US1943840A - Box making machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 16, 1934. RQW

BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR fiederci F2 How My. ATTORNEY Jan. 16, 1934. F. R. ROW

BOX MAKING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20. 1932 INVENTDH Fiederz'cl? 72-Hour B5 WMU'Q' ATTY- Jan. 16, .1934. F. R. ROW

BOX MAKING. MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mi m vk 9 PPMMZ ATTORNEY Jan. 16, 1934.- F. R. ROW

BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FredericZ 1?. Hour BY Q31 Y Jan. 16, 1934.

Filed Feb. 20, 1932 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm 3w Now Na Ru h m M Q W .T. 7 WP QN\ (NM. M .Z w a W Pa mw mm 4 9w E E mm mw ox WW \W Qww wk hm. .ii .il mm .0, l K SN E Q mm @M mm m 0k .1 E Q r .WM.$W|N

R 9 W ATTORNEY '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTEJR.

F. P. ROW

BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20,

Jan. 16, 1934.

Jan. 16, 1934. F. R. ROW

BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1932 7 SheetsSheet 7 DON WON

' ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 16, 1934 BOX MAKING moms Frederick R. Row, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application February 20, 1932. Serial No. 594,257

37 Claims.

This invention relates to methods and machines for making and driving staples and assembling blanks for'boxes, crates and other containers, and more particularly to machines for stapling binding wire to moving container parts, though it is noted that in some of the claims the invention is not limited to work on container parts nor in some respects even to stapling.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of this kind in which the stapling mechanism moves along with the container parts during stapling.

Another object of the invention is to'provide an apparatus of this kind in which the stapling mechanism is fluid pressure actuated, and the actuating means is set in operation independently of the conveying means for conveying the container parts.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved adjustable frame for an apparatus or device of this kind, for making'containers of different sizes, and an improved staple forming and drive mechanism.

Other objects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicity and efiiciency of such methods and machines and to provide a machine of this kind which is economical, durable and reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described and claimed, the invention is not limited to these, since many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in the broader claims.

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objects are shown herein in connection with an improved container-blank making machine which, briefly stated, includes suitable drive means driving spaced parallel conveyor chains carrying adjustable positioning means for positioning container parts on the chains and moving them beneath a swinging cradle bar adjustably carrying stapling units.

Each unit comprises a valve-controlled cylinder, a piston, and piston operated hammer drive rod adapted when the valve is actuated to actuate a staple forming mechanism disposed in a casing secured to the cylinder and having a vertical bore receiving said hammer rod. Means are provided for guiding binding wire under the casing. and for feeding a length of stapling wire across said bore on each tip-stroke of the drive rod.

The cut off and staple forming means in said bore is connected to said drive rod and adapted to cut off wire and to form the cut oil piece into a staple on the down-stroke of the drive rod;

Fig. 1 is a fragmental side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the machine, with parts broken away, to show the stapling mechanisms, the chain also being omitted to show the sprockets more clearly.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the machine as in Fig. 1 with certain parts omitted.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the speed changing gear mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section substantially in the plane of the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, showing the chain guides or tracks and means for adjusting the frame side members to suit different width boxes.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged iragmental sectional view showing a part of a conveyor chain and guides therefor.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the chain links showing adjustable positioning blocks for the box cleats and the adjustable spacer fingers for parts'of the box sides.

Figs. 9 and 10 are side views of cam wheels for controlling the stapling of various types of containers.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the piston head of the stapling unit.

Fig. 12 is a fragmental elevation, on an enlarged scale of the lower part of the stapling unit showing the wire feed.

Fig. 13 is a bottom end view of the stapling unit part as in Fig. 12.

Figs. 14 and 15 are vertical axial sectional views taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. 12, showing the staple forming and drive mechanism before and after driving a staple respectively.

Fig. 16- is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, showing the staple hammer.

Fig. 1? is a fragmentary perspective view of the staple forming tubular wire-cut-ofi bolt member.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 18-18 of Fig. 14, showing the lower portion of the tubular bolt member, and shows said member in the act of forming the loop of a staple.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional view of part of a box showing the staples driven into the wood and holding the binding wire bound to the wood.

Figs. 20 and 21 are views showing stapled crate and box members, respectively, dotted lines showing the spacing blocks of the chain in their respective positions.

Fig. 22 is an elevation of the wire cut-01f mechanism.

Fig. 23 is a diagrammatic view of the wire cutoif mechanism showing the cutting mechanism about to cut the wire between two boxes.

Fig. 24 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of the cradle bracket for holding the stapling mechanism, the broken lines indicating two rocking positions.

The machine as a whole The various mechanisms of the machine and their functions will first be very briefly indicated, after which they will be described in detail.

Spaced conveyor chains 35 carrying positioning means (Fig. 8) for container blanks (Figs. 8, 19, 20, 21) are adjustably supported on trackways 45 (Figs. 3 and 17) and sprockets 30, 31, 32, 33 carried on drive and idler shafts 15, 22. Means 21, 24, 27 are provided for adjusting the idler shaft 22 toward or from the drive shaft, and there are means 46, 47, 50 for adjusting the distance between the tracks and sprockets and the chains carried thereby. A cradle 86, 87 (Fig. 2) comprising a transverse bar 86 hanging over the chains carries stapling units adjustable on the bar, for different kinds of containers to be stapled, each stapling unit comprising a cylinder 92 (Fig. 11), piston operated hammer drive rod 172 and a valve controlling the piston for operating the hammer rod.

A casing 121 (Fig. 14) secured to and below the cylinder is provided with a vertical bore 125, a grooved roller 139 (Fig. 5) for'guiding binding wire under bore, and a guide block 140 (Fig. 13) in the lower part of said casing, having a cutting face 141 is provided with a perforation 142 adapted to guide staple wire 143 across said bore and above the binding wire. The staple wire is fed by feeding means 149 to 164 (Fig. 12) once on each drive-rod up-stroke. A collar 173 (Fig. 14) on the drive rod supports an interiorly shouldered tubular bolt member 176 slidable in said bore having a cutting face 186 (Fi 17).

A latch 180, 181 on said bolt member engages under said collar, whereby when the piston descends, the bolt member is driven down to cause said faces 141, 186 to engage each other, to cut off wire, the bolt member forming the cut off wire, into a staple, over a forming member 188 (Fig. 14) in the lower part of the casing.

A cam face 183 (Fig. 15) releases the latch from the collar after the member has formed the staple, and another cam face 197 withdraws the forming member 188 after the staple is formed, to allow a hammer 206 on said drive rod to drive the staple, after the collar 173 has been V released.

The means for operating the valves include an arm 216 (Fig. 4) connected by operating means 113, 115, 116 (Fig. 11) to the valve rods 111 and engaged by adjustable cam blocks 219 (Fig. 4) on a cam wheel 218 rotatable from said drive shaft 15 by means of a suitable change speed mechanism 223 to 233 for adjusting for (Figs. 20 and 21) different sizes and kinds of container blanks.

Means (Fig. 22) including cutting knives 250. 255 are operated by a pin 244 (Fig. 4) on the cam wheel for cutting the binding wire 63 be- I My improved machine for stapling wire to box sections comprises a pair of forward side frames 10, 11, (Figs. 1 and 3), and a pair of rear side frames 12, 13 adapted to be secured to atbase or floor, and held in spaced relation by suitable shouldered tie bolts 42, 43.

The rear side frames are provided with bosses 14 adapted to receive a transverse conveyor-drive shaft 15 having its ends extending a distance beyond the outer side frames and carrying a changespeed step-gear cone 16 at one end and a drive pulley 17 at the other, the mid portion of the said shaft being provided with a keyway 18 adapted to be engaged by a key later to be described.

The idler shaft adjusting means It has been found necessary to keep the chain conveyor taut while in use and sometimes a few links have to be withdrawn to suit the formation of certain size boxes or crates, therefore I have an adjusting means now to be described.

The forward frames 10, 11 are provided with inverted T-slot trackways 20 at the upper edge on which slide axially alined bearing blocks 21 and 21 carrying the idler shaft 22. A transverse actuating shaft 23 rotatably mounted in the frames at the forward ends of said trackways carries a crank 24 and sprockets 25 fast thereon. Sprockets 26 are also mounted at the rear end of the trackways; and sprocket chains 2'7 disposed around said "sprockets adjacent to said tracks respectively have their ends secured to adjacent bearing blocks 21, whereby rotation of the crank 24 adjusts the blocks in synchronism, thus adjusting the distance between the shafts 15 and 22 as for tightening the chains.

The transverse drive shaft 15 and the adjustable idler shaft 22 respectively carry flanged conveyor sprockets 30, 31, 32, 33. The sprockets 30. 32 are fast on the shaft, while the sprockets 31. 33 are slidably keyed to the key-ways 18. Each sprocket has long flat faces 35 forming a hexagonal periphery receiving the box-part conveyor chains 36.

When it is necessary to tighten or otherwise adjust the conveyor chain, it is only necessary to turn the crank handle 24, causing the conveyor shaft bearing brackets 21 to slide in synchro-' nism to their adjusted positions, while the pawl 37 (Fig. 1) and ratchet 38 hold the bearing brackets 21 locked against retrograde move ment.

Width adjusting mechanism The means for adjusting distance between the chains adapts the machine for different sizes of containers.

Intermediate side frames 40, 41 (Figs. 3 and 6) respectively stationary and transversely slidable on tie bolts 42, 43 are respectively alined with the fast and slidable drive sprockets and are provided with horizontal upper edge trackways 45 (Fig. 7) slidably supporting intermediate parts of the upper course of the conveyor chains 35.

Transverse threaded rods 46, 47 rotatably received in and connecting opposite ends of said intermediate frames have threaded engagement with the slidable frame 41, and are held against longitudinal movement transverse to the stationary frame 40 by collars 48 (Fig. 6)

A handle crank 50 on one of the rods, and

sprockets 51 fast on said rods near the stationary frame and carrying an endless chain 52 (Fig. 1) connecting said rods, serve for adjusting the position of the slidable frame 41. Spool-shaped hubs 54 fast on the slidable conveyor. sprockets 31, 33 have annular grooves therearound respectively receiving forked outer ends 55 of sprocket shift arms 56, carried fast on a sleeve 5'7 fast on the slidable frame 41 and sliding on tie rods 43, to hold the slidable sprocket and frame alined, when said crank 50 is rotated to shift them and the conveyor chains. v

When it is necessary to change the distance between said conveyor chains to suit a different width box section, the adjustment may easily be accomplished by turning the crank handle 50.

This handle, which has been explained, operates the screw rods 46, 4'7, causes the movable intermediate frame 41 to slide in or out as the need may be: and in so sliding said frame carries the forked arms 56 which engage the spoolshaped hubs 54 of the slidable sprockets, which sprockets slide also, laterally shifting the conveyor chain to the new positions.

Container part positioning means A suitable number of the links 60 (Figs. 1 and 8) of the conveyor chains are with positioning means for positioning box sides 61 (Fig. 21), or crate strips 62, (Fig. 20) and cleats 63 therein in proper position for stapling together.

Said positioning means comprises a longitudinal flange plate 65 (Fig. 8) secured to the inner vertical side face of the link, and formed with an upwardly projecting Web 66 and a, horizontal web 6'7 both provided with forwardly shouldered transverse locking teeth 68 on one wide face and a longitudinal groove 69 in the opposite face.

Top and side slide blocks '70, '71 are mounted on the respective flanges, each block having a deep transverse recess '72 and a deep longitudinal recess or groove '73 communicating with the transverse recess 72 and receiving the flange 67 or 68, the groove or recess '73 being provided with teeth, 74 (Fig. '7) conforming to and engaging the locking teeth 68, whereby the block may be slipped laterally on to the web.

Spring pressed latches 75 are intermediately fulorumed in the transverse recesses respectively, and each has an inturned hook end '76 adapted to engage in the adjacent groove to adjustably hold the block on the web.

An angle iron '77, '78 fixed along the conveyor track 45 has an inner web 7'7 adjacent to the outer edge of the track, adapted to laterally engage a cleat 63 resting longitudinally on the link against the forward face of the upper block '70 between said angle iron and upper web 66.

An upright bar or finger secured on the lower block serves to engage the side edge of, and to position, crate strips or box sides lying transversely across the chains,-fiat on the cleats, whereby the box or crate parts, when manually placed in position near the forward part of the machine, are carried by the chains toward the rear thereof and the stapling heads or units (Figs. 1 and 2).

stapling head cradle The stapling heads or units 85 are carried on a transverse bar 86 of a cradle bracket 86, 87

(Figs. 5 and 24) having upright arms 8''! pivoted on bushings 88' in the upper ends of uprights or side arms 8'7 on the rear side frames 12, 13. The lower portions of the said stapling mechanism are disposed a suitable distance above the conveyor chains, for accurate operation in the stapling of wire to the box sections.

The cradle bar adjustably supports the several stapling heads, which are slidably attached to the bar, the bar being rectangular in cross section and held in recesses 88 (Figs. 5 and 11) in the rear portion of the stapling heads by clamp plates'89 bolted over the recesses and bar.

The stapling heads Any suitable number of stapling heads 85 (Figs. 2 and 5) and associated wire cut-off mechanisms may be provided, three being herein shown for the proper construction of boxes or crates as herein illustrated, but more or fewer of these mechanisms could be used, if need be, for the construction of boxes of another type.

To adjust the stapling heads 85 to other positions for boxes of different widths it is only necessary to loosen the clamp plate bolts 90 and slide the heads along the bar to any desired position and then tighten said bolts.

The stapling cylinder to 18) below the cylinder and operated by said rod 94, and under which the box parts are carried by the conveyor chain and positioning means. A slide valve on the side of each cylinder is at times operated to admit pressure medium to the respective ends of the cylinder to cause downward driving thrust and return movement of the piston rod.

Pressure andexhaust pipes 97, 98 (Fig. 2) disposed above said units -feed hose 99, 100 extending from said pipes respectively to the inlet and exhaust ports 101, 102 (Fig. 11) of the various units of the valve chest 103. A valve 104 in and controlling the pressure pipe is operated by a manual control rod 105 extending to the side of the machine.

Said inlet port 101 is threaded to receive the connection 106 pressure hose 99 and connects with pressure passages 10'7 communicating with opposite ends of the bore of the valve chest receiving the slide valve 95. Said passage forms the inlet for the pressure medium into said bore.

A pair of ports 168 at opposite ends of said bore extend from the bore to the cylinder and form the cylinder ports for the pressure medium into the pressure cylinder, adapted to feed the said pressure medium alternately to opposite ends of the pressure cylinder.

The slide valve in said bore is formed with end heads 110, connected to a valve rod 111, said heads being adapted to control the passages 107, 108 of the slide valve bore.

The valve chest is provided'with a packing 112 adapted to guide on the slide valve stem 111. The upper portion of the said stem is threaded and carries a pair of adjustable ball nuts 113, between which is disposed the outer perforated end of a lever arm 115 attached to a squared rocker shaft 116 provided with rounded ends received in the bushings 88 (Fig. 24). The ends of said arms 115 have perforations received on the said valve stem 111 between said nuts whereby the slide valve may be operated from said shaft 116, as will be explained.

When the slide valve is moved to'its lowest position, the lower valve head 110 cuts off the pressure supply from the lower cylinder port and allows the pressure medium to pass over the top of the slide valve and into the upper cylinder port 108 thereby causing the pressure piston 93 to drop and the pressure medium in the lower portion of the pressure cylinder will then exhaust through the lower cylinder port 108 and between the slide valve heads to the exhaust port 102.

After the slide valve has been lowered as above stated, so as to cause the piston 93 to move down, it is raised by the action of the spring 117 (Fig. 11), whereupon the pressure medium which may be steam is introduced through the lower passage 108 and the piston thereby raised, the upper end of the cylinder exhausting through the upper passage 108 and the exhaust port 102.

The stapiing mechanism support Integral with and below the pressure cylinder 92 is a connecting housing 118 (Fig. 11), the lower end of which carries the stapling mechanism. The connecting housing is somewhat in the form of a tube with an open side 119, leaving exposed certain parts of the pressure drive. The lower portion of the said tube is formed as a band 120 adapted to engage the upperportion of the casing or housing 121 (Figs. 12 to 15) for the stapling mechanism. The upper part of the connecting housing comprises a partition 122 which forms the lower head of the cylinder and carries the packing box 123 receiving the piston rod 94.

The stapling mechanism casing 121 is formed with a vertical bore 125 (Figs. 13 and 14) alined with the piston rod and provided with diametrically opposite front and rear vertical, interior, lower end guide slots or grooves 127, 128, and with exterior lateral flange extensions 129, all in a plane transverse to the path of the chains.

The staple mechanism casing 121 (Fig. 13) is cylindrical in shape and is divided along a diametric plane. as at 132 along its entire length in the plane of said extensions to form a body portion 133 and a cover portion 134.

The body and cover portions are shaped to form a reduced diameter at their upper end 135 which engages in said band 120 (Fig. 11) in the lower portion of the connecting housing. The body and cover portions are held together by bolts in said flange extensions 129, 130.

Binding wire feeding mechanism It is necessary to feed the binding wire 137 (Fig. 5) to the container parts from a suitable supply. Means for this purpose comprise a rod 138 passing through the rear side frames 12, 13 just above the chains and forward of the stapling mechanism, and grooved guide rollers 139, adjuztable on said rod, whereby binding wire, stapled to the box parts, is guided under and against said rollers, while drawn by the movement of the conveyed box parts, the wire being drawn diametrically under the stapling mechanism to be thereby stapled to the box parts.

Staple wire feeding and cutting mechanism A guideblock 140 (Figs. 12 and 13) mounted in the lower part of said casing transverse to the binding wire 137 and in the plane of the guide slots 127, 128 is provided with a vertical beveled inner end face 141 forming a cutting edge and with a perforation 142 adapted to receive and guide staple wire 143 diametrically across said casing bore 125, in the plane of said guide slots 127, 128, from supply rolls 145 (Fig. 2).

One of the flange extensions 130 (Fig. 12) is extended considerably further than the others and supports the wire feed mechanism as will be explained.

A pair of intermeshed gears 147, 148 and a pair of peripherally roughened and grooved feed wheels 149, 150 secured fast on said gears respectively are rotatably mounted stud shafts or bolts 151, 152 on said flange, disposed one above the other.

The rods or pulleys 145 above the machine supply staple wire between the feed wheels 149, 150 of the respective pairs, and thence to said perforations 142. A ratchet 154 fast with the wheel 149 is engaged by pawl means operated by the upstroke of the piston rod for feeding a length of staple wire across said bore, as will now be described.

The piston rod 94 is provided with a collar 155- attached thereto and adapted to engage on its upward stroke an intermediate bump 156 on a lever arm 157 pivoted to a lug 158 integral 00 with the wall of the connecting housing. Said lever 157 which is raised by the collar 155 to operate the staple wire feed mechanism, extends through a slot 160 in the said wall and is pivoted to the upper end of a vertical link 161 having its lower end pivoted to a ratchet arm 162 pivoted on the feed wheel stud shaft 151. I,

Said arm 162 carries a pawl 163 engagingthe teeth of the ratchet disk 154. The spring 164 serves to lower the link and ratchet arm on the down stroke of the piston. A spring held detent pawl 163 engages the lower face of ratchet disc 154 to prevent overthrow on the up-stroke. When the bump 161 on the arm 162 nears its lower limit of movement, it forces the detent 115 pawl 163' from the disk 154, whereupon the pawl 163 may rotate the disk until the long tooth face 154 is in position to be engaged by the detent pawl when the bump 162 leaves the detent pawl. The detent pawl then yieldably engages 12C the disk and may abut the next tooth end-shoulder 154" when the pawl 163 completes its upward movement.

The smaller disk 150 and gear 148 are rotatably mounted on the stud 152 of which the bearing 125 portion 165 is eccentric to its threaded portion 166 and formed integral with a lever handle 167. The lock nut 168 engages a shoulder on the stud 152 and is sufficiently loose to allow the lever handle 167 to be drawn by the spring 167 in 132' the direction indicated by the arrow X, to cause the eccentric bearing portion of the stud to yieldably carry the disk 150 closer to the larger disk 151, thereby always to provide sufficient pressure on the wire between said disks to prevent the staple wire from slipping while being fed to the sapling mechanism.

It has been found necessary at times to feed longer or shorter lengths of wire to the said mechanism to form various length staples, therefore I have made the bolt shaft 151 and ratchet wheel 154 removable so that the mechanism can be readily changed to feed wire to suit the desired length of staple.

Llf.

Staple forming and dividing mechanism The piston rod 94 (Fig. 11) is provided with a lower end bore 170 provided with screw threads engaging threads 171 provided on the upper end 1513 of the hammer drive rod 172, carrying a cylindrical collar 1'73 (Fig. 14) fast on its lower, end.

This collar slides in a vertical bore 175 o! a sleeve bolt member 176 slidable in the casing bore and provided with lateral guide flanges 177,178 (Fig. 13) engaging in said guide slots 127, 128. The bore is provided with an upper end plug 178 (Fig. 14) forming a. shoulder engaging over said collar, whereby the bolt member is raised by the collar when the piston 931s raised.

Said bolt member 176 has a vertical slot 1'79 in one side receiving a spring pressed latch 1&0, 181 intermediately pivoted ina cam in saidslot and having its lower end in acam slot 182 in the casing, and its upper end 181 normally engaging under said collar 173, whereby when the drive rod 172 is lowered, the bolt member is lowered inthe casing until the latch 180, 181 reachesthe lower end face 183 of the cam slot, whereby the latch is cammed from engagement with the collar, allowing the collar and hammer drive rod to pass down to the position of Fig. 15. The guide flange 1721 (Figs. 13 and 17) is provided with a lug 185 having a vertical beveled face 186 engaging when the beveled lace ltll of said block 140 to cut off, at a sharp angle, the staple wire led through the perforation 1.42, over a. forming member 198 (Figs. 14 and 18) normally inwardly yicldably pressed diametrically lntosaid casing bo e just below the path oi iced oi the staple wire.

The forming member 128 comprises an inwardly spring pressed body member slidable over a roller 189 rotatable on a pin 190 disposed across a radial guide opening 191 in the lower part of the casing. The forming member is provided with a reduced forming portion 192 at the inner end, which portion projects into the bore 01 the bolt member through a vertical slot 195 provided on both sides of a reduced portion 196, with two cam faces 19'? engageable with cam laces 199 on I the forming member to retract the forming menu-- her.

it link 200 pivoted on a pin 201 mounted in the outer end of the forming member, and on a pivot pin 202 mounted on the upper part or the casing helps to guide the forming member; and the forming member is pressed yieldably inward by springs 203 tensioned between pins 201 and 190.

The hammer rod 172 (Fig. 14) is provided with a lower end bore adapted to receive the shank 205 (Fig. 16) of a staple hammer 206, the shank being held in place by a set screw engaging in an. annular groove 208, giving the hammer freedom to turn for adjustment, but preventing the said hammer from becoming disengaged.

Staple forming and driving As the piston rod is raised to its upper position, the wire feed means are caused to actuate the ratchet and feed wheels 149, 150 and feed a de sired length of staple wire through the perforation 142 in the guide block; and as the said pressure rod is forced down, it will cause the hammer 206 and bolt member 176, which are held together as a unit by the said latch 180, 181, to be also pushed down, forcing the said bolt member onto the staple wire, whereupon a beveled knife edge faces 141, 186 out off the wire at a sharp angle, thus forming points on the main and cut-off portions of the wire.

The cut-off piece will then be disposed across the forming member, and further movement of the bolt member bends the piece to the position as shown in Fig. 18, wherein the bolt member 176 is shown forcing the tree ends 210 of the piece downward over the forming member 188, which then projects across the lower end or the bore 1'75. Downward movement of said bolt member bends the cut-oi! piece of wire across the forming member 188, carrying the ends 210 downward in the guide slots 213 of the bolt member to tom the staple in position to straddle the binding wire 13! (Fig. 19) received in the diametric grooves 211 (Figs. 13 and 17) and be driven through the side or strip into the cleat. At this instant the cam laces 197, 198 on the bolt and forming members engage and enact the camming back or the formlng member.

A spring 211 compressed between the plug 178' and the collar 155, tends to hold the bolt member 176 in its lowest position relative to the rod 122, after the end of latch 180 engages the cam face 133. As stated the former 192 is withdrawn, after the staple is formed.

Then the latch end 180 engages the end ram i'ace 183 and unlocks the drive rod 172 from the bolt member, whereupon the bolt member, under the influence of the spring 211 moves down with the drive rod and collar 1'72 until the bolt member strikes the container part and is arrested. Then the hammer 206 on the lower end of the drive rod moves down and drives the staple.

The hammer head 206 (Fig. 16) is provided with longitudinal side ribs or guides 212 which engage in grooves 213 (Fig. 13) provided in the lower portion of the bore oi the bolt member.

Adjustable bolsters When the staples are being driven, the ends or the box sides or crate strips are supported by the chain link (Fig. 7) and trachway. Additional means are necessary to support or bolster the intermediate parts of the container sides. 'l o this end there are provided one or more anvils or bolsters 215 (Figs. 2 and 3) adlustably slidably mounted on tie rods 42, 43 under the intermediate stapling unit or units 55, each anvil having its upper face disposed at a level to engage under the W box container part disposed under such inter mediate units, to support such part as the staple is driven.

Valve operating means 1% The cam wheel A cam wheel 218 rotatably mounted on a rear frame member below the trip arm, is driven from. the drive shall: by an adjustable drive train, later to be described, whereby said cam wheel is driven a predetermined number of complete revolutions every time the conveyor chains makes a complete cycle.

Settable cam blocks 219 are secured or adapted to be secured on the periphery of the cam wheel in positions to correspond with the staple locations as determined by the strip or box side locations on the conveyor chain. These blocks in these positions engage said trip arm 216 and actuate the slide valve and, therefore, the staple 159 forming and driving mechanism to form and drive a staple at every required position in the box or crate parts.

The change speed mechanism Said drive train includes a change speed mechanism comprising a fixed stub shaft 220 (Figs. 2 and 4) mounted on the frame and carrying a sleeve 221 rotatable thereon and having a key slot 222. A shiftable handle lever 223, 224 pivotally and slidably mounted on said sleeve, comprises a pair of spaced plates 223, 224, one of them forming a shift handle 223, between which plates a shift gear 225 is mounted near the outer end of the lever in position to be engageable with any of the step gears 226 of a step-gear cone 16 fast on the main drive shaft 15.

A shift pinion 228 meshed with the shift gear 255 and slidably keyed to the sleeve 221 causes the sleeve to rotate when the shift gear is meshed with a step gear, the sleeve in turn rotating a drive gear 229 fast on the sleeve driving a similar step gear cone 230 of a second change speed mechanism having a similar shift handle 231 and a drive sprocket 232 connected by a sprocket chain 233 to a large sprocket 234 secured fast on the cam wheel 218.

Said train is adjustable by shifting said handies 223, 231 to drive said cam wheel at the proper speed in accordance with the nature and size of the work to be stapled and the number of containers to be stapled during each cycle of the conveyor-chains.

Binding wire cut 017 mechanism A cut-off mechanism is provided for cutting off the binding wire 137 after each set of box parts has been stapled.

The wire cut-01f mechanism (Figs. 2, 5 and 22) is adapted to swing over the box sections and to cut the binding which is stapled to the container sections, at the proper intervals as in Figs. 19, 20 and 21, and thereby separates the proper number of sections to make one container.

Said mechanism comprises a cross bar 238 (Fig. 22) swinging on an axis along its upper edge, and carrying an actuating cylinder 239 mounted on said cross bar, longitudinal to the cross bar, near the cam wheel 218 and provided with a piston, piston rod 240 and a slide valve having a valve stem 242 actuated by a lever 243 having one end pivoted to the cylinder, and having at the other end an inner cam face 244 engageable with a pin 244' fast on the cam wheel in position to engage said face a predetermined interval after the stapling of one set of box parts is complete.

The cross bar 238 is provided with two ears 245 pivoted on extended portions 246 (Fig. 5) of the rear side frames, thereby to form a rocker or swing. A slide bar 248 (Figs. 5 and 22), T- shaped in cross section and adapted to slide in a T-slot 249 of the swing bar 238, forms a slide base for a set of reciprocatory cutting knives 250 adjustably held on the base by means of T-bolts 251 having T-heads 252 adapted to engage in a smaller T-slot 253 in the said slide bar 248.

Normally stationary, adjustable knives 255 of angle shape, are adjustably mounted on the swing bar by means of T-bolts 256 which engage in T-slots 257 in the lower edge part of the said swing bar and form the relatively stationary knife members cooperating with the knives 250. The cutting positions of the several knives may be changed to suit the width or construction of different boxes merely by loosening the T- bolts 251 and 256.

Said bar 243 is connected to and actuated by the piston rod 241 when the lever face 244 is engaged by the pin 244', thereby to cut off the bound wires some distance from the last preceeding box parts and the next succeeding box parts, to allow plenty of end wire for securing the free ends together.

Fig. 9 is a view showing the adjustable cam disk 218 having the blanks 219 set for controlling the spacing and the number of staples to be driven in eachcontainer, the disk being shown set for a box similar to that shown in Fig. 21.

Fig. 10 is a view of a disk 218 with cam blocks set to form a crate as shown in Fig. 20.

The operation of the machine The operation of the machine will be easily understood from the foregoing and need here be only briefly summarized as follows:

The length of the claim is adjusted by'removing or adding links, so that the number of links is suitable for the possibilities of the cam wheel used and the number of container sets which are to be stapled during each cycle of the chain; and the crank handles 24 and (Fig. 1) are rotated to give the chains the proper tightness, and the proper distance apart, for the containers to be made. The stapling units 85 (Fig. 2) and the bolster 215 are adjusted, on the bar 86 and rods 42 and 43 respectively in accordance with the desired location of the binding wire 137 relative to the ends of the box parts.

The blocks and 71 are applied to the proper position and links to give the container parts the desired position; and the cam blocks 219 (Fig. 4) and the change speed mechanism are adjusted to cause the lever arm 216 to 'be engaged and cause the forming and driving of the staple at each required instant.

The binding wire 13'! is threaded under the roller 139 and initially suitably anchored or held until the first staple is driven.

The pulley 17 is uniformly driven, thus causing the cam 218 and the container parts to move continuously and uniformly. The blocks 219 being about the actuation of the piston 93 (Fig. 11) at each proper instant for driving the staple, and the up-stroke of the piston rod causes staple wire to be fed for the next staple, whereupon the next downward stroke of the piston rod causes 1'.

the cutting of the staple wire and the forming and driving of the staple into the moving container parts, as has been explained.

Just before the staple is driven, the bolt member 176 (Fig. 24) is pressed by the spring 211' against the moving container part and binding wire, and is influenced to move from the axial position 85 toward the position 85 Then the staple is driven.

As the staple is being driven, it has assumed g the shape shown in Fig. 16; and the parallel portions thereof are guided by the grooves 213 (Fig. 13); and while still thus guided, the staple is forced into the moving container parts, thus additionally pressing the unit from 'the position 85' toward the position 85 against the action of the spring 260 lightly compressed between the cradle arm 87 and an ear 261 on the upright 87'. After the staple has been driven and the bolt member 176 raised, the parts resume their normal position with the arm 87 against the adjusting screw 262 carried in a tapped ear 283 on the upright.

A short time after each set of container parts has passed the units, the pin 244 on the cam wheel engages the cam face 244 (Fig. 22), and brings about the rightward movement of the knives 250, cutting off the binding wires leaving enough free end wire'for securing the ends together.

The spring 211 yieldably presses the bolt member 176 against the container part, thus automatically adjusting the bolt member to any thickness or number of thicknesses of box parts (Fig. 19), the hammer driving the staple to the same degree of tightness in all cases.

While herein in claims which relate to conveying box parts, timing and driving the hammer, and to other features not directly related to staple forming, I mentionstapling units or mechanisms, it is understood that this is for the purpose of designating some driving part; and where the prior art permits claims are to be intersected broadly enough to cover driving nails inbinding strips, and similar functions.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, means for positioning and conveying container parts; a stapling unit over the path of said parts and comprising a valvecontrolled, piston actuated means, and a staple driving mechanism actuated by the actuating means; and means for actuating said valve at predetermined intervals for actuating the actuating means.

2. In combination, means for positioning and conveying container parts; a cradle swingable in the drection of the path of said parts; stapling units adjustable on the cradle transverse to said path, driving mechanism for driving staples in means carried by the unit for guiding the staple while being driven; actuating means for the units, each comprising a cylinder,a piston therein, a piston rod for'actuating the units, a valve controlling the piston, and a valve rod for the valve; means for operating said valve rod comprising a square rod passing over said stapling units coaxial with the pivot axis of the cradle; arms slidable on said rod pivotally engaging the valve rod; a pending trip arm fast on an end of said square rod; and a cam movable with the conveyor for engaging and actuating the trip arm.

3. In combination, means for positioning and conveying container parts; a support movable in the direction of the travel of said parts; and a stapling unit on the support, comprising an actuating means, and a fluid driven staple driving mechanism for driving staples in said parts when the parts are moving.

4. In combination, means for positioning and conveying container parts; a cradle swingable in the direction of the path of said parts; and comprising a lower transverse bar; stapling units adjustable on said bar, each comprising an actu ating means, and a staple forming and driving mechanism for driving staples in said parts when the parts are moving; means driving said mechanism with a force radial to the axis of swing of the cradle and means carried by the unit for guiding the staple while being driven.

5. In comb'nation, means for positioning and conveying container parts; a cradle swingable' ing staples in said parts when the parts are moving; a flexible hose supplying fluid to said mechanism; means carried by the unit for guiding the staple while being driven, whereby the cradle and unit is caused to move with the conveyed part during stapling; and a spring to restore the cradle.

6. In combination, spaced conveyor chains; means for positioning container parts on the chains; a cradle comprising a transverse bar over the chains; stapling units adjustable on the bar, each comprising a valve controlled cylinder, a piston, and piston-operated hammer drive rod; means to operate said valves having an actuating arm; a caslng secured to the cylinder and having a vertical bore receiving said hammer rod; means for guiding binding wire under the casing; means for feeding wire across said bore for each drive-rod up-stroke; cut off and staple forming means in said bore and connected to said drive rod and adapted to form the cut of! wire and form the cut-off wire into a staple on the down-stroke of the drive-rod; a hammer on said drive rod to drive the staplewhen formed; a cam wheel rotatable with said chains and comprising adjustable blocks to engage said arm; and means operated by the cam wheel for cutting the binding wire between sets of container parts.

'I. In combination, side frames; means thereon for conveying container parts; uprights formed on the rear side frames; bushings on the upper ends of said uprights; a cradle swung between the upper ends of the frame and comprising an intermediate horizontal bar and upright end arms pivoted to said bushings; stapling units adjustably carried on the bar and each comprising an upper cylinder having a piston and downwardly dis posed piston rod therein, and a staple forming and driving mechanism below the cylinder operated by said rod, and under which the box parts are carried by the chain; a slide valve on the side of each cylinder communicatng therewith and with a source of pressure, and having a valve rod whereby the valve is at times operated to admit pressure medium to the cylinder to cause downward driving thrust and return movement of the piston rod; a shaft in said bushings operatively connected to the valve rods; and means for automatically rocking said shaft.

8. In combination, side frames carrying means for positioning and conveying container parts; a stapling unit over the path of said parts and comprising an actuating means, and a staple driving mechanism actuated by the actuating means; means for adjusting the unit transversely to the path of said parts; a pair of tie rods at different levels connecting said frames: and a bolster under said parts, and adjustable on said tie rods to positionunder the different positions of the unit.

9. In combination, a vertically reciprocatory drive rod; a casing having a vertical bore coaxial withsaid rod; means for guiding binding wire under the casing; a guide in the lower part of said casing provided with a cutting face and the staple wire: a collar on the drive rod; a tubular bolt member in saidbore having a shoulder to engage over the collar and a face to engage said cutting face to cut off the wire; a latch on said bolt member engaging under said collar, to drive down the member to form the cut-off wire over the forming member into a staple; means to release the latch after the member has formed the staple; means withdrawing the forming member after the staple is formed; and a hammer onsaid rod to drive the staple, after the collar is released.

10. In combination, a casing having a bore; means to position a staple-wire across said bore; a forming member in said bore below the staple wire; a bolt member in said bore having a cam face, and side portions having inner guide grooves over said wire and bottom grooves transverse to the wire; means to' drive said bolt member to cause the bolt member to bend the wire over the forming member to form a staple and position it in said grooves; and means carried by said forming member and engaged by said cam face for withdrawing the forming member after the staple is formed.

11. In combination, actuating means including a reciprocatory drive rod; a casing secured to the actuating means and having a bore; means adapted to position staple-wire across the bore; a forming member in said bore below the staple wire; a collar on said rod; a tubular bolt member in said bore having a bore receiving said collar and a shoulder over the collar; a latch on the bolt member to engage under the collar to interlock said bolt member and guide rod during the first part of its travel, thereby to drive the member to cut off the wire and bend the cut-off wire over the forming member to form a staple and position it in said grooves; and means for withdrawing the forming member and said latch after the staple is formed, and a hammer on said rod to drive the staple.

12. In combination, staple forming means including a casing and a reciprocatory part; a guide block mounted on said casing and provided with a cutting edge, and a perforation adapted to guide staple wire to said forming means; a pair of intermeshed gears mounted on said casing and adjustable one toward the other; a pair of peripherally grooved feed wheels secured fast on said gears respectively; the feed-wheel grooves being adapted to grasp and feed staple wire to said perforations; a ratchetfast with one of the gears; pawl means operated by the reciprocatory part for feeding a length of staple wire; said staple forming means being provided with a cutting edge cooperating with said end face to cut off lengths of staple wire; and over-throw preventing means released by the pawl means.

13. In combination, actuating means including a reciprocatory drive rod; a casing secured to the actuating means and having a bore; a guide block mounted in the lower part of said casing and provided with a vertical beveled inner end face and with a perforation adapted to receive and guide staple wire diametrically across said bore; a pair of intermeshed gears mounted on said casing; a pair of peripherally grooved feed wheels secured fast on said gears respectively; the feedwheel grooves being adapted to grasp and feed staple wire to said perforations; a ratchet fast with one of the gears; pawl means operated by the upstroke of the piston rod for feeding a length of staple wire across said bore; and staple forming and driving means carried by said rod and provided with a cutting edge cooperating with said end face to cut of! lengths of staple wire; and over-throw preventing means engageable with said ratchet and released by the pawl means.

14. A container positioning means comprising a body adapted to be disposed on a chain link and having longitudinal vertical and horizontal webs, upper and lower slide blocks on said webs respectively, means to adjustably hold the blocks on the webs; and an upright bar higher than said web secured on the lower block for engaging the side edge of a part lying transverse to the chains flat on the cleats against said fixed web.

15. A positioning means comprising a body having longitudinal vertical and horizontal webs, each having transverse locking teeth on one face and a. longitudinal groove on the other face; upper and lower slide blocks on said webs respectively, each having a recess receiving the web, one face of the recess having teeth to fit said transverse teeth, and means to adjustably hold the blocks on the webs comprising a pivoted member engageable in the adjacent longitudinal groove.

16. In combination, conveyor chains; trackways supporting the chains; a number of the chain links being provided with means for positioning container cleats and parts thereon; said means comprising a body disposed against the link and having projecting longitudinal vertical and horizontal webs, upper and lower slide blocks on said webs respectively, means to adjustably hold the blocks on the webs; a fixed web adjacent to the outer edge of the track positioned to engage a cleat resting on the link against the forward face of the upper block between said fixed and upper web; and an upright bar secured on the lower block for engaging the front edge of a container part lying transverse to the chains flat on the cleats and against said fixed web.

17. In combination with a link of a conveyor chain link and a track under the chain, a positioning means comprising a longitudinal vertical flange plate secured to the inner side face of the link and comprising an upwardly projecting web and a horizontal web both provided with forwardly shouldered transverse locking teeth on one wide face and a longitudinal groove in the opposite face; top and side slide blocks on said flanges, each block having a deep transverse recess and a deep longitudinal groove communicating with the transverse recess and receiving the flange and provided with teeth conforming to and engaging the locking teeth whereby the block may be slipped laterally on to the web; a spring pressed latch intermediately fulcrumed in the transverse recess and having an inturned hook end adapted to engage in said groove to adjust.- ably hold the block on the web; an angle iron fixed along the conveyor track with an inner web adjacent to the outer edge of the track mid adapted to laterally engage a container cleai. rest ing longitudinally on the link and against the forward face of the upper link between said iron and upper web; and an upright bar secured on the lower box and engaging behind and Serving to position crate strips or box side wall'planss lying transversely across the chain, flat on the cleats and engaging said iron.

18. In combination, means for positioning and conveying sets of container parts; laterally adjustable stapling units over the path of said parts. each comprising as actuating means, and a staple forming and driving mechanism actuated by the actuating means; means for feeding binding wire under said units respectively, and fluid actuated means adapted to travel with the wire and constructed to cut the binding wire between sets of container parts, and comprising laterally adjustable pairs of cutting knives.

19. In combination, means for positioning and conveying sets of container parts; stapling units over the path of said parts, each comprising as actuating means, and a staple forming and driving mechanism actuated by the actuating means; a cam wheel adjustably connected with conveyor; a cut-off mechanism for cutting off the binding wire after each set; said mechanism comprising a pivoted cross bar; an actuating cylinder provided with a slide valve having a stem; a lever pivoted to the stem; a pin on the cam wheel in position to engage said lever after the stapling of one set of container parts is complete; a movable bar on said cross bar actuated by said cylinder; and cutting knives adjustably mounted on said bars to receive the binding wires therebetween.

20. In combination, means for positioning and conveying container parts; means feeding binding wire to the parts; a stapling unit over the path of said parts and comprising an actuating means, and a staple driving mechanism actuated by the actuating means for stapling the binding wire to the parts; a wheel for controlling the unit carrying a pin; a cut-off mechanism for cutting off the bound wire after each set of parts has been stapled; said mechanism comprising a pivoted bar disposed transverse to the path of said parts; an axially transverse actuating cylinder mounted on said cross bar near the cam wheel and provided with a piston, piston rod and a slide valve having a valve stem; a lever pivoted to the piston and stem and having a cam face; a pin fast on the cam wheel in position to engage said face some time after the stapling of one set of box parts is complete; a movable bar mounted on said cross bar; pairs of cutting knives adjustably mounted on said bars in position to receive the binding wires therebetween; said movable bar being connected to and actuated by said piston rod at such time, thereby to cut off the binding wires some distance from the last preceding container parts and the next succeeding container parts, to allow plenty of end wire for securing the ends together.

21. A machine comprising spaced side frames; transverse drive and idler shafts respectively mounted in opposite ends of the frames; conveyor sprockets respectively fast and slidably keyed on said shafts; conveyor chains on said sprockets having long links; means to position container parts on said chains; stapling units over said parts; tie bolts connecting said frames; intermediate side frames respectively stationary and slidable on said bolts and provided with upper trackways respectively supporting upper courses of the chain; grooved hubs on the slidable sprockets; arms fast on the slidable frame and engaging in the groove of the respective hubs; and means to shift the slidable frame.

22. In combination, spaced side frames; transverse drive and idler shafts respectively mounted in opposite ends of the frames; conveyor sprockets respectively fast and slidably keyed on said shafts; conveyor chains on said sprockets having long links; positioning means on certain of said links; tie bolts connecting said frames; intermediate side frames respectively stationary and slidable on said bolts and provided with upper trackways respectively supporting upper courses of the chain; grooved hubs on the slidable sprockets; arms fast on the slidable frame and engaging in the groove of the respective hubs; transverse threaded rods rotatably received in and connecting opposite ends of parts of said intermediate frames and having threaded engagement with the slidable frame and held against longitudinal movement transverse to the stationary frame; a handle crank on one of the rods; sprockets fast on said rods near the stationary frame; and an endless chain on said sprockets.

23. In combination, a frame; means thereon for positioning and conveying container parts; a gang of swingable stapling units adjustable transverse to the path of said parts; pressure means for operating said units including control cylinders and valves therefor having inlet and exhaust ports; pressure and exhaust pipes disposed above said units; hose from said pipes respectively to the inlet and exhaust ports of the various units; a valve in and controlling the pressure pipe; a manual control rod operating said valve and extending to the side of the machine.

24. In combination; means for positioning and conveying container parts; a support movable in the direction of the travel of said parts; and a swinging stapling unit on said support comprising an actuating means, and a staple driving mechanism for driving staples in said parts when the parts are moving, and movable with said moving parts means for controlling said mechanism including a lever movable on the axis of :swing of the unit; and means for tripping the ever.

25. In combination; actuating means including a reciprocatory drive member having a shoulder; a casing having a bore and a cam groove in the bore; means to position a piece of staple-wire across a prolongation of the path of said member; a forming member mounted in said path below the staple wire; a tubular bolt member within said bore coaxial with said path and having side portions disposed over said wire, on each side of said path; a pawl pivoted on said bolt member and engageable under said shoulder to interlock said bolt member to the drive member during the first part of the travel of the latter, and engageable with the lower end of said cam groove for relieving the bolt member; means for withdrawing the forming member after the staple is formed; and a hammer on said drive member to drive the staple.

26. In combination; actuating means including a reciprocatory drive member; a casing having a bore; means to position a piece of staple-wire across a prolongation of the path of said memher; a forming member slidably mounted in said casing for movement in said path below the staple wire; a roller mounted on the casing under the forming member; a link connecting the outer end of the forming member to the casing to guide said outer end; a tubular bolt member in said bore coaxial with said path and having side portions disposed over said wire, on each side of said path; means to interlock said bolt member to the drive member during the first part'of the travel of the latter; means engageable with the forming member for withdrawing the forming member after the staple is formed; and a hammer on said rod to drive the staple.

2'7. In combination; means for positioning and conveying container parts; a stapling unit over the path of said parts movable with said parts; non-traveling means for guiding binding wire under the said unit; said guide means being free of connection with said unit, thereby to prevent the tension of the binding wire from interfering with the movement of the unit.

28; In combination; a stationary frame; means thereon for positioning and uniformly conveying container parts; a stapling unit over the path of said parts movable in the direction of movement of said parts during stapling; and a nontraveling rotary grooved roller carried on said frame for guiding binding wire under the said unit; said rollers being free of connection with said unit thereby to prevent the tension of the binding wire on the roller from interfering with the movement of the unit.

29. In combination; a stationary frame; means thereon for positioning and uniformly conveying container parts; a gang of stapling units adjustable transverse to the path of said parts; supporting means for said gang movable in the di rection of movement of said parts during stapling; a stationary tie rod across the frame near said units; and grooved rollers adjustable on said tie rod for guiding binding wire under the said units; said rollers and tie rod being free of connection with said supporting means, thereby to prevent the tension of the binding wire frame interfering with the movement of the supporting means.

30. In combination; staple forming means; a pair of feed wheels adapted to grasp and feed staple wire to said forming means; feed means connected with one of the wheels; and means preventing the overthrow of the feed means.

31. In combination; staple forming means including a casing and a reciprocatory part; a pair of feed wheels adapted to grasp and feed staple wire to said forming means; a ratchet connected with one of the wheels having ratchet teeth; a feed pawl means engaging said teeth and operated by said reciprocatory part for feeding a length of staple wire; and a detent pawl normally engageable with the teeth for stopping the ratchet, and engaged by said pawl means near its lower limit to lift the detent pawl from the teeth.

32. In combination; staple forming means including a casing and a reciprocatory part; a guide block to guide wire to said forming means; a pair of peripherally grooved feed wheels, the feed-wheel grooves being adapted to grasp and feed staple wire to said block; a ratchet fast with one of the wheels, said ratchet having teeth having advance and following shoulders; a feed pawl engageable with said teeth; a lever carrying the pawl and operated by the upstroke of said reciprocatory part for feeding a length of staple wire; a spring means for lowering said lever; and a detent pawl normally engageable with one of the advance shoulders for stopping the ratchet, and engaged by said lever near its lower limit to lift the detent pawl from the ratchet.

33. In combination; parallel conveyor chains comprising flat links; upright webs over the inner edge of opposite links of the respective, chains, the upper face of the link being exposed for the insertion of cleats on said face; upper slide blocks secured on said webs; a fixed web adjacent to the outer edge of chain for cooperating with said vertical webs to engage and position cleats resting on the links against the forward face of the upper block between said fixed and upright webs, thereby adapting the cleats to receive a container part lying transverse to the chains fiat on the cleats and against said fixed web; and an upright bar secured on the link for engaging a side edge of such container part.

34. In combination; parallel conveyor cha ns comprising fiat links; bodies disposed against the inside face of opposite links of the respective chains, each body having vertical and horizontal webs, the upper face of the link being exposed for the insertion of cleats; upper and lower slide blocks adjustably mounted on said webs respectively; a fixed web adjacent to the outer edge of each chain for cooperating with said vertical webs to engage and position cleats resting on the links against the forward face of the upper block between said fixed and vertical webs, thereby adapting the cleats to receive a container part lying transverse to the chains fiat on the cleats and against said fixed web; and an upright bar secured on the lower block for engaging the front edge of such container part.

35. In combination, parallel conveyor chains comprising fiat links; upright longitudinal webs on opposite links of the respective chains, remote from the outer edge of the link, the upper face of the link being exposed for the insertion of cleats; upper blocks on said opposite links respectively; a fixed web higher than said upright Web adjacent to the outer edge of chain for coopcrating with said vertical webs to engage and. position cleats resting on the links against upper block, thereby adapting the cleats to receive a container part lying transverse to the chains flat; and means secured on the link for engaging a side edge of such container part.

36. In combination; means for conveying sets of container parts; means for feeding binding wire to said parts; stapling units over the wire and the path of said parts; an actuating device; a pivoted support; an actuating cylinder on said support provided with a piston and with a control means controlled by said device; and cutting knives actuated by said piston and mounted on said support to receive the binding wires therebetween.

37. In combination; means for conveying sets of container parts; means for feeding binding wire to said parts; stapling units over the wire and the path of said parts; a cam wheel connected with conveyor; a source of power controlled by the cam wheel; and cutting knives mounted on said bars to receive the binding wires therebetween and actuated by said power.

FREDERICK P ROW.

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