US2462513A

US2462513A - Box folding machine and method

Info

Publication number: US2462513A
Application number: US776227A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter H Kucklinsky
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-09-26
Filing date: 1947-09-26
Publication date: 1949-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1966-02-22

Description

"5 sheets-sheep i Q W. H. KUCKLINSKY BOX FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD Feb. 22, 1949.

Filed Sept. 26, 1947 INVENTOR WAL TE)? fiffummslrr ATTORNEY F .1 49- W. H. KucKLiNsKY' ,4 Box FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD 5v Sheets-Shjt' z Filed se c. 26, 1947 lNvE Y mwwm N zJWm K... n M

1Feb.' 22, 1949. w. H.'KUCKLINSKY v i I BOX FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD 5 sheetse-sheet a Filed Sept. 26, 1947 I ATTORNEY Feb, 22,1949.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed se ia. 2 1947 v INVENTOR Vmrmlfffmczmxy a wzmm ATTORNEY Feb 1949- w. H. KUCKLINSKY BOX FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Sept. 26, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Wu 0% v ATTO RN EY Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES ATNT OFFICE BOX FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD Walter H. Kucklinsky, Paramus, N. J.

Application September 26, 1947, Serial No. 776,227

17 Claims.

This invention relates to a box folding machine and method, more particularly to a machine for and a method of effecting folds in blanks of thin material such as paper and cardboard, such folds being along lines at substantial angles to the path of travel of the blanks, while such blanks travel continuously.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a folding machine of the type indicated which is characterized by its simplicity, its ease of adjustment, and thus the economy of its setup and maintenance.

The invention has as a further object the provision of such machine which is capable of high speed operation Without undue vibration and without subjecting any of its parts to undue strain.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a box folding machine of the type indicated which may be readily assembled for operation with other box making devices such as blank feeding mechanisms which feed the blanks in definite spaced sequence and with a straight line gluer into which blanks folded by the ma chine of the invention may be fed.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved and simplified method of making folds in blanks of thin material, particularly folds transverse to the direction of travel of such blanks.

These and further objects of the invention will be more readily apparent in the description and the accompanyin drawings.

Before the present invention, machines have been available for performing folding operations upon sheets of material such as paper or cardboard box blanks, in which such blanks traveled continuously and the folds were effected along lines at substantial angles to such path of travel. All of such prior machines, however, have been cumbersome and complicated, thus being expensive to manufacture and difiicult to set up and maintain. The most widely known of such prior machines employs chains which travel parallel to the blanks as the latter are fed through the machine, such chains carrying a plurality of folding fingers which are progressively cammed toward the blanks thereby accomplishing such transverse folding. Such prior machines, however, are expensive to operate, require adjustment of a large number of parts, and are definitely limited as to their speed because of the impracticability of operating such folding finger carrying chains above the speed at which the centrifugal force thereon and the amount of wear on the camming surfaces and fingers become excessive. Furthermore, as stated, a large number of folding fingers are required, and the breaking of but one finger requires the laying down of the whole machine until it is replaced.

The machine of the present invention is char acterized, as before indicated, by its economy, simplicity, flexibility of set-up, and its ability to operate at high speeds.

In its preferred embodiment, the machine of the invention employs one or more rotary wheels carrying lifting fingers beneath the plane of travel of the blank, and a pair of folding finger supporting rock shafts above such wheel carrying one or more relatively light folding fingers, the blanks being presented to such lifting and folding fingers in timed relationship therewith. The machine, therefore, operates with relatively few parts, and the folding mechanism imposes practically no upper limit on the permissible speed of travel of the blanks through the machine.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section of the folding machine of the invention in combination with a blank feeding, means, and with a conventional timed spot gluer and straight line folder, only a fragment of such latter mechanism being shown, the section being taken along the line l--l in Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a .view partially in plan and partially in horizontal section of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the section being taken along the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic View in side elevation of the driving mechanism for the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a view in vertical section through the folding mechanism of the machine at the first folding unit A, the section being taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view in plan of a blank for a Beers style tray;

Figure 6 is a view in vertical section through the first folding unit A of the machine, the section being taken along the line 6-4) in Figure 2, the front flap of the blank entering such folding unit bein shown acted upon;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 with the blank being shown leaving such unit, and the unit acting upon the rear flap of the blank;

Figure 8 is a view in side elevation of the cam unit for actuating the folding finger carrying rock shafts;

Figure 9 is a view partially in vertical section through the cam unit, the section being taken along a plane parallel to the cam shaft;

Figure 10 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section through the cam unit, the sectioning plane being transverse to the axis of the cam shaft;

Figure 11 is a view in side elevation of an outer sprocket of the main shaft of the machine and the chain track mechanism cooperating therewith, the view being taken along the line l ll l in Figure 2;

Figure 12 is a view in vertical section through the axis of the sprocket shown in Figure 11, the section being taken along the line i2-|2 in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a view in transverse section through the one-way clutch in the cam shaft drive, the section being taken along the line l3-l 3 in Figure Figure 14 is a viewin plan of the blank for the Beers style tray after the first folding operation in the first folding unit A;

. Figure 15 is a similar view of the same blank after the second folding operation in the first folding unit A;

Figure 16 is a similar view of such blank after the second folding operation in the second folding unit B;

Figure 17 is a View of the completely folded and glued blank after it has been delivered from the timed spot gluer and straight line folder;

Figure 13 is a view in plan of a blank suitable for preparing either a diagonally out-folded or a diagonally iii-folded tray;

Figure 19 is a similar view of the blank shown I in Figure 18 at the completion of the folding operations by one folding unit of the machine of the invention, in the formation of a diagonally out-folded box;

Figure 20 is a similar view of the blank of Figure 19 after it has been subjected to the timed spot giuer and straight line folder;

Figure 21 is a view in transverse vertical section similar to Figure 6 of a modified folding unit employing one or more hold-down fingers, with the folding fingers in inoperative position; and

Figure 22 is a view in transverse vertical section, similar to Figure "7, of the modified folding unit, the rear folding finger being in flap folding position.

In the preferred embodiment of the folding machine shown, the machine is provided with a main frame consisting of the parallel side frame members 2 and i, in theform of deep inwardly facing channels. Such frame is, provided with the supporting andtransverse connecting memher 6, at the left hand end as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the right hand end being provided with a similar support 8 which forms a portion of the base of the conventionaltimed spot gluer and straight line folder ill to which, in this instance, the folding machine of the invention is integrally attached.

The machine shown consists in addition to the timed spot gluer and straight line folder, of a feeding section iZand atransverse fiap folding section it. The feeding section shown includes an inclinedtable l6 having an inclined adjustable brace .iil' by Which.the inclination of the table may be varied as desired. The table is provided with a pair of parallel adjustable side guides 28, between which the blanks to be fed are placed in a pile confronting the driven feeding mechanism. The forward lower end of the inclined table is supported on a transverse shaft 22 supported in the longitudinal frame members 2 and i.

The feeding mechanism includes a pair of feed wheels 24 mounted'for adjustment longitudinally of the driven shaft 26, which is journaled in frame members 2 and 4. Feed wheels 24 are provided, in this instance, with two diametrically opposed removable feed segments 28. The machine is operated at double feed when the blanks to be folded are less than one-half the circumference of wheels 2% in length. At double feed each of the pockets on the conveyor chains (subsequently to be described) set up as shown has a blank delivered, to it, and each of the removable segments 28 employed is faced with material having high coefficient of friction, such as rubber and the like. When the length of the blanks exceeds one-half the circumference of wheels 2 the machine is operated at single feed, and only one such rubber faced segment is employed on each wheel, the other two segments, positioned in the same radial plane, being replaced by metal segments which exert no gripping effect on the blanks. At single feed, corresponding alternate lugs on the conveyor or feed chains are removed. Vertically beneath shaft 26 is positioned the driven transverse shaft 32, onwhich are positioned the friction feed roiiers fail confronting and cooperating with the feed wheels E i. Such mechanism which is generally known in the art, operates to deliver blanks one at a time in proper spaced relationship to the feed or conveying chains.

In the machine illustrated there are employed two folding units, designated A and B. Unit A, in the set-up shown, performs folding operations upon the central portions of the front and rear flaps of the blank, andsubsequently unit B performs folding operations upon the forward and rear outer glue flap portions of the blank. Consequently in the machine shown there are employed two feed or conveyor chain sets, the first or forward set forwarding the blank by contact with the outer portions of its rear edge, and the second set, to which the blank is transferr d from the first chain conveyor set at the rear of the first folding unit, forwarding the blank by contact with its now folded central rear edge portion. It is to be understood that the machine of the invention can complete all transverse folds in some box folding operations, as will subsequently be shown, when but one folding unit is employed.

The machine chosen to be illustrated is provided with a transverse shaft 34 designated the main shaft, journaled in the frame side members 2 and 4. Such shaft constitutes the junction of the two chain conveyor sets and also in the embodiment shown constitutes the main source of drive of the various machine units. The first chain conveyor set is composed of the two

chains

36 and 38, which run in spaced parallel vertical planes. Chain 38 is entrained over sprocket ti), on shaft 32, and over sprocket M, on main shaft 34, being maintained in taut condition by means of the idler sprocket 5f], adjustably positioned at the bottom of the vertical 'member 48 affixed to the laterally adjustable sub-frame I02. Chain 36 is similarly entrained over sprockets on shafts 32 and 34, such sprocket on shaft 34 being denoted 42, and is held in taut condition by a means similar to parts 48 and 50 attached to laterally adjustable sub-frame I00. Each of chains 36 and 3B is provided with a series of remcvably mounted spaced lugs or upright pieces 45, corresponding lugs on the two chains being located in the same vertical plane parallel to shaft 34. The lugs are spaced longitudinally of the chains so as to provide blank receiving pockets thereon which are slightly longer than the blank to be folded.

The second chain conveyor set, to which the blank is delivered at the shaft 34 is composed of chains 52 and -54, which likewise run longitudinally of the machine in vertical planes. In the machine illustrated, such second chain conveyor set extends into the timed spot gluer and straight line folder I0 and may constitute if desired, the sole means for moving the blank through the gluer. Chain 52 is entrained over sprocket 56 on shaft 34, and chain 54 runs over sprocket 58 on shaft 34. It is to be understood that the other end of each such chain runs over a sprocket similar to sprocket 40, on a transverse shaft (not shown) supported within the gluer. Each of

chains

52 and 54 is maintained in taut condition by the same mechanism as in the first chain conveyor set. Such means includes for chain 54, the vertical support 60 and the adjustable idler sprocket 62, mounted on sub-frame I02.

The various parts of the machine including those of the timed spot gluer and straight line folder, are driven by means of the geared motor 64 connected to shaft 34 by means of the drive sprocket 66 on the latter, sprocket 61 on the motor and chain 68 interposed between such sprockets. The manner in which the various units of the machine are driven from the main shaft will be apparent from the schematc showing in Figure 3 in which a first or forward machine drive chain !0 runs from the main shaft to the forward feeding end of the machine, and a second or rear machine drive chain 86 runs from the main shaft rearwardly into the timed spot gluer and straight line folder where it drives the elements of such gluer by means not shown.

Drive chain I0 runs in the direction of the arrows in Figure 3 from sprocket I2 on shaft 34 under idler sprockets I6 and 18, over sprocket I4 on shaft 32, under idler sprocket 80, over the large sprocket 62 driving folding unit A, under idler sprocket 84, and thence returns to sprocket I2. Chain 86, in its return from the timed spot gluer and straight line folder runs under the idler sprocket 90, over drive sprocket B8 on shaft 34, under idler sprocket 92, and over the large sprocket 04 for driving folding unit B, from which it travels into the timed spot gluer and straight line folder. The driving of shaft 26 and consequently feeding wheels 24 is effected by means of the pinion 96 on shaft 32, Which meshes with the large spur gear 98 on shaft 26.

The sizes of sprockets 66, I4, 82, and 94, and of gears 06 and 98, are such that the speed of travel of the two chain conveyor sets is correlated with the speed of delivery of the blanks to the first chain conveyor set. Thus, when the machine is operating at double feed, a blank is delivered to each of the pockets set up as shown on the conveyor consisting of

chains

36 and 38. With the same sizes of sprockets and gears, using the machine single feed, blanks will be delivered to successive pockets on such first conveyor, the pockets being twice the length of.

the pockets shown, made, as explained, by removal of alternate lugs on the feed chains. It is to be understood that the machine shown, operating at double feed, is illustrative only and that by the proper correlation of sprocket and gear sizes feed wheels having three or even more equally angularly displaced feeding segments may be employed. The sprocket and gear sizes are also chosen so that the folding units A and B, to be specifically described hereinafter, operate in the proper timed relationship with the delivery of the blanks thereto.

In order to make the machine flexible, that is so that it may be adjusted to accommodate a wide variety of blank sizes, there are provided two sub-frame structures I00 and I02, mounted for transverse adjustment within the main frame, on the spaced parallel transverse rails I04, the outer ends of which are attached to frame members 2 and 4 by means not shown. The sub frames I00 and I02 are carried on slides H0 and I08, respectively. Adjustment of the sub-frames laterally in equal amounts from the longitudinal center line is effected by means of the shafts H2 and H4, which extend through the slides I08 and I I0. The shafts I I2 are threaded along one-half of their lengths and the shafts II4 are threaded along the other half of their lengths, the opening through each of the slides cooperating with the threaded portion of the shaft therethrough being internally threaded, and the opening therethrough cooperating with the smooth part of the other shaft being cylindrical. Means (not shown) are provided for turning shafts I I2 and I I4 in the proper directions so that the sub-frames I00 and I02 are adjusted as desired toward and away from the longitudinal center line of the machine.

Each of the two chains 36 and 30 of the first 40 or forward chain conveyor set, on each side of such center line of the machine, is carried in the corresponding sub-frame for lateral adjustment therewith. Such chain carrying means includes the longitudinal upright plate II6 on sub-frame I00 and the corresponding plate II8 on subframe I02, as shown in Figure 4. Chain 36 runs along the top surface of plate H6, and chain 36 along the top surface of member II8, both the chains being confined for straight line travel thereon by the upstanding side plate I20 affixed to the upper side edges of plates H6 and H6. Sub-frame I00 includes guide member 234 engaging one side of each blank, such member being carried on supports IIO laterally slidable on rails I06 attached to member I I6. In subframe I02 the corresponding guide member is designated 232, the supports therefor I00, and the rails, attached to member I I8, I04.

The sprockets on shafts 32 and 34, over which

chains

36 and 38 run, are caused to move laterally with the sub-frames by the means more clearly shown in Figures 11 and 12. In these figures there is shown the construction of sub-frame I00 and sprocket 42 in the vicinity of the latter. Spfocket 42, which is non-rotatably mounted on shaft 34 for sliding movement thereon as by means of the spline and key connection shown, is provided with a hub I22 in which is cut a peripheral groove I24. The forward end of plate II6 of sub-frame I00 is provided with an extension I26, the forward end of Which extends into groove I24. Thus, when the sub-frame is moved laterally, it carries with it the sprocket and the conveyor chain running thereover.

In order to allow the adjustment of the two by means not shown.

chains in the second, 'rear, conveyor: set .laterally of the machine, there are provided two separate sub-frames, independent of sub frames I and [82, on which the chains'ofsuch sec- '56 and'58 on shaft 3%, over which they run, in

the same manner as sub-frame It!) does with sprocket 2. Since such construction is identical with that previously described, it is not mounted on each-of shafts Q28 and 53D drives shaft I38 of the folding unit through the medium of chain I34 running over such sprocket and sprocket I36 on shaft I38. Also' mounted on shafts I28 and I39 are one or more lifter wheels "I46 carrying a plurality'of radially disposed lifting fingers adjustably mounted circumferentially thereof, thefingers adapted to cooperate with the front flap of a blank being designated M2, and those cooperating with the rear flapv of a blank being designated l 44.

The construction of the lifting wheels will be more readily apparent from a consideration of Figure i, in which the wheel is shown as'being composed of diametrically divided halves, I58 being the top half and M8 the bottom half. The two halves of the wheel are secured together the hub by bolts, of which one is shown at ltifi. The wheel I49 is'provided with'a circumferentially extending T slot I52 in which set the heads of bolts I54, which extend through the oircumferentially extending flange at the base of each lifting finger to secure it to the wheel. In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and "7, fingers I-i2 are provided with top surfaces I56 which extend at an angle of approximately lfi degrees to the radius of the wheel I46, each suchface sloping downwardly and forwardly toward the feeding end of th machine when the finger lies vertically at the top of the wheel. The top surfaces I53 of fingers hi l extend at an angle of approximately 55 degrees to the radius, sloping inwardly toward shaft E28 in adirection opposite from surfaces I56.

Each folding unit is provided with two upstanding p-rojections H35 and I62 on the side frame members 2 and A, respectively, frame parts 56s and E52 forming the support for the two rock shafts Ins and I56, which extend between them and are journaled in them, and for the operating mechanism for the rock shafts. 'Rock shaft 1% carries keyed thereto one or more folding fingers iii), in this instance two, and rock shaft I64 carries two folding fingers I68. Fingers E68 and We are similar in shape, each having a portion I12 extending generally horizontal, when thejinger is retracted, and a downwardly extending operating end portion I1 5, which is raised well "abovethe plane of travel ofthe blanks on the chains when -in-inoperativeposition. Fingers I 68 cooperate with the leading edge of the blank, as shown in Figure 6, in a manner to be subsequently more fully explained, and fingers I'IB coact with the trailing edge of the blank. Shafts I64 and IE6 are located on centers spaced equal distances forwardly and rearwardly of the machine, respectively, from the center line of shaft I28.

The means for driving the rock shafts from shaft I38 is shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10. In Figure 9, shaft I38 is shown as driven from sprocket I36 through the medium of one-way clutch I16, which drives the rock shaft operating eams positively in the operating direction but allows free rotation of the driving mechanism, with respect to the cams, in the opposite direction. Affixed to shaft I38 are a small pinion I18 and a large pinion I80 which constitute part of a change speed mechanism for driving cam shaft I82. The cam shaft carries an outer cam I86 and an inner cam I86, such cams being identical in configuration and both having steep drop-offs, that of cam I84 being designated I88 and that of cam I36 being denoted I90, so that the folding fingers swing rapidly from their retracted positions through their operating strokes. The cams are held on shaft I82 by means of the nut I92, which allows the cams to be adjustably positioned angularly with respect to the shaft and each other.

The remainder of the change speed mechanism of the cam drive is made up of the large pinion E96 loosely mounted on shaft I82 and permanently meshed with pinion I18, and the small pinion I96, loosely mounted on shaft I82 and permanently meshed With pinion I80. A key way is provided in shaft I82 in which is located the sliding key I98, which has a projectingtooth as shown which may be positioned selectively 0 within a key slot in either pinion IE5 or I96. An

operating knob 2&8 on the outer end of key I98 allows'the key to be slid to either of two such positions in which it is stably held by a conventional spring pressed ball detent 29! as shown. In the arrangement shown, such speed change mechanism makes possible either a 1-1 drive between -When such drive is through pinions Iiii! and I96,

however, the folding fingers operate as each pocket on the chains is presented to them, with the lugspacings on the chains as shown.

Frame E66 has journaled therein two laterally spaced stub shafts 2M. and 284, on which are mounted the cam follower arms 2&6 and 208, re-

spectively. Cam follower 285 coacts with cam I84 to rock shaft 564 counter-clockwise, as shown in Figure 8, through the medium of the interposed gearing 2I2; cam follower 2&8 coactswith cam I86 to rock shaft IE2; clockwise, as seenin Figure 8, through the medium of interposed gearing 2I0. The relative sizes of gears composing each of gearings 2H3 and ZIZ allow the attainment of the desired included angle of rocking of the shafts, and allow the ready change of such angle for each shaft simply by a change of gear ratio without modification'of the cams themselves.

The

cam followers

256 and 228 are maintained :in contact with their respective cams by meansof the mechanism shown adjacent frame part 162 at unit B in Figure 1, and at the bottom of Figure 2 at both units. Such mechanism consists of the arm on rock shaft I64 and arm 203 on rock shaft I66, coil springs 2335 and 26?, respectively, being connected to the outer ends thereof, and to the vertically adjustable block 209 (Figure 1),,

whereby the tension in such springs may be varied. It is to be understood that, instead of the flat peripheral type cams and the spring follower mechanisms shown, there may be employed if desired positive driving double faced cams having cam tracks which allow dispensing with the spring follower mechanism.

The structure of the one-way clutch I16 is shown more clearly in Figure 13, wherein the bore through the clutch body is shown as being in the form of a spiral 2! throughout one-half of its angular extent, there being provided a sharp radial shoulder 2ft at the end of such spiral furthest from the center of the bore. A radially disposed pin 2E8 is provided, spring pressed outwardly from the bore in shaft lit by spring 229. It will be seen that upon the driving of sprocket I36, which is bolted to the clutch body, in a counter-clockwise direction (Figure 13), shaft I18 will be positively driven therefrom. If, however, sprocket I is turned clockwise, shaft I18 is allowed to remain stationary since the pin 2l8 will merely ride up the spiral 2M and drop off at shoulder 2 l 6. The provision of the one way clutch allows the machine to be turned backwardly by hand, if necessary in case of a jam. Such hand turning of the machine would otherwise not be possible without loosening the cams I82 and I86 on shaft I82, because of the sharp drop-01f of the cams, against which the cam followers would look.

The machine shown set up as in Figures 1 and 2, is adapted to perform, among other transverse folding operations, folding operations making a Beers style tray. It will aid in understanding the machine and its operation to consider the typical Beers style blank shown at 222 in Figure 5. Such blank, which is made of heavy paper or cardboard, is adapted to travel through the machine in the horizontal direction as shown in that figure. The blank is provided with a front score line 225 and a front flap 224, the outer edges of which are scored diagonally at 226, and with a rear score line 221 and a rear flap 228, the outer edges of which are diagonally scored at 236. The blank i further provided with two side flaps 214, the front ends of which have short glue flaps 212 thereon, and the rear ends of which have short glue flaps 268 thereon.

The machine of the invention, set up as shown for the formation of a Beers style tray, in unit A folds flaps 224 and 228 upwardly over the main body of the blank, and folds the triangular glue flaps 25g and 279 on the edges of such flaps bounded by a diagonally scored

lines

226 and 230, backwardly upon the folded blank. The folding operation in unit B folds

flaps

212 and 266 inwardly upon the body of the side flaps 2'74.

The flat blanks 222, as shown in Figure 5, are fed to the first chain conveyer set by the feeding means previously described, when the machine operates at double feed, so that one blank is deposited in each pocket in the conveyor. When the blanks lie upon the upper surfaces of chains and 38 their edges fit within the

guide plates

232 and 234, affixed to the frames H12 and H10, respectively, as shown in Figure 4. Inwardly facing grooves 236 in such guide plates aid in preventing the blank from jumping out of such pockets. Soon after leaving the feeding wheels 24 and being deposited upon the first chain conveyor, the blanks pass under a hold-down bar 24s which is in the form of an L, the vertical stem of which is adjustably attached to the horizontal adjustable cross arm 24%, and the bottom arm of which substantially parallels the upper surface of the blank beneath it and contacts such surface of the blank to impose a frictional drag on the blanks, thus retaining them against the rear lugs of the pockets. The machine is further provided with other blank guiding and manipulating mechanisms adjustably supported in the same manner as arm 2&6. The supporting means for such mechanisms take the form of the forward and rear cross bars 238 and 2 56, respectively, on which are adjustably positioned the two parallel longitudinal top bars 242. From bars 242 are supported two longitudinally extending plow bars 2 58 supported by means of vertical rods 25% attached thereto, each of such rods being held by the adjustable transverse arms 252 through the medium of the upper and lower adjusting nuts are, and 256, respectively. The plow bars, as indicated in Figure 4, are supported on the bottom ends of rods 259 so as to be angularly adjustable about their own longitudinal axes. The top supporting structure of the machine further supports the pick-up bars 258, shown in Figure 4 as lying inside the plow bars, the pick-up bars being attached to the longitudinal supports 242 by means of the vertical rods 2%. The transverse arms 262 on supports 242 and the rods 2E0 allow the adjusting of the pickup bars as desired toward or from the longitudinal center line of the machine. The forward ends of the pick-up bars 258 are provided with nose pieces 25d which are longitudinally adjustable with respect to the body of the pick-up bars, as shown more clearly in Figures 6 and '7. Further L- shaped hold down and drag imposing members similar to member 244, and similarly supported. from the top supporting structure of the machine are employed at the sides of the blank in the zone of unit A, as shown in Figure 2. The bottom portions 265 and 241 of such members lie substantially parallel to and above the feed chains 38 and 33, respectively (see Figure 4), and contact the upper surface of the blanks to impose a retarding drag on thelatter. Such construction insures the blanks being maintained in contact with the rear lugs 56 forming the pockets on the feed chains.

The operations of the machine whereby blanks 222 are folded to the form shown at Figure 16 will now be explained. Lugs 66 on

chains

36 and 38 of the first conveyor set are so positioned with respect to the lifting finger I42 of wheel Hid in unit A that the upper edge of face ifiii of such finger contacts flap 224 of the blank just forward of score line 225. The blank and the lifting finger then both travel to the right in Figure 6, flap am being raised progressively. When such flap has been raised to a substantial angle,-in this instance about 30 degrees, the folding fingers I68 on rock shaft H54 are brought into action by the cam I84 and attendant mechanism previously described. Fingers IGB then rapidly swing clockwise (Figure 6) from their inoperative position to the position shown in dotted lines at l58; folding flap 224 over to the position shown at 224. The fingers Hi8 remain in their dotted line position for a sufficient length of time to allow the blank with its downfolded flap to travel under it, and under the forward end 264 of the pick-up bar 253, which re- 11 tains'the fiap in folded condition during further travel of the blank.

The plow bars 248 during such folding of flap 224 by fingers I68 function to fold the triangular lue'flaps 268 back onto the folded blank into the position shown at 268' so that the blank, after the, action thereupon by fingers l 68, has the form shown in Figure 14. The action of the plow bars willfbe more clearly apparent by a consideration of" Figure 4. As will be clear in that figure, in folding blanks 222; the machine is set so that the lugs' i6on the conveyor chains contact portions of the-blank at the rear edge thereof which are not to be folded'in the first folding unit. In this case, they contact the rear edges of fiaps 266, The'plow bars are set so that they lie over the score-

lines

226 and 230, and thus over glue flaps 268 and 210. The plow bars slope downwardly toward the plane of travel of the blanks in a direction from the forward end of the machine to therear. When fingers I68 contact flap 224 and turn it back on the main body of the blank, fiaps 268 are prevented from so turning by reason of their'contact with the plow bars, and thus they are folded downwardly upon folded flap 224 about thescore line 226, and extend from such score lines. toward the front folded edge of the folded flap 224'.

When the

conveyor chains

36 and 38 have traveled further to the right in Figure 6, the blank assumes such position relative to lifting finger I44 that such finger contacts the rear flap 228 just rearwardly of the transverse score line 221. Continued movement of the conveyor to the right and of the lifting Wheel Ml] clockwise results in the lifting of flap 228 to a substantial angle to the bodyof the blank, as indicated in Figure 7. Thereupon the folding fingers no come into play, rapidlyswinging from the full line position in Figure '7 to the dotted line position indicated at H thereby folding flap 228 into the position shown in dotted lines at 228'. The finger retains the flap in such folded position long enough for it to" enter in that position under the pick-up bars 258 andtheir nosepieces 264. During such folding of the rear flap 228, triangular glue flaps 210 are folded in the same manner as, but in an opposite direction from, fiapsZGB, by reason of their'contact with the plow bars. When so folded, flaps 210 are denoted 210. Blank 222 having been subjected to the described action of lifting fingers'lM' and folding fingers I10, and having entered under the pick-up bars, has the configuration shown in Figure 15.

The thus-folded blank then travels to the right and is-transferred from the chains of the first conveyor set to the chains of the second conveyor set at the main shaft 34. The chains of such second setare positioned laterally of the machine sothat the lugs forming pockets thereon contact portions of the blank'which have already been folded, leaving free those portions of the blank to be acted upon in unit B. In this instance, the

v, chains of .the second conveyor are set inwardly of "the='chains of the" first conveyor, and the lugs on' the-second conveyor chains contact the rear edge" oft-he folded" fiap 228'. In such further travel'of the blank the central folded flaps are held down upon the conveyors by longitudinal hold-down bars 269, which extend rearwardly in line with plow bars 258.

In unit B lifting fingers I42 of the wheels Hi0 and, folding fingers l68 act upon the leading flaps 212 of the side portions 214 of the blanks so as to foldtliern over, as shown at 212, on the body of such side portions 214. Such folding operation is effected in the same manner as that depicted in Figures 6 and 7 in connection with the flap 224, except-that no plow bars are necessary. Pick-up bars 2%, positioned rearwardly of unit B, then function to hold flaps 212 in their down-folded position 212. Further travel of the blank to the right allows the lifting fingers Md and the folding fingers I76 of unit B to act upon fiaps 256 and to fold them over the body of the side portions Z'M into the position shown at 266'. After such operations on the blank b unit B, the folded blank has the configuration shown in Figure 16.

The thus folded blank is forwarded on the second conveyor to the time spot gluer and straight line folder where spots of glue, indicated in Figure 1'7, are placed upon the upper faces of flaps 263 and 2'52 and the side portions 214 are folded upwardly over the blank body to bring

flaps

212 and 256 into contact with flaps 258 and 218', respectively. ihe blank when thus completed has the configuration shown in Figure 17 in which the glued joints are indicated.

The machine of the invention is useful in forming transverse folds, that is, folds extending at substantially right angles to or diagonally of the length of the blank, in types of boxes other than the Beers style. For the purposes of illustration a typical blank for forming both an out-folded and in-folded box is shown at 289 in Figure 18. Such blank is provided with forward fiap 282, diagonally scored at 286, and provided on its ends with glue flaps 292. The blank is also provided with rearfiap 284, similarly diagonally scored at 288, and provided with glue flaps 293 at its ends. In performing the transverse folding operations necessary to the formation of an out-folded folding box, only one folding unit such as unit A is necessary. Unit B may be disconnected or re moved from the machine, or if the machine is to work upon out-folded boxes exclusively, it need be provided with but one folding unit. In working upon out-folded boxes the plow-bars 2 58 are removed from the machine. The blank 28% is fed. along the horizontal direction in Figure 18, the chains of the first conveyor set being adjusted toward each other so that the lugs 26 thereon engagethe rear fiap 284 at points centrally within the score lines 288. In this instance two lifting wheels are employed on shaft !28, each wheel being located relative to the path of travel of the blank so that it lies below the path of the

score lines

236 and 238, preferably substantially centrally thereof. The two folding fingers Hi1 and two folding fingers I68 are employed, one finger of each set being located in a vertical plane substantially through the corresponding lifting wheel.

As the leading edge of the blank enters the folding unit, the flaps on its forward end outside the score lines 286 are lifted by the lifting fingers M2, and are then folded over to the position shown at 292 in Figure 19. Further travel of the blank through the folding unit brings the rear glue flaps above the second lifting fingers Ms on the lifting wheels to thrust them upwardly, whereupon they are folded over on the body of the blank as shown at 293'.

The thus folded blank with the folded fiaps held down by pick-up bars 258 suitably laterally adjusted is then forwarded to the timed spot gluer and straight line folder, where glue is spotted upon the side flaps 290, and such flaps are folded upon the glue coated fiaps to occupy the positions 290', as shown in Figure 20.

Although the machine and method of the in- 13 vention have been illustrated and described in detail with the forming of transverse folds in Beers style trays and diagonally out-folded trays of the so-called two-piece box, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that they are capable of use in many other different applications and in the formation of different types of boxes. Thus, for example, they are capable of use to advantage in forming transverse folds in thin material in general, particularly Where such folds must be formed on a succession of similar blanks. They may also be used in forming one-piece boxes, with attached cover, simply by suitably supporting and guiding the blanks with the cover forming portion to travel along one side of the folding unit or units.

In Figures 21 and 22 there is shown a second embodiment of the folding unit. In Figure 21 the folding unit is shown with the folding fingers in inoperative position, and in Figure 22 the fingers PM are shown advanced to rear flap folding position. The construction of such second embodiment is the same as that of the unit previously described, except for the provision of one or more hold-down fingers 3G2 which are positioned on rock shaft I66. Such fingers are useful in the folding of blanks of stiff material, and are designed to prevent the riding up of the rear edge of the body of the blank upon engagement with the rear flap by the lifting finger I44. The one or more hold-down fingers 302 are afiixed to shaft I66 in a position angularly advanced with respect to finger Hi] and so that the bottom surface of finger 3% in operative position closely approaches the upper surface of the blank. Thus the body of the blank is held down by finger 302 until the rear flap has been appreciably lifted by finger or fingers I44. Rocking of shaft lfili counter-clockwise (Figure 22) to bring fingers I into folding action results in lifting finger 302 so that it is removed from the foldin zone.

Although I have described and illustrated preferred embodiments of the method of and machine for folding boxes of my invention, it is to be understood that such embodiments are illustrative only, and that the invention is capable of considerable variation as to details.

I claim as new the following:

1. The method of folding a transverse flap on a transverse edge of a box blank as such blank travels continuously, said transverse flap being scored diagonally at its corners, which comprises pressing the flap out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle therewith by a pressing force applied to one side of the flap, thereafter completing the fold of such flap by applying a second pressing force to the upbent flap on the same side thereof in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the material, and parallel to the direction of travel of the blank and during the above two folding operations restraining the corners of the flap outside the diagonal score lines from moving with the flap a substantial distance in a direction normal to the blank, whereby each of such corners is given a reverse fold upon the folded flap.

2. The method of folding a transverse flap on a transverse edge of a box blank as such blank travels continuously horizontally, said transverse flap being scored diagonally at its corners, which comprises pressing the flap upwardly out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle therewith by a pressing force applied to the under sideof the fiap, thereafter completing the fold of such flap by applying a second pressing force to the upbent flap on the same side thereof in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the material, and parallel to the direction of travel of the blank, and during the above two folding operations restraining the corners of the fiap outside the diagonal score lines from rising substantially with the fiap, whereby each of such corners is given a reverse fold downwardly upon the folded flap.

3. The method of folding the transverse flaps on the front and rear edges of a box blank as such blank travels continuously horizontally, said front and rear flaps being scored at their junctures with the blank body and diagonally at their corners, which comprises pressing the front flap out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle therewith by a pressing force applied to one side of the flap, thereafter completing the fold of such flap by applying a second pressing force to the upbent flap on the same side thereof in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the material, and toward its line of fold on the blank, during the above two folding operations restraining the corners of the flap outside the diagonal score lines from rising substantially with the flap, whereby each of such corners is given a reverse fold downwardly upon the folded gap, and repeating such operations on the rear 4. A machine for folding a flap on each of a succession of blanks of sheet material transversely to their path of travel while such blanks travel continuously substantially in their planes, which comprises conveying means for forwarding the blanks in predetermined spaced relationship, a folding station to which the conveying means presents the blanks, means at the folding station operating in timed relationship to the conveying means to press a flap on the same transverse edge of each of the blanks on the conveying means out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle with the body of the blank, and means at the folding station to complete the folding of the flap on each blank by pressing the raised flap in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank and toward the line of juncture of the flap and the body of the blank, said last named folding means com prising at least one folding finger on the side of the path of travel of the blanks toward which the first pressing means thrusts the flap, means for supportin the finger and means for operating the folding finger in timed relation to the presentation of the blank at the folding station.

5. A machine for folding a flap on each of a succession of blanks of sheet material transverselv to their path of travel while such blanks travel continuously substantially in their planes, which comprises conveying means for forwarding the blanks in predetermined spaced relationship, a folding station to which the conveying means presents the blanks, means at the folding station operating in timed relationship to the conveying means to press a flap on the same transverse edge of each of the blanks on the conveying means out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle with the body of the blank, and means at the folding station to complete the folding of the flap on each blank by pressing the raised flap in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank and toward the line of juncture of the flap and the body of the blank, said last named folding means comprising at least one folding finger on the side of the path of travel of the blanks toward which the first pressingmeans thrusts the flap, means for sup: porting the finger, and means for operating the folding finger in timed relation to the presentation of the blank at the folding station, the folding finger being so constructed and arranged that it is spaced substantially from the path of travel of the blanks in its inoperative position and in its operative travel is moved to engage the raised flap and fold it back on the body of the blank.

6. A machine for folding a fiap on each of a succession of blanks of sheet material transversely to their path of travel While such blanks travel continuously substantially in their planes, which comprises conveying means for forwarding the blanks in predetermined spaced relationship, a folding station to which the conveying means presents the blanks, means at the folding station operating in timed relationship to the conveying means to press a fiap on the same transverse edge of each of the blanks on the conveying means out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle with the body of the blank, and means at the folding station to complete the folding of the fiap on each blank by pressing the raised fiap in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank and toward the line of juncture of the flap and the body of the blank, said last named folding means comprising at least one folding finger on the side iii 16 versely to their path of travel while such blanks travel continuously in a line substantially in their planes with their planes horizontal which comprises conveying means for forwarding the blanks in predetermined spaced relationship, a folding station to which the conveying means presents the blanks, a wheel at said folding station mounted on a horizontal axis below and transverse to the path of travel of the blanks, means for rotating said wheel in timed relationship with the speed of travel of the conveying means, at least one generally radially disposed lifting finger positioned on said wheel so that it is cyclically presented to the flaps to be folded as the blanks travel therepast, the lifting finger being of such length that it projects through the path of travel of the blank at one zone in its travel whereby the lifting finger presses a fiap on the same transverse edge of each of the blanks on the conveying means out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle with the body of the blank, and means at the folding station operating in timed relationship with the first pressing means to complete the folding of the flap on each blank by pressing the raised flap in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank and toward the line of juncture of the flap and the body of the blank, said last named folding means comprising at least one folding finger above the path of travel of the blanks, means for supporting the folding finger, and means for operating the folding finger subsequent to and in timed relationship to operation of the lifting finger, the folding finger and its pressing means, and means to engage the thus folded flap on each of the blanks as it continues its travel on the conveying means to maintain such flap in its folded position.

7. A machine for folding a flap on each of a succession of blanks of sheet material transversely to their path of travel while such blanks travel continuously, substantially in their planes which comprises conveying means for forwarding the blanks in predetermined spaced relationship, a folding station to which the conveying means presents the blanks, a wheel at said folding station mounted on an axis on one side of and transverse to the path of travel of the blanks, means for rotating said wheel in timed relationship with the speed of travel of the conveying means, a generally radially disposed lifting finger positioned on said wheel so that it is presented to the fiap to be folded as a blank travels therepast, the lifting finger being of such length that it projects through the path of travel of the blank at one zone of its travel whereby the lifting finger successively presses a fiap on blanks on the conveying means out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle with the body of the blank, and means at the folding station to complete the folding of the fiap on each blank by pressing the raised flap in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank and toward the line of juncture of the flap and the body of the blank, said last named folding means comprising at least one folding finger on the side of the path of travel of the blanks toward which the lifting finger thrusts the flap, means supporting the folding finger, and means operating the folding finger subsequent to and in timed relation with the pressing of the flap by the lifting finger.

8. A machine for folding a flap on each of a succession of blanks of sheet material transsupport being so constructed and arranged that the folding finger is spaced substantially above the path of travel of the blanks in its inoperative position and in its operative travel is moved to engage the raised flap and fold it back on the body of the blank.

9. A machine for folding a flap on each of a succession of blanks of sheet material transversely to their path of travel while such blanks travel continuously in a line substantially in their planes with their planes horizontal which comprises conveying means for forwarding the blanks in predetermined spaced relationship, a folding station to which the conveying means presents the blanks, a wheel at said folding station mounted on a horizontal axis below and transverse to the path of travel of the blanks, means for rotating said wheel in timed relationship with the speed of travel of the conveying means, at least one generally radially disposed lifting finger positioned on said wheel so that it is cyclically presented to the flaps to be folded as the blanks travel therepast, the lifting finger being of such length that it projects through the path of travel of the blanks at one zone in its rotation whereby the lifting finger presses a flap on the same transverse edge of each of the blanks on the conveying means out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle with the body of the blank, and

- means at the folding station operating in timed relationship with the first pressing means to complete the folding of the fiap on each blank by pressing the raised flap in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank and toward the line of juncture of the flap and the body of the blank, said last named folding means comprising at least one folding finger above the path of travel of the blanks, means for supporting means for supporting the folding finger, and means for operating the folding finger subsequent to and in timed relation-- ship to operation of the lifting finger, the folding finger and its support being so constructed. and arranged that the folding finger is spaced substantially above the path of travel of the blanks in its inoperative position and in its operative travel is moved to engage the raised flap and fold. it back on the body of the blank, and pick-up bars positioned above the conveying means and in the rear of the folding station so as to receive the thus folded blanks from the folding station and retain them in folded condition during further travel on the conveying means.

19. In a machine for folding front and rear flaps on each of a succession of blanks of sheet material transversely to their path of travel while such blanks travel continuously in a line substantially in their planes with their planes horizontal which comprises conveying means for forwarding the blanks in predetermined spaced relationship, a folding station to which the conveyor means presents the blanks, a wheel at said folding station mounted on a horizontal axis below and transverse to the path of travel of the blanks, means for rotating said wheel in timed relationship with the speed of travel of the conveying means, at least one generally radially disposed lifting finger positioned on said Wheel so that it is cyclically presented to the front flaps to be folded as the blanks travel therepast, and at least one similar lifting finger positioned on said wheel so that it is cyclically presented to the rear fiaps to be folded as the blanks travel therepast, the lifting fingers being of such length that they project through the path of travel of the blanks at one zone in the rotation of each whereby they press their respective flaps on the blanks in the conveying means out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle therewith, and means at the folding station operating in timed relationship with the two lifting fingers. to complete the folding of the front and rear flaps on each blank, said last named means comprising at least one folding finger cooperating with the raised front flap and at least one folding finger cooperating with the raised rear fiap on the blank, and means for operating each of such folding fingers subsequently to and in timed relationship to the lifting of the respective flaps to move such fingers in directions parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank, and toward the lines of juncture of such body with the respective flap.

ll. A machine for folding a transverse flap on a transverse edge of a box blank as such blank travels continuously horizontally, said transverse flap being scored diagonally at its corners which comprises conveying means for forwarding the blanks in predetermined spaced relationship, a folding station to which the conveying means successively presents the blanks, means at the folding station operating in timed relationship to the conveying means to press the flaps on each of the blanks on the conveying means out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle with the body of the blank, means at the folding station operating in timed relationship with the first pressing means to complete the folding of the flap on each blank by pressing against the raised flap in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank and toward the line of juncture of the flap and body of the blank, and plow-bars confronting the corners of the flap outside the diagonal score lines of the blanks to restrain the 18 corners of the fiap from rising substantially with the flap, whereby each of such corners is given a reverse fold upon the folded fiap.

12. A machine for folding front and rear flaps on each of a succession of blanks of sheet material transversely to their path of travel while such blanks travel continuously in their planes, each blank being provided with at least two laterally spaced flaps on its front edge and two laterally spaced flaps on its rear edge, corresponding front and rear flaps being aligned longitudina-lly of the blank, which comprises a first conveying means for forwarding the blanks in predetermined spaced relationship by engagement with the blanks at points spaced laterally from the first set of the front and rear flaps which is the first to be folded, a first folding station to which the first conveying means presents the blanks, means at the first folding station operating in timed relationship to the first conveying means to press the forward fiap, of the set of fiaps first to be folded, of each of the blanks on the first conveying means out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle with the body of the blank, means at the first folding station operating in timed relationship with such first pressing means to complete the folding of the front fiap of said first set on each blank by pressing against the raised fiap in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank and in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the blanks, means at the first folding station operating in timed relationship to the first conveying means to press the rear flap, of each of said first set of fiaps, on the blanks on the first conveying means out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle with the body of the blank, and means at the first folding station operating in timed relationship with such last named pressing means to complete the folding of the rear fiap of said first set by pressing against such raised fiap in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank and in a direction of travel of the blank, a second conveying means generally aligned with the first conveyor means and overlapping the same for receiving blanks thus folded from the first conveyor means and forwarding them in predetermined spaced relationship, the second conveying means engaging the blanks at points spaced laterally from the flaps on the second set, a second folding station to which the second conveying means presents the blanks, means at the second folding station operating in timed relationship to the second conveying means to press the forward fiap of the set of flaps second to be folded of each of the blanks on the second conveying means out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle with the body of the blank, means at the second folding station operating in timed relationship with such first pressing means of the second folding station to complete the folding of the front flap of said second set on each blank by pressing against the raised ,flap in .a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank and in a direction opposite to the direction of travel ,of the blanks, means at the second folding station operating in timed relationship to the second conveying means to press the rear fiap of each of said second set of flaps on the blanks of the second conveying means out of the plane of the blank blank, and means at the second folding station operating in timed relationship with such last named pressing means to complete the folding of the rear fiap of said second set by pressing against such raised flap in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank, and in a direction of travel of the blanks.

13. A machine for folding front and rear flaps on each of a succession of blanks of sheet material transversely to their path of travel while such blanks travel continuously in their planes, each blank being provided with at least three laterally spaced fiaps on its front edge and three laterally spaced flaps on its rear edge, corresponding front and rear flaps being aligned longitudinally of the blank, which comprises a first conveying means for forwarding the blanks in predetermined spaced relationship, by engagement with the outer two rear flaps, a first folding station to which the first conveying means presents the blanks, means at the first folding station operating in timed relationship to the first conveying means to press the center forward flap of each of the blanks on the first conveying means out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle with the body of the blank, means at the first folding station operating in timed relationship with such first pressing means to complete the folding of the center front flap on each blank by pressing against the raised flap in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank, and in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the blanks, means at the first folding station operating in timed relationship to the first conveying means to press the rear center flap of each of said blanks on the first conveying means out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle with the body of the blank, and means at the first folding station operating in timed relationship with such last named pressing means to complete the folding of the rear center flap of said first set by pressing against such raised flap in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank and in a direction of travel of the blank, a second conveying means generally aligned with the first conveyor means and overlapping the same for receiving blanks thus folded from the first conveyor means and for forwarding them in a predetermined spaced relationship, the second conveying means engaging the blanks n the rear edge of the folded center rear flap, a second folding station to which the second conveying means presents the blank, means at the second folding station operating in timed relationship to the second conveying means to press the two outer forward flaps of each of the blanks on the second conveying means out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle with the body of the blank, means at the second folding station operating in timed relationship with such second pressing means to complete the folding of the two outer front flaps of each blank by pressing against the raised flaps in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank and in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the blanks, means at the second folding station operating in timed relationship to the second conveying means to press the two outer rear flaps of each of the blanks on the second conveying means out of the plane of the blank to a substantial angle with the body of the blank, and means at the second folding station operating in timed relationship with such last named pressing means to complete the folding of the two outer rear flaps of each blank by pressing against such raised flaps in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the main body of the blank, and in a direction of travel of the blanks.

14. In the combination set forth in claim 4, the means for supporting the folding finger being a rock shaft mounted transverse to the path of travel of the blanks and spaced from such path on the side toward which the flap is initially thrust, and the means for operating the folding finger is a cam driven in timed relationship to the conveying means and means coacting therewith and connected to the rock shaft.

15. In the combination set forth in claim 10, means for supporting the finger for folding the front flap comprising a first rock shaft mounted transverse to the path of travel of the blanks, spaced above such path, and spaced from the vertical center line of the lifting wheel in the direction of travel of the blanks, and means for supporting the finger for folding the rear flap comprising a second rock shaft mounted transverse to the path of travel of the blanks, spaced above such path, and spaced from the vertical center line of the lifting wheel in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the blanks, the means for operating both folding fingers comprising cam means driven in timed relationship to the conveying means and means coacting therewith and connected to the rock shafts.

16. In the combination set forth in claim 10, retractable hold down means above the blank at the folding station, said means being located above the main body of the blank when the rear fiap is being lifted by the lifting finger, and retracted from the blank when the rear folding finger is actuated to complete the folding of the rear flap.

1'7. In the combination set forth in claim 15, a retractable hold down finger mounted on the second rock shaft to lie above the main body of the blank when the rear flap is being lifted by the lifting finger, and retracted from the blank by actuation of such rock shaft when the rear folding finger is oscillated to complete folding of the rear flap.

WALTER H. KUCKLINSKY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,903,243 Peck Mar. 28, 1933 2,200,238 Bergstein May '7, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 490,479 Great Britain Aug. 16, 1938