US2003448A - Apparatus for making metal binding strips - Google Patents

Description

J 4 1935 1 H. H. J. KRUSE 2,003,448

APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS' Filed May 12, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet l June 4, 1935. H J, KRUSE 2,003,448

APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS Filed May 12, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 agm/leya June 4, 1935. H. H. J. KRUSE 2,003,448

APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS I Filed May 12, 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 4, 1935. H. H. J. KRUSE 2,003,443

. APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS Filed May 12, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 ',7' 63 I wId-m, M

fie/Mann 17. J 57186 lnamgL mw June 4, 1935. H. H. J. KRUSE 2,003,448

APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS Filed May 12, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 158 fi e/77700015. JEuJe .June 4, 1935. H. HFJ. KRUSE 2,003,448

APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS Filed May 12, 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 June 4, 1935. H. H. J. KRUSE APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS Filed May 12, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Q 1- o l, ma M June 4, 1935. H. H. J. KRUSE 2,003,448

APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS Filed May 12, 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS Application May 12, 1933, Serial No. 670,807 In Great Britain June 30, 1932 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for producing toothed metal strip, such as binding strip for cases, boxes, crates or the like containers of timber, composition board- 5 ing, or other suitable penetrable material.

In constructing one known type of container a plurality of wooden panels are secured by their opposite sides to a pair of toothed metal binding strips, the teeth being driven into the wood, and

10 the strips are subsequently bent between adjacent panels so that the panels assume their proper relative positions as sides and bottom, or as sides, bottom and top of the container, the strips being provided with a flanged edge which serves to 15 locate the end panels of the container.

An object of the present invention is the pro vision of an improved apparatus adapted for the rapid production of toothed metal strip suitable for binding containers of timber or the like.

2Q A further object is the provision of improved apparatus for producing flanged toothed strip suitable for binding containers of the type hereinbefore referred to, the apparatus being easily adjustable in order to enable it to produce strips suitable for containers of various sizes and shapes.

According to the present invention in one aspect, apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strip comprises a row 'of punches adapted to perforate and thereby shear teeth out of the strip,

30 a movable strip-support member having apertures with which said punches co-operate to set the teeth to a predetermined position relative to the perforated portion of the strip, means for feeding the strip longitudinally of the row of 35 punches, and control mechanism which serves automatically, upon the completion of a punching operation, to withdraw said support member, to actuate said strip-feeding means so as to advance the strip through a predetermined distance, and

40 thereafter to return said support member to its operative position.

According to the invention in another aspect, apparatus for producing metal binding strip suitable for binding boxes in which the panels are 5 not all of the same width, comprises adjacent primary and secondary groups of tooth-forming punches, and punch-actuating mechanism adapted in certain selected punching operations to impart working strokes to said primary group alone,

50 and in other punching operations to impart working strokes simultaneously to both of said groups.

According to the invention in a further aspect apparatus for producing metal binding strip suitable for binding boxes in which the panels are 55 not all of the same width comprises adjacent primary and secondary punch holders adapted to carry tooth-forming punches, a power-driven shaft provided with an eccentric or the like for imparting periodical working strokes to said primary holder, a secondary shaft connected to said power-driven shaft by a two-to-one speed-reducing gearing, and means actuated by said secondary shaft whereby a working stroke is imparted to said secondary holder during only every other working stroke of said primary holder.

According to the invention in a further aspect, apparatus for producing toothed and langed metal binding strip from a flat strip comprises rollers adapted to flange the strip, punches adapted to perforate and thereby shear teeth out of the flanged strip, a cutter for forming mitre cuts in the flange of the perforated strip, and intermittently-acting feed mechanism co-operating with said rollers, punches and cutter whereby teeth and mitre cuts are formed in the strip in predetermined relationship.

According to the invention in yet another aspect, a metal binding strip for boxes has a plane main portion provided with a plane flange along one edge of and at right angles to the main portion and a series of aligned teeth sheared out of the main portion and bent, about a line parallel and adjacent to the unflanged edge of the main portion so as to stand at right angles to the main portion and on the same side of the main portion as the flange.

One form of apparatus according to the present invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1A is a side elevation of a part of the apparatus.

Fig. 1B is a side elevation, viewed in the same direction as Fig. 1A, of the part of the apparatus disposed to the right of the part shown in Fig. 1A. 40

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, viewed from the right of Fig. 1B, of the portion of the apparatus that is on the near side as viewed in Figs. 1A and 13,

Fig. 3 is a sectional end view, on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1A, of the near side portion,

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of par of the power-distribution gearing.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, viewed in the same direction as Figs. 1A and 1B, of certain moving parts shown in their working relationship, adjacent fixed portions being omitted.

Fig. 6 is a sectional end elevation to an enlarged scale, taken on the line 66 in Fig. 1B, of the near side portion in a different configuration from that shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of certain of the parts shown in Figs. 3, and. 6.

Figs. 8,9, and 11 are views of a strip in verious stages of completion.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a portion of finished strip.

Fig. 13 is an end elevation viewed from the right of Fig. 1B, of the portion of the apparatus that is on the far side as viewed in Fig. 13.

Figs. 14 and are respectively a side and an end elevation of the head of the punches.

The apparatus is arranged to be fed with a pair of metal ribbons, and to form from them pairs of finished strips which are delivered simultaneously. Accordingly it comprises two stripforming units which are generally similar. These units are so mounted on a common base that their distance apart may be easily adjusted, in order to allow the strips to be delivered at a transverse interval that is convenient for subsequent operations.

The apparatus comprises the following parts which are hereinafter described seriatim:-

(1) Main power distribution gearing which is adapted to run continuously. (2) Intermittently driven gearing which is coupled to the main gearing through an automatically controlled friction clutch and which serves to actuate the mechanism that feeds the ribbons into the machine and also the mechanism that discharges the finished strips. (3) The pair of strip-forming units which are arranged to produce a right-hand and a left-hand strip respectively. Each strip-forming unit comprises: (a) A battery of intermittently-driven rollers for fianging the ribbon and drawing it into the unit. (b) Two groups of tooth-forming punches, one of which is reciprocated continuously and the other of which is operated in unison with the first group during every other punching operation, remaining inoperative during the alternate operations, whereby long and short series of teeth can be formed alternately in the strips. (0) A continuouslydriven rotary cutter for forming the mitre slots in the strip at the points where it is subsequently bent in assembling the container and for parting off finished lengths of strip. (d) A cam operated punch for forming holes at the ends of the strips to accommodate fasteners. Rollers, driven in synchronism with the flanging and feeding rollers and serving to discharge the finished strips.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1A and 1B show the unit that is on the right-hand side when the machine is viewed from the end where the strips are fed in. This unit will be referred to as. the near side unit. The other unit (Fig. 13);

which will be referred to as the far side unit, is generally similar to the near side unit except that its parts are of opposite hand, that is, one unit is a looking-glass copy of the other.

Main power distribution gearing.--A driving motor I (Fig. 4) mounted on a base plate A (Fig. 2) and disposed adjacent to the far side unit drives through reduction gearing 3, 4 a highspeed transverse shaft 2 joumalled in a bearing in the near side unit, which locates the shaft axially, and in a bearing in the far side unit, in which the shaft is slidable. A pinion 5 keyed to the shaft 2 meshes with a wheel 6 keyed to a low-speed transverse shaft 1 journalled in the units similarly to the shaft 2; and to the shaft I are also keyed bevel wheels 8 and 3 meshing respectively with bevel wheels l0 and l I fixed to eccentric shafts I2 and I3 which form parts of the near and far side units respectively, the wheel 9 being slidably mounted on the shaft and located by the bearing on the far side unit. To the near end of the shaft 2 is keyed a gear wheel I4 meshing with a gear wheel 15 journalled on a clutch shaft l6 and formed integral with a body member ll of a cone friction clutch, the slidable member l8 of which is keyed to the shaft I6 (Figs. 1A and 3) which forms the driving member of the intermittently driven gearing. To the end of the shaft l2 remote from the bevel wheel 10 is keyed a bevel pinion meshing with a bevel wheel 2| keyed to a shaft 22 to which is secured a cam wheel 23 (Fig. 1A). The periphery of the cam wheel is provided with a groove 24 having undercut sides, the eight cams 25a and 251) are spaced round the cam wheel, being secured by screws 25 engaging with nuts 21 inserted in a locally widened part of the groove and afterwards slid round the cam wheel under the sides of the groove. The gear train 20, 2| provides a speed reduction of 4 to 1. For the sake of clearness, certain of the cams are omitted from Figs. 2 and 3.

Co-operating with the cams is a two armed cam follower I9 provided with rollers l9a and Nb and secured to a shaft 33 journalled in a fixed bearing member 34. To the lower end of the shaft 33 is keyed a clutch actuating fork 28 pivotally connected to a split ring 29 engaged in a groove in the slidable clutch member l8 (Fig. 2). A bearing bracket 30 supports the near end of the clutch shaft I6, and to this bracket are secured two spring tongues 31 having their free ends shaped to form a V when viewed in plan. These free ends co-operate with V-shaped projections 32 formed on the ring 29. The cams 25a and 25b are so disposed that as the cam wheel rotates they alternately engage and disengage the clutch, the spring tongues 3| serving to lock the clutch in its engaged and disengaged positions.

It is essential that the clutch should be capable of repeatedly engaging and disengaging the drive without appreciable variation in the amount of slip that occurs during engagement. Accordingly the clutch is lined with friction material l8 having a high coeflicient of friction; the parts are so arranged that the cams 25a exert a powerful engaging force which ensures that the clutch will take up the drive with a minimum of slip; and the spring tongues 3| are strong enough to maintain an engaging force suflicient to prevent slip aftera cam 25a has disengaged from the H roller I90.

Intermittently driven gearing.To the clutch shaftlG (Fig. 4) is keyed a pinion 40 which drives through an idler pinion 4| 9. gear wheel 42 keyed to a transverse shaft 43 journalled in the units. To the shaft 43 are keyed bevel pinions 44 and 45 meshing respectively with bevel pinions 46 and 41 secured to vertical shafts 48 and 49 at the upper ends of which are attached mitre wheels 50 and 5| serving to drive the feeding and flanging rollers. A sprocket wheel 52 keyed to the clutch shaft I6 is connected by means of a roller chain 53 to a sprocket 54 keyed to a transverse shaft 55 which actuates the discharge rollers.

Strip forming units.-Only the near side strip forming unit will be described since the far side unit is generally similar.

Flanging and feeding rollers-These rollers, which are of conventional design, are accommodated in a battery mounted on a table 80 provided on the main framework casting B of the unit (Fig. 1A). The intermittently driven mitre wheel 58 (Fig. 4), meshes with a wheel 6| keyed to an inclined shaft 62 to which is fixed a spur wheel 83 driving the feed rollers 64a and 64b and the fianging rollers 65a. and 65b through the agency of idler pinions 66 and 61. All these rollers have their axes parallel to one another, inclined at 45 degrees to the vertical, and contained in a transverse vertical plane. The feed rollers are cylindrical, while the upper flanging roller 65a has a ridge section tread, the lower roller 65b being correspondingly grooved. Thus the fianging rollers are adapted to deliver an angle section strip having one limb disposed vertically upwards and the horizontal limb lying on the far side of the vertical limb.

Tooth forming punches.-The punches are actuated by eccentrics I8 and II formed on the eccentric shaft I2. Eccentric rods I2 and I3 are pivoted to pins I4 and I which are secured to a primary punch holder I6 (Figs. 3 and 5) which therefore reciprocates continuously so long as the driving motor is running. Disposed parallel with and, opposite to the primary punch holder 76 is a secondary punch holder 1'! adapted to move relatively to the primary holder, the two holders being guided by a web member 18 formed on the main casting B and a cover plate I9 suitably secured to the main casting. Near the upper end of the member I8 is formed an angular table 88 along which the metal strip 69 is fed and which is provided with holes 8I through which the punches operate. An angle section guide 68 secured to the web member I8 serves to maintain the strip 69 in correct alignment. The primary punch holder I6 is provided with two locking bolts 82 which are slidably fitted in holes 59 drilled through the holder and through bosses 56 formed thereon and accommodated in elongated holes 5! formed in the web I8 (Figs. 5 and 6).

These bolts, when slid transversely of the machine so as to enter holes 58 formed in the secondary punch holder, serve to couple the two holders together so that they operate in unison; when the bolts are withdrawn clear of the secondary holder, the primary holder can perform a punching operation while the secondary holder remains inoperative.

The punch holders I6 and I1 are provided near their upper ends with longitudinal opposed recesses 83 and 84 shaped to receive the bases of the primary and secondary punches 85 and 86 respectively. These recesses are clearly evident in Fig. '7, where the punch holders are shown detached from the machine. The punches are secured to their respective holders by locking screws 85' and 86', their bases being thus fixed within the recess on one holder and projecting into the recess on the opposite holder, so that their number andv arrangement can be readily varied. One primary punch and one secondary punch are shown in place, by way of example, in Fig. 7. The recess 83 in the primary holder is deeper than the recess 84 in the secondary holder, and the depth from the points of the secondary punches 86 to the bottom of the projecting portion-86a of the base thereof (Figs. 3 and 7) is shorter than the depth from the points of the primary punches 85 to the bottom of the recess 83 on the primary holder, so that, when the bolts 82 are withdrawn, the primary holder is able to rise in advance of the secondary holder through a height equal to the difference in depth of these recesses,

whereby the secondary punches are preventedv from rising far enough to perforate the strip. With the arrangement of punches'described it will be obvious that thrust is applied to the base of every punch over an area extending to the centre line of the punch whereby the risk of strain or displacement of the punches during operation is minimized. The cutting portion of the punch is of a uniform fine wedge shape in horizontal section, the upper end being cut obliquely in such a way that the sharp edge of the section is the uppermost part of the tool.

A pair of pins I68 screwed into the secondary holder 11 project through slots I6I formed in the cover plate I9 and engage in elongated eyes I63 of eye bolts I62 urged upwards by springs I66 anchored by pins I61 to the cover plate. A shoulder I64 on each eyebolt co-operates with a stop I65 projecting from the cover plate so as to limit upward movement of the eyebolt. A pair of lugs I81 secured to the bottom of the primary holder 16 and projecting under the bottom of the secondary holder 11 serve to support the secondary holder when the bolts 82 are withdrawn and the primary holder rises in advance of the secondary holder, and thus to prevent the secondary holder from tilting and jamming. A pair of lugs I88 secured to the bottom of the secondary holder and projecting under the base of the primary holder serve to ensure that, when the bolts 82 are withdrawn and the primary holder is descending, the secondary holder will descend level with the primary holder so that the bolt holes 56 and 59 are in alignment.

Means for supporting the strip during punching operations, and which are movable to allow the strip to be advanced after teeth have been formed therein, are arranged as follows. An eccentric 98 formed on the shaft I2 actuates through an eccentric rod 9| (Figs. 3 and 6) a rocking lever 92 formed on a sleeve 93 journalled on a shaft I38 which will be referred to later. The sleeve 93 is provided with two arms 94 which serve to reciprocate a slide 95 comprising a webbed casting 96 provided with two pairs of brackets 91 (Fig. 5) which in turn carry two pins 98. On these pins are journalled rectangular blocks 99 slidably fitted in jaws I88 formed on the ends of the arms 94. The lower part of the slide 95 comprises a strip support member I8I to which are fixed by taper cotter pins 88 a plurality of vertical screwed rods 89 slidably fitted through holes formed in the slide casting 96 and furnished at their upper ends with nuts I82. Threaded over the rods 89 between the upper and lower parts of the slide are compression springs I83, the nuts I82 and springs I83 cooperating to maintain the two parts 96 and I8I of the slide in definite relationship when it is raised and the springs permitting the lower part I8I to yield elastically relatively to the driving part 96 at the bottom of its stroke. The strip support member I8I is guided between the upper portion of the cover plate I9 and the upper part I84 of the web member 18 of the main casting B. A steel die I85 (Figs. 5 and 6) secured to the under side of the strip support member I8I is provided with narrow slots I86 arranged to accommodate the points of the punches. The angular relationship of the eccentrics on the shaft I2 is such that the punch holders attain their highest position at the instant when the driven by a gear train III, H2 from the eccentric shaft I2, this train giving a 2-to-1 speed reduction. At the right-hand end of the shaft H0 (Fig. 1B) is secured by means of a safety shear pin H3 of usual design, a crank pin H3 operating within a slot I I4 provided in a connecting rod I I5 pivoted to a lever I I6 keyed to a bolt-actuating shaft I II. The length of the slot I I4 is somewhat less than the diameter of the path of the crank pin H3, with the result that the shaft H1 is caused to rock one way and the other while the crank pin H3 passes through a relatively small angle preceding top and bottom dead centres respectively, the shaft H'I remaining stationary at other times. The angular disposition of the crank pin H3 relative to the eccentrics on the shaft I2 is such that the shaft H1 is moved only when the punch holders are at or near their lowermost positions. The shaft I I1 is journalled in bearings I I8 suitably fixed to the web member 18 of the main casting B, and to the shaft I H are keyed two pairs of slotted levers H9 (Figs. 1A, 1B and 3). The heads of the bolts 82 are provided with transverse pins I20 projecting within triangular slots I2I formed in the levers H9. When the parts are in the configuration shown in Fig. 3, the primary and secondary punch holders being locked together, the pins i20 slide over the far side vertical edge of the slots I2I as the punch holders reciprocate. When the shaft H1 is rotated by the crank mechanism H3, I I5 so as to withdraw the bolts 82 from the secondary punch holder TI, the pins I20 during reciprocation of the punch holders slide over the near side edge of the slots I 2I (Fig. 6).

Mitre cutter.-The third-motion shaft I30, suitably journalled in the casting B (Fig. 1A, is driven through 2-to-l reduction gearing I3I, I32 from the secondary shaft I I0, so that it is caused to revolve at one quarter the speed of the eccentric shaft I2. To the shaft I is keyed a pinion I33 meshing with a pinion I34 of the same diameter which is secured to a shaft I36 (Fig. 2) journalled in the main casting B and to which is fixed a mitre cutter I35. The mitre cutter (Fig. IB) is in the form of a cylindrical tool-holder on the periphery of which are carried four tools Ia spaced at uniform angular intervals; three of these tools are shaped to cut mitres in the plain upturned flange of the strip, and the fourth cuts a similar mitre and also parts the strip.

Punch for forming fastening hoZes.-Referring to Figs. 13 and 2, a slide I40, suitably guided in the main frame casting B,'is provided with two depending members I4I disposed one on each side of the mitre cutter I35. At the bottom of each of these members is provided a punch I42 (Fig. 2) arranged so as to be capable of forming a slot in the strip. The slide I is actuated by a striking cam I43 and a return cam I44, fixed to the third motion shaft I30, through the agency of cam followers I45, I46 which are fixed to a rocking shaft I41. To the shaft I4! is keyed a lever I48 provided at its far end with a jaw I49 in which is fitted a rectangular block I50 journalled on a pin I5I suitably secured to the slide I40. A spring I acting on the cam follower I45 tends to maintain the slide I40 raised.

Discharge roZZers.These rollers which are denoted by I53, I54, are of conventional design and are contained in casing I52 suitably secured to the frame casting B. Drive is transmitted by the chain 53 previously described so that the rollers are constrained to operate in synchronism with the feeding and the fianging rollers.

Method of operation.-The size and shape of container which the strip is intended to bind having been ascertained, the number of teeth in each portion of the strip is determined. Taking for example a container in which the panelsare vnot all of the same width, its dimensions being such that the lid and bottom portions are secured to the strip by sixteen teeth, and the front and back portions are secured to the strip by eleven teeth, eleven primary punches 85 are fixed in the first eleven positions on the righthand side of the primary punch holder I6, as shown in Fig. 5. Five secondary punches 86 are fixed to the secondary punch holder 1'! immediately to the left of the primary punches so that the two groups of punches form a continuous row. The four clutch engaging cams 25a are secured to the cam Wheel at intervals of 90 degrees in such positions that they contr t'mlf'" the cam follower roller I 9a when the punchactuating eccentrics 70 and II are just approaching their bottom dead centre position. The four clutch-disengaging cam 251) are spaced from their corresponding cams 25a at such intervals as will ensure that the predetermined lengths of strip will be fed, between each punching operation, in the manner to be hereinafter described.

A metal ribbon is fed between each of the pairs of feeding rollers and the motor I is started. If the speed of the motor is such that the ccentrio shafts I2 and I3 rotate at R. P. M, the secondary shaft H0 will rotate at 30 R. P. M., and the clutch operating cam wheel 23, the third motion shaft I30 and the mitre cutter I 36 will rotate at 15 R. P. M. Thus the machine will produce fifteen pairs of strips per minute.

Referring to the near side unit, the ribbon is delivered by the feed rollers 64a and 64b to the fianging rollers 65a and 65b whence it is advanced in the form of a flanged strip on to the table 80, the movement of the strip taking place whenever the friction clutch I'I, I8 is engaged.

It will be assumed that the last group of teeth (namely the eleven teeth that will ultimately be secured to the front panel of the container) has just been formed on the nearly completed strip, and the manufacture of the succeeding strip will be described. As the eccentrics T0 and II approach bottom dead centre, the first cam 25a strikes the roller I9a of the cam follower I9 and thus effects engagement of the clutch -II, I8. The strip is thereby accelerated almost instantaneously to its normal speed of advance. When the last tooth formed is near the mitre cutter, the first cam 25b strikes the roller I9b and thus effects disengagement of the clutch. The strip thereupon comes to rest almost instantaneously (owing to the load imposed by the fianging rollers) in such a position that the last tooth formed has passed the mitre cutter by a distance equal to the horizontal distance between the right hand primary punch and the mitre cutter. The position of the parts during this feeding operation is shown in Fig. 3 where the primary and secondary punch holders T6 and I1 are locked together. by the bolts 82, so that all sixteen punches will operate in unison during the subsequent punching operation.

As the eccentrics I0 and II approach their top dead centre positions, the eccentric serves, by means of the rocking lever 92 and the arms 94 to lower the slide 95, whereby the strip-support die I05 is pressed firmly on the strip 69 through the agency of the springs I03.

As a result of the continued rotation of the eccentric shaft I2, the punch holders rise simultaneously, and when the shoulders I64 on the 'eyebolts I 62 reach the projections I65, the pins I60 ride up the elongated 'eyes I63. The points of all the punches now simultaneously penetrate the horizontal portion of the strip near the angle thereof and each punch shears a tapered tongue out of the strip, the horizontal part of the strip being supported during the shearing operation by the parts of the strip-support die I05 lying between the slots I06. When each punch has sheared the full length of tooth out of the strip, the far side portion of the punch forces the tooth against the backof the slot I06, the punch and die co-operating to straighten the tooth and set it vertically. While the strip is stillheld firmly by the strip support member, one of the mitre cutters I35a. cuts a V-shaped slot in the up-turned flange of the strip and makes a parallel parting cut in the horizontal main portion of the strip. At the same time the cam I43 actuates the follower I45 so as to cause the slide I40 .to descend, whereby the cutters I 42 penetrate the strip on the two sides respectively of the mitre cutter and form holes for fasteners. Before the strip is fed forward the cam I44 actuates the follower I46 so as to withdraw the punches I42, whereupon the spring I55 raises the slide I40 to its initial position. These operations complete the section of strip that will eventually be attached to the lid of the container.

The eccentrics are now moving towards their bottom dead centre, the eccentric 80 thus raising the slide 85 and withdrawing the strip-support die I05 far enough to allow the newlyformed teeth to advance during the next feeding operation.

As the eccentrics approach bottom dead centre, the crank H3 on the secondary shaft IIO strikes the upper end of the slot H4 in the connecting rod H5 and thus begins to move the slotted links II8 towards the position shown in Fig. 6, the bolts 82 being withdrawn fromthe holes 58 in the secondary. punch holder 11 as the eccentrics attain their bottom dead centre position. Meanwhile the next clutch engaging cam 25a has operated to rengage the strip-feed ing mechanism, and the strip is advanced until the last tooth formed has passed the mitre cutter, whereupon the next cam 25b interrupts the feed.

The next punching operation, which forms the section of strip that will be fastened to the back of the box, is shown in Fig. 6. The bolts 82 now being withdrawn, the secondary holder 11 is urged upwards by the springs I 66, but is kept level with the primary holder I5 by the lugs I08. When the shoulders I64 meet the projections I65 the secondary holder 11 lags behind the primary holder I6, as shown in Fig. 6, the projecting portion of the base of the secondary punches 86 occupying the lower part of the recesses 83 on the primary holder. Thus the secondary punches do not rise far enough for their points to reach the strip and they therefore remain inoperative, so that only eleven teeth are formed. Fig. 6 shows one of the primary punches 85 co-operating withthe die I05 to straighten a tooth and set it vertically. While the strip is held by the strip support die I05, the mitre cutter I35 forms a mitre slot in the upturned limb of the strip.

Upon reversal of the motion ofthe primary holder, the secondary holder, owing to the action of the springs I66 remains in its partly raised position until it is forced to accompany the primary holder in its downward motion by the lugs I08 engaging the bottom of the primary holder.

When the eccentrics I0 and II next attain their bottom dead centre position, the crank pin I33 reaches the position shown in Fig. 2 with the result that the bolts 82 are slid into engagement with the secondary punch holder IT by the agency of the slotted links II9. Meanwhile the next cam 25a has operated to cause the strip to be advanced, and when a length equal to the height of the container has been fed, the feeding motion is stopped by the operation of the next cam 25b.

In the next punching operation all the punches again operate in unison as previously described, forming the length of strip that will be fastened to the bottom of the container, and the mitre cutter makes another. mitre notch. The punch holders having been restored to their lowermost position, the bolts 82 are again withdrawn as previously described, the strip is advanced by the action of the last pair of clutch actuating cams 25a and 25b through a distance equal to the back-to-front dimension of the container, and in the final operation of the cycle, which forms the section of the strip that will be fixed to the front of the container, only the primary punches perforate the strip, the secondary punch holder remaining inoperative. The mitre cutter again forms a plain mitre notch. This section of strip having been completed, the cycle of operation .just described is repeated on the incoming length of strip, the completed length of strip being ejected by the discharge rollers after it has been severed by the mitre cutter.

Figs. 8 to 11 show various stages in the production of a strip intended for a container having a depth corresponding to a length of strip having four teeth and a back-to-front dimension corresponding to a length of strip having six teeth. The strip produced by the far side unit is chosen for convenience in illustration. In Fig. 8 the fiat ribbon "0 has been bent by the flanging rollers, as far as the point "I, to an L-secticn whereof the plane main portion is denoted by I58 and the upstanding flange by I59. The last tooth of the previously formed strip is denoted by I12. Fig. 9 shows the strip after the first punching operation; I13 is the mitre out, I14 the parting cut, and I15 are the two fastener slots. In Fig. 10 the second punching operation has been completed, and the second mitre cut I13 made; while Fig. 11 shows the strip after it has been parted from the incoming material as a result of the first operation of the next cycle.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strip, comprising a row of punches adapted to perforate and thereby shear teeth out of a strip, a movable strip-support member having apertures with which said punches co-operate to set the teeth to a predetermined position relative to the perforated portion of the strip, means for feeding the strip longitudinally of the row of punches, and control mechanism which serves automatically, upon the completion of a punching operation, towithdraw said support member, to actuate said strip-feeding means so as toadvance the strip through a predetermined distance, and

thereafter to return said support member to its operative position.

2. In apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strip suitable for binding boxes in which the panels are not all of the same width, adjacent primary and secondary groups of toothforming punches, and punch actuating mechanism adapted in certain selected punching operations to impart working strokes to said primary group alone, and in other punching operations to impart working strokes to both of said groups.

3. In apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strips suitable for binding boxes, of various sizes, in any one of which the panels are not all of the same width, a primary punch holder for carrying a variable number of punches arranged in a row, a secondary punch holder for carrying a variable number of additional punches constituting a continuation of the row of punches carried by said primary punch holder, and actuating mechanism adapted in certain selected punching operations to impart working strokes to said primary holder alone, and in other punching operations to impart working strokes to both of said holders.

4. In apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strip suitable for binding boxes in which the panels are not all of the same width, a primary punch holder and a secondary punch holder for carrying groups of tooth-forming punches, actuating mechanism adapted to impart working strokes to said primary holder, and disengageable locking means whereby during certain selected punching operations said holders are locked together so as to cause the primary and secondary groups of punches to operate in unison, and in other punching operations are disengaged to allow said primary group of punches to operate while said secondary group of punches remains in-operative.

5. In apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strips suitable for binding boxes of various sizes, in any one of which the panels are not all of the same width, a primary punch holder for carrying a variable number of tooth-forming punches arranged in a row, a secondary punch holder for carrying a variable number of toothforming punches constituting a continuation of the row of punches carried by said primary holder, said holders being parallel to and opposite one another, and actuating mechanism adapted in certain selected punching operations to impart working strokes to said primary holder alone, and in other punching operations to impart working strokes to both of said holders.

6. In apparatus for producing tooth metal binding strips suitable for binding boxes of vari-- ous sizes, in any one of which the panels are not all of the same width, a primary punch holder, a secondary punch holder parallel and opposite to said primary punch holder, wherein the opposed faces of said holders are in contact with one another and are oppositely recessed to accommodate the bases of punches, which bases are fixed within one recess and project into the opposite recess, and actuating mechanism adapted in certain selected punching operations to impart working strokes to said primary holder alone and in other punching operations to impart working strokes to both of said holders, the.

depth from the points of the secondary punches to the bottom of the part of the base thereof that projects into the recess on the primary holder being shorter than the depth from the points of the primary punches to the bottom of the recess on the primary holder.

7. In apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strips suitable for binding boxes of various sizes, in any one of which the panels are not all of the same width, a primary and a secondary punch holder, said punch holders being parallel and opposite to one another, a variable number of punches attached to said primary holder and arranged in a row, a variable number of punches attached to said secondary holder and constituting a continuation of the row of punches attached to said primary holder, driving means for imparting periodical working strokes to said primary holder, a locking bolt carried in one of said holders and slidable transversely to the direction of movement of said holders whereby said holders can be locked together to operate in unison, and means drivably connected to said driving means for actuating said locking bolt so as to lock said holders together and to unlock said holders be tween selected punching operations.

8. In apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strip suitable for binding boxes in which the panels are not all of the same width, adjacent primary and secondary punch holders adapted to carry tooth-forming punches, a power-driven shaft provided with means for converting the rotary motion of the shaft into a reciprocating motion imparting periodical working strokes to said primary holder, a secondary shaft connected to said power-driven shaft by a 2-to-1 speedreducing gearing, and means actuated by said secondary shaft for imparting working strokes to said secondary holder during only every other working stroke of said primary holder.

9. In apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strip suitable for binding boxes in which the panels are not all of the same width, adjacent primary and secondary punch holders adapted to carry tooth-forming punches, a powerdriven shaft provided with means for converting the rotary motion of the shaft into a reciprocating motion imparting periodical working strokes to said primary holder, a secondary shaft connected to said power-driven shaft by a 2-to-1 speed reducing gear, a bolt mounted in one of said holders and adapted to engage with the other of said holders and thereby to cause said holders to operate in unison, and means for transforming the rotary motion of said secondary shaft into a reciprocating motion which is employed to engage and disengage said bolt.

10. Apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strip suitable for binding boxes of various sizes, comprising a driving shaft, tooth-forming punches actuated by said driving shaft, and means for feeding strip through a predetermined distance over said punches, said means including rollers for engaging the strip, gearing for transmitting power from said driving shaft to said rollers and comprising a clutch, a cam shaft driven by said driving shaft, and cams mounted on said camshaft and serving to engage and disengage said clutch, the angular relationship between said cams being adjustable.

11. Apparatus for producing toothed and in the flange of the strip, a driving shaft, and gearing connecting said tool holder, said powerdriven means, and said feed mechanism to said driving shaft whereby groups of teeth and mitre cuts are formed in said strip in alternate relationship.

12. Apparatus for producing toothed and flanged metal strip suitable for binding boxes comprising punches serving to form teeth in the strip, power-driven means for actuating said punches, intermittently acting feed mechanism for advancing the strip relative to said punches, a rotatable tool-holder carrying a plurality of mitre-cutting tools spaced round its periphery, and gearing connecting said tool-holder to said power-driven means in such ratio that said toolholder rotates once during a series of punching operations corresponding in number to said mitre-cutting tools.

13. In apparatusfor producing toothed metal binding strip, a reciprocating punch of wedge section the working end of which is formed obliquely in such a way that the sharp edge of the wedge forms an acute angle with said end, a table having an aperture through which said punch operates, a movable strip-support member for holding a strip against said table and provided with a slot to accommodate said punch, said slot being so formed that, when said support member is holding a strip against said table and as said punch shears a tooth out of said strip, said slot co-operates with said punch to straighten the tooth and to set it at a predetermined angle relative to said strip.

14. Apparatus for producing from a flat strip toothed and flanged metal strip, suitable for binding boxes, comprising rollers for fianging the strip, punches for perforating and thereby shearing teeth out of the flanged strip, a cutter for forming mitre cuts in the flange of the toothed strip, intermittently acting feed mechanism for advancing the strip, a power driven shaft, and transmission gearing connecting said shaft to said rollers, punches, cutter, and feed mechanism whereby teeth and mitre cuts are formed in the strip in predetermined relationship.

15. Apparatus for producing toothed and flanged metal strip, suitable for binding boxes, from a flat strip, comprising punches for forming teeth in the strip, intermittently acting feed mechanism for advancing the strip relative to the punches and including cooperating rollers for flanging the strip, a cutter for forming mitre notches in the formed flange, a power driven shaft, and gearing driven by said shaft for reciprocating said punches, for actuating said outter, and for operating said feed mechanism when said cutter and punches are not in contact with the strip, whereby teeth and mitre cuts are formed in the strip in predetermined relationship.

16. Apparatus for producing from a flat metal' strip a flanged strip suitable for use as a binding and hingeing strip for folding containers, comprising intermittently acting feed mechanism for advancing the strip, said feed mechanism including a pair of co-operating flanging rollers which serve to flange the strip, a cutter for forming mitre notches in the flange of the strip at points where it will be bent in assembling the box, a power driven shaft, and gearing driven by said shaft for causing alternately said mitre cutter to make a cutting stroke and said feed mechanism to advance the strip through a predetermined distance relative to said cutter, said gearing being provided with adjustable means for varying the length of strip advanced during a feeding operation, which adjustable means enable the apparatus to produce various strips suitable for containers of different sizes.

HERMANN HANS JOHANNES KRUSE.

Images