arranged that it can be easily and quickly adapted for making boxes of different sizes and dimensions.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, simplified blank folding and box forming mechamsm.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part of this application, and in which Fig. l is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention, the blank and supporting mechanism being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. l, this view being taken at right angles to Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation through r the blank supporting and feeding mechanism and the forming plate for forming the blanks into boxes or receptacles;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 6--6 of Fig 4;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 1--1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is` a perspective view of the forming block or plate which forms the blanks into receptacles as they are pushed downwardly therethrough;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the forming block;

Fig. l0 is an end elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on line II-ll of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is an exploded view of the parts which comprise the forming block;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken substantially on line |3-I3 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of a portion of the receptacle chain, illustrating the various positions of movement in which the folding of the 5 receptacles is completed, the receptacles are filled and the filled receptacles are discharged;

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional elevation of the mechanism for completing the folding of the receptacle. 10

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the box or receptacle as it is discharged from the forming block to the feed chain mechanism;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the completed box; and 1.5

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the loaded receptacle.

The invention comprises a plurality of mechanisms including means for feeding blanks, means for forcing the blanks through a form- 20 ing block or plate by which the blank is folded into an open receptacle or box, and means foi` completing the folding of the end aps.

The blank feeding mechanism is so constructed and arranged that the various parts may be adjusted to provide for the feeding of blanks of different sizes and dimensions.

The forming plate or block through which the blanks are pressed and by which the blank is folded into an open receptacle has its various parts so relatively constructed and arranged that the side flaps and end tabs will be folded upwardly and inwardly and the end flaps will be folded upwardly and over the upper ends of the end tabs in one operation. The blank thus folded or the receptacle thus formed then moves to another position in the position of movement of the receptacle feeding chain, in which latter position mechanism is provided for completing `the folding of the end flaps into their 4o nal position within the receptacle.V

Further details of the invention will appear from the following description.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the frame of the machine has a bed plate 25 45 which is provided with downwardly extending flanges 26, 26 and 21, 21.

Main driving connectgns The main driving shaft 28 is mounted in the 50 having a pin or roller 3| at the outer end thereof adapted to enter and coact with notches 92 in a Geneva wheel 33 mounted on a. shaft 34 supported in the flanges 21, 21 and disposed paralle] to the shaft 28.

The shaft 34 has also mounted thereon worm wheels 35 and 36 which mesh with worm wheels 31 and 38 mounted on vertical shafts 39. Shafts 39 have secured to the upper ends thereof sprocket wheels 40 and 4| which drive feed chains 42 and 43 which feed the receptacles through the machine and operate in a manner hereinafter set forth.

'I'he shaft 28 has also mounted thereon a sprocket wheel 45 which is connected by a sprocket chain 46 to drive a sprocket wheel 41 mounted on a shaft 48 which in turn is mounted in one of the flanges 21. l

The shaft 48 is connected to drive a shaft 49 through bevel gears 50 and 5| carried respectively by the shafts 48 and 49. The shaft 49 is mounted in brackets 52 carried by one of the flanges 21. Shaft 49 has also secured thereto a sprocket wheel 53 which is utilized in a manner hereinafter described to drive the blank feeding mechanism.

Blank supporting and feeding mechanism I'he blank supporting and feeding mechanism is illustrated particularly in Figs. 3-7 inclusive. The blanks X are supported on a plate 55 which is slidably mounted on rollers 56 and is reciprocatable to feed the blanks one at a time to a pair of coacting feed rollers 51 and 58.

The blanks X, as shown particularly in Fig. 5, are supported between vertical posts 60, 60 and 6|, 6|. The posts 6| are adjustably mounted by means of slots 62, 62 and pins 63, 63, the slots being formed in walls or vertical plates 64 mounted on a bracket 19 secured to the bed plate 25. The posts 60 are also secured to the walls or plates 64. By providing for the adjustment of the posts 6|, 6| with reference to the posts 60, 60, provision is made for supporting and holding blanks of different lengths. If desired, the posts may also be made adjustable laterally to provide for different widths of blanks.

The bottom blank of the pile of blanks is fed forward on each forward movement of the blank supporting plate 55 in the following manner: The supporting plate is slidably mounted between the vertical walls or plate 64, as shown particularly in Figs. 6 and 7. The plate 55 has formed therein downwardly extending recesses 65 and 66, in which are mounted adjustable blocks 61 and 68. Each block is carried by a pin 69 and can be tilted by adjustment of set screws 10 and 1|. After the blocks 61 and 68 have been adjusted to feed a blank of any required thickness, no further adjustment is needed until a blank having a different thickness is to be fed.

The blocks 61 and 68 engage at their front edges the rear edge of the lower blank when the plate 55 has been retracted to its extreme position and moves forwardly on its feeding movement.

The posts 60 can be vertically adjusted by means of the pin and slot connection 12 and 13 shown in Fig. 4, so that the bottoms of these posts will be spaced from the upper surface of the plate 55 a sufficient distance to permit the passage of a blank.

The reciprocation of the feeding and supporting plate 55 is accomplished in the following manner: The plate 55 has secured to the upper surface thereof near the rear end of the plate a block 15 having a vertical and downwardly extending notch or recess 18 therein.

A shaft 11 is rotatably mounted in blocks 18 slidably mounted in walls 64 which in turn are mounted on the bed plate 25 and the bracket 19. The shaft 11 has mounted thereon a sprocket wheel which is driven by a chain 8| from the sprocket wheel 53 carried by the shaft 49.

The shaft 11 has also mounted thereon an eccentric 82 which is disposed in an eccentric box or yoke 83 which forms a part of a lever 84 mounted on a pivot 85. The blocks 18 are vertically'adjustable by means of bolts 86 and are locked in adjusted position by lock nuts 81. It will be obvious that as the blocks 18, shaft 11 and eccentric 82 are vertically adjusted by raising or lowering the blocks 18. that the movement of the lever 84 by the eccentric 82 will be varied. thus a variable throw is provided to take care of different lengths of blanks.

The eccentric yoke or box 83 has threaded to its lower end thereof a post 88 having a ball 89 at the bottom thereof disposed in the recess 16 of the block 15. This threaded post 88 provides a micrometer adjustment for the throw of the blank feeding mechanism.

From the showing in Figs. 16 and 17 and also from the showing in Fig. 5, it will be seen that the blank X comprises a central or body portion A, side flaps B and C which are hinged to the body portion, each of the side flaps paying disposed at itsends end tabs D and E. f g

There are also connected to the central or body portion A, end flaps F and G, the end naps being divided into sections 90, 9| and 92. The sections 92 project laterally from the main body portion of the flaps F and G or are flared, as shown at 93.

When the blanks are supported for feeding movement the end tabs D and E are disposed between the vertically extending posts 60 and 6|. Furthermore, the end flaps F and G extend rearwardly between the posts 6|, 6| and forwardly between the posts 60, 60.

As the blanks are fed forwardly one at a time, the front end of the fed blank will be engaged by the pair of feed rollers 51 and 58 mounted on shafts 91 and 98. A shaft 99 has secured thereto a sprocket wheel 99 which is driven by the chain 8| which also drives the sprocket wheel 80.

The shaft 99 also has secured thereto a gear |00 which meshes with a gear |0| on the shaft 91 and drives the roller 51. Gear |0| also drives a gear 98 mounted on the shaft 98 and thus drives feed roll 58.

Blank folding or bor forming mechanism The forming plate or block through which the blanks are fed downwardly to the box feeding chain is illustrated particularly in Figs. 8-13 inclusive. The block comprises a pair of body members or side members |05 and |06 which are connected at their ends by end body members |01 and |08. The inner walls of the members |05 and |06 are beveled or inclined, as shown at |09, and the end walls |01 and |08 are also beveled or inclined, as shown particularly in Fig. 13 at H0.

The members |05 and |06 have secured to the upper surfaces thereof plates and ||2 and have also secured above the plates and ||2 members ||3 and ||4 having horizontal flanges or overhanging portions ||5 and ||6 which form grooves ||1 and I| 8 above the plates and ||2.

As the blanks are fed forwardly by the feed rollers 51 and 58, the lateral edge portions move into the grooves ||1 and ||8 of the forming blocks. The ends of the flanges ||5 and ||6 which receive the blanks are curved or flared, as shown at |8, and are also curved downwardly, as shown at |20 in Fig. 10.

The end body portion |08 has mounted on the upper surface thereof a pair of blocks I2| and |22 which are pivoted on the member |08 and are held in adjusted position by screws |23. 'Ihe inner ends |24 of the blocks |2| and |22 are so adjusted as to engage the front edges of the front tabs E, E when the blanks are fed by the feed rolls 51 and 58 into the grooves ||1 and ||8 of the forming blocks.

The lower ends of the side members |05 and |06 of the forming blocks are notched, as shown at |25, to permit the downward passage of the blanks and not interfere with the passage oi' the flared ends of the end iiaps F and G. When the blanks are positioned on the forming plate or block for downward movement therethrough and through the opening |26, the end tabs E, E are disposed on ledges |21, |21 and the end tabs D, D are disposed on ledges |28, |28. When the blank is so positioned the central portion A thereof is engaged by a plunger |30, (see Fig. 4), and the downward movement of the plunger causes the end tabs D and E to fold upwardly and causes the side flaps B and C to also fold upwardly. Furthermore, the end flaps F and G will be folded upwardly by engagement with the inclined surfaces ||0, ||0. 'I'he notches |25 will permit the downward passage therethrough of the flared ends of the end flaps F and G.

When the blank has been forced downwardly through the central opening |26 in the forming block, the blank will be folded to theposition shown in Fig. 16.

The plunger |30 which feeds the blanks downwardly into the receptacle feeding chain is carried by a vertically slidable rod |3| which is slidably mounted in a bracket |32 carried by a vertical frame |33. The upper end of the rod |3| is connected by a link |34 to an arm |35 which is carried by a shaft |36 mounted to'oscillate in the frame |33. The shaft |36 also has mounted thereon a gear |31 which meshes with a gear |38 carried by a shaft |38 also rotatablycured on the lower end thereof an eccentric yoke |42 in which is positioned an eccentric |43 mounted on the shaft 28. As the eccentric rotates the yoke and link |4| will be actuated thereby, thus oscillating the arm |40,`shaft |36 and gears |38 and |31. As the gear |31 is oscillated the shaft |36 will also be oscillated, thus actuating the arm |35 to raise and lower the plunger |30.

The shaft |38 has also secured thereto an arm |45 which is connected by a link |46 to a cross head or bar |41. 'I'he bar |41 has secured thereto and extending downwardly therefrom three vertical posts |48, |48 and |50, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

Receptacle feeding chain i This construction is lparticularly illustrated in Fig. 14 and the driving connections therefor are shown in Fig. 2.

The feeding chains 42 and 43, as above stated,

are driven by sprocket wheels 40 and 4I mounted on the shafts 38, 88. These chains are guided into parallel relation with each other around idler sprocket wheels and |56 which are adjustably mounted in the slots |51 in the bed plate 25. The chains are guided at the other ends of their parallel paths of movement by means of idler sprocket wheels |58, |58 slidably mounted or adjustably mounted in slots |58.

From the sprocket wheels |58, |58 the chains pass around a pair of idler sprocket wheels |60, |60 also adjustably mounted in slots 16|. From the sprocket wheels |60, |60 the chains pass on the return lap to the sprocket wheels 40, 4|.

Each of the chains 42, 43 has secured to its links a plurality of blocks |63 and each block has a plate or web |84 formed thereon. The blocks and webs are so relatively located on the two chains that a web |64 on one chain will be disposed opposite a web |64 on the other chain and the two adjacent webs on one chain will form with the two adjacent webs on the other chain a rectangular enclosure or pocket for receiving the folded receptacles, as shown in Fig. 14.

Thus, when the blanks are forced downwardly 2 through the forming block they will pass into successive enclosures or rectangular receiving and guiding portions of the feeding chains.

The adjustments for the various idler sprocket wheels above described are provided for the purpose of changing the spacing of the chains relative to each other so as to receive receptacles of different lengths.

It will be understood that the chains 42 and 43, as they move around their paths, are disposed with their webs |64 disposed adjacent the upper surface of the bed plate of the machine so that the receptacles will be pressed downwardly into the feeding chains and will be supported by the bed plate during the feeding movement thereof.

End flap folding 'mechanism The completion of the folding of the end flaps is accomplished in the following manner: As shown particularly in Figs. 14`and 15. a pair of plates |65 and |66 is mounted above the parallel laps of the chains 42 and 43, these plates having inclined edges |61 at the entering ends thereof.

When the receptacle has been formed by the passage of a blank through the forming block r and has been pressed into one of the chamber receiving closures, as shown at Y in Fig. 14, the end flaps will be disposed in the position shown.

The feeding chains operate intermittently by reason of the feed derived from the Geneva wheel and as the chain advances the end flaps F and G will be engaged by the inclined edges |61 of the plates |65 and |66 and will pass beneath the plates in the manner shown particularly in Fig. 15.

When the feeding chains have advanced the receptacles to the position shown at R in Fig. 14, the posts |50 will be depressed and the ends |10 and |1| of a yoke |12 carried by the lower end of the post or rod |50 will engage the end flaps F and G and will press them downwardly so that the end flaps will engage the inner surfaces of the folded tabs D and E and will form the inner end walls of the receptacle. Furthermore, the lower ends of the yoke ends |10 and |1| will cause the end sections 82, 82 to be folded at right angles to the sections 8|, 8| and against the bottom of the receptacles.

The flared ends or projections 83 on the lateral edges of the flaps F and G will frictionally engage the inner surfaces of the side walls of the receptacle and will thus hold the end flaps in folded condition.

In order to provide a slight friction on the loaded receptacle after it reaches the position T and to prevent its dropping by gravity into the discharge chute, a spring pressed plunger 200 is slidably mounted in a guideway 20| and is resiliently actuated by a spring 202 to engage the front wall of the loaded receptacle disposed at the position T. The spring 202 can be adjusted to any desired tension by an adjustment shown at 203.

From the foregoing specification it will be seen that simple, practical and eicient automatic mechanism has been provided for feeding the blanks, folding the blanks into open receptacles, and completing the folding of the end tabs.

Furthermore, in the mechanism above described, provision has been made for adjustment so that blanks of different sizes can be handled. Moreover, particular attention is called to the fact that the blanks fed to the forming block are folded into open receptacles by one operation, thus eliminating the usual complicated folding arms and folding mechanism used to form the several folds necessary to fold the blanks into the receptacles.

f `ithough one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that theinvention is capable of modification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. Ina machine for folding blanks having a central bottom forming portion, end flaps at the ends of said portion, side flaps at the sides of said portion and end tabs at the ends of said side flaps, a forming block having an opening for receiving said central portion and stationary folding forms surrounding said opening and so disposed as to successively fold the end tabs upwardly, fold the side flaps up at right angles to the central bottom portion and the end tabs inwardly and to fold the end flaps upwardly at right angles to the bottom portion to form receptacles open at the top and outside the end tabs.l and means for feeding the blanks, one at a time through said block opening.

2. In a machine for folding blanks having a central bottom forming portion, end flaps at the ends of said portion, side flaps at the sides of said portion and end tabs at the ends of said side flaps, a forming block having an opening for receiving said central portion and stationary folding forms surrounding said opening and so disposed as to successively fold the end tabs upwardly, fold the side flaps up at right angles to the central bottom portion and the end flaps upwardly at right angles to the bottom portion to form receptacles open at the top and outside the end tabs, means for feeding the blanks, one at a time through said block opening, receptacle feeding mechanism including pockets for receiving and feeding the receptacles, means above the path of movement of the receptacles for folding the end fiapsinwardly above the receptacles, and means above the path of movement of the receptacles for forcing the end flaps downwardly into the receptacles and inside the end tabs.

3. In a machine for folding blanks having a central body portion, end flaps on the body portion, side flaps and end tabs on the side flaps into open receptacles, a forming block having fixed portions so constructed and arranged as to successively cause the side flaps to fold upwardly, the end tabs to fold upwardly and inwardly and the ends flaps to fold up outside the end tabs when the blank is forced downwardly through the block, receptacle feeding mechanism including pockets for receiving and feeding the receptacles, means above the path of movement of the receptacles for folding the end flaps inwardly above the receptacles, and means above the path of movement of the receptacles for forcing the end flaps downwardly into the receptacles and inside the end tabs.

4. In a machine for folding blanks having a central body portion, end flaps on the central portion, side flaps and end tabs on the side flaps into open receptacles, a forming block having a central opening to receive said blank body portion, inclined surfaces at the ends of said opening to receive and fold the end flaps, inclined surfaces at the sides of the opening to receive and fold the side flaps, ledges at the sides of the end inclined surfaces for supporting the end tabs and causing the end tabs to be folded upwardly and inwardly as the blank is forced downwardly and before the end flaps are folded, whereby the end flaps are disposed outside the end tabs inthe open ended receptacle, means for feeding blanks and means for engaging the blanks from above and forcing the blanks through the forming block,

HENRY B. THOMPSON.

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