US2106543A - Crate lidding machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 25, 1938. E. TwoMLEY 2,106,543

l i CRATE LIDDING MACHINE y Filed Aug.' 1o, 19:54 4 sheets-sheet 1l Herb @rtl/2f TuomZey Jan. 25, 193s. H, E- TWOMLEY y 2,106,543

CRATE LIDDING MACHINE Filed Aug. l0, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 By l /Lm Jan. 425, 1938. H E, 'TWOMLEY y 2,106,543

CRATE LIDDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 10, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 cY-" O- Inventor Herbert E'. Twozneg Jan. 25, 1938. H. E. TwoMLEY lCRATE! LIDDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 10, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT omen CRATE LIDDING MACHINE Application August io, 1934, serial No. 739,275

4 Claims.

My invention relates to crate lidding machines and has particular reference to a machine for applying lids, or covers, to containers, wherein the covers are formed of a plurality of separate boards, each individually secured to theco-ntainer.

In the art of packing certain vegetables,

fruits, and the like, it is common practice to ll containers, such as boxes or crates formed of Wood, and to place these boxes in machines for applying lids or covers thereto. Certain types of crates or containers now in general use for this purpose require that the covers be formed of individual strips of wood or slats, each of which is to be separately and individually secured to `the container. Even when the machines are adapted for the securing of covers to a particular kind of crate, (that is to a crate or container for a particular kind of goods), the crates or containers employed will vary considerably in size, and particularly in width, so that in order to properly space the individual cover slats over the containers of different sizes, it is necessary to adjust the nail driving mechanism to evenly space the same to fit one size of container or to lit another size of container.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a machine for applying covers to containers in which the nailing mechanisms may be readily adjusted to t diierent widths of containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for applying covers to containers vof varying widths, in which the nail driving mechanisms are mounted for movement relative to each other and are provided with control means which when operated will evenly space the nail driving mechanisms throughout different widths to conform with different widths of boxes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character set forth in which a plurality of nail driving mechanisms are provided for each end of the container or box to be covered and in which the nail driving mechanisms are mounted for movement toward and away from each other to adapt them for varying widths of containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for applying covers toboxes in` which individual groups of nailing mechanisms are provided for each of the cover boardsand in which each of the groups is mounted for movement relative to the remaining groups and controlled to evenly space the groups in varying widths to adapt them for varying widths of containers.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of the following specifications, read in connection with the accompanying drawings,

wherein Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a machine for applying individual slats as covers for containers;

Fig. 2 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken along line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is av detail vertical sectional view, taken along line III-IIIl of Fig. 4, showing a portion of the machine` illustrating the mounting and operating means for theindividual nailing mechanisms;

Fig. 4 is a detail front elevational View of the nailing mechanisms and positioning means for the same for 4one end of the box'or container; and Y Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken along line V-V of Fig. 2.

Referring tothe drawings, I have illustrated a machine for applying lids to boxes shown in its entirety in Fig. l, wherein the machine includes a suitable base A from which extends uprights B and C `constituting y vertical bearing members upon which a pressframe D is reciprocably mounted for movement toward and away from a nailing table E upon which a box or container to be nailed may rest. vA pair of nail driving heads F and G, one for each side of the machine, are reciprocably mounted upon/the pressframe D for movement toward and away from the nailing table E.

The general construction of the machine, including the ibase A, uprights B and C, nailing table E, pressframeD and nail driving heads F and G, is substantially identical with the corresponding parts of a box lidding machine shown in my copending application Serial No. 739,276, led August 10, 1934, in which the 'construction and operation of these parts is illustrated and described in detail.

For the purposes of this application itis deemed suicient to state that the nailing table E comprises a substantially rectangular frame upon which is mounted a pluralityof rollers I arranged upon axes extending forwardly and rearwardly of the machine to constitute in eiect a conveyor section from which boxes may be fed into the machine from the right-hand side of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1. The boxes so fed into the machine come to rest upon the rollers lI, the

may rest during the pressing and nailing operations to resist the forces exerted by pressing the cover members down into contact with the box ends and then nailing the same thereto.

The pressframe D comprises, briefly, a cross head 5 which interconnects a pair of forwardly extending brackets 6 and 1, these brackets being interconnected at the front end of the machine by a cross bar 8 so as to form a substantially rigid structure with the brackets 6 and 1 aligned slightly within a vertical line extending from the rollers 3 and 4.

'I'he bracket 1 is illustrated as having a horizontally extending leg 9 which constitutes a bearing member upon which a plurality of nail chucks are mounted. Similarly the bracket constitutes the mounting for a plurality of nail chucks arranged on the opposite side of the machine so that when the press frame D is. moved downwardly upon a box the nail chucks will press the ends `of the cover members down into contact with the ends of the box ready for the nailing operations.

The pressframe D is illustrated as being connectedthrough a .connecting bar to a crankpin i2` mounted .upon a sector 'gear IS 'inthe lower portion of the machine, the sector gear being arrangedttofbe rotated through a suitable power. mechanism tobe applied to rotate a .pinionffI 4' so thatas the vsector geary isk rotatedfin a counterclockwise direction the pressframe D will be drawn down to press the cover members into contact'with'the box ends,and when the sector gear is'rotated in a clockwise direction the pressf frame D will be lifted back. to its normal elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1.

The power *mechanism employed for the reciprocating movement of the pressframe D is more particularly described in my copending application hereinbefore referred to, the operation thereof being under the control of an attendant operating. the machine who has only toy press a :pedal IA extending from the front of the machine tocause the sector gear I3 to be rotated to complete the pressing operations.

Ther nail driving heads F and G, which are interconnected Yat their upper ends by a cross barf-lG-'and :at theiri lower ends by a cross bar |11, which latter cross bar is coupled by means of a connecting rod11|8 to a crankpin I9 carried upon a crank 20 also mounted?. upon the sector gearfl3. :butarranged' asydescribed in my copending application :hereinbefore referred to to be rotated independently of thelmovement of the sector gear I3 sothat when the pressframe D has been. drawn downto press the cover members into contact withA the vbox ends the movementofthe. crank 2|! without rotating will likewise draw the. nail drivingheads F and G downwardly in synchronism with the pressframe, but when` the pressing operation has been completed `the crank 2U may then be rotated to further thefchucks lil-to drive the nails, Acompleting the lidding `operation.

This last `movement ofthe nail driving heads F andfG is accomplished .bypower derived from a motor M controlled by aV second foot pedal'22 1 also mounted uponthe front end of the machine under `themanual control of the person operating the machine. Again the details of the mechanism -for operating the nail driving heads F and hereinbefore, and it is not deemed necessary to repeat the same in this application except to point out that the operation of the machine is that a box placed upon the nailing table E will receive a cover by rst downward movement of the pressframe D and nail driving heads F and G to perform the pressing operations and then the nail driving heads F and G will be further operated to drive the nails Athrough the chucks to complete the nailing operations.

As will be understood by those skilled in this art, the crates, boxes or containers to be covered are most readily covered by means of three or more relativelythin strips of wood which are arranged across .the top of the box in substantially evenl spa'cing.;rather than to use covers which are already assembled of a plurality of strips connected together by means of cleats.

This` is particularly true with products such as cantaloupes wherein the widths of the boxes for variousztypesof cantaloupes will vary within considerably Wide limits so that proper positioning of the three cover strips on one width of box wouldi'not-conform with the proper spacing ofthe strips on boxes which are wider or narrower; For this purpose it is'necessary to mount the nail driving mechanisms so that they can bev shifted forwardly and rearwardly of the machine to adapt them fordiierently spaced cover strips.4

In order to accomplish'this result and to permit the ready shifting of position of the nail driving mechanisms, each of the nail driving mechanisms may beV constructed as a unit including the chuck-I0 which'is adapted to receive and hold two nails together with a pairof nail vdriving rods or plungers 2| reciprocably mounted in the chucksv I0. Thus by sliding the chucks IB 'transversely of the machine the two nailscarriedthereby maybe properly aligned in any position to which it is desired to place one of the cover strips.

By referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, it will be observed that the chucks l0 include a casting 24 constituting the body of the nail chuck to which'may be secured a pair of movable straps 25 held in place by means of springs 2B; one for each of the nails employed in the chucks. The casting 24 is illustrated as having.

a tongue 21 (Figs. 2 and 4) extending laterally therefrom'to be received in a groove 28 (Fig. 3) which extendsv longitudinally of the leg 9 on. the pressframe bracket 1 so that the tongue 21 and groove 28 constitute a slide mounting. for the entire chuck and nail plunger assembly. The nail chuck assembly is secured in place in the slot 28 `by means of a backing plate 29 secured to the chuck I0 'by bolts 30 so that the plate 29 and chuck assembly will move as a unit.

The nail punches for each of the chuck assemblies I6 are illustrated as having formed upon their upper ends .enlarged heads 3| (Fig. 4) engaging the underneath side of a longitudinally extending plate 32 secured to the nail driving head G. A second longitudinally extending plate 33 may. be provided having an angularly extending i'lange to engage the underneath side of the enlarged head 3| Yof the nail plungers so that while the nail plunger 3| may slide relative to the naildriving head 6 the plate 33 will prevent disengagement vof the plungers from the head G.

By' referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be observed that the rearmost chuck l0 (that is the chuck assembly nearest the 'uprights' B and C of the machine) may be initially adjusted to any desired position, adapting it to the spacing desired between the rear side edge of the box and the rearmost cover strip, and when so adjusted it may be rigidly secured in place since' irrespective of the Width of the box this chuck will always be aligned in the proper position for securing the rearmost cover strip to the box. The remaining chuck assemblies, however, must be mounted so as to slide forwardly andl rearwardly of the machine to properly space the other slats which are to be secured to the box, and in order to accomplish this sliding movement I provide a shaft 34 (Figs. 2 and 3) journaled near each of its ends in a bearing member 35 (Fig. 2) supported by longitudinally extending braces 36 mounted upon the pressframe D, veach of the outer ends of the shaft 34 having a crank-arm 31 rigidly secured thereto and extending downwardly therefrom. LThe crank 31 has connected thereto a link 38 the opposite end 39 of the link being secured to the backing plate 29'of the intermediate chuck assembly Ill. In like manner a link 40 connects to the outer end of the crank 31 and to the backing plate 29 of the foremost chuck assembly lll.

By properly spacing the connection of the links 38 and 40 upon the crank 31, it will be apparent that rotational movement of the crank 31 will slide both of the chuck assemblies, but will upon any given movement of the crank 31 slide the intermediate chuck assembly only one-half of the distance through which the foremost chuck assembly is moved. Thus by rotating the shaft 34 by means of a suitable handle 4| the intermediate chuck will be spaced a predetermined distance from the rearmost chuck assembly H),` while, at the same time, the foremost chuck assembly will be spaced from the intermediate chuck assembly by an equal amount. The handle 4| is illustrated as oper-ating adjacent to a quadrant 42 which is provided with a plurality of notches 43 into which a pawl 44 may be engaged, the spacing of the notches 43 along the quadrant being selected to conform with the proper spacing fora plurality of different widths of boxes encountered in the use of the machine.

Thus when a person operating the machine knows that a box of predetermined width is fed into the machine, he may move the handle 4| into the proper notch 43 to insure the proper spacing of the nail chuck assemblies for that particular sized box,`whi1e if the next box is ofl diiferent width he may then move the handle 4| into the notch corresponding to that width of box.

Since the covers are to be formed of a plurality of separate strips or slats, some means should be provided to support these individual strips upon their chuck assemblies immediately before and during the pressing and nailing operations, and to accomplish this I provide Slat-holding mechanisms for each of the chucks. These slatholding mechanisms are particularly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5 -as comprising a pair of short metal plates 45 and 46 spaced from each other by suitable spacing blocks 41.

Between the plates 45 and 46 are a pair of slat-engaging dogs 48 and 49, these dogs being pivoted upon suitable shafts 50 extending through the plates 45 and 46.

By referring particularly to Fig. it will be observed that the dog 48 has al Slat-holding4 point or edge 5| formed thereon extending toward the front of the machine, while a similar edge- 52 is formed uponthe dog" 49, and that the dog 4911s normally urged by means of a spring 53 toward the dog 48. Thus vthe slats may be placed in the machine in groups of three by having the operator of the machine take up a ,group of threev group of slats forwardly along the under surface of the plates 45 and 46. As the group of slats is thus manually moved forwardly, the topmost slat will engage the dog 48 and swing'the same about its pivot so'that the top'slat will slide along the lower surface of the plates 45 and '46 until the f rear. edge of the Slat has passed the dog 48. The

dog 48 will then fall behind the uppermost slat. At the same time the forward edge of the topmost slat will engage the knife-edge 52 of the front dog 49 and-will swing the dog in a clockwise direction until the dog 48 has fallen behind the slat at which time the spring 53 will swing the dog 49 rearwardly of the machine to press the topmost slat back against the dog 48. A stop pin 55 is arranged immediately behind the dog 48 so that the spring 53 will always move the slat back to a predetermined position. Similarly, stop pins 56 and 51 may be provided to engage an extending ear 58 on the dog 49 and limit the movement of this'dog during'its retracting and,

Slat-engaging movements. v

It will be observed from an inspection of Fig. 5 that the dogs 48 and 49 extend below the plates 45 and 46 a distance substantially` less than the thickness of one of the slats'so that when the topmost slat has been` engaged by its dog 'the` 59 slidably mounted in a box-like housing 68' constituting a portion of a laterally extending arm 6| which may be attached to or formed integrally with a backing plate 29 of the chuck assembly with which it is associated. A pair of springs 62 engaging pins 63 and 64 normally urgesv the slat-holding mechanism `downwardlyso that the slats may be inserted in the machine without interference with the chuck portions of the chuck assemblies I0, but when the pressframe D moves downwardly to press the slats into engagement with the ends of the box the Slat-holders may be retracted upwardly to automatically align themselves with the alignment taken bythe slats as they are pressed into engagement vwith the box.

In order to insure a relatively flat surface from which all of the slats may be drawn in placing them into the machine, I prefer to stagger the Slat-holding mechanisms, -as indicated` particu larly in Fig. 2, wherein the Slat-holding mech. anism associated with the foremost chuck assembly and that associated with the rearmost chuck assembly are in vvertical alignment with each other, while the Slat-holding mechanism associated with the intermediate chuck assemholders. H

It will a also be observed that the lengthof the plates 45:`and 46-'for each ofthe slat-holding mechanisms is such that they:.slightly overlap the plates of the adjacent chuck holding assemblies, thus providing a continuous horizontal line against which the slats may be held during the time they are placed in the machine.

If desired, a'stop rod 65 'may be provided upon the rearmost chuck assembly to constitute a `positive stop against which the operator may place all of the slats prior to drawing them for-` ward` for distribution to the several slat-holders.

As isillustrated particularlyliin Fig.v 2, identical constructions of slat-holders andchuCk assemblies are provided upon opposite sides of the machine so that theY slatswill be engaged-and held at both their ends and -uponthe movements ofthe pressframe D and nail driving heads F andnGboth ends of eachof. the ;slats will be nailedpto the box `or containerwupon which the machine operates. I

The machine constructed in accordance with the foregoing-description, operates as follows: 'Ihe operator of the ymachine will take a group of three slats, place themr at the-rear of the ma-v chine'under the rearmost chucks, and draw the same forwardly to cause the dogs 41 and 48 to grasp and hold one of thesei slats immediatelyl beloweach of the chucks. box into the machine, across. the rollers I of the nailing table E, until the nailing tableI is-properly centered beneath thepressframe D and the nail driving heads F and G. f. He then notes the size of the box which hasfbeen drawn into'the machine, and if it is different in width, from the box-which has been previouslynailed in the machine, he grasps the handle 4|"of the shaft 34-and moves this'handle to the proper position to accuratelyfand-'equally space the slats to t the new'size of box.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that" in `most instances the difference in the width of' the box will not require differences in the width of the slats, but will merelyl re-` quire the spacing of the slats closer together or further apart in order to havefthe slats adequately cover the upper face of the box for the purpose of holding thecontents-within Ythe* box. Thus the rearmost nail chuck may remain in the same position irrespective of the Width ofv the box which is to be liddedgthe rearmost slat being spaced the same distance from the side edges of the box irrespective of the sizeof the box. Thus it is only necessary to move the middle slat a predetermined distance away from theA rearmost slat and to move the foremost slat a vpredetermined distance away from the middle slat until the forward edge of the forward slat is aligned at approximately the same distance from the front side of the box as the rearmost slat is `placed from the rear of the box. This arrangement will space the slats equal distances apart across the box.

The operator may 'then cause the machine to perform its function of pressing the lids down into place upon the contents of the box until the ends of the slats contact the ends of the box` ready for nailing, and then nail the slats to` the box ends. This is accomplished by the opera* tors pressing on the pedal I5 which operates the motor M to rotate the sector gear I3 until the connecting bar I I draws the pressframe with the nail chucks downwardly toward the box,-

He then draws ya ama-Ma blyfislfspaced laterally1 of theiivrst-named :slat-M whichf'isinow': resting ron-:the :nailing 'itablef it",I

untilfthe slat-.ends'have 'been pressed '.down into contact with the endsof the box. The operator then. steps upon the pedal. 22, which causes' the motor Mto draw the connecting rod :I8 down. Wardly to draw'the nail 'drivingheads F and G down,: to press the nail vpunches. through the chucks tor drive Vthe nails through the ends ofv theslats into the box ends to secure the slats to the box. After the nailing operation is complete, the nail driving -heads Ev and F and the pressframe maybe elevated to freethe box, allowing the box to be moved out of the machine andthe Voperator'then inserts three more slats, ready for-the reception of the next. box.

It will therefore be apparent that I have provided -a mounting for the nail chuck assemblies for. machines of the character set forth, which will-*1 permit the'same` to be vreadily adjusted to any desiredposition to accommodate any one of the various widths of box to be operated upon by the, machine, while, at the same time holding mechanism4 for the individual strips or slats forming the 'covers of boxes may be readily placed in the machine, and by the movement of the chuck assemblies be accurately aligned in the proper and evenly spaced positions necessary' to adapt them for any width of box.

It will alsofbe apparent that'while I have described the machineand its operating, mechanism as particularly adapted to'apply covers to boxes, the nail chuck and nail ldriving mechanism assemblies, together'with the slat-holding assemblies, may readily be adapted tothe manufacture of boxes,rcrates, and the like. y

While I have shown and ldescribed the preferred embodiment of myinvention, Ido not wish'to beA limited to any of the details of construction shownk herein, lexceptas dened in the appended claims.

I claim: K

1. In a machine for applying a series of wood strips asa cover to a box, a nailing table for supporting a box ready to receive said strips, a nailing head for eachend of said box extending across said nailing table in alignment with the ends ofa box on said nailing table; nail driving units-associated with each of'said nailing heads, one for each of the strips employed to cover a singlef box, means xedly mounting one of' said nail driving 'units on each of said headsina predetermined alignment relativeto ythe rear of said nailing table to nail the rearmost strip in saidbox, means mounting the others of said nail drivingunits for sliding movement relative to saidfixed nailing units, a rotatable'shaft extending betweensaid nailing heads and having anv arm thereon for eachof saidnailing heads, said arms being rigidly attached to said shaft for rotation therewith, a separate link connecting each ofsaid sliding naildriving, unitsV associated with each of saidheadswith the arm associated with the respectivev head, and engaging said ,arm at such distances from said shaft that movement of said arm in' response to rotation of said shaft will move said sliding nail driving units relative to said fixed unit but. maintaining equal spacing between all of the nail driving units associated with'each of Vsaid heads, and manual means for rotating said-shaft to adjust the position of said nail driving units to adapt'them to nail slats at equal distances from each other across a box in accordance with the width of said box. y

2.*In amachine for applying a series of wood stripsas a cover-to a box, anailing table for supporting la lbox ready to receive said strips, a

' predetermined fixed relationr to the rear side of nailing head for each end of said box extending across said nailing table in alignment with the ends of a box on said nailing table; nail driving units associated with each of said nailing heads, one for each of the strips employed to cover a single box, means xedly mounting one of said nail driving units on each of said heads in a predetermined alignment relative to the rear of said nailing table to nail the rearmost strip in predetermined xed relation to the rear. side of said box, means mounting the others of said nail said sliding nail driving units relative to said' fixed unit but maintaining equal spacing between all of the nail driving units associated with each of said heads, and manually operable means for moving said shaft to any one of a plurality of positions to equally space said nail driving units to drive nails through slats equally spaced across the Width of any one of a plurality of boxes of diierent widths, and means associated with said manual means for fixing the location of said manual means when said nail driving units are adjusted for boxes of any one of a plurality of widths.

3. In a machine for applying a series of wood strips as a cover to a box, a nailing table for supporting a, box ready to receive said strips, a nailing head for each end of said box, extending across said nailing table in alignment with the ends of a box on said nailing table, nail driving units associated with each of said nailing heads, each supporting one of said strips, means iixedly mounting one of said nail driving units on each of said heads in a predetermined alignment relative to the rear of said nailing table to nail the rearmost strip in predetermined xed relation, to the rear side of said box, means mounting the others of said nail driving units for sliding movement relative to said xed nail driving unit, a shaft extending between said nailing heads, a

separate link connecting each of said sliding nail driving units associated with each of said heads with the lever associated with the respective head engaging said lever at such distances from said shaft that movement of said lever will move said sliding nail driving units relative to said fixed nail driving unit but maintain equal spacing between all of said nail driving units associated with each of said heads, and a handle on said shaft by which said shaft may be rotated toany one of a plurality of positions to equally space the said strips equal distances from each other across a box in accordance with the width of said box.

4. In a machine for applying a series of'wood strips as a. cover to a box, a nailing table for supporting a box ready to receive said strips, a nailing head for each end offsaid box, extending across said nailing table in alignment with the ends of a box on said nailing table, nail driving units associated with each of said nailing heads, each supporting one of said strips, means iixedly mounting one of said nail driving units on each of said heads in a predetermined alignment rel ative to the rear of said nailing table to nail the rearmost strip in predetermined fixed relation, to the rear side of said box, means mounting the others of said nail driving units for sliding movement relative to said fixed nail driving unit, a shaft extending betwieen said nailing heads, a separate link connecting each of said sliding nail driving units associated with each of said heads with the lever associated with the respective head engaging said lever at such distances from said shaft that movement of said lever will move said sliding naildriving units relative to said xed nail driving unit but maintain equal spacing between all of said nail driving units associated with each of said heads, a handle on said shaft, and a quadrant mounted stationarily relative to said shaft and having means thereon for engaging said handle in any one of a plurality of positions of said handle whereby an operator may move said handle to any one of said positions to adjust said nail driving units to space the strips equal distances from each other across a box in accordance with the width of said box.

HERBERT E. TWOMLEY.

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