US2658631A - Apparatus for feeding cleats to boxmaking machines - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 10, 1953 D. G. KINGSLEY APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLEATS TO BOXMAKING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 1951 INVENTOR. Bay/d 6. Kmgs/ey AWTORIVEYS.

Nov. 10, 1953 D. e. KI NGSLEY 2,658,631

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLEATS TO BOXMAKING MACHINES Fil ed March 31, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

David G. Klhggley. M, 97% w J ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 10, 1953 D. G. KINGSLEY APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLEATS TO BOXMAKING MACHINES Filed March 31, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 m9 vn m. m 6. u m DY B Nov. 10, 1953 D. G. KINGSLEY ,6

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLEATS TO BOXMAKING MACHINES Filed March 51, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 OOOOOODO 1N VEN TOR.

David G. K/hgs/ey A TTORNEYS Patented Nov. 10, 1953 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLEATS TO BOXMAKING MACHINES David G. Kingsley, Mountain Lakes, N. J., as-

signor to stapling Machines 00., Rockaway, N. J a corporation of Delaware Application March 31, 1951, Serial No. 218,643

9 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing cleats to a box-making machine, the apparatus being particularly adapted for dispensing cleats of two different lengths into their proper respective positions upon the conveyors of the box-making machine.

lhe apparatus of the present invention is especially useful with box-making machines of the general class disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,304,510, issued December 8, 1942. In such machines, continuously moving conveyor bands carry properly arranged box parts past a transverse row of stapling units by which the box parts are stapled together to form box part units or complete wirebound box blanks.

The box units are usually formmed of side material such as slats, and supporting cleats stapled thereto. A wirebound box includes a plurality usually iourof such box units or sides foldably secured together by binding wires stapled to each of the sides so that when the sides are folded to form the box, the binding wires extend around the box and the two ends of each of the binding wires may be fastened together to close the box. The cleats usually have mitered or notched ends so that the adjacent ends of the cleats will abut or interfit snugly when the sides of the box are folded.

In making box blanks, the cleats are usually placed first on the conveying mechanism of the box-making machine, and the side material is then laid on top of the cleats. Both the cleats and side material are engaged by spaced pushing elements on the conveyor bands of the machine, and thus conveyed in properly arranged relation to the stapling mechanism.

Until recently, the placement of the slats and cleats has been accomplished almost exclusively by manual labor. In the copending application, Serial Number 70,868, and issued on June 3, 1952, as U. Letters Patent No. 2,599,460, there is disclosed apparatus for mechanically dispensing cleats to a box-making machine. This apparatus, however, is primarily adapted for dispensing cleats of only one length and is not well adapted for applications where cleats of more than one length must be dispensed. Where all of the sides or" a box have equal dimensions-for example, as in boxes with square ends-the dispensing apparatus need be capable of handling cleats of only one length. Where, however, the ends of the boxes being made are oblong, so that the width and depth of a box are unequal, the apparatus must be capable of dispensing alternate cleats of different lengths.

The present invention provides apparatus for mechanically dispensing cleats of at least two different lengths into their proper respective positions on the conveying mechanism of a boxmaking machine. As will be described more particularly hereinafter, means is provided to prevent the longer cleats from tipping downwardly where they will be engaged by the pushing elements provided for engagement with the short cleats, as would otherwise tend to occur, with possible jamming of the dispensing apparatus. Means is also provided to oscillate the cleats within the dispensing apparatus to prevent their becoming interlocked and impairing the proper dispensation of cleats.

Suitable illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a View of the right-hand side of a wirebound box-making machine showing an automatic cleat-dispensing apparatus embodying features of the invention installed adjacent the input or left-hand end of the machine as viewed in the figure;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the left-hand half of the cleat-dispensing apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end view of the dispensing apparatus, as viewed from the lefthand side of Figure 2;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary views of the portion of the dispensing apparatus appearing in the lower portion of Figure 2, with some parts omitted for clarity, and showing progressive steps in the dispensation of cleats of two different lengths;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figures l, 5 and 6, illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary end view of the dispensing apparatus shown in Figure '7, as viewed from the left-hand side of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a View similar to Figure 2, but illustrating an alternative embodiment of the inven tion including means for facilitating the separation of interlocked cleats; and

Figure 10 is an end view of the apparatus shown in Figure 9, as viewed from the left-hand side of Figure 9 showing, in addition to the ele-- ments appearing in Figure 9, means for communieating power to the cleat-dispensing apparatus.

Figure 11 is a top plan View of the dispensing apparatus showing the hoppers in position over the conveyor bands of the box-making machine and with the horizontal cleat guideways communicating with said hoppers.

In Figure 1, there is shown in somewhat diagrammatic elevation, the right-hand side of a box-making machine of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patent. Near the input or lefthand end of the machine in Figure l, is shown a cleat-dispensing apparatus, generally designated A, embodying features of the present invention. The apparatus A is comprised of two sections B and C, having cleat hoppers D and E respectively, which supply cleats to the conveying mechanism at the leftand right-hand sides of the box-making machine. The conveying mechanism includes endless conveyor bands 2 trained about idler sprockets 3 at the front or input end of the machine and about driven sprockets 4 keyed to drive shaft 5 at the rear or output end. The box parts placed on the conveyor bands near the input end of the machine are conveyed under a transverse row of stapling units mounted between side frames 6 in the central portion of the machine, and the assembled box units or box blanks are removed from the conveyor bands at the output or right-hand end of the machine as shown in Figure 1.

Since, the construction of the dispensing apparatus A is similar in many respects to the cleat dispensing apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned application, Serial Number 70,868, the description of the present apparatus will be principally directed only to the features pertinent to the present invention. Also, since sections B and C of the apparatus are of generally similar construction, only section B, which supplies cleats to the conveyor band 2 at the left-hand side of the box-making machine, will be de scribed in detail.

As may be seen in Figures 1 and 11, the side walls of the apparatus are formed by plate members 8, and the apparatus is divided equally into sections B and C by a center wall or plate member 9. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, wall members 8 and 9 are supported and secured at the output or right-hand end of the apparatus A, by upstanding angle members the lower ends of which are suitably secured to the longitudinal rail 3| which supports the conveyor band 2; the opposite ends of the wall members 8 and!) are suitably supported by means not shown in the drawings. The members 8 and 9 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the length of the longest cleats to be dispensed, and secured by cross braces II (Figure 10). Horizontally positioned V-belts 12 running longitudinally between wall members 8 and 9 of sections B and C, are trained about idler V-pulleys (not shown) at the input end of the device A and have their oppositely disposed ends trained about V-pulleys I3 keyed to shaft 14, whose ends are journaled in bearings such as shown at (Figures 3 and 9) fastened to the inner faces of wall members 8. The upper runs of the belts [2 are supported by longitudinal rails l6 (Figure mounted on the cross braces H. A plurality of bars or outer guide members [8 (see Figures 2, 3 and 11) are mounted in a common plane spaced above the upper runs of the belts l2 by a distance slightly exceeding the thickness of the cleats so as to form with the belts a horizontal channel or guideway through which the cleats may be moved by the moving belts. At the input end of the ap paratus, these guide members 18 do not extend as far as do the belts, but are cut off short to leave a substantial length of the upper runs of 4 the belts exposed to facilitate manual placement of the cleats on the belts.

At the delivery end of the belts [2, the outer guide members [8 are curved concentrically to the curve of the belts around the pulleys I3, and extend vertically downward, their lower ends being supported by a horizontal cross brace 2| which is secured at its opposite ends to the side walls 8 and 9. A plurality of similar bars or inner guide members I! are provided, having upper portions curved to follow the plane of the curved portions of the belts I2 and having lower portions extending vertically downward to rest upon a horizontally extending L-shaped cross brace I9 which is secured to the upstanding angle brackets Ill.

The inner and outer guide members thus form a vertical trough or hopper D into which the cleats are fed by the moving belts. The cleats are stacked on the belts, with longer and shorter cleats alternating, and lying on their sides-that is, rotated about their long axes through'an angle of from the orientation in which it is desired ultimately to dispense them. The curvature of the guideway formed by the inner and outer guide members I! and f8 and the belts results in rotation of the cleats through an angle of 90", thereby achieving the desired orientation.

In order to provide access into the hopper D for rearranging or removing cleats, and so on, a gate is povided at the lower end of the hopper. This gate is formed of a plurality of vertical bars or guide members 25 secured to the inner face of a bracket 25 carried by a support member 21. This support member 21 is hinged at 28 to an L- shaped base 29 which in turn is secured to the angle rail 3| supporting the box parts conveying elements. When the gate is in closed position, as shown in Figure 3, the bars 25 are in the same plane and in axial alignment with the downwardly projecting portions of bars [8.

The gate is opened by rotating it clockwise about the hinge 28, as indicated by arrow 32 (Figure 3). Latches '33 (Figure 2) are provided to maintain the gate in normally closed position.

As may be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the hopper D is closed at its side adjacent the trailing end of the cleats-the left-hand side as viewed in Figure 2--by a fixed guide member 34 which extends downwardly from wall member 8 with its inner face in alignment with that of wall member 8. The lower end of the guide member 34 is shaped into an inclined shelf 36 which extends inwardly of hopper D to a predetermined point beneath the trailing ends of the longer cleats in approximately the third from-bottom position in the stack of cleats in the hopper. The opposite end of hopper D, shown at the right in Figure 2, is closed by a movable guide member 3? hinged at 38 to a bracket 8? fastened to the outer surface of center wall member 9, and held in position by latch pivoted about pin 97 on cross brace 2 I, engaging pin 98 in guide member 3?. The inner surface of guide member 31 is in alignment with that of center wall member 9 to provide a guide for the leading ends of all cleats, both long and short. The bottom end of guide member 3'; is notched out to receive the upper end of an exit gate 4! which is pivotally mounted on a pin 32 extending from guide memher 3?. The exit gate ll extends downwardly a predetermined distance, and provides a recess or offset .3 to compensate'for and cooperate with inclined shelf 36, by permitting slight forward movement of a cleat in the second-from-bottom position in the stack. Exit gate 4! is normally held in closed position, as shown in Figure 2, against the stop a l formed by the notch at the lower end of guide member 37, by a spring finger the upper end of which is secured to the outer surface of guide member 3'! and the lower free end or which bears against the outer surface of exit ate ll.

The source of driving power for the cleatconveying elements of device A is shown in Figures 9 and 16, particularly in Figure 10. A motor id is coupled to the drive shaft is through a speed reducer :38, a sprocket drive chain 59, and sprocket 5t keyed to shaft l There is thus imparted to the drive shaft M a clockwise rotation, as viewed in Figure 10, which drives the pulleys i3 and belts l2 so that the belts move at a speed slightly in excess of the rate at which cleats are removed from the hopper.

To describe more fully the operation of device A and particularly certain elements of this invention and their function in the process of feeding cleats of two different lengths, reference is made to Figures 2, 3, l, 5, and 6.

At the commencement of operations, the feed belts ll of sections B and C and their respective hoppers D and E are completely loaded with cleats of alternate lengths, with the bottom cleat in each of the hoppers being of the length corresponding to that of the space ahead of the first spacer element X or Y which will pass beneath the hopper when the conveyors 2 are started in movement. The cleats are placed in the hopper so that the leading end of each cleat is against the inner face of the adjacent wall member, as shown in the drawings.

with rotation imparted to shaft it, the moving belts i2 continuously exert pressure upon the column of cleats stacked in hopper D by means of friction between the belts and the cleats thereon. With the egress of each successive cleat from the hopper, the column of cleats in the hopper is permitted to drop by a distance equal to the thickness of a cleat; and other cleats are moved forward by the belts to fill up the space vacated.

As may be seen in Figures 4, 5, and (i, a cleat support step 5 2, similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned application Serial No, 70,868, is provided at the bottom of the hopper, extending from the trailing end of the hopper to a point slightly forward of its center; the step thus affords support for the trailing end of the column of cleats in the hopper.

At the start of operation, a dummy cleat V may be placed upon cleat support track 53 with a portion of its trailing end supporting the column of cleats in hopper D, as shown in Figure 4.

With this initial arrangement, and with the conveyors 2 of the box-making machine moving in the direction indicated by arrow iii, dummy cleat V is moved by push finger X of the leading spacer element El. from its position shown in Figure l to that shown Figure 5, thereby removing both the dummy cleat V and push finger X from beneat the short cleat a, allowing the column of cleats in hopper D to drop, and placing short cleat a in the desired space S (Figure 4) between push finger X of the leading spacer element X and push finger Y of the next following spacer element Y when space S between push finger X and push finger Y attains a position as shown in Figure 5. In Figure 5, short cleat a shown resting upon cleat support step 52 with its leading end a. about to clear the bottom of exit gate 4!. It will also be seen that the trailing end 22 of the next lon cleat b above is momentarily supported on inclined shelf 36, While the forward end b of long cleat Zr has moved downward to the second from bottom position in the stack of cleats, in position to enter offset 43. With continued movement of short cleat a by push finger Y frictional engagement between the upper surface of cleat a and bottom surface of cleat b causes long cleat b to follow in the same direction and enter offset 43, which allows the trailing end 12 of long cleat b to drop from inclined shelf 35 to its position shown by dotdash lines P in Figure 6. In this position, the trailing end 1: of cleat b is supported on the step 52, and its leading end b is tilted upward where it will enga e exit gate ll. Continued movement of conveyors 2 will move push finger Y from beneath forward end 12 of long cleat b, allowing said long cleat to drop to a horizontal position upon cleat support step 52, as shown in dash lines in Figure 6. Long cleat b is then in position to be contacted by push finger Z and moved beneath exit gate ti and out of the hopper. The sequence of operations just described follows as each short cleat a and long cleat 1: arrive at the bottom of hopper D.

While the procedure described above and shown in the figures indicates that short cleat a is the initial cleat fed from hoppers D and E, it will be understood that the reverse procedure may be followed equally as well, that is, long cleat b may be the initial cleat fed. The cleat arrangement is, of course, determined by the pattern of spacer elements on the conveyors 2.

The momentary engagement of the trailing end of each long cleat with the inclined shelf 35 until the leading end of the cleat can clear the lower end of the guide 3? and move into the notch serves a very important purpose. If it were not for this arrangement, the trailing end b of the long cleat b in Figure for example, would tip downwardly into the path of the push finger if so that this push finger, which should engage the trailing end a of the short cleat as below, instead engages the cleat 22. Since the leading end 11 of the cleat b is against the end guide 3? and has not moved into the notch 53, this would produce a jam or other malfunction of the dispensing apparatus which would interrupt operation and perhaps damage the apparatus.

Certain conditions of the cleat faces, particularly when the top and bottom surfaces are roughly sawed, tend to cause difficulty in the proper advancement of long cleat 2) just previous to its egress from the hopper, due to its interlocking with cleat c. The interlocked cleats either prevent trailing end 12 of long cleat b from sliding on" inclined shelf 36 and the forward end b from entering offse 33 or caused a delayed movement of cleats adjacent the bottom of the hopper, resulting in a jam within the hopper.

Such difnculties in dispensing roughly sawed cleats of two diiferent lengths may be eliminated by the alternate means of momentarily supporting the trailing ends of the long cleats b, as shown in Figures 7 and In Figure '7 there is shown in full lines at the left-hand side of the lower portion of hopper D a movable support lid supporting trailing end b of long cleat b. The upwardly extended head 55 of the movable support is pivotally mounted on a pin iii within a slot 56 in an outwardly extending portion of a bracket 58 fastened to the lower end of wall member 8. The inner face of the bracket 53 is in alignment with the-corresponding face of wall member 8, and the lower endof the'bracket 58 is beveled at '61 to cooperate with a corresponding beveled face 52 'of movable support 54 in limiting movement of the movable support E l in a counter-clockwise.direction, as viewed in Figure 7. Movable supportfii'carries at the outer face of its L-shaped lower end (Figure 8) an elongated bar 63 (more clearly shown in Figure 7) to provide a means for operating movable support 54. To remove-the movable support from the trailin end of the long cleats and to hold it normally in a clockwise position, as shown dot-dash lines in Figure 7, there is provided a coil spring ts compressed between the bottom of a recess 65 in the body :portion of bracket 59 and a beveled surface'fiii on the adjacent face of movable support 54. It will be noted that the elements 37, ll, etc..at the lower right-hand portion or" the hopper of Figure 7 are the same as those previously described in connection with Figures 2 and 3.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the movable support 54 is operated by the spacer elements and, more specifically, by the body portions 6"! of the spacer elements. Although movable support 54 is required to support the trailing ends of only the long cleats (to prevent their tipping down into the path of the push fingers of the spacer elements provided to push the short cleats) for simplicity movable support '54 is operated by each of thespacer elements as they contact elongated bar 63. It will be seen at the extreme left-hand side of Figure '7 adjacent the end of cleat support step 52, that the body portion 61 of spacer element Y (shown in broken lines) is about to contact the under surface of elongated bar 63. Continued movement of spacer element Y in the direction indicated .by arrow will cause movable support 54 to rotate counterclockwise, as indicated by arrow -68, against the resistance of spring 64, until the beveled face 62 of support 54 approaches or contacts stop -6I of bracket 58, as shown in full lines in Figure 7. Support 54 will remain in this position, supporting the trailing end b of long cleat 1) until the body portion 61 of spacer element Y passes from beneath elongated bar 63, and allows spring 64 to move support 54 to its clockwise position out of the way 'of long cleat 22. Since by this time push finger 'Y of spacer element Y will have passed beneath the trailing end b of long cleat b, as shown in dotdash lines in Figure '7, any possibility that the trailing end of long cleat b may tip down into the path of push finger Y is substantially eliminated. The action of movable support -54 in contacting the trailing end of each long cleat contributes the additional desirable effect of tending to separate cleats that are locked together, thereby allowing proper progress of the cleats in the hopper.

A solenoid or other suitable device could be used to actuate movable support 54 in timed relationship with the cleat-pushing element instead of the direct contact of body portion 61 with elongated bar 63.

In Figures 9 and there is shown anlapparatus for effectively separating the interlocking surfaces of roughly sawed cleats by causing oscillation of the long cleats at the lower end of the hopper relative to the adjacentshort cleats, thus shearing their locked interfaces. As may be seen in Figure 9, in lieu of the semi-fixed end guides '34 and 31 described in connection with Figure 2, oscillating members 10 are provided, their inner faces in alignment with the corresponding .faces of wall members 8 and 9. The upper ends of the oscillating members 10 are pivotally mounted at 1| to brackets 12 secured to the outer faces of the wall members. At the left-hand side of hopper D, the oscillating member 10 is interposed between the bottom of a cut-away portion of wall member 8 and an inclined shelf 13 which is fastened to the upstanding angle member IO. At the right-hand side of said hopper, oscillating member 10 is interposed between the bottom of a cut-away portion of wall member 9 and exit gate support 15 fastened to upstanding angle member ID. The two oscillating members .10 are tied together by a bar '|9 pivotally attached at its opposite ends to the two oscillating members by pins 18 and eyes 11 secured near the center of the outer surface of each of the oscillating members.

To communicate movement to oscillating members 10, power is derived from drive shaft 14, the end of which at the left-hand side-of hopper D (Figure 9) extends outwardly beyond wall member 8 a short distanceand has keyed thereto a bevel gear 80. The bevel gear meshes with asimilar gear 8| keyed to a short vertical shaft 83 extending through a bearing 84 supported by a bracket 85 extending from the upstanding angle member [0. To the opposite end of the shaft 83 is keyed a bevel gear 82 which meshes with a similar gear 8'! keyed to one end of a short horizontal shaft 88. The shaft 88 extends througha bearing -89 supported by a bracket 90 fastened to upstanding angle member 10. Also keyed on the shaft 88 is an eccentric member 92 cooperating with a rod or follower member 93 pivotally connected to eye Ti of oscillating member 10 by pin 18.

When motor 46 (Figure 10) is energized, shaft 14 is rotated and, through the means just described, reciprocating movement is imparted to oscillating members 10, as indicated by broken lines in Figure -9. The long cleats which are within the vertical range of oscillating members 10 are thus moved longitudinally forward and backward through short distances. When either short cleat a or long cleat b moves downwardly to the point of clearing the lower end of the oscillating member 10 at the right-hand side of hopper D and has its forward end abutting fixed guide portion 94 of exit gate support 15 (as is short cleat c in Figure 9) the cleat resting thereon (long cleat d in Figure 9) will be moved longitudinally relative to it, thereby causing their contiguous surfaces, if interlocked due to extreme roughness, to be sheared apart, and allowing inclined shelf 13 to function properly with the cooperation of offset 95 in assuring the dependable supply of cleats to the conveyors.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides apparatusfor reliably dispensing cleats of at least two different lengths to a box-making machine. It should be emphasized, however, that the particular embodiments of the invention shown and described herein are intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for dispensing cleats of at least two different lengths to a box-making machine of the type having cleat pushing elements movable along a path anda cleat supporting track belowisaidpathto support cleats moved by said elements, said apparatus comprising a cleat hopper including upstanding side and end guides for confining against lateral and longitudinal movement cleats stacked generally above and in alignment with said cleat supporting track for successive removal of said cleats from the bottom of such stack by said cleat pushing elements, the end guide at the trailing ends of the cleats in said stack having near its lower end a cleat engaging surface projecting into said hopper in position to engage the trailing ends of the longer cleats in approximately the third-from-bottom position in said stack, and the end guide at the leading ends of the cleats in said stack having its lower end positioned to engage and prevent the forward movement from said hopper of all but the bottom cleat of said stack and having near its lower end a recess to receive the leading ends of the longer cleats when said leading ends reach the second-from-bottom position in said stack and allow said cleats to be forced forwardly over said cleat engaging surface as their trailing ends move downwardly so that their trailing ends will clear said cleat engaging surface and drop into the path of said cleat pushing elements as the cleats reach the bottom of said stack.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hopper is arranged to permit frictional engagement between the upper surface of the bottom cleat in said stack and the lower surface of the next cleat above during the time said bottom cleat is being pushed forwardly from said stack by one of said cleat pushing elements, whereby to urge said next cleat above forwardly in said hopper so that its trailing end can clear said cleat engaging surface.

3. Apparatus for dispensing cleats of at least two diiferent lengths to a box-making machine of the type having cleat pushing elements movable along a path and a cleat supporting track below said path to support cleats moved by said elements, said apparatus comprising a cleat hopper including upstanding side and end guides for confining against lateral and longitudinal movement cleats stacked generally above and in alignment with said cleat supporting track for successive removal of said cleats from the bottom of such stack by said cleat pushing elements, the end guide at the trailing ends of the cleats in said stack having near its lower end a cleat engaging surface projecting into said hopper in position to engage the trailing ends of the longer cleats in approximately the third-from bottorn position in said stack and the end guide at the leading ends of the cleats in said stack having its lower end positioned to engage and prevent the forward movement from said hopper of all out the bottom cleat of said stack and having near its lower end a recess to receive the leading ends of the longer cleats when said leading ends reach the second-from-bottom position in said stack and allow said cleats to be forced forwardly over said cleat engaging surface as their trailing ends move downwardly so that their trailing ends will clear said cleat engaging surface and drop into the path of said cleat pushing elements as the cleats reach the bottom of said stack, a cleat guideway communicating with said hopper to permit the lateral movement of cleats from said guideway into said hopper, said guideway having at one side, in position for frictional engagement with the cleats therein, a movable cleat conveyor and means to drive said cleat conveyor at a speed tending to supply cleats to said hopper at a rate slightly in excess of the rate at which cleats are removed from said conveyor by said cleat pushing elements, whereby to exert on the stack of cleats in the hopper a continuous pressure urging said cleats toward the bottom of said hopper.

4. Apparatus for dispensing cleats of at least two different lengths to a box-making machine of the type having cleat pushing elements movable along a path and a cleat supporting track below said path to support cleats moved by said elements, said apparatus comprising a cleat hopper including upstanding side and end guides for confining against lateral and longitudinal movement cleats stacked generally above and in alignment with said cleat supporting track for suecessive removal of said. cleats from thebottom of such stack by said cleat pushing elements, the end guide at the trailing ends of the cleats in said stack having near its lower end a cleat engaging surface projecting into said hopper in position to engage the trailing ends of the longer cleats in approximately the third-frOm-bottom position in such stack and the end guide at the leading ends of the cleats in said stack having its lower end positioned to engage and prevent the forward movement from said hopper of all but the bottom cleat of said stack and having near its lower end a recess to receive the leading ends of the longer cleats when said leading ends reach the second-frorn-bottom position in said stack and allow said cleats to be forced forwardly over said cleat engaging surface as their trailing ends move downwardly so that their trailing ends will clear said cleat engaging surface and drop into the path of said cleat pushing elements as the cleats reach the bottom of said stack, and a cleat supporting step mounted just below the path of said cleat pushing elements but above said cleat supporting track to support the bottom cleat in said stack.

5. Apparatus for dispensing cleats of at least two different lengths to a box-making machine of the type having cleat pushing elements movable along a path and a cleat supporting track below said path to support cleats moved by said elements, said apparatus comprising a cleat hopper including upstanding side and end guides for confining against lateral and longitudinal movement cleats stacked generally above and in alignment with said track for successive removal of said cleats from the bottom of such stack by said cleat pushing elements, the end guide at the leading ends of the cleat in said stack having its lower end positioned to engage and prevent forward movement from said hopper of all but the bottom cleat in said stack, a cleat engaging device movably mounted near the lower end of the end guide at the trailing ends of the cleats in such stack, and urged toward a normal position but yieldable for movement of said cleat engaging device to an actuated position, said cleat engaging device including a cleat engaging surface arranged to project into said 7 hopper in position to engage the trailing ends of the longer cleat in approximately the thirdfrom-bottom position in said stack when said cleat engaging device is moved to its actuated position, a push element-engaging portion operatively connected to said cleat engaging device and arranged to project into the path of said cleat pushing elements at a point beyond the line of the trailing ends of the longer cleats in said staclr when said cleat engaging device is in normal position, whereby each of said cleat pushing elements will engage said push-elementengaging portion and move said cleat engaging device to its actuated position at which said cleat engaging surface can engage the trailing end of a longer cleat in approximatelythe thirdfrom-bottom position in said stack and prevent it from dropping into the path of said cleat pushing element until after said cleat pushing element'has'passed the trailing'end of said longer cleat, at which time said cleat pushing-element will clear said push-element engag-ing-' portion and allow said cleatengaging device to move back to itsv normal position and withdraw said cleat engaging surface from engagement with the trailing end of saidlongercleat, permitting the trailing end of said longer cleat to drop into the path of said cleat'pushing elements in posi-' tion for engagement by the next succeeding cleat pushing element.

6. Apparatus for dispensing cleats of at least two different lengths to a box-making machine of the type having cleat pushing elements mov able along a path and a cleat supporting track below said path to supportcleats moved by said elements, said apparatus comprising a cleat hopper includingupstanding-side and end guides for confining against: lateral and longitudinal movement cleats stacked generally above and in alignment with said cleat supporting track for successive removal of saidcleats from'the bottom. of said stack by' said cleat pushing elements, a cleat engaging device movably mounted near the lower endfof the end guide at the trailing ends of the cleats in such stack, and urged toward a normal position butyieldable for movement of said cleatengaging device to an actuated position, said cleat'engaging'device including. a cleat engaging surface arranged to project into said hopper in position toengage the trailing ends of the longer cleats inapproximately the third-from-bottom position in said stack when said cleat engaging device ismoved to its actuated position, a push-element-engaging portion operatively connected to said cleat engaging de vice and arranged to. project into the. path of said cleat pushing elements when said cleat engaging device isin normal position,.whereby said cleat pushing elementsiwill engage said push element engaging portion and move said cleat engaging device to its actuated position at which said cleat engaging surface will engage the trailv ing ends of'the longer cleats in approximately the third-from-bottom position in said stack, and

the end guide at the leading ends of the cleats in said stack having its lower end positioned to engage and prevent the forward movement from said hopper of all but the bottomcleat of. said stack. and having near its lower end a recess to receive the leading. ends of the longer cleats when said. leading ends reach the. second-frombottorn position in said stack and allow said cleats to be forced forwardly over said cleatengaging surface as their trailing. ends move. downwardly so that their trailing end will. clear saidcleat engaging surface and drop into the path of. said cleat pushing elements as the cleats. reach the bottom of said stack.

'7. Apparatus for dispensing cleats of at least two difierent lengths to a box-making machine of the type having cleat pushing elements movable along a path and a cleat supporting track below said path to support cleats moved by said elements, said apparatus comprising a cleat hopper including upstanding side and end guides for confining against lateral and longitudinal movement cleats stacked generally above and in alignment with said cleat supporting track for successive removal of" said cleats from the-bottom of" such stack by'said cleat pushingelements, a cleat engaging element pivotally mounted near the lower end of the end guide at the trailing ends of the cleats in said stack; a spring biasing said cleat engaging element toward a normal position but yieldable'to allow pivoting of said cleat engaging device-to'an actuated position,. said cleat engaging element including a cleat engaging surface arranged to project into said hopperinposition to' engage the trailing ends of. the longer cleats in approximately the thirdefrom-bottom position insaid stack when. said. cleat engaging element is moved to its. actuated positionand. a push element-engaging: portion operatively' connected to said cleat: engaging device: and: arranged to project into the-path of. said cleatipushing" elements when said cleat-engaging device is in normal position, whereby said cleat pushing elements will engage said push. element-engaging. portion and move said cleat engaging device to its actuated positionatwhichsaid cleat engaging surface will engage the trailing ends. of the longer cleats. in. approximately the third-frome bottom position in said stack; and. the; end. guide at the leading ends. of the cleats in said stack having its lower end positioned to engage and prevent "the:forwardzmovement. from said' hopper of all butthe. bottomcleat of said stack and having near its lower end a recess to receive the leading ends of the longer cleats when said leading ends reach the second-from-bottom position in said stack and allow said cleats to be forced forwardly over said cleat engaging surface as their trailing endsmove downwardly sothat their trailing ends will clear said. cleat engaging surface and drop into: the path of said cleat pushing elements as the cleats reach the bottom ofsaid stack;

8'. Apparatus. for dispensing cleats of at least two difierent lengths. to. a box-making machine of. the: type having cleat pushing elements'movable-along a. path and a. cleat supporting: track below said path. to support cleatsmoved by said elements said; apparatus. comprising. a: cleat. hopper including upstandingside and. end guides for confining against lateral and longitudinal movement cleats stacked generally above and in alignment with said. cleat supporting track for successiveremoval of said cleatsfrom the bottom of said stack by said cleat pushing elements, the end: guide at the trailing ends of the cleats in such stack having near its lower end a cleat engaging surface projecting into said hopper in position to engage the-trailingends of the longer cleats in approximately the third-from-botom position in suchstack, and the end guide at the leading ends of the cleats in said stack having its lower end positioned to engage and prevent the forward movement from said hopper of all but the. bottom cleat of. said stack and having near its lower end av recess to. receive theleadingrends ofrthelonger cleats when said lee dingendsreach thesecondefromebottom position. in. said stack and allow saidv cleats to be forced forwardly by said cleat engaging surface as their-trailing ends move downwardly so that their trailing ends will clear said cleat engaging surface. and drop. into the path of said cleat pushing elements as the cleats reach the bottom of said stack, and each of said end guides including a vertical section reciprocable longitudinally of the cleats in said stack relative to the adjacent section of said end guide, and motor means connected to drive such reciprocable sections whereby to produce longitudinal movement of the cleats within the ver- 13 tical range or said reciprocable sections relative to the adjacent cleats outside the vertical range of said reciprocable sections and tend to disengage any of said cleats which are interlocked due to roughness of their interfaces.

9. Apparatus for dispensing cleats of two different lengths to a box-making machine of the type having cleat pushing elements movable along a path with spaces between said cleat pushing elements for alternate longer and shorter cleats, and a cleat supporting track below said path to support cleats moved by said cleat pushing elements, said apparatus comprising a, cleat hopper including upstanding side and end guides for confining against lateral and longitudinal movement, a generally vertical stack of alternately longer and shorter cleats stacked above and in alignment with said track for successive removal of said cleats from the bottom of said stack by said cleat pushing elements, the end guide at the leading ends of the cleats in said stack having its lower end positioned to engage and prevent the forward movement from said hopper of all but the bottom cleat of said stack, and the end guide at the trailing ends of the cleats in such stack having near its lower end a cleat-engaging device movable between an actuated position at which it projects into said hopper in position to engage and impede downward movement of the trailing end of the long cleat in approximately the third-from-bottom position in such stack and a retracted position at which it does not engage and impede downward movement of said trailing end, and an actuator for said device operable in timed relationship with the movement of said cleat pushing elements, whereby said device will engage in succession the trailing end of each long cleat when it reaches approximately the third-from-bottom position in said stack to impede downward movement of said trailing end during the passage thereunder of a cleat pushing element for a shorter cleat, but will clear said trailing end and permit it to drop under the influence of gravity into the path of said cleat pushing elements in position for engagement by the succeeding cleat pushing elements for a longer cleat.

DAVID G. KINGSLEY.

No references cited.

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