US2722417A

US2722417A - Box squaring devices

Info

Publication number: US2722417A
Application number: US310775A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles D Nitchie
Original assignee: Samuel M Langston Co
Current assignee: Samuel M Langston Co
Priority date: 1952-09-22
Filing date: 1952-09-22
Publication date: 1955-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 1972-11-01

Description

NOV. 1, 1955 c, N|TH|E 2,722,417

BOX SQUARING DEVICES Filed Sept. 22, 1.952

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR NOV. 1, 1955 c, D, E 2,722,417

BOX SQUARING DEVICES Filed Sept. 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR (710F195 Mew ATTORNEYS United States Patent BOX SQUARING DEVICES Application September 22, 1952, Serial No. 310,775 Claims. (Cl. 271--50) This invention is an improvement in apparatus for making collapsible boxes of stiff sheet material such as double faced corrugated board. In the usual procedure the sheet is cut, slotted and scored to form four panel sections to constitute the four peripheral walls of the box, and to form a separate flap on each end of each section which may be folded over to form the top and bottom Walls, and a flap on the edge of one panel which may be glued to the opposite panel.

After the cutting, slotting and scoring operations adhesive is applied to the edge flap and the opposite panel sections are folded over to bring one edge of one end panel onto the flap on the other end panel, and these are pressed together. After the adhesive has set, the blank can be opened to tubular form, and then the end flaps can be folded over to form the top and bottom of the box.

It is important from the standpoint of appearance, as Well as strength, that one edge of the blank be parallel to and centered on the edge to which it is to be glued.

In feeding the folded blank to the gluing mechanism it is usually advanced by a supporting belt and guided by parallel side walls which may be adjusted toward and from each other. As these guide walls are normally stationary and the blank travels between them, they should not exert any appreciable frictional resistance to the movement of the blank, as the blank is advanced solely by the frictional engagement with its conveyor belt.

If the box be a deep one the fold lines between the side walls are long, and there can be little or no skewing of the blank in respect to the guide walls. On the other hand, if the box be large and shallow, the fold lines between the wall sections will be short, and as some slight clearance is desirable between the fold lines and the guide walls the blank may be advanced to the gluer with the abutting or overlapping edges of the blank out of proper register, and may be slightly askew. In that event the resulting box may have an unsatisfactory appearance as well as a weaker structure.

The main object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the position of the blank is automatically shifted, if necessary, to bring the edges which are to be glued together into a line parallel to the path of movement of the conveyor.

In carrying out my invention I in the path of movement of each of the side fold lines or closely adjacent thereto. These stops are so mounted and controlled that each may be moved by the blank, but only for a limited distance, and only until the other stop has been moved the same distance. Thus, if the folded blank be somewhat askew, one stop will be moved for a limited distance by one edge of the blank, but will move no farther until the opposite fold line has engaged the other stop and moved it to a position even with the first mentioned one. Then both stops are automatically released, and the blank which has been properly aligned or squared will advance to the gluer or other means for closing or completing the corner joint.

provide two stops, one

In the accompanying drawings I have shown only one embodiment of my invention, but it is to be understood that this form, although a preferred one, is merely illustrative of the invention. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, the target and the control means therefor, and with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic showing of the blank advancing means, and

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of the control parts.

The blank may be of a conventional form and include four panel sections A, B, C and D, and a flap D' with scored lines therebetween, and with the sections A and D folded over onto the sections B and C so that one edge of the section A may be pressed onto the flap to which adhesive has been applied. The opposite edges of the blank have slots in line with the fold lines to permit one pair of opposite end flaps to be folded down after the other pair of flaps have been folded over. Thus the fold lines F and G between the side panels are shorter than the blank, and for a large shallow box the opposite of certain of the parts shown edges of the folded blank may be comparatively short.

As there may be a slight spacing between the vertical walls 12 which terminal slotted portions of the fold lines and the parts of the machine which guide the folded blank, the blank may be slightly askew.

I have illustrated my invention in connection with a common type of gluer in which the folded blanks are advanced by frictional engagement with a belt 10 supported on pulleys or drums, only one of which, 11, is The blanks are guided between shown in dotted lines.

may be adjusted toward and from each other, and in accordance with the distance between the fold lines F and G of the blank.

Carried by each guide Wall 12 is a control mechanism which is shown in detail in Fig. 2, and which acts to stop the blank at a fold line if the blank be somewhat askew and one fold line is in advance of the opposite one, and also acts to release the blank when it has been properly aligned with the belt and guides.

In the form illustrated each control unit has a frame including a base 15 which may be bolted on a flange of the guide wall 12, and on this base is a vertical flange or bracket 13 in which is journaled a rock shaft 14 carrying a target 16 on the opposite side of the wall 12 and in the path of movement of the advancing blank. Mounted on the rock shaft 14 is means for controlling the movement of the target. This includes a depending arm 17 to which is connected a spring 18 which resists but permits swinging of the target when a box blank engages it.

If one edge of the folded blank be in advance of the other it is important to stop this edge until the other catches up. For this purpose there is provided a stop in the path of movement of each arm 17, and which temporarily permits only limited movement of the arm, and means for simultaneously removing both stops after both arms have reached the limit of their free movement and the front edge of the box blank is at right angles to its path of movement.

In the form illustrated there is provided an electromagnet 20 for each target, and having a solenoid, armature, or other part 21 movable into and out of the path of the arm 17. When the circuit of the magnet is open a spring 22 pushes the part 21 of the solenoid into the path of movement of the arm 17 so that neither the arm nor the target 16 can be moved more than a short limited distance by the blank. Thus, if one end of the partly in section, showing front edge ofthe blank be ahead of the other, that end will" be stopped until the other end reaches and" moves the other target.

For controlling thecircuits of the. magnets 20 which withdrawthe stops, each arm 17 has. or engages a. push button 2'4'for operating a switch 2'5in acasinglfi'. As. shown in the wiringdiagram, Fig. 5;,the two switches 25 which are operated by the swinging ofthe arms. 17; are connectedi'n series, and the armatures of the'magnets 20 are connected. in parallel with. each. other but in series with the switches.

If the blank be slightly askew as it advances it will first engage and move one target 16, but only to a limited extent, and'until the arm 17 engages stop 21 andreleases the. push button 24 of one switch 25, thus closing it; Thus this end of the edge of the blank will be stopped but the other edgemay continue moving by the dragging action of the conveyor belt, and until it engages itstarget and closes itsswitch 25'. When both switches have been closed both of the armatures will be energized and both stops 21 will. be pulled back out of. the path of their corresponding arms 17, and the two targets can freely swing out of the pathof the-blank. The blank will advance with its front end at right angles to its path. of. movement, and the box will be closed. With one edge of' the.b1ank. properly. registering with the flap to which it is. to be secured;

II have not illustrated in detail the means for securing the edges. of the blank together, as these form no part of my invention and'may be of conventional form. The machine is set up, by adjustinggthe guide. walls 12 to bring theLflap D in proper position inrespect to the glue applicator and to the shoe 30' which presses the wall A down. onto. the flap and thussecures them together.

All of the. operating parts shown in Fig. 2 and on opposite. sides of the machine arev preferably protected and concealed by casings 26 which are detachably secured to the base plates15,.as shown in Fig. 1. In that figure. the shoe 30'is shown offset laterally as it might be temporarily to permit adhesive to be applied or dried adhesive thereon to be moistened, before the panel A is moved down onto said adhesive coated flap D.

Having thus describedmy invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by'Lett'ers Patent is".

1'. A machine for advancing a folded box blank to means for securing the opposite edges together, said ma-. chine including means for frictionally engaging and advancing the blank, a pair of stops spaced apart. laterally in the path of movementofthe blank and each movable. byand with the blank, meansfor limiting the free movement of said stops, electro-magnets for simultaneously releasing said stops, and means for energizingbothmag nets when both stops have reached the end of their respective limited' free movements.

2. A machine for advancing a folded box blank to means for securing the opposite edges together, said machine including means frictionally engaging the folded blank and advancing the same, a pair of stops in the paths of movement of the: opposite edges of the folded blank and movableby theblank, means forlimiting the free movement of the stops with the blank, separate electro-magnets for. rendering.saidimeanstinoperative; and means forsimultaneously energizing bothmagnets-when both of said stops have reached the limit. of their free movement with they blank.

3. A machine for advancing a box blank with its opposite edges juxtaposed, to means for: securing said edges together, said machine including means frictionally engaging the folded blank and advancing the same, a pair of targets in the path of movement of the opposite edges of 'the folded blank,,each target having limited free movement with the blank, an electric circuit includinga pair of magnets. in parallel and a pair of" switches. in serieswith bothmagnets,v and" means for closing each switch upon a predetermined movement of its corresponding, target, .whereby both targets arereleasedonly upon pre-- determined movement ofboth targets and the closing of both switches.

4.. Mechanism for advancing a folded box blank, including aipair' of stops one in the path' of'movement ofea'ch of the opposite fold' lines of the blank, means for limiting, the movement of each. stop, an electric circuit including a pair of electro-magnets for releasing said stops said electro-rnagnets being connected in parallel in said circuit; and'separate switches both in series with both of: said magnets and operated by said stops, whereby said magnets are simultaneously energized when both stops have been moved to the. same limited distance.

5. A machine for advancing box blanks, including separate. stops spaced. apart across the path of'movement of. the. blanks, each stop having Ii'mited'free movement" in respect to. the other and with the advancing blank, an electric circuit having separate electro-magnetsconnected in parallel; eachactingto release a separate. one" of said stops; and means for controlling said circuit to energize saidelectro-rnagnets' simultaneously.

References Cited in the' fileof this patent UNITED STATES'PATENTS