US2139063A - Packing support - Google Patents

Description

R. s'. BEACH PACKING SUPPORT Filed JunsQ 1937 lNvENTo'R 1 RAYMOND 5. BEACH ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE PACKING SUPPORT Application June 30, 1937, Serial No. 151,199

17 Claims.

This invention relates more particularly to the packing of machines for shipment, one object being to improve the packing devices heretofore in use, to the end that machines or other structures embodying delicate constructions and finely set adjustments, may withstand the very severe shocks and jars to which the containers are subjected as an inevitable incident to their transportation, without damage to the machines or parts thereof, and without injury to or displacement of the adjustments.

The improvement is illustrated in. connection with the packing of typewriting machines, but it is not confined in its application to such machines.

The ever-increasing demand by the public for additional features to adapt typewriting machines to widening elds of usefulness has resulted in the production of a mechanism much more delicate in structure than those of some years ago, and one requiring the setting and maintenance of fine adjustment, more readily effected during the building of the machines than afterward.

,For these and other reasons, it has become of great importance that the machines reach the customers in the same tuned condition in which they leave the factory.

In packing these machines for shipment, it is customary to tiel and chock the movable parts thereof against movement, after which the machine was formerly fastened at its corners to a pair of parallel metal straps or cleats extending from front to rear of the machine, and supported on coiled springs, which cleats were held in place by fastening means, as screws, passing through the top of the container, nuts and washers being threaded on the ends of the screws and operating to press the cleats tightly against the coiled springs to retain the parts assembled.

The top of the box is then secured in place with the machine depending within the box.

This form of packing served for many years with the less delicately constructed and adjusted machines hitherto produced, but with the advent of the noiseless and power-driven typewriting machines, it was found that the severe jolts and jars to which the boxed machines were subjected in shipment, when dropped from the tail boards of freight and express wagons,'slid down steeply inclined chutes in unloading cargo vessels, and dropped from the doors` of freight cars, often resulted in broken frames, and almost invariably disarranged the adjustments, to such an extent as to require re-adjustment.

The present improvement is designed to obviate the foregoing troubles due to rough handling during transportation, by providing a threapoint, flexible, cushioned suspension for the machine during transit, arranged in such relation, as to wholly absorb the lighter shocks and jars without transmitting them to the machine, and which will accommodate itself, by distortion, to the severe shocks and jars to materially lessen the severity of the jolts communicated to the machine.

Boxes containing machines packed according to my improvement have been given the most severe treatment received in shipping between various points in this country, and abroad, without damage to the machines.

Another object is to provide a packing means wherein any stresses or strains which may be transmitted unavoidably to the packed machines, are applied thereto in directions in which the machine is structurally braced to thus avoid deranging the adjustments, as well as reducing the possibility of actual breakage to a minimum.

To the foregoing and other ends, the improvement includes certain novel features and combinations of parts, all of which will be more fully referred to hereinafter and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. l is a perspective view of my improvement applied to the inner surface of the base of a box, the outline of the box being shown in dot and dash lines,

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional View through one of the retaining fastenings for the rear cleat or skid; and

Fig. 3 is` a fragmentary front view, partly in section, of a retaining fastening for the front cleat or skid, and showing one means of securing the machine or other article to the pivoted yoke.

For convenience, the packing means is secured in place, and the machine fastened thereto, before the base is applied to the box or container, and Fig. l shows the parts in the positions in which they are assembled.

The base I0 of the usually rectangular container may -be of any suitable construction, that shown being formed of boards of the required lengths, mortised together at their adjacent side edges and reinforced by battens. Il lying transversely of, and nailed or otherwise fastened to the inner faces of the boards.

Properly spaced holes I2 are bored through the base thus formed, in line with the battens, the holes being counterbored on their outer ends,

(Fig. 2). Four such holes are formed in the present embodiment of the improvement, to accommodate a well-known form of cup washer I3, the flanged outer ends of which seat in the counterbores while the hollow body portions are centered in the holes I2.

Holes I4 of less diameter than the holes I2. are bored in the battens II, concentric to the holes I2, and in line with the holes in the cup Washers I3.

Threaded fastening means, as bolts I6` inserted through the openings in the washers I3, pass through the holes I4 in the battens II and extend some distance beyond.

Heretofore, it has been customary to place heavy coiled springs about the projecting ends of the bolts I6 to support suitably perforated, rigid cleats extending parallel with the sides of the machine, through the perforations in which cleats the bolts projected. When the nuts were screwed down on the threaded ends of the bolts, they drew the heads of the bolts against the cup washers, and held the cleats in place. The coiled springs were intended to absorb vertical shocks or jars, in one direction only, the machine being firmly fastened at four points, two in front and two in the rear, on opposite sides, to the respective parallel right and left cleats, which, therefore, afforded a four point suspension.

I have found the above combination unsuited to present-day requirements, one objection being that the fore-and-aft arrangement of the cleats enables the transmission of such shocks and jars as were not absorbed by the coiled springs, directly to the frame of the machine in such direction as to Wrack and strain the frame, which very often resulted in breakage or other damage to the machine.

Another objection to the former packing arrangement resided in the fact that the machine Was rigidly secured at four points to the cleats so that any jolts or jars communicated to the cleats were conducted directly to the machine which had no movement relatively to the cleats.

This oversight contributed largely to the transmission of damaging vibrations to the machine and its parts.

The rough handling to which the containers and their contents are subjected in transit may be sustained in any direction, as the boxes may fall or be struck on any side, top or bottom, and on the twelve corners, and glancing blows may be sustained as well.

In view thereof, to provide means to successfully absorb or eliminate the transmission of lighter shocks, and minimize and cushion the transmission of heavier shocks to the contents, it is necessary to consider the general structure of the article packed in the container.

The working parts of office appliance machines, as typewriting machines, adding machines, cash registers and the like are customarily supported on rods, shafts and cross-pieces, mounted at their ends in and extending between suitably braced, parallel side frames.

Obviously, transmission of wracking strains to either or both side frames tends to spread them apart, if the stresses are applied transversely of the machine, or if transmitted longitudinally of the machine, the shocks exert a force longitudinally of the side frames.

Due to the multiplicity of cross bracing members, the side frames resist movement endwise or longitudinally relatively to each other, but even a slight relative movement of the side frames away from each other will disarrange the ner adjustments of the parts.

Therefore, one feature of this invention is the disposition of the cleats or skids II transversely beneath the machine, instead of longitudinally thereof. These cleats I'I are preferably formed of suitable lengths of channel iron, each length being apertured near its opposite ends to t over the Shanks of the bolts I6, and rest on cushions I 8 conveniently formed of axially apertured cylindrical rubber casing material, which is resilient and flexible without being as expensive as the coiled springs heretofore used.

These apertured cushioning sections I8 are loosely threaded on the projecting Shanks of the bolts I6, after which the transverse metallic cleats II are similarly applied to the pairs of front and rear bolts, to extend transversely beneath the article. Shorter lengths of tubular cushioning material I9, are then placed on the protruding ends of the bolts, and all held in place by wing nuts 20 and spring washers 2l, the wing nuts being turned down snugly to place the resilient cushions under some pressure.

Typewriting machines and adding machines are customarily equipped with cushioned feet held by screws threaded into tapped holes 32 formed in pairs of front and rear bosses 23, (Figs. l and 3), on the lower edges of the side frames 24 of such machines. When shipping these machines, the cushioned feet are removed. and the machine is positioned on the rear cleat so that the tapped holes 32 in the rear bosses 23 register with holes 25 drilled in the rear cleat, for the accommodation of threaded fastenings 3Q, as shown in Fig.v

3, which firmly secure the rear cleat and the machine together.

The front and rear cleats may be of equal length and similarly drilled, for ease of manufacture, but the front suspension differs from the rear suspension as follows:

Reference has been made to the former suspension wherein the machines were rigidly secured at four points to fore-and-aft extending cleats, and that such system did not successively avert the transmission of severe shocks to the machine.

As a second important improvement over the former type of packing. I have provided a form of floating support for the articles to be shipped, which will enable slight relative movements between the article and its support in several directions upon the occasion of very heavy shocks from different directions relatively to the position of the article in the container.

To this end, the tubular resilient casings I8 applied to the two front bolts I6, and interposed between the front cleat and the battens II are shorter than the cushioning devices I8 applied to the rear bolts, whereby the front and rear cleats of the particular embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, lie in different horizontal planes.

All cleats are provided with a hole 26 located substantially midway of the ends of the cleats, and to those cleats selected for the front suspension of the machine there is applied a yokeshaped member 21, of a generally wide open U-shape, formed by offsetting the central section of a piece of strap iron or steel. to lie in a plane parallel with the oppositely extended ends of the yoke.

Preferably, the centrally offset section of the yoke rests on a friction reducing washer 28 interposed between the offset and the front cleat I1 Ito A.which Vthe yoke is swivel-connected by a headed stud 29, the shank of which passes .through the yoke and washer and the hole 26 in the cleat, and is rivetted at its free end.

The offset formed in the yoke 2'I is of sucient `depth to compensate for the shorter cushions I8 threaded on `the `front bolts, so that the free, unsupported ends of the yoke lie in approximately the same plane Vwith the rear cleat Il.

Fastening means, as screws 3e, (Fig. 3), pass throughelongated holes 3l formed near the ends `,of .the roppositely extended arms of the yoke 21 and are threaded into the tapped holes 32 formed in the bosses 23 of the side frames 24 of the machine, washers 33 between the heads of the screws and the elongated holes 3| affording a bearing surface against which the heads are snugly drawn.

Assuming a machin-e to be supported by these `cleats and yoke in a container, it is plain that `ordinary jars and jolts in horizontal and in vertical directions will be absorbed by the resilient cushioning pads I8 and I9 which loosely surround the bolts `IE vand on which pads the cleats or skids are supported.

Thus, with the container inverted, the weight of the article is supported by the cushioning pads I9 and vertical stresses in both directions are absorbed by the cushions I8 and I9.

Horizontal stresses delivered against the sides of the container tend to swing the article on the bolts I6, which project loosely through the cover I0 and battens l I, (see Fig. 2), such swinging beingyieldingly resisted by the bearings of the ends of the cushions I8 against the battens.

Severe imp-acts and concussions delivered against the corners of the container and tending to twist or collapse the same, are rendered harmless to the contained article by the provision of the swiveled yoke 2l which permits a slight yielding amounting to a deformation of the container, relatively to the machine, and thus relieves the whole machine of the wracking or twisting strain which would otherwise be transmitted thereto.

Furthermore, the free, oppositely extending resilient arms of the yoke are adapted, under the influence of certain shocks and jolts, to spring downwardly and, in so doing, slightly straighten `the yoke with a consequent outward prolongation of the arms to thereby cushion the shock and jar to the machine, the slots' 3l in the arms permitting a limited extension of the latter relatively to the fastenings 3U and the framework of the machine.

In instances where the box or container is deformed and also where the yoke is sprung as above explained, the machine and yoke may assume somewhat skewed positions relatively to the box, until the parts spring back to their normal positions.

But should the concussion be so severe as to permanently deform the box, the machine will have been saved from damage.

The yoke 2? is purposely made stronger than the channel cleat I'I, as by forming the yoke of thicker stock, so that upon the occurrence of very severe shocks which would operate to deform the support for the machine, such deformation will affect the cleat instead of the stronger yoke.

Thus, such deformation in either vertical direction cannot impair the swivel action of the yoke relatively to the cleat.

It is to be understood that while I have shown .my improvement as comprisinga cleat rigidlylsecure'dto :therear endiof the article to be shipped, and asecond cleat havingfa `swiveled and some- 1what 'resilient or deformable yoke lto which the front end Lof the article lis attached in such `imanner as topermitmovement Iof the -yoke yrelatively `to thearticleirl-directions at rightzanglesto each other, as well as to turn in opposite directions with the article, vthe positions of the respective cleats may be reversed with relation to the rfrontand `rear endsfof the article, or eachfcleat `may be vprovided with a yoke.

irrespective of the position of Ithe box or `con-- tainer and lits contents `during transportation,

a freely `pivoted `device connected with a second i cleat, to which the article is 'secured at points in front of its center. 1

2. The combination with one -wall of a container for articles, of a Acushioned packing for 4such articles, including cleats located on oppositesides of the center of the article; fastening means passing through one wall `of the 'container fand through the cleats, near their opposite ends, to connect the -cleats to the container wall; re-

silient cushioning means encircling the fastening means above and below the cleats; means to confine the cleats and cushioning means in snug arrangement on the fastening means; a floating 'resilient shock absorbing device `secured to one of the cleats for bodily movement in one plane, fand r for flexing in a plane at right angles to its bodily movement, the article being secured to one of the cleats and `to the shock absorbing device, respectively.

3. In a packing for articles, the combination of a cleat having a cushioned support; a resilient shock absorbing device pivotally connected to the cleat to enable a relative shift between the cleat and the article in one plane, the shook absorbing device having arms offset from the cleat and yieldable in a direction at right angles to the first-mentioned plane; and means to attach the article to the arms of the shock absorbing device, with provisions for the exure of the arms in the last-mentioned direction relatively to the article.

Li. In a packing for articles, the combination of cushioned supports extending transversely of the article, to front and to rear of its center; and a resilient shock absorbing device interposed between at least one of said supports and the article; such shock absorbing device provided with offset arms releasably connected for limited movement to the article to enable relative movement between the arms and the article in one direction; and means to connect the shock absorbing device and the cushioned support for bodily movement of the article and the shock absorbing device relatively to the cushioned support, in a plane parallel with the cushioned support.

5. In a packing for articles to be shipped, the combination of cushioned supports extending transversely of the article and located on opposite sides or" the center thereof; a resilient shock absorbing device swiveled to one of the cushioned supports, and having slotted arms offset from its support; and means to connect the article at points in spaced relation and on opposite sides of the center thereof to one of the cushioned supports, and to the offset arms, the connecting means passing through the slots in the arms.

6. In a packing for articles to be shipped, the combination of a pair of cushioned supports extending transversely of the article and located on opposite sides of the center thereof, and in different horizontal planes; a resilient shock absorbing device shiftably connected to the lesser of the two supports, and having slotted arms olfset from its support; and means to connect the article to the other of said supports and to the offset arms respectively.

7. The combination with one wall of a shipping container, having spaced battens secured to the inner surface thereof, the wall being provided with counterbored, spaced holes therethrough, and the battens provided with holes of less diameter in register with the larger holes in the wall; cup washers seated in the counterbored holes; headed fastening members passing through the washers and the holes in the battens, and protruding therebeyond; apertured supports slipped on the protruding ends of the fastening members; cushioning means embracing the fastening members above and below the supports; means to secure the fastening members, cushioning means and supports in assembled relation; and a iloating resilient shock absorber mounted for movement on one of the cushioned supports, and to which the article is connected at one side of its center.

8. The combination in a packing for articles, with suitably cushioned members for supporting the article to be shipped; of a floating shock absorber interposed between the supporting member and the article, and swiveled at a single point only to the cushioned supporting member, the floating shock absorber having resilient arms offset relatively to the supporting member, and to which arms the article is directly connected with provisions for relative movement under extreme concussions.

9. The combination with one wall of a shipping container; of pairs of cushioned fastening members projecting therethrough; cleats apertured near their outer ends to accommodate the fastening members; means to retain the cleats and cushioned members assembled; and a oating resilient shock absorber mounted on one of the cleats for movement in one plane relatively thereto, and to which the article to be shipped is connected for relative movement in a direction at substantial right angles to the plane of the rst-mentioned movement under extreme concussions.

10. In a packing for articles, the combination with a container; of a cleat having a cushioned support and arranged to extend transversely of one diametral plane of the article; a shock absorbing device arranged on the opposite side of the center of the article, and having a swivelled relation with the container, the shock absorbing device normally arranged parallel with the cleat and transversely of the same diametral plane of the article; cushioning means interposed between the shock absorbing device and the container, the shock absorbing device having arms offset from its body portion, and yieldable in a direction other than that in which they swivel; and normally rigid means to connect the article and the shock absorbing device with provision for ileXure of the arms relatively to the article under severe concussion.

l1. In an article packing, the combination with a container; of a cushioned support extending transversely of the article to one side of the center and across one diametral plane of the articles; a shock absorbing device having a swivelled relation with the container at a point on the opposite side of the center, and extending across the same diametral plane of the article, the shock absorbing device having yieldable arms extending oppositely from and offset relatively to the body portion thereof, to extend transversely of the article; and means to connect the offset arms and the article for limited bodily movement of either relatively to the other.

12. In an article packing, the combination with a container; of a cushioned support extending transversely of the article to one side of the center and across one diametral plane of the article; a shock absorbing device having a swivelled relation with the container at a point on the opposite side of the center and extending across the same diametral plane of the article, the shock absorbing device having yieldable arms extending oppositely from and oiset relatively to the body portion thereof, to extend transversely of the article; and means to connect the offset arms and the article to enable yielding movement of the article in directions at substantial right angles, with provision for limited movement of the offset arms relatively to the article under excess stress.

13. As a means for securing an article within a container to afford protection against shocks and concussions, the combination with a container; of a cushioned support secured to an inner side thereof, and extending across one diametral plane of the article to one side of the center of mass of the article; relatively spaced means to secure the article to the cushioned support; a yieldable shock absorbing support also extending across said diametral plane of the article on the opposite side of its center of mass, and having a swivelled relation with the container; and means to connect the opposite ends of the yieldable support and the article.

14:. In a three point article packing, the combination with a container; of a single cushioned support secured to an inner side of the container and arranged to one side of the center of the article; means to secure the article to the cushioned support at two widely paced points with relation to the support and the article on opposite sides of one diametral plane of the article; a yieldable shock absorbing support having a swivelled relation with the container, and arranged on the opposite side of the center of the article, the shock absorbing support having offset arms extending across said diametral plane; and means to connect the respective arms and the article at widely separated points, with provisions for limited relative movement, when yielding in a direction other than that in which the shock absorbing support swivels.

15. In a shipping package, the combination with a container; of a rigid support arranged to one side of the center of the article; cushioning means for the support; means to secure the support and cushioning means to the container at widely separated points; other means to connect the article at points in spaced relation to the support; a yieldable shock absorbing device having a pivotal relation with the container, and arranged on the opposite side of the center of the article from the rigid support, the shock absorbing device having offset arms extending in opposite directions beneath the article; and means to connect the article and the offset arms, with provision for flexure of the arms relatively to the article.

16. In a shipping package, the combination With a container; of means to support an article to be packed Within the container out of contact with the Walls thereof, including a pair of cushioned supporting members, arranged to extend transversely of one diametral plane of the article, one of such cushioned supporting members having a pivotal relation with the container and normally rigid spaced connections with the article, with provision for relative movement between the pivotal supporting member and the article, under excess concussion, in a direction other than that in which the member pivots.

tainer; and normally rigid spaced connections between the respective offset arms and the arti cle, with provision for relative movement between the offset arms and the article under excess concussion in a direction other than that in which the member pivots.

RAYMOND S. BEACH,

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