US2188759A - Box covering machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 30, 1940. w, R. REDD BOX COVERING MACHINE Filed Sept. 23, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 30, 1940. w, R REDD I 2,188,759 I BOX COVERING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 30, 1940. w. R. REDD BOX COVERING MACHINE Filed Sept. 23, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 W. R. REDD BOX COVERING MACHINE Filed Sept. 23; 1938 Jan. 30, 1940.

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Ettiiihw .4 4 s y lif t! Jan. 30, w R REDD BOX COVERING'MACHINE Filed Sept. 23, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Jan. 30, 1940 PA E T oi 'rlcsf BOX COVERING MACHINE I William Russell Redd, Western Springs, 111., as-

signor to Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Chicago,

11]., a corporation of Delaware Application September 23, 1938, Serial No. 231,353 8 Claims.. (01. 93-55 1 The boxe's are of a familiar type, made of paper or cardboard, open at the top and comprising bottom, side and end walls. -They are to be .covered by lids of thesame form but of slightly larger dimensions, so that the lidmay be telescoped upon the box. Boxesoi the kindare sometimes, and as illustratedin this case, provided'along one edge with a folding flap or fly, which is generally of such dimensions as to extend part way across the box to partially cover its contents when filled with the merchandise it is to contain.

The general object of the invention is to provide an automatically operated box-closing apparatus, including a conveyor for the boxes, by

means of which, a box is brought towards and in a plane below a chute or other device designed to support lids; a lid is ejected or fed from said chute or device and retained in a rearwardly and upwardly inclined position above and proximate to said conveyor; a box, as and when fed on the conveyor, is directed into alignment with said lid and is advanced on said conveyor to engage within said lid, which is telescoped ,down upon the box and then completely closed thereon,

after which'theclosed box is carried away on the conveyor. I

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a". conveyor for boxes, an automatic device in association with a stack con.-

taining lids disposed in pairs, one above the other, by means of which the lids are discharged in succession into position to be applied to boxes advanced on the conveyor. v v Another object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic device by -means of which the lids are telescoped in succession down upon boxes advanced on theconveyor,

' Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic box covering machine including a chute for supporting lids disposed in pairs one above the other, with the rear end of the top lid of each pair embracing the sides' and end of the bottom lid, a main box conveyor to which said lids are delivered in succession into a rearwardly andupwardly inclined position, means by which said boxes are automatically displaced on said conveyor into alignment with said chute, in combination with an auidliary conveyor movable on 5 said, main conveyor and adapted to drive a box into telescoped relation with a lid discharged from said chute. a

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully as .I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings: I i Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved box-lidding machine. I a

Figure 2 is a topplan view of the, machine with parts upon a somewhat larger scale than that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view showing a vertical section through Figure 2, the plane of the section being indicated by the broken line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional elevation 15 through the driving and control mechanism in a plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view of the main drive andclutch shaft in a section on the line 55 ofFigure 1. Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of a clutch engaging and. trip mechanism in a plane in-' dicated by the line 6--.-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a plan sectional view in aplane indicated by theline l---'! of Figure 3.

Figure dis a sectional view in a plane indicated 5 by the line 8-'-8 of Figure '7, with parts removed to'show boxes in a position slightly forward of the position shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a plan section similar to Figure P7,

withthe boxes in a. position intermediate the 30 position shown in Figures 7 and 8. a Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 8, with box approaching the position of the final step in the cycle of operation of the machine.

Figure 11 is a side elevation partly in section as 5 viewedfrom the rear side of the machine, the part in section being'substantially in the plane indicated by'theline ll-Il of Figures 2 and 4. Figure 12 is a detail diagrammatic perspective view tobe described more particularly hereafter. 4Q Referring to that embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings: 20 indicates a table upon which is supported a conveyor belt. 2|

traveling in the direction of, the arrow M ,(See The table issupported upon 'a frame) Fig. 1.) structure comprising longitudinally spaced up rights 22, 22 and laterally spaced side members 23, 23. (See Figs."2 and-40x 24 indicates a'nupright chutejsup'ported by the frame. v (See Figs.- 1, 3, 8 and 10.) stack in nested relation, lids 25 (see Figs. 1, land 10) which are to be applied to boxes 26 (seeFigs.

7, 8, 9 and 10) when brought in succession below the chute. As shown, the lids which are all of like dimensions, are disposed in the stack in pairs, 3

It is designed to contain, in a 50- ing the side and rear walls of the lower lid as shown in Figures 8 and 10.

The chute 24 is made up of four upright angle bars 24%, 24* disposed to provide thefour corners of an upright rectangular skeleton structure adapted to receive and sustain the 'nested'boxes in stack relation, as shown in Figs. 1, 8 and 10.

It is open at the top to receive the lids 25. It isv also openat the bottom to discharge the lids,

except for a reciprocable, horizontal slide plate 27 (as shown in Figs. 1 and 8) which normally projects rearwardly beyond the forward angle bars 24 24 in a plane below the stack to present a horizontal support for the forward end ofthe bottom lid in the stack. The rearward angle bars 2t 2 th. have their flanges extending trans verselyof' the conveyor cutaway somewhat above the level of the slide plate 21, as shown in Figs. 8' and 10;.but their otherflanges which extend parallel to the conveyor project below the plane of said slide to provide lateral-guides for lids when released from the chutei'by the forward, withdrawal. of said slide plate 21- Until such withdrawal, the bottom pair of lids as well as the stack-of lids above it, is supported by; said slide plate 2i and by the engagement of the rear end wall of the top lid of the lowermost pair of lids. against the transverse flanges'of the rear angle bars 24, as shown in Figure 8.

Laterally spaced, rearwardly inclined, fixed arms 29 are disposed belowand somewhat rearwardly of the slide plate 21. (See Figures 8 and 10.) An upright guide plate -30 extending longitudinally of the conveyor beltv is fixed above said belt. (See Figures 1, 2 and 11.).

Mechanism, presently to be I described, is adapted to reciprocate the slide plate 21 forwardly and rearwardly with respect tothe direction of travel oi? the conveyor. Thus said plate is moved from its supporting-position below the stack of lids in the chute, as shown in Figure 8, to a non-supporting position as. shown in Fig-. ure 10. drop towards the conveyor. belt 2!. They are guided laterally in their fall by the guide plate 38 (see Figure 3), and are momentarily arrested by a fixed horizontal plate 38 (see FigurelO) upon which their forward ends. come to rest in the path of movement of the reciprocab-le slide plate 27. Upon the rearward'reciprocation of the slide plate 21, said plate will strike the front end of the lowerone .of the pair of lids and eject said pair rearwardlyffrom'the chute, as shown at 25 in Figure 8, where their rear ends-have come'to rest on a downwardly and forwardly inclined plate 32 which extends transversely of the conveyor 2 i and is fixed to a frame member 33- above said conveyor. At the same time, the top'one of the pair of lids .willxbe struck sharply by laterally'spaced rock arms 34 (see Figure 8) and brought to'a position. rear-' Wardly and upwardly inclined as to the con-.

veyor, with-the top lid arrested by engagement As a result, the bottom two nested lids.

to engage the rearend wall of said lid. The arms 34 which may aptly be called spanker arms will remain in contact with the top lid until.

in Figure 10.

I upon they will be returned to the position shown th lids, asillustrated-herein; are provided with ioldable flies or flaps ic rsee Figure 9) which are designed to partially cover the merchandise in the boxin this case packages of chewing gum.

To insure'close contact of said flies with the box contents and proper settlement of said contentsin the box to receive the lid (in. casesuch flaps are not 'used), the boxes are conveyed through a tunnel 28 (see Figures 4, 7,.8 and 9) 28 has a downwardly and forwardly inclined of the box)- and toyfoldand hold them down as the boxes approach and enter said tunnel on i the way to the chute 24 ,where 'the'lids are to be applied. ,Said tunnelalsohas front and rear vertical side walls 1 8"v and 28 'which are spaced at a greater distancethanthewidth of the box at the entrance to, said tunnel, asflsh'own in Figures .7 and 9. But at. the point of immediate approach to the position ofthe' chute 24,

the rear side wallzs is inclined. towards the I front wall to bring, a terminalend part 28 into parallel spaced relation to the front'wall 28?, equal to the width of a box. By this arrangement .as

a box traveling on the belt 2! approaches the.

chute Z l, it isdisplaced laterally vonv the conveyor to a position somewhat offset forwardly with reference to' said chute.

At the rear sidev of the table in'a horizontal plane close above the belt 2| (SeeFigures 9 and 1G) is located an endless sprocket chain 48 intermittently movablerelative to'the conveyor belt 2!. Said chain: is engaged ;with sprocket wheels M, 42 which aremounted respectively upona vertical shaft M and .astud 42%. It isprovided with lOngitudinaIIyspaced lugs 43 which project laterallybeyond and in a plane below a horizontal ramp bar 44 fixed to a frame,

member in the verticalplane of the forward reach of said chain. 45 indicates a; pusher her, ,(see Figures '7 and-;9)--disposed for operation in a horizontal plane overagainst the ramp bar 44 in close relation to the conveyor, belt-1| and normally; in line with .the: front side wall.28.. of the tunnel 28 throughv which 'theboxes. to be covered areconveyed. .Said pusher bar is designed to operate afterabox hasgpassed the terminal ,end 2% of therear sidewall of the, tunnel to push a boxlaterally of the conveyor beltv 25 against the rampba'r 4a with its rear end in position to be engaged by alug 53' on the. chainlil. When a box .ZS reaches this position and the chain in is cperatd to travel forwardly with respect to the conveyonthe box being guided between the ramp bar' l l and the pusherbar 45,

end is engaged withinthe front andside walls will be advanced in'alignment with the ohute'j24' j of the lowermost lid 25 andthe lid is then p y." 1 '1 ried with the box forward relatively to the con-- veyor '2 I. And the rear wall of said lidis slipped over the rear end of the boxflfi by the yielding fingers :50 on'the plate lfi, which-acts somewhat in the manner of a shoe-hor'njto bring the side and rear end walls of the lid into embracing or telescoping relation upon the side and rear end walls of, said box.

Intermediate thefixed arms 29, 29 are located laterally spaced spring controlled fingers 36 (see Figures 3 and 8) mounted on a transverse shaft tion'of the fingers is supplemented by dependfree swinging rollers 5l, suitably supported upon the frame, which Thus as a box is moved over the conveyor 2| by the movement of a lug 43 on the chain 40, it

box with its lid closely applied passes successively through the positions shown in Figures '7, .9, 8 and l0-being forcibly advanced on the conveyor by said lug until it passes beyond 'therollers 5|, as shown in Figure 8, anduntil said lug is withdrawn from engagement with .the rear end of the box bypassing about the sprocket wheel. 42 (see Figure v9) whereupon the will be carried forward on the conveyor belt 2! alone.

As the lower one of a pairof lids is carried away and applied to a box, as shown in Figures 8 and. 10, the upper lid of the pair will drop to the position theretofore occupied by the lower lid; and said upper lid willbe applied to a box when it is advanced along the conveyor in the manner heretofore described.

It is to be understood that the advance of boxes on the conveyor to the chute 24 may or may not be continuous. Thus the operation of the lid-releasing and ejecting slide plate 21, of the endless chain with its box-engaging lug 43, and of the box-positioning pusher bar 45, all operated in predetermined timed relation as heretofore described, are dependent upon the advancement of a box into position opposite to a lug 43 on said chain. And as the slide plate 21 releases and ejects a pair of lids, it, as also the spanker bars 34, operates but once for the advanceof two boxes in succession by the chain 46. This is controlled by a trip mechanism now to be described, instantly actuated by'a box advanced on the conveyor when it reaches a position with its rear end forward of a lug 43 on the chain 40.

At the front side of the conveyor belt 21 and extending parallel thereto (as shown in Figures '7 and 9) is located a longitudinally reciprocable trip bar 68, suitably mounted in the frame. Said bar is provided with a transverse shoulder or trigger 69 which extends shortly into the path of the boxes 26 as they are advanced on said conveyor. Said trigger 69 is spaced approximately a box length forward (with respect to the direction of travel of the conveyor) of the terminal end part 28 of the rear side wall of the tunnel 28. ,7

' When the forward end of a box 26 advanced by the conveyor, strikes the trigger 69 and moves the trip bar 68 forwardly to its limit of movement, mechanism hereafter to be described, actuated by the aforesaid bar 68, operates the pusher bar 45 to move the box transversely of the conveyor to release its-front end from the depend into the path of i the box, as shown in Figure 8.

trigger 69 and to .bring it into side engagement with the ramp bar 44, with its rear end in position for engagement by the forward side of a lug 43 on the chain 40, as shown in Figure 9. Said chain 40, also operated by the same drive mechanism, immediately moves forward to convey the box over and independently of the conveyor belt 21 toward and below the lids 25 disposed andtheld against movement with the conveyor, as shown in Figure 8.

We now pass to a description of the power mechanism by means of which the foregoing described apparatus is driven.

A motor 52 (see'Figures 2 and 3) is mounted on the frame above the conveyor belt 2i and 15 the operating devices associated therewith. The

shaft 53. of said motor. extends parallel to the direct-ion of travel of the conveyor belt 2! and is connected through a reduction gearing 54 and a bearing casing 55 to a continuously driven horizontal shaft 56- (see Figures 4 and 5) extending-transversely above the conveyor and mounted on frame members 51 in any convenient manner.v 58 indicates a rotary drum on said shaft 56. Said drum is adapted 'to be connected 25 an arm 64 fixed to a horizontal stud 65 suitably mounted in a frame-supported bearing 66 with its axis of rotation extending parallel with the direction of travel of the conveyor belt ,2! (see Figures. 3 and 4). The other end of said stud has fixed to it a depending arm 61 carrying at its bottom end the'pusher bar 45, which is movable transversely of the conveyor belt 2 l, as heretofore described.

The trip bar 68 (see Figures 1, 3, 4 and '7) I extends beyond the operating shaft 56 with ref- 145 erence to the advancing conveyor belt 2!, and

has its end pivotally connected to a rock arm 16 fixed to the front end of a horizontal springcontrolled rock shaft H mounted in the frame above and extending transversely to the conveyor. At the'other end of said rock shaft is fixed a pawl 12 (see Figure 6) adapted for engagement with a heel 13 on the spring controlled clutch pawl 60. By this mechanism, when the forward end of a box engages the trigger 69 and in its advance with the conveyor moves the trip bar 68 (from the position shown in full lines to the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure '7) the pawl 12 releases the heel l3 and allows the spring controlled clutch pawl 66 to Q0 engage a tooth 6! of the clutch disc 62 rotating withthe shaft 56, thus locking the drum 56 to the said shaft and causing it to be rotated therewith. When the drum 58 has made a complete revolution with the shaft 56, thus bringing the 55 heel 13 of the clutch pawl 66 to its first position, the pawl 12 will have been returned to its first position by means of the spring controlled shaft H so as to engage said heel and raise thepawl 66 from its engagement with 70 the tooth 6i. Upon the advance of another box and its engagement with the trigger 66, the movement of the trip bar will repeat the operation of the clutch pawl hereinabove described.

The upright shaft 4| which drives the inter "I mittently operated sprocket chain 40 by means of which the boxes are advanced over the conveyor when applying the lids thereto,- is best shown in Figure 4. It is suitably mounted in the frame structure and is provided at its upper end with a bevelled gear M Said bevelled gear meshes with a bevelled gear 4| mounted on a horizontal shaft 82, which is driven by a sprocket chain 83 and sprocket wheels 83* and 83 respectively, mounted on the drum 58 and the shaft 82.

Adjacent to the cam groove 63 a sprocket wheel 14 is fixed to the drum 58. Said sprocket wheel is connected by a chain '15 to a sprocket wheel It fixed to a horizontal shaft 71 located below and extending parallel to the axis of the drum 58, transversely of the conveyor belt 2| and suitably mounted in the frame. The shaft 71 has fixed to it a cam 18 (see Figures 2, 4 and 11) which is adapted to engage a roller on a horizontal, longitudinally reciprocable spring controlled rod 19, suitably mounted and guided for movement on the frame by rollers 80, as shown in Figure 11. Said cam is rotatable in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 11. The rod '19 is operatively connected to a head 8! (see Figures 2 and 3) which carries the hori zontal slide plate 21 which, in its normal position, retains the stack of lids 25 in the chute '24, as heretofore described. The sprocket wheels 14, 16 are designed in such ratio that there will be two rotations of the drum 58 to one rotation of the cam 18. As a result, there will be but, a single operation of the said slide plate for two operations of the .trip bar 68 and of the pusher bar 45.

The cam i8 is also associated in operative relation with a rock arm 34 (see Figure 11) fixed to a rock shaft 3, suitably moimted in the .frame, and to which the swinging spanker arms 34 are fixed, said arms operating immediately after a pair of lids has been discharged from the chute 24. The cam 78, as shown in Figure 11, is designed to operate the rock arm 34* immediately after it :has actuated the rod 19, which is connected to the discharge slide plate 21. Thus said arms 34 will also operate but once for two operations of the trigger bar 68.

To prevent back lashing and to maintain the drum 58 in the .position in which it is arrested,

said drum is provided with a cam disc 85, having a cam shoulder 86 which is engaged by a roller 8'! on a spring controlled brake arm '88 (see Figure 3). Said brake arm is suitably pivoted above the drum at 89 on a frame member.

The downwardly and forwardly inclined plate 46 with the yielding fingers iii), to telescope the rear'end of the lid down over the rear end of the box, is carried towards the rear (see Figures 1,2 and 3) where it is connected to a crank pin 4'! fixed to a crank arm 48 on a stud 48 fixed to the frame member 49. By adjusting the position of the crank arm forwardly or rearwardly, the fingers 50 may be brought to the necessary position to properly perform their function.

As it may happen 'by reason of some failure of the mechanism for covering the boxes, that a box may pass on the conveyor beyond the rollers 5| without the lid being properly closed down on the box, or without a lid, 'or with one of the flaps of flies of the box not folded down on the box- .I'prefer to provide automatic means for stopping the machine in case of such occurrence. To this end I provide a supplementary pawl 12* (see Figures 3, Band 12) loosely mounted on the rock path of boxes carried on the shaft H with a bell-crank arm 12 connected by a link 12 to the movable member 12 of a solenoid 1 2 90 indicates the field of said solenoid which is normally open.

verse bar 91 located at some point beyond the box covering mechanismshortly above the level of.

on the conveyor belt beyond said bar 9i and without interference therewith. When, however, a box comes .along with a lid improperly applied or 9% indicates a switch in the circuit adapted tobe closed by a swinging transwith something sticking up above the levelof Y the box, the swinging bar 9| will be struck by said bar and will act to close the switch 90 This causes the energization of the field of the solenoid i2 whereupon the bell-crank arm 12 will be operated by the solenoid to shift the pawl 12? .(to the left .as shown in Figures 3 and 6), vto

bring said pawl into the path of the heel. 13 of the clutch pawl 60. This will act to hold the clutch pawl from clutching engagement with the shaft and prevent operation of the mechanism,

notwithstanding that the pawl 12 ated by the trip pawl.

While in describing a preferred embodiment of my invention, I have referred tomany details of mechanism and arrangement of parts, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, except as may be pointed out in the :appended claims.

I claim as myinven'tion: 1. In a box covering machine, in combination with a conveyor for boxes, means for delivering .lids in succession in a rearwardly and upwardly has been operinclined position above and proximate to said conveyor, intermittently operating, forwardly moving means for advancing a box on said conveyor, a ramp bar associated with said box advancing means in line with anear sideof the lids delivered'to said conveyor, means associated with bar 68 to release such clutch said conveyor for guiding the boxes into position over against said ramp bar, a pusher bar for laterally displacing said boxes on said conveyor to bring them into engagement with said ramp bar and with said box advancing means, a trigger projecting into the path of boxes carried on the main conveyor, a continuously rotating shaft, a

drum mounted on said shaft, a clutch intermediate said drum and said shaft, operating me'chanisms severally connecting in predetermined timed relation said drum with said pusher'bar, said box advancing means and said lid delivering means,

and devices operative'ly connecting said clutch z and said trigger adapted to actuate said clutch 'whensa'id trigger is engaged by a box on said conveyor.

'2. In a box covering machine, in combination with a main-conveyor for boxes, means for delivering lids in succession'to a rearwardly and-up- 'wardly inclined position above and proximate to said conveyor, an intermittently operable auxi'liary conveyor for engaging and advancing a box relative to said conveyor, a ramp bar associated with said auxiliary conveyor in line with a near side of the lids delivered to said main conveyor, means associated with said main conveyor for guiding the boxes into position over against said ramp bar, a pusher bar for laterally displacing said boxes on said conveyor to bring them into engagement with said ramp bar and with said auxiliary conveyor, a trigger projecting into the main conveyor, a

continuously rotatingshaft, a drum mounted on said shaft, a clutch intermediate said drum and said shaft, operating'mechanis'ms severally con! necting in predetermined timed relation said drumwith said pusher bar, said auxiliary cone veyor and said lid delivering means, and devices operatively connecting said clutch and said trig-l ger adapted to actuate said clutch when said trig ger is engaged by a box on said main conveyor.

3; In a box covering machine, in combination with a conveyor for boxes, a chute above said conveyor containing lids disposed in pairs, with the top lid of each pair having its" sides and rearend embracing'the 'sides and rear end'of the bottom lid, means for ejecting each pair of said lids in succession to bring them to a rearwardly and upwardly inclined position above and proximate to said conveyor, intermittently operating, forwardly moving means for advancing ameans, a trigger projecting into the path of boxes carried on said conveyor, a continuously rotating shaft, a drum mounted on said shaft, a clutch device intermediate said drum and said shaft, mechanisms severally connecting said drum with said pusher bar, said box advancing means and said lid ejecting and disposing means in the ratio of two operations of said pusher bar and said box advancing means to one operation of said lid ejecting and disposing means, and devices o-peratively connecting said clutch and said trigger adapted to actuate said clutch when said trigger is engaged by a box on said conveyor.

4. In combination with a stack of lids disposed in pairs, one above the other, with the top lid of each pair "having its sides and rear end embracing the sides and rear end of the bottom lid, a vertical chute adapted to contain said stack of lids, a movable support for the front end of said stack, an auxiliary fixed support spaced below said movable support less than the depth of a lid, a conveyor for advancing boxes in a plane below said chute, means for reciprocating said movable support for momentarily withdrawing it from below said stack and then returning it thereto, said movable support acting on its return to eject the bottom pair of lids from said auxiliary support, means for receiving and supporting the rear end of the ejected pair of lids in a rearwardly and upwardly inclined position above said conveyor, and a stop forward of said last named means for preventing the top lid of a pair from being dropped towards said conveyor until the bottom lid has been carried away by a box advancing on said conveyor engaged within its front end.

5. In combination with a stack of lids disposed in pairs, one above the other, with the top lid having its sides and rear end embracing the sides and rear end of the bottom lid, a vertical chute adapted to contain said stack of lids, a

' movable support for the front end of said stack,

an auxiliary fixed support spaced below said 'movable support less than the depth of a lid,

a conveyor for advancing boxes in a plane below said chute, means for reciprocating said movable support for momentarily withdrawing it from below said stack and to then return it thereto,

said movable support *acting on its return to eject the ,botton pair of lids from said auxiliary support, a support to receive the rear end of the ejected pair of lids, a deviceior striking the top one of said lids to bring the pair into a rearwardly and upwardlyinclined position above said conveyor, and a stop forward of said support for preventing, the top lid of a pair from being dropped towards said conveyor until the bottom lid has been carried away by a box advancing on saidcconveyor and engaged within its front end. I

l '6; In combination with-a stack of lids 'disposed in pairs, one above the other, with the top lid having its sides and rear end embracing the sides and rear end of the bottom lid, a vertical chute adapted to contain said stack of lids, a movable support for the front end of said stack, an auxiliary fixed support spaced below said movable support less than the depth of a lid, a conveyor for advancing boxes in a, plane below said chute, means for reciprocating said movable support for momentarily withdrawing it from below said stack and to then return it thereto, said movable support acting on its return to eject the bottom pair of lids from said auxiliary support, a downwardly and forwardly inclined support to receive the rear end of the ejected pair of lids, a device for striking the top one of said lids to bring the pair into a rearwardly and upwardly inclined position above said conveyor, and a stop forward of said support for preventingthe top lid of a pair from being dropped towards said conveyor until the bottom lid has been carried away by a box advancing on said conveyor and engaged within its front end.

'7. In combination with a'stack of lids disposed in pairs, one above the other, each pair com prising a top lid and a bottom lid, with the top lid having its sides and rear end embracing the sides and rear end of the bottom lid, a vertical chute adapted to contain said stack of lids, a horizontal reciprocable ejector plate normally disposed below said chute under the front end of the bottom lid in said stack, a fixed plate disposed below said ejector plate and adapted to arrest the front end of a pair of lids when released by said ejector plate, a conveyor for advancing boxes in a plane below said chute, means for reciprocating said ejector plate to withdraw it from supporting position below said stack and to then return it thereto, said ejector plate acting on its return to strike and eject the bottom pair of lids from said fixed plate, a downwardly and forwardly inclined plate located above said conveyor rearwardly beyond said chute adapted to receive and support the rear ends of a pair of lids when thus ejected, a stop forward of said inclined plate for temporarily arresting the top lid of a pair and preventing it from being carried away with the bottom lid of said pair when said bottom lidis carried forward by a box advanced on the conveyor with its front end engaged within the front end of said lid, and means for telescoping the rear end of said lid down upon the rear end of said box as it is carried away on said conveyor.

8. In combination with a stack of lids disposed in pairs, one above the other, each pair comprising a top lid and a bottom lid, with the top lid having its sides and rear end embracing the sides and rear end of the bottom lid, a vertical chute adapted to contain said stack of lids, a horizontal reciprocable ejector plate normally disposed below said chute under the front end of the bottom lid in said stack, a fixed plate disposed below said ejector plate and adapted to arrest the front end of a pair of lids when released by said ejector plate, a conveyor for advancing boxes in a plane below said chute, means for reciprocating said ejector plate to withdraw it from supporting position below said stack and to then return it thereto, said ejector plate acting on its return to strike and eject the bottom pair of lids from said fixed plate, a downwardly and forwardly inclined plate located above said conveyor rearwardly beyond said chute adapted to receive and support the rear ends of apair of lids when thus ejected, a stop forward of said inclined plate for temporarily arresting the top lid of a pair and preventing it from being: carried away with the bottom lidofv said pair when said bottom lid is carried forward by a box advanced on the conveyor with its front end engaged within the front end of said lid, means for telescoping the rear end of, said lid down upon the rear end of said box, and

means operating to bear down on said lid' and close it on the box as said box is carried. away'on the conveyor.

WILLIAM RUSSELL REDD.

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