US2736509A - Feed mechanism for box making machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 28, 1956 v. D. HERY ETAL 2,735,509

FEED MECHANISM FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. '7, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet l wus a l ,I/VENTORS.. @J7 12:9 yamsw. wmwywwmw;

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FEED MECHANISM FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 7, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 153 @449% INVENTORS. im? HJ BY A TORNEYS.

mMAg/,Mifw f Feb. 28, 1956 v. D. HERY ETAL 2,735,509

FEED MECHANISM FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 7, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Il m 15.59% 5 d 252 1oz mi 5 IN V EN TORS.

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FEED, MECHANISM FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 7. 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 10f8 151 v 141 l 115 115 @-1111 b/Aozf ATTUKNEXS.

Feb. 28, 1956 Original Fild Feb. 7, 1947 v. D. HERY ErAL 2,736,509

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Feb- 28, 1956 v. D. HERY Erm. 2,736,509

FEED MECHANISM FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 7.. 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 l @VEA/TOR?, Byelm s w, W

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United States Patent C) FEED MECHANISM FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE Vincent D. Hery, Norwood, and Beldon L. Rich, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to The American Tool Works, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application February 7, 1947, Serial No. 727,220,

now Patent No. 2,618,207, dated Nov. 18, 1952. Divided and this application January 9, 1952, Serial No. 272,362

2 Claims. (Cl. 242-58) This invention relates to the art of manufacturing containers and is particularly directed to apparatus for manufacturing boxes of rectangular shape, that is of the type having a bottom and four side Walls.

The present application is a division of the copending application of Vinecnt D. Hery and-Beldon L. Rich for Box Making Machine, Serial No. 727,220, iiled on February 7, 1947, now Patent No. 2,618,207.

In the form of machine disclosed in the copending application, the plastic sheet is fed from a continuous roll and blanks are severed from the roll. These blanks are fed progressively through the machine for a series of operations thereon, the ultimate product being a four-sided box, the sides of which are firmly united together. In passing through the machine of this invention, the blank is subjected to a trimming operation and successive wall forming operations at which the material is crimped or formed under heat and pressure to define a bottom and four sides. The sides are bent into substantially perpendicular positions with respect to the bottom, after which they are brought together and adhesively joined or merged at the corners. The present application relates to the mechanism for feeding the sheet material from the roll, severing it into measured lengths and advancing the severed sheets from the feeding mechanism into the box forming machine.

A further more detailed object has been accomplished in the production of a machine of the character above defined in which the plastic sheet, as fed from the reel, is `in roll form, and in which an intermittent feed device is employed which will deliver successive sections of the roll of material to the cut-off knives which sever these sections from the roll in a highly accurate manner. The material is fed an amount equal to its width, whereupon the blank as cut from the roll is square. The severed end sections or blanks are successively delivered to carrier elements and attached thereto for movement through the various work stations.

Another object is to provide for accurate alignment of the feed reel relative to the mechanisms which feed the blanks through the machine and to provide a feeding mechanism with operating devices which will not permit backlash of the roll strip when the feed pauses to permit severance.

A still further object has been to provide for accurate alignment of the reel with the mechanisms at the several stations and the blank transporting means so that the blanks are initially delivered into positions Where they are gripped by the successive carriers for accurately aligned feed through the machine.

A further object has been to provide means within the feeding mechanism whereby the length of the blanks fed and severed from the reel can be regulated in an accurate and convenient manner by adjustment of certain parts of the mechanism The several forming stations of the box machine are adjustable to permit the production of various sizes, shapes and styles of boxes; thus, the adjust- ICC ability of the feed mechanism imparts flexibility to the entire machine in respect to production requirements.

Other objects and certain advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary side View of the intake end of a box making machine, illustrating the feed mechanism of this invention mounted thereon for advancing the measured sheet blanks to the machine.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view taken similar to Figure 1 but showing the feed mechanism being retracted after having delivered a portion of the sheet, sufficient for a blank, to the first station.

Figure 3 is a side view taken similar to Figure 2 showing the feed mechanism completely retracted and in position to begin a feeding stroke. f

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken longitudinally and centrally of the intake end of the machine, this View illustrating the details of the feed rolls and the cut-oli mechanism, the cut-off mechanism being ready to begin its cutolf stroke.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the same plane as Figure 4 but showing the blank section fully advanced and the cut-olf mechanism severing the section from the plastic sheet.

Figure 6 is a top planview of the feed mechanism at the intake end of the box machine.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7 7, Figure l, further illustrating the cut-off shears and showing the mechanism at the rst station Where the blank is received and secured to one of the carriers which conveys it through the machine.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8 8, Figure 2, detailing the feed rolls.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional View taken similar to Figure 8, the View however being enlarged for the purpose of illustrating the intermittent clutches for causing feed for the upper feed roll.

. Figure l0 is the diagrammatic view depicting the intermittent drive mechanism for the feed roll.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11-11, Figure 9, detailing one of the clutches which is interposed between the feed roll and the drive for causing the aforesaid intermittent motion.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 12-12, Figure l, showing the mounting for the reel which carries the roll of plastic sheet, the view further illustrating the means for laterally adjusting the feeding reel.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line 13-13, Figure 8, illustrating the device for spreading the feed rolls when the plastic sheet is to be adjusted relative to the rolls.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 141-14, Figure 13. v

Figure l5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 15-15, Figure 12, detailing one of the guiding devices for the feed reel.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 16-16, Figure l5, further detailing the device of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line 17-17, Figure l, showing in enlarged detail the adjustable crank arm which operates the feed rack.

Figure 18 is a sectional View taken on line 18-18, Figure 17, detailing the connection between the crank arm and the rack bar.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary sectional view enlarged out of Figure 4 more fully illustrating the structure of the cut-off blade.

Figure 20 is a fragmentary sectional view enlarged out of FigurefS showing the cutting blade' in its cutting position.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the mechanism for deliveringI the' length ofV strip' to the conveyor chain, the'roll of sheet material is generally indicated at` 100. This rollV is mounted on a large spool or reel 101. The spoolV includes a central shaft 102 and side flanges 103. The shaft which traverses the collars 104 of the side flanges is supported at its endsin the grooves of bearing blocks 105 (Figure 1). These bearing blocks are fixed to lateral flanges 106 formed as apart of the side plates 107.

The side plates' 107 are part of an' adjustable unit, hereinafter described, which unit may be moved longitudinally of the machine on a base plate S (Figs. l, 6 and 7). These side plates carrying the reel, the feed rolls, and the cut-off mechanismare slidably supported on this base plate 108". One plate 107 includes; for this purpose, a dovetailed connection 109 with the base plate. The other side plate 107 is held against the vbase plate by means of a guide plate 110 lying along its outer side and adapted after adjustment to lock the side plate to the base plate by means of screws 111. The guide plate 110 overhangs a flange 112 of the si'de plate. Another guide plate 110 is provided along the inner side of the other plate having the dovetail sliding connection which guide plate engages and holds the other side plate in the same Vmanner as the one first described.

Adjustment of this reel carrying unit is accomplished by means of a cross shaft 113 having gears 114.*114 fixed thereto, the shaft being journalled in the side plates 107-107 and including a square outwardly extending end adapted to be engaged by a suitable wrench. The gears'1`1`4--114 mesh with rack bars 11S-115 fixed to the base plate. vThe plates are connected across' their top at the inner side of the feed reel by means of a cross plate or supporting bracket 116 (Figure 6) which plate functions for supporting the cutting mechanism hereinafterdescribed; Thepurpose of longitudinal adjustment of the feed roll unit on the machine is toprovide that the delivered sections of the plastic sheet will be correctly positioned with respect to the sucker elements ofthe carliers which pick the blanks up as they are cut from the roll.

lnasmuch as it is important to keep the feed reel 101 aligned with the conveyor mechanism so that the con veyors will grip the sheet accuratelyy centrally of its width, suitable mechanism is provided for adjusting the reel laterally (Figures l2, l5 and 16). Also, it is necessary to prevent free spooling since the sheetV of material would backlash. These requirements are filled by means of mechanism carried by a crossV shaft 117 r'otatively supported in the side plates 107. This cross shaft 117 is fixed against axial movement relative to the side'plates by meansof collars 118 fixed on the shaft and engaging the respective outer sides of the plates; The outer end of the shaft is square so as to receive' a wrench for rotating the shaft.

Adjacent each side plate at its inner side' there are provided adjustment blocks 120 traversed by screwthreaded portions of the shaft 117. These blocks have dovetailed connections at their bottom with a cross rail 121 fixed between the side plates so that they are guided for laterall adjustment and cannot rotate with the shaft. Each adjustment block includes a horizontalV slot within which is mounted a Contact roller 122. The axis ofV each roller 122 is parallel to the side of the respective side flange of the reel and therefore each roller has its perrphery engaging the side liange of the reel. Thus these contact rollers will revolve upon contact with the side allges 103. In addition to centering the reel, that is Properly aligning it with respect to the machine, these contact rollers when the proper adjustment is made contact the sides of the reel with suiiicient pressure to prevent overfeed and therefore backlash when the feedingmechanism advances the sheet of material. This overfeeding can readily occur when the machine is being operated at high speed. In other words, a certain amount of drag or resistance is provided sufficient to resist thc overfeed but which is not strong enough to interfere with the normal feeding or advancing movement of the feeding mechanism as hereinafter described.

Thegplastic sheet is fed by means of feed rollers 123 and 124 detailed in Figures 8 to l1 inclusive. The upper of these rolls, namely, 123 is driven. The plastic sheet passes between the rolls (Figures 4 and 5) and the lower roll 124` is adjustablenunder spring pressure toward the driven roll so as to provide a feeding contact which will not permit slippage. These rolls are journalled in the side plates 107. The upper .or driven roll has counterturned bearing extensions 125 passing through and beyond the side plates. Each one of these extensions is equipped with a clutch unit generally indicated at 126 and 12651.

The upper feed roll 123 is driven intermittently by a gear 12.7 keyed to a drive shaft 128 which projects from the' overrunning clutch 126 (Figure 9). The outer end of shaft 1-28 is journalled in a bracket 129 (Figure 8) and its opposite end is supported by the clutch 126 in axial alignment with shaft 125. Clutch 126 includes an internal driven element 130 keyed to the shaft extension 125 and providing a one-way driving connection from the outer casingv 132 of'clutch 126to shaft 125 and feed roll' 123. In other words, the feed roll is rotated during rotation of the clutch in the feed direction and remains stationary during rotation of the clutch in the opposite direction.

The one-way driving connection is provided by a series of abutment lugs 131 projecting outwardly and at a tangentY from the driven element 130 and coacting with a seriesrof rollers 134 which reside respectively in the spaces delineatedY by the lugs 131. The rollers track against the eccentric surfaces 135 of the clutchv driven element 130, and create a wedging engagement with the internal surface of the clutch casing 132 as the casing rotates in the feed direction. Coil springs 136, seated in compression between the lugs and rollers, urge the rollers constantly' in the we dging direction.

As vindicated by the arrows in Figure ll, the clutch casing (clutch 1726) is rotated in forward and reverse directions by the gear 127 and shaft 128. During right hand rotation' of casing 132, the clutch driven element 130 remains stationaryrsince the rollers 134 are urged toward the springs 136 in a direction to relax their wedging; engagement. Upon lefthand rotation of the casing, the' rollers are rolled in the wedging direction (aided by the springs) and establish africtional engagement between'the `eccentric surfaces 135 and internal casing surface, thus' rotating the driven element 130 toward the left, as indicated by the arrow. This rotates the shaft 125 and upper roller 123 in the feeding direction, indicated by the arrow in' Figure 10.

For purposes of assembly, the clutch unit is made in three'sections consisting of the shaft 128 having an integral head, a cylinder which forms the casing proper, and an end plate opposed to the head. The internalV driven element 130 is confined endwisely between the head and end plate and is ,keyed to shaft 125v as noted above. The outer end` ofshaft` 125 is counterturned to provide the pilot shaft 133'vwhich is rotatably journalled in the head. The bearing engagement of the end plate upon shaft 125 and thepilot bearing 133 sustains shafts 125 and 128 in axial alignment. j v l The over-running clutch 126g at the opposite end of feed roll 123V is a substantial duplicate of clutch 126 except that itscasing`132' is non-rotatable and locks the feed' roll againstrotation during the idling orreturn rotationy of clutchh126;v Thus, asviewed irrFigurev l0, the clutch isrotat'ihg" tow'ad theleft to drive the roll` 123 in sheet feeding direction as indicated by the arrow, the

driven element 130 of clutch 126a being free to rotate with the feed roll 123. However, during the idling or right hand rotation of clutch 126, any tendency to rotate the feed roll 123 to the right is resisted by clutch 126g since its driven element wedges with the non-rotatable casing in this direction. As best shown in Figure 9, the casing of clutch 126a is locked against rotation by the circular flange 137 which is secured by screws 138 to the side plate 107.

Briefly therefore, gear 127 is rotated in forward and reverse directions while the feed roll 123 is advanced intermittently in the sheet feeding direction as indicated by the arrow in Figure l0. Both clutches 126 and 126a operate without any lost motion and coact with one another to feed accurately measured lengths of sheet blank in response to the degree of rotation imparted to the driving clutch 126.

The gear 127 is rotated by means of a rack 140 reciprocating by means of a crank arm 141 (Figures 1 and 17). The free end of the rack, that is the portion engaging the gear 127, is slidably supported in a cradle element 142 (Figure 8) which is pivotally suspended on the drive shaft 12S between the gear and the adjacent clutch unit. The other end of the rack is pivotally attached to the end of the crank 141. The bearing element 143 of the rack journals a pivot stud 144 therein, the inner end of the pivot stud being screw-threaded into an adjustable driving block 145 which is a part of the crank arm. As will be apparent from Figure 18, the driving block is guided for movement in a channel 146 formed longitudinally along the outer surface of the crank arm. The channel includes the usual dovetail for preventing lateral displacement of the bearing block.

An adjustment screw 147, parallel to the crank arm, is rotatively journalled in the end of the crank arm opposite to the adjustment block. The end of the crank arm is recessed as at 148 which provides a wall or flange 149 traversed by the shaft or adjustment rod. Retaining collars 150 are fixed to the rod at either side of the flange 149 and the outer end of the rod is squared to receive a wrench or crank handle. The other end of the rod 147 is screw-threaded through the block 145. Thus, by rotating the rod the adjustable driving block 145 may be moved longitudinally of the crank arm and the throw thereof is varied and accordingly the amount of feed of the plastic sheet is controlled, The crank arm has a drive shaft 151 fixed thereto intermediate its length. The adjustable driving block may be moved from maximum throw at the outer end of the crank arm to a position of zero throw immediately adjacent the axis of the driving l shaft 151.

Motive power is brought up to the crank arm from a general drive shaft 152 (Figure l) mounted in the main frame 153 of the box machine. The end of this shaft adjacent the input end of the machine is supported on bearing elements 154-454. The endmost of these bearings 154 includes a secondary bearing element 155. The shaft 152 carries a bevel gear 156 fixed thereto and meshing with a bevel gear 157 fixed to the lower end of a vertical shaft 153. The shaft 158 is mounted for rotation in the secondary bearing 155 and its upper end carries a bevel gear 159 xed thereto and resting on the top of a bearing element 1611 supporting the upper end of the shaft on the top of the frame 153. The bevel gear 159 meshes with another bevel gear 161 fixed to a horizontally disposed shaft 162 also journalled in the bearing 160. The outer end of this shaft 162 carries a bevel gear 163 meshing with a bevel gear 164 carried by the shaft 151 (Fig. 17). The shaft 151 is journalled in a bearing insert 165 fixed in a recess in the side plate 107. The shaft 162 has a splined connection with the gear 161 so that general adjustment of the feed mechanism assembly on the base plate 108 will not interfere with this driving train.

Thus it will be seen that the crank arm is continuously operated for reciprocating the rack and producing intermittent feed motion of the feed roll, the clutches of the feed roll preventing back rotation when the rack is performing a return or idling movement. In order to provide for proper feeding pressure between the feed rolls, the lower roll 124 is urged upwardly by means of adjustable bearing blocks 167 (Figure 8). These bearing blocks 167 have the bearing extensions of the lower feed roll rotatively journalled therein and are themselves guided in vertical guide-ways constituted by channeled recesses 16S in the side plates and removable guide plates 169-169 (Figure 14). Springs 170-170 pressing the bearing blocks upwardly are disposed in sockets in the side plates and have their upper ends engaging the bearing blocks.

When desired, as when an adjustment of the plastic sheet is to be made, the lower roller may be held away from the feed roller, this being accomplished by means of manually operated levers 171-171. These levers are fulcrumed on the side plates (Figure 13). The outer ends of the levers 171-171 rest upon the flattened surfaces of cam elements 172-172. The other ends of the levers include lateral extensions 173 engaging the tops of the bearing blocks. The cam elements 172 are fixed to a cross shaft 174 and the outer end of this cross shaft includes a handle 175 (Figure l). Thus, rotation of the shaft by manipulation of the handle moves the lower feed roll from operative to inoperative positions.

As the strip is fed from the reel and through the feed rolls, sections are periodically cut from the strip to constitute the blanks making up the respective boxes. The cutting mechanism is generally indicated at 176 and consists primarily of a xed lower blade 177 and a movable upper blade 178, best shown in Figs. 7, 19 and 20. The lower blade 177 is xed between the side plates 1117 of the feeding assembly. Itis supported in a channel formed in the outer face of a cross plate 179 being held therein by means of screws 181B. The cross rail or plate 1'79 is supported on lugs 182 projected from the inner sides of the side plates 107.

The upper cutting blade is supported on the lower edge of a slide 183. The cutting blade itself is secured within a cross channel at the lower end of the slide by means of screws 184'. Its cutting edge is formed by chamfering the lower outer edge. The back surface and lower edge of this cutting blade come into snug contact with the outer upper edge of the lower stationary cutting blade 177. Likewise, it will be noted from Figure 7 that this movable blade has its lower longitudinal edge disposed at a slight angle to the cutting edge of the lower blade so as to procure a slicing or shearing action on the plastic sheet.

In order to make certain that the plastic sheet is held securely for the cutting operation a spring urged clamping bar 185 is mounted parallel with and in back of the upper cutting blade. This clamping bar is disposed within a channel 186 (Figures 19 and 20) with its lower edge normally projecting beneath the lower edge of the slide and beyond the cutting edge of the upper cutting blade. In order to retain the clamping bar in position when the cutting blade is in its upper position, that is, so that the springs 187 do not displace it from the channel, the channel includes a cross lip 188 at its lower end cooperating with a cross flange 159 on the clamping bar. The lip and flange are in engagement when the cutting blades are not performing a cut. The coil springs 187 are Vdisposed between the upper surface of the clamping bar and the upper surface of the channel which contains the clamping bar.

T he lower surface of the clamping bar includes a facing strip of rubber indicated at 191D, this strip providing a contact surface which grips the plastic sheet against the `upper surface of the lower cutting knife 177 which resides directly beneath the facing strip 190. As shown in Figure 20, the clamping bar engages the plastic sheet prior to the cutting operation, the upper cutting knife moving relative thereto as the slide descends. The slide is guided relative to the inner forward edges of the side plates 107 and is held in this guided relationship by means of plates 191 (Fig. 7).

Movement is imparted to the slide 133 through the following mechanism: A bevel gear 192 is xed to the shaft 1621 (Figure l) and meshes with the gear 193 fixed to the lower end of a shaft 194 extending vertically along the side of the side plate 107. The side plate includes anges 195-195 at right angles to each other which support the shaft 162 and the shaft 194. The upper end of the shaft 194 is supported in a lug 1% which forms a part of the cross plate 116 supported upon the respective side plate 167. A further shaft 197 is disposed horizontally between and mounted within lugs 19d-199 formed on the top of the plate 116.

The outer end of the shaft 197 carries a bevel gear meshing within a bevel gear 261 fixed to the upper end of the shaft 194. A cam 292 is iixed to the shaft adjacent the lug 199 and above the central portion of the slide. An actuating bracket 203 is fixed to a lug 204 centrally of the top edge of the slide and this bracket carries a roller (not shown) riding in the cam track of the cam 202. The track of the earn is formed so as to synchronize the cutting movement with the feed of the plastic sheet so that the blank is cut off when the proper amount has been fed and when the feeding mechanism is idle.

As shown in Figure 2, the feed roll is stationary, its operating rack starting to retract in the idling movement preparatory to the next delivery of the plastic sheet. The plastic sheet blank which has been cut off is now disposed at the first station of the box machine. As indicated, the severed blank is in the process of being gripped by the suckers arranged around the top of one of the carriers 20S.

First 0r initial blank forming station The mechanism employed at this first station is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 7. The main shaft 152 which is supported in bearings 154 in the lower frame or body 153 of the machine carries a cam 239 fixed thereto and disposed between the bearing elements 154-154. The track of this cam is engaged by the roller 240 of the pivoted lever 241. The lever 241 has its pivoted end supported on a pivot pin 242 mounted between the bearing brackets 154-154. Between the bearing brackets 154-154 at the center of the machine there is provided a bearing element 243 in which a vertically translatable rod 24d is slidably mounted. The lower end of this rod incorporates a laterally extended pin 245 disposed in the slot 246 in the end of the lever 241, thus providing a exr ible connection between the pivot arm and the rod.

A square plate 247 is attached to the upper end of the rod 244 between nut elements 24S engaged upon the rod and abutting the upper and lower sides of the plate. Four rods 249 extend upwardly from this plate specifically from each corner thereof and these rods in turn are guided in a bearing member 250 mounted upon the top of the frame member (Figure 7). These bearing members 25d throughout the stations provide the support for the chain guide channel 226 which is xed in grooves in the respective members. The pairs of rods at each side of the guide channel carry the elevating plates 212 on their upper ends, these plate being normally disposed at a plane just above the chain track, that is when the elevating plates are not in upper positions for permitting the formation of the box structure at the respective stations.

As described in the aforesaid patent, these elevating plates 212 act upon the particular carrier 265 as it comes up to the rst station. As they are elevated by the cam 239 they pick up the carrier by coming up under it. Indexing pins (not shown) tix the carrier in positive nonrotative position with respect to the plates. At this rst station (Figures 4 and 5) the synchronization of the machine causes the elevating plates to pick up the particular carrier 205 just prior to the operation of cutting oif the blank from the main strip of plastic. The elevating plates are effective for bringing the carrier upwardly and pressing the end section of the plastic sheet against an abutment arm 251 which is fixed to the end of the upper frame 252. This engagement of the end section of the plastic sheet under pressure against the foot or pad 253 of the arm 251 causes a number of suction cups on the top of the carrier 265 to grip the plastic sheet firmly. Immediately following this operation the section is cut off and the blank is then under the full control of the carrier to which it is attached. Referring back to the elevating plates 212, it is pointed out that they extend longitudinally of the machine between the respective pairs of rods which support them, being mounted on elements 24 which provide anges disposed horizontally and xed to the under sides of the elevating plates. As disclosed in the patent, the carrier elements Zil are conveyed serially through the forming stations by a conveyor chain and are raised and lowered between the conveyor chain and the forming mechanism at the several forming stations by elevating plates 212 which are located at each station. The conveyor chain is provided with a series of carrier receivers and the carriers 2455 each include a plug which enters the receiver when the elevating plates lower the carrier back to the conveyor. ri`he conveyor advances intermittently in time with the vertical reciprocations of the elevator plates, such that the conveyor is effective to advance the carriers from station to station While elevating plates at each station elevate and lower the carriers. At the discharge end of the machine, the carriers are returned by the lower run of the conveyor chain to the first station where they are elevated by the elevating plates 212 to engage the suction cups upon the blank as outlined above.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A feed mechanism for linealiy measuring and advancing a strip length of sheet material from a continuous roll, said mechanism adapted to present the measured strip length at a predetermined longitudinal position to the suction element of a box making machine or the like, said feed mechanism comprising a base, a pair of spaced vertical support plates, slide bearings on said plates engaging the base for longitudinal movement of the plates on said base, bearing means on said support plates rotatably mounting said roll of sheet material, a pair of feed rollers rotatably journalled between said spaced plates, a gear connected to one of said rollers for rotating the same, the sheet material extending from the roll being engaged between said roliers for advancement upon rotation thereof, a rack meshing with said gear, a crank arm rotatably mounted on one of said support plates, means connected to the crank arm for rotating the same, a pivot stud connecting an end of said rack to said crank arm, shiftable means connecting the said pivot stud to the crank arm to vary the position of the pivot stud relative to the arm, thereby to measure the length of sheet material advanced by the rollers upon reciprocation of the rack, releasable clamping means on the base engaging the support plates, a cross shaft extending transversely between said support plates and rotatably journalled therein, a gear keyed to said cross shaft, a rack mounted upon said base and in mesh with said gear, rotation of said cross shaft being effective to shift the side plates in a direction parallel to the direction of advancement of said sheet .in accordance with the position of said pivot stud and to advance the measured sheet to a predetermined longitudinal position relative to the said suction element.

2. A feed mechanism for lineally measuring and advancing a strip length of sheet material from a continuous roll, said mechanism adapted to present the measured strip length at a predetermined longitudinal position tothe suction element oi a box makin-g machine or the like, said feed mechanism comprising a base, a pair of spaced vertical support plates, slide bearings on said plates engaging the base for longitudinal movement of the plates on said base, bearing means t n said support plates rotatn ably mounting said roll of sheet material, a pair of feed rollers rotatably journalled between said spaced plates, a gear connected to one of said rollers for rotating the same, the sheet material extending from the roll being engaged between said rollers for advancement upon rotation thereof, a rack meshing with said gear, a crank arm rotatably mounted on one of said support plates, means connected to the crank ann for rotating the same, a pivot stud connecting an end or said rack to said crank arm, shiftable means connecting the said pivot sind to the crank arm to vary the position of the pivot stud relative to the arm, thereby to measure the length of sheet material advai-iced by the rollers upon reciprocation of the rack, releasable clamping means on the base engaging the support plates, a cross shaft extending; transversely between said support pla-tes and rotatably journalled therein, 'a pair of gears keyed to said cross sh Et at opposite end portions thereof, a pair of racks mounted upon said base 10 and in rnesh with said gears, rotation of said cross shaft i eing eective `to shift the side plates in a direction parallel to the direction of advancei: 'ant of said sheet in accordance with the position of sain pivot stud and to advance the measured sheet to a predetermined longitudinal position relative to the said suction element.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 398,119 White Nov. 18, 1884 859,537 Ballard July 9, 1907 954,751 Mann Apr. 12, 1910 1,169,767 Bresnan Feb. l, 1916 1,348,976 Antman Aug. 10, 1920 1,370,514 Brady et ai. Mar. S, 1921 1,591,413 Ferguson July 6, 1926 1,634,196 iones June 28, 1927 1,955,806 Hartley Apr. 24, 1934 2,317,675 De Burgh Apr. 27, 1943

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