US2291225A

US2291225A - Wire-stitching machine

Info

Publication number: US2291225A
Application number: US373947A
Authority: US
Inventors: George H Harred
Original assignee: Boston Wire Stitcher Co
Current assignee: Bostitch Inc
Priority date: 1941-01-10
Filing date: 1941-01-10
Publication date: 1942-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 1959-07-28

Description

July 28,1942. HA 2,291,225

WIRE-STITCHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 10, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 28, 1942. G H, HARRED 2,291,225

WIRE-STITCHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 10, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 By I /liorzzya V July 28, 1942. G. H. HARRED WIRE-STITGHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 10, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 @Qauihr:

Patented July 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'WIRE STIT CHING MACHINE George H. Harred,-East Greenwich, R. I., assignor to Boston Wire Stitcher Company, Portland, Maine, a corporation of Maine Application January 10, 1941 Serial No. 373,947

22 Claims.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application for Wire-stitching machine, Serial No. 329,912, filed April 16, 1940, and issued into United States Letters Patent No. 2,266,550, dated December 16, 1941.

In my prior application, referred to above, the wire-stitching machine illustrated and described is adapted for stitching the seams of boxes, cartons or the like and comprises a tie-stitch mechanism for applying the first and last two stitches of a series closely adjacent each other to strengthen the seam at its ends.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple form of tie-stitch mechanism which is operative on the work-feeding means to cause the latter to advance the work a reduced increment of movement between certain stitches.

Another object is to provide a tie-stitch mechanism of the type indicated which is maintained operative during the application of the last stitch of one series and the first two stitches of the next series. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a tie-stitch mechanism of the type indicated which is set for operation by a cam on the control shaft and released by a trip actuated from the control shaft.

Another object is to provide a tie-stitch mechanism of the type indicated which is adjustable to adapt it to operate at the beginning and end of a row of any predetermined number of stitches.

Another object is to provide a tie-stitch mechanism of the type indicated which is of simple and. compact construction and adapted for use over long periods of time without repair or replacement of parts.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the tie-stitch mechanism, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a wirestitching machine incorporating the novel features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the control mechanism for the wire-stitching machine;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the oscillating mechanism for operating the work-feeding means;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the tie-stitch operating means;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing the pivoted key-raising arm as rocked by the cam .on the .control shaft and latched in. operative position;

Fig. .6 is a view similar to Fig. .5 illustrating the relationship of the parts .at a later interval of the stitching operation and showing the 10st motion between the parts of the oscillating mechanism for operating the work-feedingmeans;

Fig. 7 is. a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the key-raising arm in its inoperative position .and the keyconnecting the parts of the oscillating mechanism for movement as .a unit;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view showing the latch trip mechanism for releasing the keyrais'ing arm of the tie-stitch mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the trigger of the'latch trip mechanism operated by the lug on thetrip-sleeve on the control shaft;

Fig. 10' is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 8 showing the trigger rockedwith respect to the trip -block by the trip-sleeve during the return movement of the control shaft;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line II-I l of Fig. 7 showing the key for .connecting the parts of the oscillatingmechanism for movement as a unit and illustrating the eccentric contact element on the key-raising arm of the tie-stitch mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a plan view in reducedscale of several adjacent cartons showing thetie-stitch at the opposite ends of each row of stitches; and

Fig. 13 is a face View of the dial for adjusting the control means to adapt the machine to apply any predetermined'number of stitches in a series.

The wire-stitching machine to which the present invention is applied: is substantially identical with that illustrated and described in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,266,550, referred to above. Suffice it to state herein that the machine comprises a frame having a pedestal 2 with a horizontally extending arm 3 at its upper end, see Fig. 1. Below the arm 3 isa work-supporting table 4. mounted by means of brackets 6 on an I-beam' 5 projecting laterally from the pedestal 2, the outer end of the I-beam being supported by a post 9. Projecting laterally from the pedestal 2 at the side opposite from the table 4 is a platform or shelf 1 which is supported on the pedestal by means ofa bracket 8.

A wire-stitching head 12 is mounted at the end of the horizontally extending arm 3 and is operated by a drive shaft [3 extending through the arm and projecting beyond the pedestal. The wire-stitching head l2 may be of any suitable construction and, as herein illustrated, is of the type shown and described in United States Letters Patent to H. G. Allen, No. 1,760,031, issued May 27, 1930. In this type of machine, during the first half-revolution of the drive shaft l3 a length of wire is cut, bent into U-shape and driven into the work; while during the second half-revolution of the drive shaft |3 the parts of the stitching mechanism are returned to initial position and another length of wire is fed into the head. A fly-wheel I4 is mounted for rotation on the extended end of the drive shaft I3 and is continuously driven from an electric motor |5 through a suitable belt I5. A clutch I1 is provided adjacent the fly-wheel l4 for connecting the latter to the drive shaft I3. As described in detail in my prior patent referred to above the clutch H is operated automatically by a gate I8 positioned below the head |2 at the rear of a guide H! and actuated by the work W.

The work in the form of carton blanks W, shown in Fig. 12, is fed intermittently in timed relation to the wire-stitching mechanism in the head |2 by means of spaced pairs of

feed rollers

20 and 2|, see Fig. 1. The upper feed rolls 2|! are mounted on a shaft 23 journaled in suitable bearings depending from the arm 3 of the frame 2 driven from a shaft 24. The shaft 24 is journaled in suitable bearings on the platform I and connected to the shaft 23 by a shaft 25 having universal joints at its ends. The lower pair of feed rolls 2| are mounted at one side of a rockable frame 22 which is rocked to one position to engage the feed rolls with the work to advance the latter under the stitching head I2 and thereafter rocked to another position by a spring 26 to engage a pair of continuously-operating discharge rolls (not herein shown) with the work to discharge it from the machine. The lower feed rolls 2| are carried by a shaft 28 journaled in suitable hearings in the frame 22 and driven by a shaft 29 journaled in suitable bearings on the platform 1 and connected thereto by a shaft 30 having universal joints at its ends.

The shafts 24 and 29 carry intermeshing gears 3| and 32 and the lower shaft 29 is intermittently operated by a one-way clutch 33 enclosed in a housing 34 and actuated by a relatively movable crank-arm 35, see Fig. 1. The crank-arm 35 of the one-way clutch 33 is connected to an arm 36 of an oscillating mechanism 31 by a link .38, see Figs. 2 and 3. The oscillating mechanism 31 is in turn operated by a pitman 39 driven from an eccentric on the drive shaft l3. The arrangement of the one-way clutch 33 is such that during the first half-revolution of the drive shaft L3 to operate the wire-stitching mechanism in the head l2 to apply a stitch to the work the eccentric on the drive shaft actuates the pitman 39 and through the oscillating mechanism 31 moves the crank-arm 35 of the one-way clutch through an idle stroke with respect to the housing 34. During the second half-revolution of the drive shaft I3 while the wire-stitching mechanism in the head I2 is inoperative the oscillating mechanism 31 is operated by the pitman 39 to move the crank-arm 35 of the one-way clutch through a return stroke which in this direction of movement grips the housing 34 connected to the shaft 29 to rotate the latter through a predetermined arc. Thus, during the return stroke of the wire-stitching mechanism the spaced pairs of

feed rolls

20, 2| are operated by the shafts 24, 29 connected to the shafts 25, 36 and shafts 23, 28 to advance the work a predetermined increment of movement.

Theoscillating mechanism 31, see Figs. 2 and on a control shaft 45 and having

flanges

42 and 43 at its opposite ends with radially-projecting ears between which the end of the pitman 39 is connected by a crank-pin 40. Rockably mounted on the hub-member 4| between the

flanges

42 and 43 is a second hub-member 44 having the radially-projecting crank-arm 36. As illustrated in Figs. '7 and 11, a key 46 is positioned in a slot 41 in the periphery of the hub-member 44 of the oscillating mechanism 31, being pivotally mounted on a pin 48. The key 46 is rocked resiliently in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 11 by means of a spring 49 to maintain its outer end 50 in a slot 5| in the periphery of the flange 43 of the hub-member 4|. The end of the key 46 projects laterally beyond the side of the flange 43 of the hub-member 4| to overhang the latter for a purpose as will later appear. When the key 45 is seated in the slot 5| of the flange 43 of the hub-member 4| the two parts 4| and 44 of the oscillating mechanism 31 will rock as a unit. When the key 46 is rocked to the position illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 the members 4| and 44 of the oscillating mechanism 31 may move relatively of each other to provide lost motion. A lug 52 on the flange 43 of the member 4| carries an adjustable set-screw 53 for engaging the side of the key 46 when the latter is raised to the position illustrated by dashlines in Fig. 11 whereby to operate the work feeding means with lost motion. An abutment shoulder 54, see Fig. 6, is also provided on the flange 43 of the member 4| at the end of the slot 5| for engaging the opposite side of the key.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the control shaft 45 is journaled in bearings in

standards

56 and 51 mounted on the platform I. Mounted fast on the control shaft 45 adjacent the side of the flange 42 of the oscillating member 4| is a ratchet-wheel 58, see Figs. 2 and 3. The control shaft 45 is intermittently rotated in timed relation to the operation of the work-feeding means by means of a pawl 59 pivoted to an ear 60 on the flange 42 of the oscillating member 4|. A check-pawl 6| acts to hold the ratchetwheel 58 from retrogressive movement during the return stroke of the oscillating member.

A gear 62 keyed to the control shaft 45 meshes With the teeth of a rack 53 slidable in a suitable guideway 64 in the frame of the bearing 56, see Figs. 2 and 3. Due to the arrangement of the teeth on the ratchet-wheel 58 the control shaft 45 is rotated during each forward stroke of the oscillating mechanism 31 to an extent sufficient to advance the rack 63 a distance of one tooth. The rack '63 is adapted to actuate stopping means (not herein shown) for disengaging the clutch I1 and the number of teeth that the rack 83 is advanced during a stitching operation determines the number of stitches S applied to the work W. The rack 63 is set for operation by means of an adjustable abutment 65 engageable by the rearward end of the rack, the abutment being carried at the end of a rod 66 adapted to be locked in any particular position of adjustment by a clamping member 55 embracing the rod and having a screw-threaded stem for receiving a clamping nut 10, see Figs. 2 and 3. It will be understood that the opposite or forward end of the rack 63 is adapted to engage and operate the stopping means to automatically arrest the operation of the stitching mechanism in the head l2 and engage the discharge rolls (not herein shown) withthe work. Upon arrestment of operation" of the stitching'mechanism apawlreleasing lever 61 is'actuated to cause it-to en-- gage the

pawls

9 and 5| and release them from the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 58, see Fig. 2. A-

clock spring 68; see- Fig. 2 having one end attached to the control shaft 45-and itsopposite end connected to a stationa'ryhousing 69 actsto turn theshaft in clockwise direction as -viewed' in Fig. 3 to return the rack 63 to initial position when the pawls 59 and 6| a-re released from engagement with theratchet-wheel 58. Adia'l' H is also provided at the end of the control shaft 45 for" manually rotating the latter to initially adjust its angular position, the dial being graduated to cooperatewith a set-mark indicator on a bracket 12 to indicate the" number of stitches to be'applied'during a stitching operation after any particular adjustment, see-Figi 13; As thus far'described the construction of the" stitchin machine is identical with that illustrated and 'described in my prior patent referred to above.

In accordance with the present invention a novel form of tie-stitch'operating'mechanism is provided for automatically raising the key 46 at a'predetermined interval of the stitching operation to cause the oscillating mechanism 31 to operate with lost motion. As the oscillating mechanism 31 drives the work-feeding rolls Zlltand 2| the latter will advance the work with a reduced increment of movement between stitches when the key 46 is raised. Referring to Fig. 2, the tiestitch operating mechanism is supported by the bracket 12 attached to the top'ofthe bearing 51 by means of screws 13. The bracket 12 has an offset vertically extending block 14 with one face thereof positioned parallel to and spaced from the side of the flange 43 of the oscillating member 4|.

A key-raising arm '75 is positioned between the face" of the block 14 and theflange 43'of'the oscillating member 4|, see Figs. 2 and 5. The key-raising arm 75 is pivotally mounted intermediate itsends on the projecting end of a stud 16- carried by the block 14' of the bracket 12, the stud extending through the block andibeing held in position 'by'a nut ll screwed onto its threaded end; see Figs. 2 and 4. The key-raisingfiarm has an arcuate portion underlying the overhanging end of the key 46 and of a contour generally the same as that of the flange 43 of the oscillating member 4|. At the'opposite side of the pivot stud '16 from the arcuate portion the keyraising arm has an extension 18 providedwith an inclined face 19 notchedto provide a latchshoulder 89. Mounted in a recess 84in the arm'- ate portion of the key-raising arm 15 adjacent its end is an eccentric'disk or contact element 8|, see Figs. 5 and 11. The eccentric disk has a threaded stem 82 extending through the arm'15 and projecting therebeyond. A lock-nut 83 screwed onto the threaded stem 82 of the bearing element 8| is adapted to beset up against the side of the key-raising arm 15 to clamp the eccentric disk 8| in adjusted position on the arm, a spring 85 being provided between the head of the nut and the arm to frictionally resist'turning of the nut. Thus, by loosening the nut 83 the eccentric disk 8| may be moved to its operative position illustrated in Figs. 5 and 11 or turned 180 to an inoperative position within the recess 84 in the key-raising arm 15.

The key-raising arm 15 is rocked on the'pivot stud-16 from the position illustrated in Fi 'l to that illustrated in- Fig.-5 bya-cam- 8|ion the 7'5 a'djustedposition'on the shaft. The periphery control shaft; The cam 8e isin the" form of a sleeve attached: to the control" shaft 45 for rotation therewith by means of a pin Bland having a lobe 88- engageable with the eccentric disk-8| on the arm-.- When the key-raisingarm 15 is rocked on'its-pivot -stud 16 to the position illustratedin Fig. 5 bythe engagement of the cam lobe 88 with the'eccent ric disk-8| the arcuate portion of the arm will engage the overhanging end of" the key 4Bto raise it out of engagement with the slot-5| in the flange 43 of the oscillating member 4|; whereby the two parts-4| and 440i the oscillating mechanism" 31 operat withlost motion. Thus; the feed rolls 20 and 2| are rotated througha relatively short/arc to advance the work less than the normalincrement of movement between certain stitches to provide atie-stitch. The operating cam 861s preferably arranged on the control shaft-45'so' that its lobe 88- is operative toactuate thekey-raising arm 15 immediately after the next to that last stitch of a series has been" applied to'- provide a tiestitch at the'end and-at the beginning of-successive roWs-ofstitches; seeFig. 12. g

An automatically operated latch 89 is provided for engaging the key-raising arm 15 to hold it-in its operative position illustrated in' Fig. 5. The latch 89 is in the form of a blockhavinga latching nose 90 engageable with the latching shoulder 80 onthe key-raising arm 15; The latch-block 89is rigidly attached to ashaft' 9| by means of a set-screw 92 and the shaft is journaled in the vertical block 114* and body-portion ofthebracket 12, see Figs. 2 and4'. The-latch-block- Bills also provided With alat'erallyextending arm 93 overlying theextension l8 of-the key-raising arm 15 in spaced relation thereto and theends of the spaced arms are connected'by'a helical spring 94. Thus; when the key-raising arm 15 is rocked from the' position illustrated in Fig. 7" to thatillustrated in Fig; 5 the spring 94, acting'on the laterally extending arm 93' ofthe latch-block 89 automatically rocks the latter toengage its-nose 9|] with the-latch-shoulder- 80 to hold'the key-- raising arm in oper'ativeposition.

A latch-trip mechanism is" also provided for operating the latch-block 89' to release the keyraising arm'15 at apredetermin'ed time during the operation of the stitching machine. 'Ihe latch-trip mechanism comprises atrigger fifl; see Figs. 2 and 4, carried by a trigger-block 99 on'the shaft 9| and operated by'a trip 10!] on the control shaft 45. The trigger 98 is position ed in a recess |0| in the trigger-block 99an=d pivotally mounted on a stud I02 projectinglaterallv from the trigger-block. The upper edge'of'therecess ||l| in the trigger-block 99' is inclined as'illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 to form a'seat N33 for thetrigger when the" latter is in operative'position as shown in Fig. 8. The trigger 98' is normally'held in engagement with itsseat IE3 by means of a spring I04 coiled about thestud N32 with one end engagingthe' trigger and the opposite end engaging the cross-slot in thehead of the-stud. Thus, the'spring' |04"is' operative to hold the'trigg'erQB" in engagement with the seat I63 on the"trigger-block' 99, but isyieldable to permit the trigger' to rock on the trigger-block as illustrated in Fig. 10. The end of the'trigger 98'has a nose I05, the rearward'fa'ce |06"of which is beveled or inclined fora" purpose as will later appear.

The trip on the control' shaft'45'is in the form of'a split sleeve to adapt'ittobe "clamped in of the sleeve I is reduced in diameter at one side to form an offset recessed face with which the nose I of the trigger 98 is adapted to engage, see Fig. 8. A lug III held in a slot in the peripheral rim of the sleeve I00 projects across the face H0. The lug III has a radially-extending face II2 for engagement with the nose I05 of the trigger 98 and an inclined rearward face II3. As illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 the sleeve I00 has a screw II5 extending across its split portion to clamp it on the shaft 45. The tripsleeve I00 may be loosened and rotated to any position of adjustment on the control shaft 45 to locate the lug II I in any particular spaced relation to the nose I05 of the trigger 98 whereby to cause the latch-block 89 to be tripped at a predetermined time during the operation of the machine. Preferably, however, the trip-sleeve I00 is so positioned on the control shaft 45 as to operate the latch-block 89 after the second stitch of a series has been applied to the work W as indicated in Fig. 12. It will be understood that when the stitching mechanism is adjusted to apply any given number of stitches the operating cam 85 of the tie-stitch mechanism will actuate the key-raising arm I5 after the next to the last stitch has been applied as the cam is pinned to the control shaft 45 and moves in direct ratio to the rack 63 for operating the stopping means. The trip-sleeve I00, however, must be adjusted each time that the machine is set to apply a different number of staples in a series as the position of the lug I I I of the trip-sleeve I00 will have a particular angular relationship with respect to the trigger 98 at the beginning of a stitching operation depending upon the number of stitches to be driven in a series. A preferred form of the invention having been described in detail the mode of operation of the machine, and more particularly the tie-stitch mechanism, is as follows:

The machine is first adjusted to adapt it to apply a predetermined number of stitches S in a series and to advance the work W a predetermined increment of movement between the stitches in the manner described in detail in my prior patent referred to above. Suffice it to state herein that the rod 66 is released by turning the nut I0 to release the clamping member 55 and the control shaft 45 is turned by means of the graduated dial 'II to set it in a particular position corresponding to the number of stitches S to be applied. The adjustable abutment 65 is then brought into engagement with the rearward end of the rack 63 and clamped in adjusted position by tightening the nut I0. The distance that the rack 63 is moved rearwardly away from the stopping means (not herein shown but illustrated in my copending application) to its initial position determines the number of stitches to be applied during a stitching operation and the trip-sleeve I00 is turned to an adjusted position on the control shaft 45 to cause it to actuate the latch-trip trigger 98 after the second stitch of a series is applied.

The machine is then ready for a stitching operation which is initiated by inserting a carton W, shown in Fig. I2. When the carton W is inserted into the machine with its flaps on the top and bottom of the flap-guide I9 the end of the carton engages and actuates the gauge I8 which through suitable mechanism, engages the clutch H to couple the fiy-wheel I4 to the drive shaft I3. Duringthe first half-revolution of the drive shaft I3 a staple or stitch S is applied to the work W. Simultaneouslywith the application of a stitch S during the first halfrevolution of the drive shaft |3 the pitman 39 is operated from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 5. For convenience of description it may be considered that at the beginning of the stitching operation the tie-stitch cam 86 is in the position indicated by dash lines in Fig. 5 and as the tie-stitch mechanism has not been set for the first carton W the key-raising arm 15 is in the position indicated in Fig. 7. That is, the key 46 is seated in the slot 5| of the flange 43 of the oscillating member 4| whereby the two parts M and 44 of the oscillating mechanism 31 oscillate as a unit to operate the crankarm 35 of the one-way clutch 33 through a full stroke. Due to the arrangement of the one-way clutch 33 the crank-arm 35 moves relatively of the housing 34 during the first half-revolution of the drive shaft I3. During the second halfrevolution of the drive shaft I3 the crank-arm 35 rocks the housing 34 and shaft 29 connected thereto and through the gears 3| and 32, shaft 24, shafts 25 and 30 and shafts 23 and 28, operates the spaced pairs of feed rolls 20 and 2| through an arc to advance the work a predetermined increment of movement. It will be understood that when the work W is inserted into the machine the initial operation thereof rocks the feed rolls 2| toward the feed rolls 20 to grip the carton W therebetween. The machine continues to operate in the manner explained to apply a stitch during the firsthalf-revolution of the drive shaft I3 and to intermittently advance the work W predetermined increments of movement between stitches during the second half-revolution of the drive shaft I3.

During each reciprocation of the pitman 39 the pawl 59 on the flange 42 of the oscillating mechanism 31 engages the teeth of the ratchetwheel 58 on the control shaft 45 to turn the shaft through a predetermined arc, the control shaft being held against rearward movement between strokes of the pitman 39 by the checkpawl 6| engaging the teeth on the ratchet-wheel. The rotation of the control shaft 45 durmg each stroke of the pitman 39 is such as to advance the rack 63 a distance of one tooth toward the stopping means. Also, due to the rotation of the control shaft 45, the cam 86 is rotated intermittently from the position indicated by dash lines to the position illustrated by full lines in Fig. 5. The cam 86 is so positioned on the control shaft 45 that the rotation of the latter as the next to the last stitch of a series is applied will engage the lobe 88 of the cam with the-eccentric disk 8| at the outer end of the key-raising arm I5 and rock the arm on its pivot-stud I6. Rocking movement of the arm I5 causes its outer arcuate edge to engage the overhanging end of the key 46 to raise it out of engagement with the slot 5| in the flange 43 of the oscillating member 4|. During the first half-revolution of the drive shaft I3 to operate the stitching mechanism in the head I2 to apply the next to the last stitch of a series the two parts 4| and 44 of the oscillating mechanism 31 operate the crank-arm 35 of the one-way clutch 33 in the usual manner, but during the second half-revolution of the drive shaft I3 the member 4| moves relatively ofthe member 44 with lost motion until the adjustable abutment 53 on the member 4| engages the side of the key 46 to operate the crank-arm 35 through a considerably shorter arc, see Figs. 5 and 6. Thus, the work feed rolls 20 and 2| are, moved through a re-v duced increment of movement between the next to the last stitch and last stitch of a series whereby the last two stitches are arranged closely adjacent each other to provide a tie-stitch at the end of the row of stitches.

When the key-raising arm I5 is rocked on its pivot I6 from the position illustrated in Fig. 7 to that illustrated in Fig. 5 the tension of the spring 94 acting on the arm 93 of the latchblock 89 rocks the latter to engage its nose 90 with the latch shoulder 80 on the key-raising arm. The key-raising arm I5 is thus latched in its operative position to cause the work-feeding means to continue to advance the work with a reduced increment of movement between stitches. Simultaneously with the application of the last stitch of a series the rack 63 is advanced to engage and operate the stopping mechanism which actuates the pawl-releasing lever 67 to disengage the pawls 59 and 6| from the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 58. The stopping means actuates the clutch I! to release the fiywheel I 4 from driving engagement with the drive shaft I3 and the spring 68, see Fig. 2, rotates the control shaft 45 and, through the pinion gear 62, moves the rack 63 rearwardly until its end engages the abutment 65. Simultaneously with the return movement of the rack 63 the cam 86 is returned to its initial position indicated by dash lines in Fig. 5. It will be understood that upon operation of the stopping means the cradle or frame 22 carrying the feed rolls 2I is rocked to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 to engage the discharge rolls (not herein shown) with the work and thereby separate the pairs of feed rolls 20 and'ZI.

Upon insertion of the next carton W into the machine in the manner indicated in Fig. 12, operation of the machine is againinitiated to drive the first stitch during the first half-revolution of the drive shaft I3 and advance the work during the second half-revolution of the drive shaft. As the key-raising arm I5 is latched in its operative position to hold the key raised the members ll and 44 of the oscillating mechanism 31 move with lost motion to advance the work W a reduced increment of movement so that the second stitch S of the series is applied closely adjacent the first stitch to provide a tiestitch at the beginning of a row or series of stitches. After the application of the second stitch the trip-sleeve I will have moved from the position illustrated in Fig. 8 to that illustrated in Fig. 9 to engage the radialface H2 of the lug III with the nose I of the trigger 98 to rock the trigger-block 99 and shaft 9| carrying the latch-block 89. Upon rocking movement of the latch-block 89 the spring 94 acting on the extension 78 of the key r'aising arm I5 rocks the latter to its inoperative position shown in Fig. 7. Upon release of the key' is by the arm I5 the key is rocked on its pivot 48 by the spring 49 to engage its end in the slot 5| in the flange 43 of the oscillating member 9|. The parts 4| and 44 of the oscillating mechanism 31 thereafter oscillate as a unit to operate the feed rolls 20 and 2| through a maximum arc to advance the work W a normal increment of movement between stitches S whereby to apply a row of stitches in the manner'shown in Fig. 12. The stitching mechanism in the head I2 and the work-feed rolls 20 and H then continue to operate in the manner explained until the cam 86 has been moved to engage the eccentric disk 8| on the key-raising arm I5 whereby to again initiate the operation of the tie-stitch means. It will be understood that at the beginning of the stitching of the first carton the key-raising arm 18 may be rocked manually to latch it in the position illustrated in Fig. 5 so that the machine will apply a tie-stitch at the beginning of the row of stitches as well as at the end of the row.

During the return movement of the control shaft 45 after a stitching operation the inclined face N3 of the lug III on the trip-sleeve I99 will engage the inclined face I96 on the trigger 98 to rock the trigger against the action of the spring I 64 whereby to permit the lug to pass by the trigger without operating the latch-block 89 between stitching operations, see Fig. 10. It will be understood that the trip-sleeve I89 is adjustable on the control shaft 45 to adapt it to operate the trigger 98 at any particular time during a stitching operation and the form of the cam 89 and trip-sleeve I99 may be varied to apply a tie-stitch intermediate a row as well as at the beginning and end of a row of stitches. Furthermore, it will be understood that if it is desired to operate the machine without a tiestitch the nut 83 may be loosened on the stem 82 of the eccentric disk 8| and the latter turned into the recess 84 in the key-raising arm I5 whereby the cam 86 will not engage the disk to rock the key-raising arm on its pivot.

It will be observed from the foregoing specification that the present invention provides a novel form of tie-stitch operating means which is of simple and compact construction and actuated directly from the control shaft. It will be observed further that the present invention provides a tie-stitch mechanism which may be operated during the next to the last stitch of a series and latched in operative position during the completion of astitching operation and at the beginning of a subsequent stitching operation whereby one setting of the tie-stitch means efiects a tie-stitch at the end of one series of stitches and the beginning of another series.

While a preferred form of the invention is herein illustrated and described, itwill be understood that modifications may be made in the formand arrangement of the parts thereof without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination'of Wire-stitching means, work-feeding means, driving means for operating the wire-stitching means and work-feeding means in timed relationship, tie-stitch means for controlling the operation of the feeding means to reduce the increment of movement of the work by the feeding means between certain stitches, an angularly-movable cam actuated in one direction by the driving means for controlling the operation of the tie-stitch means, and means for moving the'cam in the opposite direction to return it to initial position after a stitching operation.

2. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means, work-feeding means, driving means for operating the wirestitching means and work-feeding means in timed relationship, tie-stitch means for controlling the operation of the feeding means to reduce the increment of movement of the work by the feeding means between certain stitches, an angularlymovable cam driven by the driving means for controlling the operationof the tie-stitch means,

and means for initially adjusting the relative position of the cam with respect to the tie-stitch means to adapt the tie-stitch means to be operated after any number of stitches have been applied to the work.

3. In a machine f the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means having a predetermined period of operation to apply a series of stitches, work-feeding means, driving means for operating the wire-stitching means and work-feeding means in timed relationship, tie-stitch means for controlling the operation of the feeding means to reduce the increment of movement of the work by the feeding means between the first and last two stitches of the series applied to the work, a cam actuated in one direction by the driving means for controlling the operation of the tie-stitch means, and means for moving the cam in the opposite direction to return it to initial position after a stitching operation.

4. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of a wire-stitching means, workfeeding means, driving means for operating the wire-stitching means and work-feeding means in timed relationship, tie-stitch means for controlling the operation of the feeding means, to reduce the increment of movement of the work by the feeding means between certain stitches, and means operated by the driving means for controlling the period of operation of the wirestitching means and the time of operation of the tie-stitch means, said last-named ,means comprising a cam movable in one direction for operating the tie-stitch means, and means for moving the cam in the opposite direction to return it to its initial position after a stitching operation. 7 7 I 5. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means having a predetermined period of operation to apply a series of stitches, work-feeding means, driving means for operating the wire-stitching means and work-feeding means in timed relationship,

tie-stitch means for controlling the" operation' of the feeding means to reduce the increment of movement of the work by the feeding means between certain stitches, a control shaft driven from the driving means, a cam on the control shaft for operating the tie-stitch means, and means for rotating the control shaft back to initial position after a stitching operation.

6. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means having a predetermined period of operation to apply a series of stitches, work-feeding means, 'driving means for operating the wire-stitching means and work-feeding means in timed relationship, tie-stitch means for controlling the operation of the feeding means to reduce the increment of movement of the work by the feeding means between certain stitches, a control shaft, a cam thereon for operating the tie-stitch means, means operated by the driving means for intermittently rotating the control shaft in timed relation therewith, and means for rotating the control shaft back to initial position after a stitching operation.

'7. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means, work-feeding means, driving means for operating the wirestitching means and work-feeding means in timed relationship, tie-stitch means for controlling the operation of the feeding means to reduce the increment of movement of the work by the feeding means between certain stitches, a control shaft operated by the driving means, a cam fixed to the control shaft for operating the tie-stitch means, and manually-operable means for initially adjusting the angular position of the control shaft to operate the tie-stitch means after any predetermined number of stitches.

8. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means, workfeeding means, driving means for operating the wire-stitching means and work-feeding means in timed relationship, tie-stitch means for controlling the operation of the feeding means to reduce the increment of movement of the work by the feeding means between certain stitches, means for initiating operation of the wire-stitching means, means for stopping the wire-stitching means, a control shaft operated by the driving means, means operated by the control shaft for initiating operation of the tie-stitch means and the stopping means for the wire-stitching means, and manually-operable means for initially adjusting the angular position of the control shaft to vary the period of operation of the wire-stitching means and the time of operation of the tiestitch means.

9. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means, workfeeding means, driving means for operating the wire-stitching means and work-feeding means in timed relationship, tie-stitch means for controlling the operation of the feeding means to reduce the increment of movement of the work by the feeding means between certain stitches, a control shaft operated by the driving means, a cam on the control shaft for operating the tiestitch means, means operated by the control shaft for stopping the wire-stitching means, and manually-operable means for initially adjusting the angular position of the control shaft to vary the period of operation of the wire-stitching means and the time of operation of the tie-stitch means.

'10. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means, workfeeding means, driving means for operating the wire-stitching means and work-feeding means in timed relationship, tie-stitch means for controlling the operation of the feeding means to decrease the increment of movement of the work by the feeding means between certain stitches, means for initiating the operation of the tie stitch means, means for latching the tie-stitch means in operative position, and means for releasing the latching means.

11. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means, work-feeding means, driving means for operating the wirestitching means and work-feeding means in timed relationship, tie-stitch means for controlling the operation of the feeding means to reduce the increment of movement of the work by the feeding means between certain stitches, a cam operated from the driving means for initiating operation of the tie-stitch means, means for latching the tie-stitch means in operative position, and means operated from the driving means for releasing the latching means.

12. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means, work-feeding means, driving means for operating the wirestitching means and work-feeding means in timed relationship, a control shaft driven from the driving means, tie-stitch means for controlling the operation of the work-feeding. means to reduce the increment of movement of "the work by the feeding means betweencertain stitches, a cam on the control shaft for initiating operation of the tie-stitch means, means for latching the tie-stitch means in operative position, and means operated by the rotation of the control shaft for releasing the latching means.

13. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means, work-feeding means, means'for driving the wire-stitching means and work-feeding means in timed relationship to apply a series of spaced stitches to the work, tie-stitch means for controlling the operation of the feeding means to reduce the increment of movement of the work by the feeding means during the first and last two stitches of a series, means operated by the driving means for operating the tie-stitch means during application of the next to the last stitch of a series, means for automatically latching the tie-stitch means in operative position, and means operated from the driving means for actuating the latching means to release the tie-stitch means during the application of the second stitch of the next series.

14. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means, work-feeding means, means for driving the wire-stitching means and work-feeding means in timed relationship to apply a series of spaced stitches to the work, tie-stitch means for controlling the operation of the feeding means to reduce the increment of movement of the work by the feeding means between the first and last two stitches of a series, a control shaft driven from the driving means, a cam on the shaft for operating the tie-stitch means during the application of the next to the last stitch, means for automatically latching the tie-stitch means in operaive position, and means on the control shaft for actuating the latching means to release the tie-stitch means during the application of the second stitch of the next series.

15. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means, work-feeding means, means for driving the wire-stitching means, a control shaft driven from the driving means, means for operating the work-feeding means from the driving means in timed relation to the wire-stitching means comprising a pair of relatively movable members, means connecting the members for movement as a unit or with lost motion, a cam fixed to the control shaft for operating the connecting means, and manuallyoperable means for initially adjusting the angular position of the control shaft to operate the tie-stitch means after any predetermined number of stitches.

16. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means, work-feeding means, means for driving the wire-stitching means, a control shaft driven from the driving means, a pair of members mounted to oscillate on the control shaft and connected to operate the work-feeding means, said members having interengaging parts for oscillating one from the other with lost motion, a key for connecting the members for oscillation as a unit, and a cam n the control shaft for operating the key to disconnect the oscillating members during certain periods of operation of the wire-stitching means.

1'7. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means, work-feeding means, means for driving the wire-stitching means, a control shaft driven from the driving means, means for operating the work-feeding means from .the driving means in timed relation to the wire-stitching means comprising a pair of members mounted to oscillate on the control shaft, interengaging means on the members for rocking one from .the other with lost motion, a key for connecting the members foroscillation as a unit, a member for disengaging the key to release the oscillating members, and a cam on the control shaft for operating the key-disengaging member at a predetermined time during a stitching operation.

18. In a machine of the type indicated, the combination of wire-stitching means, work-feeding means, means for driving the wire-stitching means, a control shaft driven from the driving means, means for operating the work-feeding means from the driving means in timed relation to the wire-stitching means comprising a pair of members mounted to oscillate on the control shaft, interengaging means on the members for rocking one from the other with lost motion, a key for connecting the members for oscillation as a unit, a member for disengaging the key to release the oscillating members, a cam on the control shaft, and manually-operable means for initially adjusting the control shaft to adapt the cam to operate the key-disengaging member after any predetermined number of stitches have been applied to the work.

19. A work-feeding device for wire-stitching machines comprising a pair of members having cooperating means engageable to drive one member from the other with lost motion, means for connecting the members for movement together.

as a unit, a rockable member for actuating the last-named means to disconnect the members, a cam for actuating the rockable member at a predetermined time during the operation of the device, a latch for locking the rockable member in operative position, and means for operating the latch to release the rockable member.

20. A work-feeding device for wire-stitching machines comprising a control shaft, a pair of members mounted to oscillate on the control shaft, said members having cooperating means engageable to drive one member from the other with lost motion, a key for connecting the members to oscillate as a unit, a member for disengaging the key to release the members, a cam on the control shaft for operating the key-disengaging member at a predetermined time during the operation of the device, a latch for locking the key-disengaging member, a trip-block connected to the latch, and a trip-member on the control shaft for operating the trip-block whereby to actuate the latch to release the key-disengaging member.

21. A work-feeding device for wire-stitching machines comprising a control shaft, a pair of members mounted to oscillate on the control shaft, said members having cooperating means engageable to drive one member from the other with lost motion, a key for connecting the members to oscillate as a unit, a pivoted member for raising the key to release the members, a cam on the control shaft for rocking the pivoted member at apredetermined time, a rockable latch for locking the pivoted member in operative position, a spring connecting the key-raising member and latch, a trip-block connected to the latch, a trigger pivotally mounted on the tripblock, and means on the control shaft engageable ment together, as a unit, a pivoted member for actuating the last-named means to disconnect the members, an eccentric element on the lastnamed member, and a cam for engaging the eccentric element at a predetermined time for operating the pivoted member to disconnect the members, said eccentric element being rotatable on the member on which it is mounted whereby it may be moved out of position to be engaged.

10 by the cam.

GEORGE H. HARRED.