US1947918A - Combined cover press and strapper - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1934.

H. P AXTON 1,947,918

COMBINED COVER PRESS AND STRAPPER Filed Oct. 5. 1931 e Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 20, 1934. H, PAXTON 1,947,918

COMBINED COVER PRESS AND STRAFPERY Filed 001:. '3. 1951 e Sheets-Sheet 2 Hale Paxifofi;

ATTORZVHT Feb. 20, 1934. H. PAXTON COMBINED COVER PRESS AND STRAPPER Filed Oct. 5, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet a Jzvvmok 1 ATTORNEY Feb. 20, 1934. PAXTQN COMBINED COVER PRESS AND STRAPPER Filed bet. 5. 1931 6 Sheets-Sheefi l H. PAXTON COMBINED COVER PRESS AND STRAPPER Feb. 20, 1934.

Filed Oct. 5. 1931" 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 flale Paxton.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 H. PAxToN COMBINED COVER PRESS AND STRAPPER Filed Oct. 3. 1931.

' Feb. 20, 1934.

l mm 4 ATTORZWYT .igl

vlrvnrlllllili. nlllllllllll Patented Feb. 20, 1934 COMBINED COVER muss AND SYTRAPPER Hale Paxton, Redlands, Calif., assignor to Paxton Credit Corporation, Sanger, Calif., a corporation of Califorma Application October 3, 1931. Serial No. 566,823

21 Claims. (Cl. 140-93) My invention relates to strapping machines and to cover presses and is illustrated herein as embodied in a combined cover press and strapper. While my invention has wide utility it is especially useful in the lidding and strapping of boxes packed with fresh farm products, such as citrus fruits. For this reason the embodiment illustrated herein is especially designed f this purpose.

In the citrus industry the crown pack is used in which the fruit extends above the top of the box and causes the lid to be bowed upwardly in the middle when its ends are brought down and nailed to the ends of the box. The shipping boxes used in this industry have a middle partition, and it has long been the custom to reinforce the lid by a strap extending across this and secured at its opposite ends to the sides of the box by nails driven into the middle partition.

For some time lids were applied-to packed boxes in all citrus packing houses by foot power cover presses which would press the lid down with its ends in position for nailing and these ends would then be nailed to the box by hand. After each box had thus been lidded it was strapped with a piece of ribbon strap secured to the sides of the box by nails driven into the middle partition thereof by hand.

To increase the efiiciency of the lidding and strapping operation, chines, automatic strapping machines, and combined automatic lidding and strapping machines have been developed. These machines are fairly expensive, however, and accordingly are adapted for use only in the larger packing houses. This development has left the smaller packing houses with nothing but the old hand method of lidding and strapping their boxes.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a relatively inexpensive but eflicient apparatus for accomplishing the lidding and strapping of packed boxes of fresh farm produce.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a combined cover press and strapper which is relatively inexpensive and by which the cover may be pressed on the box to permit its being nailed by hand and by which the cover may then be strapped relatively quickly and easily as ccmparedwith the hand strapping method formerly in use.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved foot ,power operated cover press embodying a power operated strapper.

Most of the automatic strapping machines automatic lidding madeveloped to date use wire strap, the ends of which are pointed and driven into the middle partition of the box to secure these ends to the sides of the box. The wire strap has many advantages over the ribbon strap formerly used; in that it may be readily taken out to permit inspection of the fruit en route to market and replaced thereafter without damaging the box. It is accordingly a still further object of my invention to provide an inexpensive cover press and strapper or an inexpensive strapper by itself, by which wire strap may be applied in the strappingoperation.

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

Fig. 1 is a plan viewof a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is aside elevational view of Fig. l at a reduced scale.-

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 .is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the parts of the machine in a different operating position.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the completion of the lidding and strapping operation.

Fig, 7 is ahorizontal sectional view taken on the line' 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of Fig. 2 taken in the direction of the arrow 8.

Fig.9 is a. fragmentary enlarged longitudinal sectional view takenon the line 99 of'. Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 2. Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a enlarged fragmentary detail view of the operating cylinder of the invention, this being partly broken away to show the construction thereof.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic sectional detail view illustrating the manner in which the jaw operating mechanism is connected to the jaws of my invention.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a; modified form of my invention.

Fig. 15 is a cross sectional operation view taken on'the line 1'5--15 of Fig. 14.

Referring specifically to-the drawings, and. particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, my invention is here shown as embodied in a combined cover press and strapper 15 which rests upon a floor 16 and includes a frame 17. The frame 17 includes corner posts 18 connected by base bars 19 at their lower ends and by a conveyer 20 at their upper ends. The frame 17 is rendered rigid by braces 21.

The conveyer 20 includes rear and front cross members 22 and 23 and end members 24. Pivotally mounted between the members 22 and 23 are rollers 25 upon which a box 26 is adapted to be supported. Mounted on the rear conveyer bar 22 and extending upwardly therefrom is a box guide plate 30. Secured to the rear face of this plate and extending downwardly to the floor Where they are connected with the rear base bar 19 is a pair of guide members 31. Lower portions of the guide members 31 are in the form of angle irons and are connected together by front and rear guide bars 33. Extending rearwardly from lower portions of the guide members 31 are V-shaped fulcrum supports 35 which are connected at their apexes by a bolt 36 the purpose of which will be made clear hereinafter.

Formed on upper ends of the guide members 31 are yoke guides 38, these guides having channel guide ways 39 formed in inner faces thereof for a purpose to be made clear hereinafter.

The guides 38 are reinforced by flanges 40 which are continuations of the longitudinal flanges of the angle iron lower portions of the guide members 31.

Formed on upper ends of the guides 38 are studs upon which are rotatably mounted a pair of cam roller arms 46, these being held in place on the studs 45 by cap screws 47. The arms 46 have rearward extensions 48 between which is mounted-a cam roller 49. Formed on the arms 46 to extend sidewardly therefrom are lugs 53 having holes 54 through which bolts 55 mounted in the flanges 40 extend. Surrounding the bolts 55 and held against the lugs 53 by nuts 56 on the ends of these bolts are compression springs 58 which yieldably retain the arms 46 in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 2.

Slidable between the guide members 31 and the front and rear guide lugs 33 is a main slide bar 60. The bar 60 has a strapper supporting yoke 61 formed integral with the upper end thereof. The yoke 61 includes a pair of legs 62 which slide snugly in the gufdeways 39 of the guides 38. Extending forwardly from the upper ends of the legs 62 is a pair of horizontal arms 65 which are connected at their forward ends by an inverted U-shaped neck 66.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1 it is noted that oppositely disposed pairs of strapper supporting lugs 67 are formed on the arms 65 so as to extend inwardly therefrom. Also formedon the arms 65 are pairs of guide lugs 68 which extend inwardly 'as shown in this figure. Formed on the arms 65 and extending outwardly therefrom are bearing brackets 70. Provided on upper ends of the slide legs 62 and extending rearwardly therefrom are short projections 72 which are connected by an inverted U-shaped neck 73. The projections 72 have outwardly extending bearing lugs 74 formed integrally therewith.

Also provided on the main slide bar 60 is a pair of bearing lugs 78 which arebest Shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8 and the purpose of which will be made clear hereinafter.

While the bar 60 is slidable vertically it is normally held in its upper position by a foot operated mechanism 80. This mechanism includes a ratchet bar 81 mounted on the frame 17 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Secured to the lower end of the guide bar 60 is a bracket 85. Rotatably supported on the bolt 36 is a foot pedal lever 87 which extends forwardly past the ratchet member 81 and has a pawl 88 which is spring pressed to engage with the teeth of the ratchet member 81. On the extreme front end of the lever 87 is mounted a foot pedal 89. Connecting the bracket 85 with the lever 87 is a link 90. Extending rearwardly from one of the guide members 31 is a rearwardly extending arm 91. and the arm 91 so as to yieldably support the slide bar 60 is a tension spring 92. The strength of this spring is sufficient to maintain the bar 60 and its associated parts in their uppermost position excepting when the lever 87 is depressed by the operator placing his weight on the foot pedal 89.

Pivotally mounted between the bearing arms 78 is a strap jaw operating arm 95 having a cam face-96 which bears against the roller 49.

As shown best in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a lid depressing means 100 is mounted on the arms 65, this means including shafts 102, which are journalled in the bearing lugs and 74 and have arms 103 extending laterally therefrom and having. provided on their ends lid contacting bars 104.

The shafts 102 are retained in the bearings 70 and '74 by collars 105. Fixed to the rear ends of the shafts 102 are arms 107 which extend upwardly and are connected by an extensible turnbuckle link 108. It is thus seen that the link 108 connects the shafts 102 so that for these to be rocked in the bearings 70 and 74, they must be rocked together.

Mounted on the yoke 61 between the arms 65 thereof is a strapping device 115. This device includes a saddle bar 10''! having side plates 118 which are shaped as clearly shown in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive and are connected together by being secured to opposite faces of a spacer bar 119. The plates 118 are provided with laterally extending lugs 120 at their lower outer extremities. The lugs 120 are disposed directly below the lugs 67 on the yoke arms 65 and are connected to the lugs 6'7 by bolts 122 which support the strapping device 115. Coiled about the bolts'122 between the lugs 67 and 120 are compression springs 123 which yieldably hold the strapping device 115 in its lower position.

' Also formed on the plates 118 to extend vertically thereacross are guide fins 125, these being slidably disposed between the lugs 68 which are formed on the yoke arms 65.

As shown best in Fig. 10, spacers 130 are rigidly held in place between end portions of the plates 118 by bolts 131. Pivotally mounted on the spacers 130 are jaws 133 and 134. These jaws being identical, description of the jaw 133 will suffice for both.

The jaw 133 includes a pair of plates 136 which are held in spaced relation by spacers 137 and 138 and a driver stop 139. The lower ends of the plates 136 are bent outwardly to form strap guides 140. One of the plates 136 extends upwardly and has a slide block 141 rotatably mounted thereon.

Connected to the lever 87 For identification the parts of the jaw 134 will be referred to by numerals which exceed by a value of ten the value of the numerals used hereinabove to indicate corresponding parts of the jaw 133. That is, the jaw 134 includes side plates 146, spacers 147 and 148, a strap driver' stop 149, strap guide 150, and a rotatable slide block 151.

Rigidly secured in place between the plates 118 is a block 160 upon which is pivotally mounted a short lever 161 from opposite ends of which rods 162 and 163 extend so as to pass through the rotatable slide blocks 141 and 151 provided on the jaws 133 and 134. Fixed on the rod 163 is a collar 165 and coiled about this rod between this collar and the slide block 151 is a compression spring 166. rod 163, where it connects with the lever 161, and to a lug 168 provided on one of the yoke arms 65 is a tension spring 169 the function of which is to yieldably urge the jaws 133 and 134 into their extended positions in which they are shown in Fig. 4.

Disposed between the plates 136 and 146 of the jaws 133 and 134 and pivoted on spacers 130 are drivers 170 which are shaped as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. These drivers have driving faces 172 and extend upwardly above the upper ends of the jaws 133 and 134 where they are pivotally connected to piston rods 175 of an operating cylinder 176. The rods 175 extend through caps 177 of the cylinder 176and are provided with pistons 178 on their inner ends. Disposed about the piston rods 175 between the cylinder caps 177 and the pistons 178 'are compression springs 180. The cylinder 176 cates with the interior of the cylinder 176 and with each of a pair of hoses 187 and 188 with which the fitting 185 is provided. Connecting with the bottom of the cylinder 176 at its opposite ends is an air release pipe 190 which" tively;

Mounted in any convenient place, as on the floor 16, is a fluid power unit 210 which includes an electric motor 211 and a pump 212 connected thereto, this pump having an inlet end 213 and an exhaust end 214. Provided on the pump at its inlet end is an oil reservoir 216 and a valve 217. The hose 201is connected to the pump 212 at' its exhaust end 214. The hose .202 is connected to the valve 217, and the hose 203-leads to the upper end of the reservoir 216.

The valve 217 has an operating arm 220 which is connected .by a link 221 to the inner end of a lever 222 havinga weight 223 which normally retains this lever in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. With the arm 220 held downward as shown in this figure the valve 217 is open. When it is depressed as shown in Fig. 6 the valve 217 is closed.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

Connected to the.

The combined cover press and strapper 15 is adapted to be disposed adjacent to the discharge end of a-conveyer system (not shown) which discharges packed boxes 26 onto the conveyer 20 of the device.

During the operation of the device 15 the foot pedal 222 is in downward position as shown in Fig. 2 and the motor 211 operates continuously. As .the valve 217 is open at this time the pump 212 continually draws a supply of oil from the hose 202 or the reservoir 216 and discharges this into the hose 201. From the hose 201 this oil passes upwardly through the.

pipe 197, the hose 187, the fitting .185, the hose 188,, the pipe 198, and the hose 202 from which it is discharged through the valve 217 into the intake end of the pump 213.

This circulation of oil is for the purpose of utilizing the power of the motor 211 in operating the strap drivers 170. This is accomplished by closing the valve 217 in which event there is only one available outlet for the oil pumped into the hose 201 by the pump 212 and that is the interior chamber 224 of the cylinder 176 with which the fitting 185 connects. When the valve 217 is closed therefore, the oil discharged by the pump 212 enters the chamber 224 and very rapidly separates the pistons 178 which actuates the drivers 170 in a manner which will be described hereinafter.

Prior to the introduction of a box 26onto the conveyer 20 the operator takes a strap 231 which consists of a relatively straight piece of wire with pointed driving ends 232 formed on its ends, and lifts this strap upwardly into position in the strapper 115 as shown in Fig. 4.

When a box 26 is brought into the cover press and strapper 15 it is first pushed against the guide plate 30 with its left end disposed against a stop 230 provided on this guide plate as shown in Fig. 3. The box is now properly positioned for being lidded and strapped by the device 15. After the strap and the crown packed box have been thus positioned a cover 233 is placed over the box as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

To begin the lidding and strapping of the box thev operator puts his foot on the pedal 89 and depresses the lever 87 from the position in which it is shown in 4 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5. This pulls the slide bar 60 downward'against the action of the spring 92 and the "resulting action of the roller 49 on the cam surface 96 of the arm 95 is to swing the arm 95 inward as shown in Fig. 5. As .the upper end of the arm 95 always engages the spacer'137 of the strapper jaw 133, this jaw is swung inwardly and this movement is transmitted to the jaw 134 through the lever 161, the rods 162 and 163, and the spring 166, so that the jaw 134 isswung inwardly to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5. Owing to the roller 49 being yieldably held inward spring 166, the jaw 134 is yieldably held against a the lever 87 in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5. This position is separately illustrated merely to show that the strap 231 is shaped as shown in Fig. 5 by the jaws 133 and 134 swingdownward movement of the 'arm 8'7 continues into the position in which it is shown in Fig.

. 6, the bars 104 move down against the lid 233 and press the ends of' the lid firmly against.

the ends of the box 26, yet leaving theends of the lid uncovered for nailing to the box by hand.

When the saddle bar 117 first reaches the position in which it is shown in Fig. 6 the driving ends 232 of the strap 231 are'still positioned within the jaws 133 and 134 as shown in Fig. 5. As soon as the saddle bar 117 is positioned as shown in Fig. 6, therefore, the operator releases his foot from the pedal 89 and depresses the fiuid power control arm 222, as shown in this figure. As above described, this causes oil from the line 187 to pour into the cylinder chamber. 224 and rapidly impel the pistons 178 toward their respective ends of this chamber. The result of this movement is the swinging of the strap drivers 170 to the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 6, thus driving the pointed strap ends 232 into the middle partition of the box 26 and finally securing the strap 232 in place. 7

As the driving of the strap ends only takes a matter of a second for its completion the operator can accomplish this merely by stepping on the pedal 222 while starting to nail one end of the lid 232 onto the box 26.

Upon completing the hand nailing of both ends of the lid 232 to the box 26 the operator presses his foot on the foot pedal 89 and depresses the latch 88 so as to permit the spring 92 to lift the guide bar 60 and mechanism connected .therewith to its'upper position in which 'it is shown in Fig. 4. The box 26 just operated upon is now completely lidded and strapped ready for market and is pushed on. the conveyer. 20 onto a discharge conveyerprovided to receive it.

Attention is called to the fact illustrated in Fig. 6, that the strap 231 after it is shaped does not come in contact with the lid 233 until the pedal arm 87 is released by the operator and the lid 233 is allowed to expand upwardly. This is accomplished by shaping'the strap 231 entirely by compressing it into the strapper 115 which insures that it will have a uniformshape after the box has been strapped. This would not be the case were the strap to-be formed over the cover 233 which is usually made of very thin material and is therefore easily damaged or distorted. The shaping of the strap in this manner also gives all the boxes a uniform appearance which adds to their salability at the market..

A complete cycle of operation of the combined cover press and strapper 15 having been described I w-ill now refer to Figs. 14 and 15 for disclosure of a modified form of combined cover press and strapper 250 in which the strap drivers are hand operated. The construction of the device 250 is identical to that of the device 15 with the exception that the mechanism for hydraulically operating the strap drivers 170 is eliminated from the device 250 and a hand mechanism 251 for accomplishing this purpose is substituted therefor.

The mechanism '251 includes a lever 252 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 253 provided on the saddle bar 117. The lever 252 has a -bing the handle 254 on the upper end of the lever 252, and pulling this lever forwardly into its dotted line position 260. This drives the strap ends-into the box 26 whereupon the operator releases the handle 254 allowing the spring 257 to return the lever 252 and associated parts into the full line positions in which they are shown in Fig. 15. When the lever 87 is nowreleased and the strapping device 115 moves upwardly so that the jaws 133 and 134 of the device 250 assume the same extended positions as the correspondingly numbered jaws of the device 15 do in Fig. 4, the spring 257 still further contracts so as to maintain the strap drivers 170 in retracted position against the stops 139.

From the foregoing descriptions of the two embodiments 15 and 250 of my invention it is to be seen that I have provided a very inexpensive machine for rapidly accomplishing both the lidding and strapping of boxes packed with fresh farm produce and which therefore will be of great utility in small packing houses which cannot afford to buy the relatively expensive power operated lidders and strappers such as are now in general use in the larger packing houses.

What I claim is:

1. In a cover press, the combination of: means adapted to move downwardly to press a lid onto a crown packed box so that the lid is bowed up in the middle and ends of the lid are held down against the box ends in position to be nailed thereto; and means mounted on said lid depressing means and moving downwardly therewith to position a strap over a middle portion of said lid and secure ends of said strap to said box.

2. In a cover press, the combination of: means adapted to move downwardly to press a lid onto a crown packed box so that the lid is bowed up in the middle and ends of the lid are held down against the box ends in position to be nailed thereto, said means leaving the lid ends uncovered to permit them to be nailed to the box by hand; and means mounted on said lid -depressing means and moving downwardly therewith to position a strap over a middle portion of said lid and secure ends of said strap to said box.

3. In a cover press, the combination of: means adapted to move downwardly to press a lid onto a crown packed box so that the lid is bowed up in the middle and ends of the lid are held down against the box ends in position to be nailed thereto; and means mounted on said lid depressing means and moving downwardly therewith as a unit to position a wire strap over a middle portion of said lid and drive opposite ends of said strap into said box. Q

t 4. In a" cover press, the combination of: means adapted to movedownwardly to press a lid onto a crown packed box so that the lid is bowed up in the middle and ends of the lid are held down against the box ends in position to be nailed thereto; and means mounted on said lid depressing means and moving downwardly to position a wire strap transversely over a middle portion of said lid, shape side edges of said lid downwardly, shape said strap to conform to said lid, and drive opposite ends of said strap into said box. I a V 5. In combination: a frame; a platform on said frame for receiving a box; a vertically reciprocable member to the rear of said platform; means disposed beneath said platform for reciprocating said member; means supported entirely on said reciprocating member and extending forwardly over said platform for depressing a lid to position the latter forbeing nailed to said box whensaid member is moved downwardly; means on said lid depressing means for positioning a strap across the lid and securing the ends of said strap to said box.

6. A combination as in claim 5 in which a yoke is provided on the upper end of said reciprocable member,'said strap applying means being mounted between the arms of said yoke.

'7. A combination as in claim 5 in which a yoke is provided on the upper end of said reciprocable member, said strap applying means being mounted between the arms of said yoke, so as to be yieldable vertically relative to said yoke.

8. A combination as in claim 1 in which said strap positioning and securing means is mountedfor yieldable vertical movement on said lid depressing means.

9. A combination as in claim lin which said strap positioning and securing means includes a pair of jaws which are adapted to be brought inwardly to shape and position said strap relative to said lid; and means actuated by the depression of said lid depressing means to swing said jaws inwardly and shape said strap.

10. In a strapping device the combination of: means for supporting a packed box; a saddle bar disposed transversely above said box; strap guiding and shaping jaws movablymounted on said saddle bar for shifting inwardly to shape a strap; means for bringing said box supporting means and said saddle bar closer together to position a strap adjacent the lid of said box; means responsive to said last mentioned movement to shift one of said jaws inwardly; means connecting said jaws to cause the other of said jaws to be shifted inwardly in response to the inward movement of the first mentioned jaw; and means to secure ends of the strap, thus shaped, to sides of said box.

11. In a strap applying mechanism the combination of: means to support a packed box with a lid disposed thereover; means including a pair of jawsfor supporting a strap in upwardly bowed conformation transversely above said lid, moving downwardly with said strap and shaping end portions of said strap inwardly adjacent sides of said box in readiness to be driven thereinto; and driving means for driving opposite ends of said strap into said box.

12. In a strap applying mechanism the combination of: means to support a packed .box with a lid disposed thereover; means for supporting a strap transversely above said lid, moving downwardly with said strap, and, independently of contact with said lid, shaping end portions of said strap inwardly adjacent sides of said box in readiness to be driven thereinto; and driving means for driving opposite ends of said strap into'said box.

18. In a machine for strapping a cover to an overfilled packed box by a strap applied across a middle portion of said cover in a transverse plane, the combination of a frame; a table on said frame for supporting said packed box in upright position with a cover disposed thereover in readiness to be strapped to said box; 'a vertically movable element provided on said frame; means to confine opposite end portions of a strap in said plane and adjacent opposite sides of said 7 box; means to secure the strap ends to said box sides; a member extending across said cover and uniting said aforementioned means in a vertically movable strapper unit, said unit being mounted on said element; and means for depressing said element to shift said strapper unit downward into proper relation with said cover and said box to perform a strapping operation.

14. In a machine for strapping a. cover to an overfilled packed box by a strap applied across a middle portion of said cover in a transverse plane, the combination of: a frame; a table on said frame for supporting said packed box in upright position with a cover disposed thereover in readiness to be strapped to said box; a vertically movable element provided on said frame; means to confine opposite end portions of a strap in said plane and adjacent opposite sides of said box; means to secure. the strap ends to said box sides; cover shaping means extending across said cover and uniting said aforementioned means to form a strapper unit, said unit being mounted on said vertically movable element; and means for depressing said element to shift said strapper unit downward into proper relation with said cover and said box to shape said cover transversely beneath said strap and perform a strapping operation.

15. In a machine for strapping a cover to an overfilled packed box by a strap having integral.

driving ends and applied acrossa middle portion of said cover in a transverse plane, the combination of: a frame; a-table on said frame for supporting said packed box in upright position with a cover disposed thereover in readiness to be strapped to said box; a vertically movable element provided on said frame; means to confine opposite end portions of a strap in said plane and adjacent opposite sides of said box; means to drive the strap ends into said box sides; cover shaping means extending across said cover and uniting said aforementioned means to form a strapper unit, said unit being mounted on said vertically movable element; and means for depressing said element to shift said strapper unit downward into proper relation with said cover and said box to shape said cover transversely beneath said strap and perform a strapping element provided on said frame; a cover shaping bar mounted on said element'and adapted when the latter is depressed, to shape the cover transversely, with said-strap lying between said bar .and said cover, the driving ends of said strap extending laterally beyond the cover edges;-

drivers mounted on opposite ends of said cover shaping bar for driving .saidstrap ends into sides'of said box, said bar and drivers being vertically movable as a unit; means for actuating said element to depress said unit into operative relation with said box and cover; and means for actuating said drivers after the resistance of said cover to further transverse shaping thereof substantially halts the downward movement of said bar.

17. In a machine for strapping a cover to an overfilled packed box by a strap having integral attaching ends, the .combination of z a frame; a table on said frame for supporting said packed box in upright position with a cover disposed thereover in readiness to be strapped to said box; a vertically movable element provided on said frame; means provided on said frame and said element and operative, when the latter is depressed, to shape said cover transversely and confine a middle portion of said strap adjacent to and transversely of said cover and substantially conforming to the shape of said cover; means provided on the aforesaid means to support said driving ends of said strap and push said strap upwardly relative to the aforesaid means and centralize said strap on its longitudinal axis relative to said box when said element is depressed; means under the control of the operator for depressing said element; and means for driving said strap ends into opposite sides of said box when said strap is so centralized.

18. In a machine for strapping a cover to an overfilled packed box by a strap having integral driving ends and applied across a middle portion of said cover in a transverse plane, the combination of: a frame; a table on said frame for supporting said packed box in upright position with the cover disposed thereover in readiness to be strapped to said box; a vertically movable element provided on said frame; a cover shaping bar mounted on said element and extending transversely over said cover; strap confining extensions provided on opposite ends of said bar and extending downwardly opposite upper portions of the sides of said box when said element is depressed, there being relatively deep narrow recesses provided in said extensions and lying in said plane for confining end portions of said strap in said plane, said bar and said extensions comprising a unit; means under the control of the operator for depressing said element to depress said unit into operative relation with said cover and said box; and means pivotally mounted overfilledpacked box by a strap having integral drivingends and applied across a middle portion of said cover in a transverse plane with the strap ends driven into opposite sides of the box, the combination of a compact strapping unit lying in said plane and movable vertically down ward onto said cover and said box so as to overlie the areas against which said strap is to be applied, there being guideways in the portions of said unit lying opposite, the sides of said box for confining said strap in said plane during the movement of said unit into operative relation with said cover and said box; means under the control of the operator for governing the vertical movement of said unit; and means operative when said unit is so depressed to expel strap driving ends from said guideways into the sides of said box.

20. In a machine for securing covers on crown packed boxes, the combination of: a frame; a table on said frame for supporting a crown packed box in upright position with a cover disposed thereover; means vertically movable on said frame to press said cover onto said box; means carried on said pressing means to automatically position a cover securing member, having a pointed end, in position to permit said end to be driven into said box when said cover is pressed on said box; fluid power means including a cylinder and a piston carried on said pressing means for driving said pointed end into said box; and flexible conduit means for conducting fluid under pressure from a suitable power source to said fluid power means.

21. In a machine for securing covers on crown packed boxes, the combination of: a frame; a table on said frame for supporting a crown packed box in upright position with a cover dis-' posed thereover; means vertically movable on said frame to press said cover onto said box; means carried on said pressing means to automatically position a cover securing strap, having pointed ends, across said cover, in position to permit said ends to be driven into said box when said cover is pressed on said box; fluid power means including a cylinder and a piston carried on said pressing means-for driving said pointed ends into said box; and flexible conduit means for conducting fluid under pressure from a suitable power source to said fluid power means.

HALE PAX'roN.

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