US2306822A - Attachment for box folding machines - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29, 1942-. c. E. MAUL I I 'ATTACHMENT FOR BOX FOLDING MACHINES I Filed April 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 11v VENTOR, Czmezwci :7 /Y/: 04 BY A TTORNE Y5 Dec. 29, 1942. c. E. MAUL ATTACHMENT FOR BOX FOLDING MACHINES 4 She ets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12, 1941 2 11v VENTOR HIPf/VCE 27/7404.

I C BY W #111 A TTORNE Y5 Dec. 29, .1942 c. E. MAUL 2,306,822

ATTACHMENT FOR BOX FOL DING MACHINES Filed April 12, 1941 4 Sheds-Sheet 3 11v VENTOR A TTQR E Y:

D -29.1942 E. M. I 2,306,822

ATTACHMENT FOR BOX FOLDING MACHINES Filed A ril 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I AT T ORNE YJ Patented Dec. 29, 1942 ATTACHMENT FOR BOX FOLDING MACHINES Clarence E. Maul, Bellevil le, N. J., assig'nor to The Clark Thread Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 12, 1941, Serial No. 388,195

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in machines of the type in which a cycle of operations is effected for the application of a wrapper to a foldable box, as for example a paper box, carried on a form.

In such machines it is desired to hold the box on the form during certain of the operations or during a predetermined part of the cycle as, for example, by the application of an automatic finger or fingers to a selected portion or portions of the box to hold it in contact with the form. It is also desired to remove or retract said finger or fingers from the box prior to the completion of the operations constituting the cycle or during another predetermined part of said cycle, so that the fingers will be out of the path of the tools necessary to complete the cycle and so that the finger or fingers will not mar the finished wrapper.

In a typical instance a box form descends and ascends in a vertical path and a cycle of operations is effected by means of tools applied to the box as it travels through said path. During a portion of said path the box must be held on the form either manually or automatically because there is no support, for the box other than by said manual or automatic means until a later portion of the cycle during which a platform or elevator, also moving in a Vertical path, comes in contact with the box carried by the form and cooperates with the latter in providing adequate support. Manual holding of the box during said preliminary stages of the cycle is inconsistent with the attainment of the necessary output per operator. Great difficulty has been experienced in devising suitable automatic means for holding the box on the form during said. preliminary part of the cycle. At the beginning of the cycle sufiicient clearance must be provided between the holding device and the form to permit mounting the box on the form quickly and without marring the box. As soon as the mounting operation is completed and the form moves down the holding means must then immediately engage the box to perform its hold- .ing function. In the typical case mentioned the holding device must be retracted at a predetermined stage of the cycle and remain retracted during the remainder thereof in order to permit the application of the tools necessary to complete the cycle of operations and also to avoid contact of the holding means with the box in its completed form with the wrapper attached.

In accordance with the present invention, one

or more gripping members or fingers are provided which for the sake or convenience will be referred to as clips. In some cases, as for example where the box is sufiiciently small, a single clip may be adequate; in other cases two or more clips may be necessary. These cl psare mounted for movement into contact with the box carried on the form and out of contact therewith. Clip-urging means are provided to urge the clip into contact with the box, and clip-retracting means are provided to retract the clip from the box and, if necessary, to cause it to remain in said retracted position. Means are also provided to operate the clip-urging means and clip-retracting means during predetermined parts of the cycle of operations. In the spec fic embodiment of the invention shown here n. the clip-urging means is operated during the first part of the cycle and the clip-retracting means during the remainder of the cycle. In accordance with the invention the clip-urging means or clip-retracting means is operated electromagnetically as, for example. by means of a solenoid forming part of an electric circuit which when closed energizes the solenoid and causes the clip to come in contact with the box on the form and hold the box against said form. Means are provided to close said circuit and open it at predetermined stages of the cycle and to keep the circuit closed, said circuit clos ng means being operated in timed relation to the operation of tools applied during the cycle. The synchronizing of the time during which the electric circuit is closed and the solenoid energized with the operations effected during the cycle of the machine may be established by the rotation of the shaft by which the tools are operated. For example, one complete revolution of the shaft which operates the tools establishes a cycle of operations and means may be provided. such as a rotatably mounted member rotated by said shaft, to engage a switch to close said el ctr cal circuit and to maintain it in closed cond tion in timed relation to the rotation of said shaft and, consequently, to the application of the tools.

Both the clip-urgin and clip-retracting means ma be independently actuated by a solenoid. Generally. howeverhit is sufi'icient t at one of these means be so actuated. For example, the clip may be urged and held in contact with the box on the form during a predetermined part of the cycle of operations by the energization of a solenoid. and the clip may be retracted from the box during the remainder of the cycle by mechanical means (e. g., a spring) which becomes operative to cause said retraction upon de-energization of the solenoid. This order may, however, be reversed so that the clip is urged into contact with the box on the form by mechanical means, as for example a spring, and held in contact during a predetermined part of the cycle and then retracted and maintained in said retracted position by the operation of a solenoid. Each of the said means, to wit, clipurging and clip-retracting means, may be arran ed to become operative to perform its respective function when the other means is placed in inoperative pos tion.

A specific embodiment of the invention will be described in order to further explain and illustrate t. and the principles of the invention will be defined in the claims ultimately appended hereto.

In the drawings accompanying the specification- Fig. 1 is an isometric view showing two clips mounted on a machine for applying a wrapper to an elongated rectangular box;

F 2 shows an unstayed box with a wrapper partially applied thereto, ready for mounting on the form;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the clips in spaced relation to the box mounted on the form at the beginning of the cycle of operations;

4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the engagement of a clip with the end of the box;

Fig. 5 is a view, partly diagrammatic, of an electric circuit including the solenoids, a switch to close said circuit and means, shown partly in section, to actuate the switch during a predetermined part of the cycle of operations;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a rotatably mounted member rotated by the shaft which establishes a cycle of operations, equipped with means to close the solenoid circuit in timed relation to the rotation of said shaft and in synchronized relation to the several operations and the application of the tools performing said operations;

Fig. '7 is a front elevational view of a typical machine in connection with which the invention may be applied; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the same machine,

Referring more especially to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the pair of clips shown are identical in construction, function and operation and it is therefore sufiicient to describe the structure of one of them. A lever I having arms 2 and 3 is p votally mounted intermediate the ends thereof by means of a pin 4 rigidly secured to the lever and rotatably mounted in a pair of hear.- ing lugs 5. To one end of the lever is pivotally mounted an end of the plunger 8 of the solenoid 9 mounted within a housing I!) adjustably Se.- cured to and suspended from the rod H by the bl ck l2 secured to said rod by the screw I5. The end of the arm ,3 of the lever is provided with a transverse contact member or shoe 15. Wh le the arm 2 is preferably rigid, the arm 3 is preferably resilient for reasons pointed out hereinafter. The bracket IS carrying the bear.- ing lugs 5 also carries a depending bracket which in turn carries an adjustable stop member 22. A retraction spring 23 is connected at one end to the bracket 2!! and at the other end to the lever I.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, the solenoids 9 form part of an electric circuit supplied with current from a .source 21. In series with this circuit is placed a switch which may be of the conventional type known to the trade as a micro switch, contained within a housing 28. The switch comprises cooperating resilient contact members 29, 30, one of which, 39, coacts with a stud 32 passing through an aperture in the bottom of the housing, said stud having a pointed contact at its upper end and being supported at its lower end on a resilient member 33 secured at one end to the bottom of the housing by means of a block and screws 35. From the other end of the resilient member the bracket 38 is suspended, on which is rotatably mounted a roller 39 adapted to engage and ride over the surface of a segmental plate 49 secured to the rotatably mounted member 42. The housing 28 is suspended from and supported by a bracket 53 sei cured to another bracket 44, which in turn is secured to the framework 45 of the machine. The rotatably mounted member 42 is rigidly secured to the shaft 48, one complete rotation of which establishes the cycle of operations which it is desired to effect. In the particular embodiment of the invention as applied to the machine shown in assembled form in Figs. 7 and 8, the rotatably mounted member 42 is the large cam lsee Figs. 7 and 8) which effects some of the operations performed during the complete cycle of the machine, but the rotatably mounted memher 42 need not be limited to said cam and may be any suitable rotatably mounted member rotated by the shaft 48.

The operation of the clips will now be described apart from the particular machine shown in assembly in Figs. 7 and 8, since the invention is not limited to use on this particular machine. Thereafter the description of the machine as a whole will be provided, together with the use and operation of the clips as a part of the cycle of operations performed by said machine.

During the rotation of the rotatably mounted member 42 the roller 39 engages the segmental plate 40, thus causing the stud 32 to move upwardly and close the solenoid circuit, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The levers I then swing from the retracted position thereof shown in Figs. 1 and 3 into the contact position shown in Fig. 4 against the tension of the spring 23, and remain in this position as long as the roller 39 remains in contact with the segmental plate 49. When the roller rides off the plate the stud 32 is biased down, thus opening the solenoid circuit and causing de-energization of the solenoids whereupon the retraction springs 23 then retract the levers into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in which position they remain until the roller 39 again engages the plate M1. Since one complete revolution of the rotatably mounted member 42 establishes the cycle of operations performed by the machine with which the fingers are employed, the solenoid may be energized and caused to remain energized during any predetermined part of said cycle by lengthening or shortening the peripheral dimensions of the segmental plate 40 so that it will contact the roller 39 and close the solenoid circuit during any predetermined fractional part of the total time required for one complete revolution of said rotatably mounted member. Therefore the clips can be placed in their position of contact with the box carried by the form in any predetermined timed relation to rotation of said rotatably mounted member and the operations effected by the rotation of the shaft 48 whcih controls the application and sequence of the various tools applied during said operations.

Thegeneral assembly of the machines shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and in part in Fig. 1 will now be described, in order to show how the invention may be applied in connection with said machine in timed relation to the cycle thereof and the several operations performed in sequence by the series of tools which it is the object of said machine to operate.

To the frame 45 of the machine is attached a guideway 58 in which is slidably mounted a plunger to the lower end of which is rigidly secured the bottom portion 54 of a separable form block structure, the upper separable portion 55 of which rests upon the bottom portion 54 by gravity and is movable in relation thereto and to the plunger by means of guide rods 56 slidably mounted in bearings or collars 57 carried by the plunger 5|. The plunger 51 is indirectly operated by th lever 60 connected to the plunger 5! at one end by the stud 6!, fulcrumedat the other end on the pivot pin 52 and actuated by a cam follower 63 moving in the groove 64 of the cam 42.

. The yoke rods 69 carrying the stripper bars It are mounted for relative movement in respect of th plunger, in part by means of guide rods 12 slidably mounted in collars l3 rigidly secured to the guideway 543. The yoke rods carry the clips or levers l and the stripper bars '10 are adjustably secured to the yoke rods by means of the bolts 14, nuts 15 and blocks l2. Movement of this collective mechanism including the clips, yoke rods, stripper bars, yoke and guide rods is effected by a link- '18 pivotally connected at th upper end thereof to the lever 86 fulcrumed on the pivot 8!, said lever carrying at the other end a cam follower 82 moving in the groove 83 of the cam 42. The cam 42 is mounted on the primary shaft 48 driven by the pulley 86, worm 81 and worm gear 88, a suitable clutch being provided and operated by clutch bar 90.

'Subjacent to and cooperating with the mechanism previously described is a platen 9| supported on a piston 92 which descends and ascends in a vertical path.

A series of tools which may be described and designated as side rollers 93, end lap plates 94,

end rollers 95, turn-in plates 96 and presser plates F1 91 are arranged for operation in timed relation to the rotation of the shaft 48 and operation of the cam 42 by means of the cam 98 mounted on shaft 48 and actuating levers, one of which levers, Hill, is shown as fulcrumed on the pivot lfil and connected to the sleeve I02 mounted for slidable movement on the support I93, said sleeve I92 being provided with cross arms I05 supporting mechanism for operating the marginal turnin tools and presser blocks.

The use of the invention in the operation of the machines shown in assembly form in Figs. '7 and 8 will now be described, attention being directed at this time to Fig. 2 which shows the box (which may be in the unstayed form, as shown) with the wrapper united by suitable adhesive to the bottom thereof, this being the form in which th box and wrapper appear just prior to mounting the box on th form block. The series of operations performed may be described as follows:

The gummed sides of the wrapper are first wiped up and united to the sides of the box. The portions of the sides extending beyond the ends of the box are then turned in and united to the ends of the box by means of the end lap plates. The ends of the wrapper are then wiped up and united to the sides of the box by means of the end rollers. At the end of these operations the sides and ends of the wrapper project up beyond the edges of the box. The form block then separates at a point which is one-half revolution of the shaft 48 to permit the operation of marginal turn-in tools which turn in at right angles to the ends and sides of the box those portions of the sides and ends of the wrapper projecting beyond the edges of the box. The said upper portion which is mounted, as already stated, for slidable movement in relation to the plunger carrying the lower portion of the form block, then falls into contact with said lower portion and folds the turned-in portions of the wrapper into union with the interior corresponding surfaces of the box. Thereafter the presser blocks move in to press the sides and ends of the wrapper into firm engagement with the sides and ends of the box. At this stage of the operations the form block and platen are at the lowest part of the vertical path. The yoke rods then remain stationary and the upper portion 55 of the form block rises, and in rising is withdrawn from the box which is thus stripped from the form block. Thereafter the yoke rods rise to occupy the position in relation to the form block shown in Figs. '7 and 8. The finished box is then ejected from the platen by the trigger 58.

At the beginning of the cycle the various parts of the apparatus occupy the positions shown in Figs. 1, 3, 7 and 8 with the roller 39 (shown in Fig. 7) in advance of the plate 45 a sufficient distance to permit time for the opera tor to mount the box as shown in Fig. 3 on the form block. Rotation of the cam 42 then promptly causes engagement of the cam 'plate 40 with the roller 39 and energization of the solenoids 9 by closing of the switch (as shown in Figs. 5 and 6) whereupon the levers l are simultaneously swung, as shown in Fig. 4, into engagement with the ends of the box to hold them againstthe box form. The box and form then descend and the bottom of the box meets the platen 9| which then descends together with the box and box form to permit the application of the tools consisting of the side rollers, and lap plates, end rollers, marginal turn-in tools and presser blocks. The dimensions and location of the segmental plate 49 are so designed and arranged that the solenoid circuit remains closed and the levers or clips I remain in engagement with the ends of the box during the application of the side rollers and end lap plates and just prior to the application of the end rollers, since it is desirable that the clips remain in contact with and hold the ends of the box against the form until just prior to the application of said end rollers. At this point the roller 38 shown in Fig. '7 rides off the end of the plate 4!! and the solenoid circuit is thus broken, whereupon the retracting springs 23 retract the levers I from the ends of the box and maintain the contact portions I6 out of contact with the ends of the box and in spaced relation thereto during the remainder of the cycle. The said remainder of the cycle, as already stated, comprises the movement of the platen 9i together with the box form and yoke rods to the lowermost position, as above described, and then back to the position of the platen shown in Figs. 7 and 8, whereupon the yoke rods and levers remain stationary and the box form moves upwardly, thus stripping the box from the box form and leaving it on the platen in a position to be ejected by the trigger. Owing to the fact that the levers are in the retracted position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, stripping of the box from the form is readily accomplished Without contact of the ends of the box with the levers and marring of the box thereby. Rotation of the cam 42 then continues to a point where the roller is in advance of the position relative to the platen shown in Fig. '7, and the yoke rods 1!], box form 54, 55 and levers l are in the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8, thus completing the cycle.

I claim:

1. In a machine for effecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapper to a foldable box carried on a form said cycle being controlled by the revolution of a rotatably mounted member actuating a series of tools performing said operations in timed relation to the rotation of said member said machine having mechanism to hold the box on the form during a predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted for movement into and out of contact with said box; means urging said clip into contact with the box to hold it against said form during a part of said cycle, and means to retract said clip to a position out of contact with and in spaced relation to said box and to maintain the clip in that position during the remainder of said cycle, at least one of said means being actuated during operation of the apparatus by electromagnetic means forming a part of a closed electrical circuit, and means actuated by said rotatably mounted member to open and close said circuit and to maintain it in closed condition during that part of said cycle in which the electromagnetic means is actuated in timed relation to the rotation of said member.

2. In a machine for eiiecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapper to a foldable box carried on a form, said cycle being controlled by the revolution of a rotatably mounted drive shaft actuating a series of tools performing said operations in timed relation to the rotation of said shaft said machine having mechanism to hold the box on said form during a predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted for movement into contact with said box and out of contact therewith; means urging said clip into contact with the box to hold it against said form during a part of said cycle, and means to retract said clip to a position out of contact with and in spaced relation to said box and to maintain the clip in that position during the remainder of said cycle, at least one of said means being actuated during operation of the appara tus-by electromagnetic means forming a part of a closed electrical circuit, and means to open and close said circuit and to maintain it in closed condition during that part of said cycle in which the electromagnetic means is actuated, said last named means comprising a switch and means actuated by said drive shaft to open and close said switch and to maintain said switch in closed condition in timed relation to the rotation of said shaft.

3. In a machine for eiiecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapper to a foldable box carried on a form, said cycle being controlled by the revolution of a rotatably mounted drive shaft actuating a series of tools performing said operations in timed relation to the rotation of said shaft said machine having mechanism to hold the box on said form during a predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted for movement into contact with said box and out of contact therewith; means urging said clip into contact with the box to hold it against said form during a part of said cycle, and means to retract said clip to a position out of contact with and in spaced relation to said box and to maintain the clip in that position during the remainder of said cycle, at least one of said means being actuated during operation of the apparatus by electromagnetic means forming a part of a closed electrical circuit, and means to open and close said circuit and to maintain it in closed condition during that part of said cycle in which the electromagnetic means is actuated, said last named means comprising a switch in said circuit, and a rotatably mounted member rotated by said drive shaft during operation of the machine and provided with means to open and close said switch and to maintain it in closed position in timed relation to the rotation of said shaft and application of said tools.

4. In a machine for effecting a cycle of operations to apply a Wrapper to a foldable box carried on a form said cycle being controlled by the revolution of a rotatably mounted member actuating a series of tools performing said operations in timed relation to the rotation of said member said machine having mechanism to hold the box on the form during a predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted for move ment into and out of contact with said box; clipurging means urging said clip into contact with the box to hold it against said form during a predetermined part of said cycle; clip-retracting means to retract said clip and maintain it in a position out of contact with said box during the remainder of said cycle; at least one of said means being actuated, during operation of the machine, by electromagnetic means forming part of a closed electrical circuit, and means actuated by said rotatably mounted member to open and close said circuit and to maintain it in closed condition during that part of said cycle in which the electromagnetic means is actuated in timed relation to the rotation of said member.

5. In a machine for effecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapper to a foldable box carried on a form said cycle being controlled by the revolution of a rotatably mounted member actuating a series of tools performing said operations in timed relation to the rotation of said member said machine having mechanism to hold the box on the form during a predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted for movement into and out of contact with said box; clip-urging means urging said clip into contact with the box to hold it against said form during a predetermined part of said cycle; clipretracting means to retract said clip and maintain it in a position out of contact with said box during the remainder of said cycle; the clip-urging means being actuated during operation of the machine by electromagnetic means forming part of a closed electrical circuit, and means actuated by said rotatably mounted member to open and close said circuit and to maintain it in closed condition during said predetermined part of said cycle in timed relation to the rotation of said member.

6. In a machine for efiecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapper to a foldable box carried on a form said cycle being controlled by the revolution of a rotatably mounted member actuating a series of tools performing said operations in timed relation to the rotation of said member said machine having mechanism to hold the box on the form during a predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted for movement into and out of contact with said box; clip-urging means urging said clip into contact with the box to hold it against said form during a predetermined part of said cycle; clip-retracting means to retract said clip and maintain it in a position out of contact with said box during the remainder of said cycle; the clip-urging means being actuated during operation of the machine by electromagnetic means forming part of a closed electrical circuit, means actuated by said rotatably mounted member to close said circuit, to maintain it in closed condition during said predetermined part of said cycle, to open said circuit at the end of said predetermined part of the cycle and to maintain said circuit in open position during the remainder of said cycle in timed relation to the rotation of said member.

7. In a machine for effecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapper to a foldable box carried on a form said cycle being controlled by the revolution of a rotatably mounted member actuating a series of tools performing said operations in timed relation to the rotation of said member said machine having mechanism to hold the box on the form during a predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted for movement into and out of contact with said box; means urging said clip into contact with said box to hold it against said form and means to retract said clip to a position out of contact with and in spaced relation to said box; at least one of said means being actuated during operation of the apparatus by electromagnetic means forming a part of a closed electrical circuit, and means actuated by said rotatably mounted member to open and close said circuit at predetermined stages of said cycle in timed relation to the rotation of said member.

8. In a machine for effecting a cycle of operations to apply a Wrapper to a foldable box carried on a form said machine having mechanism to hold the box on said form during a predetermined part of said cycle including a lever pivotally mounted for swinging movement into contact with the box on said form and out of contact therewith; means urging said lever to swing about its pivot in one direction into contact with the box on said form to hold the box against said form during a part of said cycle, and rebeing spring-actuated and the other of said means being solenoid-operated, and means to energize and de-energize said solenoid and to maintain it in energized condition during a predetermined part of said cycle.

9. In a machine for effecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapper to a foldable box carried on a form, said cycle being controlled by the revolution of a rotatably mounted drive shaft actuating a series of tools performing said operations in timed relation to the rotation of said shaft said machine having mechanism to hold the box on said form during a predetermined part of said cycle including a lever pivotally mounted for swinging movement into contact with the box on said form and out of contact therewith; means urging said lever to swing about its pivot in one direction into contact with the box on said form to hold the box against said form during a part of said cycle, and retracting means to swing said lever about its pivot in the other direction and to retract it into a position out of contact with said box and to maintain said lever in that position during the remainder of said cycle; the first of said means comprising a solenoid forming part of an electrical circuit, means to energize said solenoid and to maintain it in energized condition during said predetermined part of said cycle and to de-energize said solenoid and maintain it in deenergized condition during the remainder of said cycle, said last named means comprising a switch in said circuit, and a rotatably mounted member rotated by said drive shaft during operation of the machine and provided withmeans to open and close said switch and to maintain it in closed position in timed relation to the rotation of said shaft and application of said tools.

10. In a machine for effecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapper to a foldable box carried on a form said cycle being controlled by the revolution of a rotatably mounted member actuating a series of tools performing said operations in timed relation to the rotation of said member said machine having mechanism to hold the box on the form during a predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted for movement into and out of contact with said box; means normally maintaining said clip in spaced relation to said box; solenoid-operated means to urge said clip toward and in contact with said box upon energization of said solenoid, and means actuated by said rotatably mounted member to energize and de-energize said solenoid at predetermined stages of said cycle in timed relation to the rotation of said member.

CLARENCE E. MAUL.

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