US2900882A

US2900882A - Method and apparatus for forming triangular posts

Info

Publication number: US2900882A
Application number: US674253A
Authority: US
Inventors: Theobald Albert Paul
Original assignee: Waldorf Paper Products Co
Current assignee: Waldorf Paper Products Co
Priority date: 1957-07-25
Filing date: 1957-07-25
Publication date: 1959-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 1976-08-25

Description

Aug. 25, 1959 A. P. THEOBALD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING TRIANGULAR POSTS R o 1 mm m wb m m m S L w m fi T w a AB 5 A.

m b A Filed July 25, 1957 ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1959 A. P. THEOBALD 2,900,882

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING TRIANGULAR POSTS Filed July 25, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 WZ /55 A 5 INVENTPOR A/berf Paul T/zeobo/a' Q0511 m@ a ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1959 A. P. THE OBALD 0,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING TRIANGULAR POSTS Filed July 25, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR M V T73. 52 A Alba/"2 Pou/ Theobald A. P. THEQBALD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING TRIANGULAR POSTS Filed July 25, 1957 Aug. 25, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR v A/berf Paul Theobald ATTORNEY United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING TRIANGULAR POSTS Albert Paul Theobald, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Company, Wabash, Minm, a corporation of Minnesota Application July 25, 1957, Serial No. 674,253

19 Claims. (Cl. 93-84) This invention relates to an improvement in triangular post forming machines and deals particularly with a method and apparatus forming triangular corner posts useful in the reinforcing of shipping cases and the like.

The shipment of heavy appliances in paper board containers has increased considerably during recent years. In many instances the appliance such as a washing machine, dryer, or other such bulky and heavy object is bolted or otherwise secured to a wooden base frame and the appliance is enclosed within a heavy case of corrugated board or the like. In order to prevent injury to the appliance during the storage and shipment, and to permit the stacking ofone such appliance upon the other without resulting damage, triangular corner posts made of heavy corrugated board are being used. One such post is inserted in each corner of the shipping container and acts to hold the shipping container in properly spaced relation from the appliance. These corner posts are extremely strong and resistant to vertical compression and as a result the shipping cases may be piled one upon the other without damage to the appliances.

Formerly these posts had been produced by ahand operation. Usually the corner posts are made of four hingedly connected panels, two of which are overlapped and adhered or otherwise fastened together. In view of the fact that posts of this type cannot be nested together, they require considerable space to store and are likewise uneconomical to ship. Thus it is usually most practical to form the posts from flat sheets of corrugated board at the point of shipment of the appliances. The cost of producing these posts manually is high and as a result the posts would normally add very materially to the cost of the container. It is an object of the present invention to produce a method and apparatus forming these posts, the apparatus taking the flat sheets, folding them into proper form and adhering them together.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of an apparatus which acts to plunge a fiat sheet of corrugated board or the like into a suitable pocket in a manner to prebreak all of the'fold lines along which the board is creased. The edge panels of the series are next folded into overlapping relation and adhered in this position. The triangular post then passes through a compression unit which acts to hold the overlapped panels in surface contact during the drawing of the adhesive. As a final step of the series, the overlapped panels which form the diagonal panels of the corner post are creased or kinked inwardly so as to lend flexibility to this inner diagonal wall of the post structure. a

A feature of the present invention resides in the pro vision of an apparatus which operates automatically in cycles to form a complete post during each cycle. When the machine is operated, a feed mechanism moves a flat blank from storage position to position to be formed over the forming pocket. A plunger next forces the sheet down into the forming pocket prebreaking all of the scores of the sheet. A laterally extending folding mem- ICC her next moves against the prebroken sheet and folds:

one of the panels to be overlapped into horizontal position. As the next cycle of operation begins, and as the next sheet is fed into position over the forming pocket,

the remaining panel to be overlapped is folded downinto surface contact with the first folded of these overlapping panels and the two are adhered together. As the corner post moves from beneath the forming plunger, it.

acts to advance the corner posts which have been previously formed through the compression unit. As each corner post arrives at a final position in the compression; unit, the two overlapped panels are longitudinally creased or folded together to give the double thickness wall fiexibility.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the description- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a post forming machine showing the general arrangement of parts therein.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view looking toward the feet end of the apparatus, the position of the section being indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing a detail of th gluing mechanism. t

Figure 4 is a sectional detail showing the connection between the main operating plunger and the feed plate.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the detail con: struction illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the glue applicating cylinder illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the post folding mechanism, the position of the section being indicated by the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the folding mechanism shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view through an end portion of the mechanism showing the manner in which the formed posts are creased.

Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are diagrammatic sectional views through the apparatus showing various which the posts are formed.

Figure 17 is an end view of the post sheet at the start of the forming operation.

Figure 18 is a sectional view through the packing case at the topof the corner posts, the position of the section being indicated by the line 18-18 of Figure 19.

Figure 19 is a sectional view vertically through the packing case outwardly of the corner posts, the position of the section being indicated by the line 19-19 of Figure 18.

The corner posts are indicated in general by the letter A and are formed of the blank best illustrated in Figure 16 of the drawings. The corner posts are formed of a generally rectangular sheet and are folded along three

parallel fold lines

10, 11, and 12 to form an end panel 13, a pair of

intermediate panels

14 and 15, and end panel 16. The

end panels

13 and 16 include a central fold line, the panel 13 being divided by a central fold line 17 and the panel 16 being divided by a central fold line 19. The

central fold lines

17 and 19 are designed to provide flexibility of the diagonal wall of the post as will be later described.

Figures 18 and 19 indicate a typical use for the corner posts A.

These figures show a generally rectangular container having spaced

parallel side walls

20 and 21 and spaced Patented Aug. 25, 1959 3 parallel front and rear walls 22 and 23, the various walls being rectangularly connected into tubular relation.

The container, which is indicated in general by the letter B isdesigned to'contain an appliance such as an elec-tric :gas dryer "C. The walls of this drye'r'are spaced from the corresponding walls of the outer con-. tai-nerand t-he-tzlryer is mount-ed upon a generally rectangular wooden platform indicated in general by the numeral 24. :A corner post A is provided at each vertrcal corner of the container with the single thickness panels 14 and-15 in surface contact with the adjoining vertical panels of the container and with the overlapped

panels

13 and 16 extending diagonally across the -corners of the container. Thesepanels 13 audio are bent inwardly somewhat as indicated in Figure 18 "of the drawingsso as to :provide a cushioning effect and to hold tliewalls of the container in space relation from the surface of the dryer C. As is indicated in Figure 19 of the drawing the bottom of the container is closed by closing naps '25 "which extend 'benea'th'therplat'form 24 while the top of "the container is closed by closing flaps "26. I

Willbesee'h that because of tlieres'is'tanceto compression of the "corner posts, the containers are extremely strong mayb'e'p'ackied one upon the other to"a"con sidera'ble height in spite "of the weight of "the 'dry'ers contained.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows the general assembly of the apparatus, a portion of the compression unit bein hfdkenaway' s'othat the overall size of the apparatus may be shown on a larger scale. The forming "end er the apparatus is shown as including a frame which is ifidfcatch in gerieral' by -the'nunieral27 and which is supported by suitable leg units such 2 9, SOand 31. The'frarne 27 -includes'" as'a*parta' table surface 32"wl1'ich is elongated longitudinally-of the apparatus and which is lo'r'igitudinal-ly "slotted as iiidicated at '33 at least throughout the fee'd end po'r tion of the apparatus. The center portion of the table-is reinforced 'by longitudinally entehdih ahels s l showh' in Figures l' 'a'hd 5.

A hopper 35 is"supporte'd to-eXtend' upwa'rdlyfrom the table to -32m the feed end efthe apparatus. Theh'op- -.per' 35 may include a rear wall 36which' extend's' along one side of the apparatus, and side walls 37 and 39wh'i'ch extend-along the forward and rear sides of-the fe'edportion to' contain a seriesof blanks A in "superimposed relation. As indicated in-' Fi-gures 2 and "3 "of the drawings; the forward wall 37' terminates slightly above table top 32 to provide a slot 40 through which' the lowermost blank A may move.

The apparatus includes a feed plate for-=mo'ving the lowermost 'blank -A from the superimposed :ipositio'n in the hopper; 35 to an advanced position-fonforming. Phis feed plate is indicated in Figures 1, 4 and '5 of the drawing s and is designatedby the :numeral 41. The .plate 41 includes "a thin forwardly projecting portion 42 which at all titties 'rem'a'iirs beneath at least an edge of the carton bl'ariks A when the feed plate 4-1 is in full-retracted position which would be slightly to the right of the position indicated in'Figure 4. The plate 41 is' provided with a tapered rear edge '43 so the plate 'canslide freely beneath superimposed blanks. V Ab'ove'the level of'the thin forward'portion'42 is provided a series of forwardly extending "fingers "44 Which project forwardly and "engage the-lowermost blank A' to move "this lowermost blank into po'stfOr'm'ihg position upon reciprocation of the plate ll.

'Anbperatingcylinder 45'shdvs7n i'n Figures 1 and 2 of' tlie'dr'awing is mounted on a'suitable super structure beneath the feed table and apistonwithin the-cylinder 45 is connected to an elongated piston 'r'od 47 extendiiig he'n'e'ath the table 32 and below thecentra'lslot 33 therein. A vertical web 49 is provided with alongitudin'al bearing '50 at its lower edge to accommodatefthe 49 is connected to the under surface of the feed plate 41, the web extending through the slot 33. Thus reciprocation of the piston within the cylinder 45 acts to reciprocate the feed plate 41 to move a carton blank from the bottom of the superimposed blank to a forming position.

As is evident from Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings a sleeve 5'1'i's provided oneither side of the web 49' having eccentric pivots 52'or1 the-ends thereof. Rollers 53 are supported on the eccentric pivots .52. A bolt 54 extends axially through one sleeve 51 and through the eccentric thereon, extends through the web 49 and is threaded axially into the other sleeve 51. By loosening the bolt 54, either efbefh sl'e'e'v'e's may "berotated to adjust the relation of the rollers *53 against :the under surface of the reinforcing channels 34 to hold the feed plate in surface contact with the table 32. Stated otherwise, the guide plate '41 and the rollers 53 cooperate to prevent vertical movement of the web 49 during its travel. 7

An opening55=is provided in the table 32 .formerlyof the hopper 35, aportion of this opening being broken awayi n Figure '1 to disclose the lowermechanism. :As is indicated in-

Fi'gures

2, 10, and 11 of the drawing, one side of the pocketinc'ludes :a downwardly inc'l'ine'd'lip terminating in 'vertically extending lower edge flange 57. The other side of the pocket 55 also includes a downwardly and inwardly inclined flange 59 and a downwardly extending vertical panel 60 which is somewhat longer-than the marginal edge 57. "The ,panel 60' is provided on its inner surface-with a horizontally extending bar 61 the-lower edge of which forms a shoulder for a purpose which will be later described more in detail. Thepocket 5 5 is :slightly longer than the blank A so th'ait the entire blaiikmaybe plunged down j'into this pocket in a manner which will be more completely described.

An upright '62 extends upwardly from the frame 2 7 and a boxdike support 63 is mounted ontheuptightffl to extend transversely t'o'th'e longitudinal axis of the machine. The support 63-supportsa verticalrnounting panel- '64 to which is secureda vertical cylinder-"65. The cylinder "65 acts as a 'slid'ahle support for a pistonto which is attadhed a piston rod66 whichis'vertic-al ly-*re cipi'ocable. A tubular sleeve 67 is attached to thepiston rod '66 to reciprocate vertically therewith. A"bracke t 69 is provided at theYl'ower end of the sle'eve 70, '*-the bracket 69 'being connected along opposite-parallel "hinges "to a pair'of plates '71 which are connected "V-shape' relation. 'A 'second pair "of plates 7-2 and 73 are arranged in V s'hap'e"relation, but-are'at a greater angle apart than the plates 70 and 71. The apex or-juncture between the V shapepI'ates "70*and 71' "is 'hingedly connected at 7'4 to the apex' between'the plates-'72 and-73. Thus one p'air of V-shape plates pan-hingerelattive-to the-other.

A pair er bracesWS extend between thei sleeve 67 iand the iiite'rior er the connected al-shaped 'plates 'fit) andk7l to forrna brace for the construction and to lrold the plates with their-"ape'xjin-a horizontal 'plane. While-de scribing the "feed table and various other elements as being onahorizontzilplane, it should be understood that in "actual practiee the entire machine may incline upwardly to some extent so that the hopper-35 is at the lower e'n'd' of ,the machine and the finished-*posts are ejected from the higher'end' thereof for-"the purpose of convenience.

"Thelpurpo'se' 'o f the arrangement just-described is' t'o fold the blank- A from a fiat condition into the form illustrated in Figure 10 of=the-*'drawin'gs. 'The apparatus zinelude *a" sl'ib 'tab'le 7 6' forming apart of frame- 27 and onto which 'the bl'ank's-are plunged. "A ibracket' 77 1e'sts upon the sub -table' 76 'and supports a 'guideplate 79 at auacuteangleto the table 76 beneaththecenter portion o'fthe-poeket '55. "As the plunger 66=moves downwardly, the hinge lineor'ap'ex "74 of' thelowermost' 'conneetetl 'plates 72*and 7 ism'oved against theblank 'al'ong-the central line era-rem 1 1- of the blank. (Continued dawn ward movement of the plunger causes the two plates 72 and 73 to engage wtih equal force againstthe

panels

14 and 15 on opposite sides of the central fold line 11, both plates assuming a substantially equal angle to the horizontal. As the blank is of substantially equal width on opposite sides of the central fold line 11, the blank is bent along this line and urged downwardly into the pocket, the vertical edges 57 and 60 of the opposite sides of the pocket tending to fold the blank along the fold lines and 12 so that the longitudinal edges of the blank including the

panels

13 and 16 extend in substantially vertical relation. This plunging action continues until the panel 14 underlying the plate 72 engages against the inclined panel 79 on the sub frame 76. Further downward action of the plunger causes the combined plates 72 and 73 to hinge along the hinge axis 74 until the plate 72 engages against the plate 70. At this point, the plate 73 is in horizontal position and acts to fold the panel into horizontal position. At this point of the proceduer, the marginal edge of the panel 16 engages beneath the bar 61 as is indicated in Figure 10 of the drawings, thus folding the blank in the form illustrated in this figure. The plunger may then be reciprocated upwardly, leaving the partially folded blank in the arrangement shown in Figure 10 at the bottom of the pocket 55'.

As indicated in Figures 2 and 7 of the drawings, a supporting plate 80 extends laterally from the frame 27 and is supported in a generally horizontal position by a supporting brace 81. The plate 80 acts to support a transversely extending cylinder 82 including a piston connected to a piston rod 82. A plate 84 is supported for transverse slidable movement beneath the sub-table A lug 86 is provided on the under surface of the slidable plate 84 through which the piston 83 extends, and the piston rod is connected to this lug by nuts 87 or other suitable means. As is indicated in Figure l, the sub table 76is notched as indicated at 89 and an angle bracket 90 is connected to the extremityof the slidable plate 84 and extends through the notch 89. The angle bracket 90 supports a pair of

plates

91 and 92 which are arranged in V-shape relation. The plate 92 is angled upwardly from the sub table 76 in opposed relation to the angle of the plate '79 while the plate 91 extends in a substantially horizontal plane. As is indicated in Figure 8 of the drawings the plate 73 is notched at regular intervals as indicated at 93 so that the plate 73 is in effect a series of figures. The lower edge of the plate 92 is similarly notched to provide spaced fingers 94. The fingers 94 at the lower edge of the plate 92 extend between the fingers forming the plate 73 or into the notches 93 so that the lower edge of the fingers 94 may interfit with the plate 73 when the angle 90 bearing the

plates

91 and 92 is moved laterally.

As a next step of the operation of the apparatus, the piston within the cylinder 82 is actuated to move the plate 84 to the left as viewed in Figures 2, 10, and 11. The figures 94 extend beneath the blank A at the juncture between the

panels

15 and 16 or along the fold line 12 so as to tilt the panel 15 upwardly. The movement of the angle bracket at 90 to the left from the position shown in Figure 10 also brings the plate 91 against the panel 16 and folds this panel 16 into the horizontal position. Thus when the bracket 90 is in the position shown in Figure 11 of the drawings, the

panels

14 and 15 of the blank A are in V-shape relation and are approximately 90 degrees apart while the panel 16 is in horizontal position forming a triangular structure. At this point, the panel 13 of the blank is still in vertical position as shown in Figure 11.

Referring back at this point to the feeding movement of the carton blank from its position within the hopper 35 to its position above the pocket 55 adhesive is applied to a portion of the upper surface of the panel 13. This is accomplished by a glue mechanism indicated in general by the numeral 95 andshown mounted upon the hopper wall 37 in Figure 2 of the drawings. This structure is shown somewhat more in detail in Figures 3 and 6 of the drawing. Obviously other means of applying the adhesive may be employed, but the one specifically illustrated in the drawings has certain advantages which will become apparent upon the description of this apparatus.

A hinge plate 96 is mounted upon the hopper wall 37 and is provided with horizontally aligned bearings 97 along its lower edge. A second hinge plate 99 is hingedly connected to the hinge plate 96 by the hinge pin 100. The hinge plate 99 supports an angle bracket 101 which in turn supports a transversely extending cylindrical sleeve 102. As is indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings, the sleeve 102 is slotted in its lower extremity at 103, and preferably the sleeve includes a series of slightly spaced longitudinally aligned slots although a single slot could also be employed. An upwardly extending pin 103 is provided upon the hinge plate 99 and this pin is freely slidably in a sleeve 104. A spring connects the upper end of the sleeve 104 to the fixed hinge plate 96 and this spring 105 normally tends to pull the upper end of the sleeve 104 toward the hopper wall 37 to hold the sleeve 102 slightly elevated above the table 32.

A lever arm 1% is hingedly connected at 107 to a fixed portion of the frame such as to the upright 62 and a fluid cylinder 109 is hingedly connected at 110 to the hopper wall 3'7 and includes a piston connected to the piston rod 111 which bears against an intermediate part of the lever arm 106. Once fluid under pressure is introduced into the cylinder 109 the piston rod 111 is moved to the left as viewed in Figure 3 thus acting to swing the lever arm 106 about its pivot 107 in a clockwise direction.

A spring 112 connects the lower end of the lever arm 106 to the upper end of the sleeve 104 opposite its con nection with the spring 105. When the piston within the cylinder 109 is in its normal position, to which it is biased by the spring 113, the spring 112 is relaxed and permits the spring 105 to raise the cylinder 102 above the level of the table 32. However when fluid under pressure is introduced into the cylinder 109, swinging the lever arm 106 in a clockwise direction, the spring 112 is elongated and placed under sufficient tension to swing the cylinder 102 against the surface of a blank A which is at that time traveling beneath the cylinder.

As is indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings, one end of the cylinder 102 is connected to an adhesive reservoir 114 by a flexible conduit 115. A valve 116 is provided in this conduit and the adhesive in the reservoir 114 is under pressure. Thus when the valve 116 is open, adhesive under pressure is forced into the cylinder 102 and through the slots 103 for application to the blank A. The slots 103 in the cylinder 102 are properly proportioned relative to the viscosity of the adhesive used so that when the pressure is withdrawn, no adhesive will flow through the slots. Stated otherwise, the adhesive must be forced from the cylinder by pressure which is only applied during the movement of the blank A beneath the cylinder 102. Simultaneously with the opening of the valve 116, pressure is also applied to the cylinder 109 so as to hold the glue cylinder 102 in surface contact with the blank A during application of the adhesive.

Thus it will be apparent that as the blank A moves from storage position in the hopper 36 to position over the pocket 55, adhesive is applied to the upper surface of the panel 13. When the blank A is forced into the pocket 55 by the plunger structure which may be designated in general by the numeral 117, the adhesively coated surface is on the right side of the panel 13 as it is viewed in the Figure 10. Thus the adhesive surface will contact the panel 16 when the blank is in completely folded condition.

. The structure for initiating the folding of the panel 13 is bestindicated in Figures 7 and 12 of the drawings. As shown in the former figure, a pivot '1 19is supported by a bracket 1-20 mounted upon a fixed upright portion 121' of "-theframework. A sleeve 122 pivotally supported upon the pivot 119 and an angularly extending folding arm 5123 is supported by the sleeve 122 to pivot in unison therewith. The arm 123 is provided with an .end portion 124 which projects beyond the sleeve .122. A oam' pi-n 125 is mounted upon the plate84 and projects through *a slot I126 in the'subtable 7.6 which may be seen in Figure 7 of the drawings. This cam pin 125 engages the end 124 of the folding am 123 and swings .this folding arm-in a counter clockwise direction about its pivot 119 as the plate 84 nears the extremityof its stroke and after the panel 1 6-has been folded down into horizontal position by the plate 91. As-a result of this movement, the panel'13 is folded down -to overlie the plate '91. However, the arm 123 is so bent that the adhesively coated undersurface of the panel 13 does not contact the plate 91.

This completes a cycle of operation. However, :beforethe plate 84 is projected into its open position, the next feeding operation starts. A plunger 129 which is shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings is anchored to the web 49 which connects the feeder plate of .41 to the piston rod 47 connected to the piston in the feeder cylinder -45. Thus the plunger arm 129 ope-rates in unisonwith the feeder plate. A pressure plate 130 is supported at the end of the plunger 129, the plunger 129 and plate 130 acting to force the folded posts into the compression portion of the apparatus. As indicated in Figure 1 and Figure 7 of the drawings the upper plate 91 forming a part of the lateral folding mechanism is notched as indicated at 13 1 to permit the pressure plate 130 to start urging thefo'lded post beneath a folding horn 132 illustrated in Figures 1 and 7 of the drawings to complete the folding operation. The pressure plate 130 moves the folded blank A suificiently to engage the forward end of the post beneath the folding horn 132. At this stage of the-operation, fluid is introduced into the oylinder'82 to urge the plate 84 to the right as indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings, thus withdrawing the

inclined plates

91 and 92 from engagement with the carton blank and simultaneously :releasing the cam .pin 125 from its engagement with'theend124of the folding arm 123 and permitting the spring 133 to return thisfolding horn to its normal retracted position.

As the forward end of the blank A engages .beneath the folding horn 132, and forward movement .of the plunger 129 and its pressure plate 130 continues, the

panel :13 is urged against the panel 16 and adhered thereto with-the adhesive '-Whl0h has already been applied to the .undersurface of the panel 13. The compression unit is 1 indicated in :general .by the numeral 134. In general, thiscompression unit includes a pair of plates Y135 and 136 which are arranged in a V-shape relation-and secured at their lower extremity .137 .to a suitable support such as l39. The .upperiedges of the inclined .

plates

135 and 136..are provided with right angularly extending flanges 140 ;and.141 respectively. These flanges .140 and 1.41 acttozsupportspaced pivots 142 and 143 respectively which supp r rollers 1.44am 14.5. These roller enga the panels 14 and n ear their point of connection with fl e an e,1 ;13.-and 1-6 respectively and assistin reducing the force required to push the posts through the pornpression unit. Y

.The cornpression member alsoincludes an upperframe member 146 which supports spaced hangers "147 which in mm support an angle iron 149just above the level of the upper-surface-ofthe folded blank A. The angle 149 incl de a v rtical fla g wh c upp t spa p vots 1150 which support snaced rollers .5 Efh s the t p of :the ipost -,.-is 53,150 held in proper position .during "movement .of the post ;through :the compression :unit. The rollers 151 combine with the rollers 144.:and1'45t0 :hold the post in proper form during the-drying-of the adhesive.

'WithTeferen'ee now :to Figure 14 of the drawings; and with further referenceto Figures 1 and-.9, it will ,:be noted .thata fr'amework is supported by. .the irame legs 31' including :a table .152 and a pair of spaced

vertical channels

153 and 154 connected by cross connecting .channels- 155. .At .theientrance end .of this framework-a downwardly projecting bracket 156 is provided which $1. 1 ports a transverse pivot157 which actsas a pivot 0 7 acreasingwheel159. Theereasingwheel 159 is located beyond the .end .of the rollers previously described and at this point of the operation, the folded blank is supported by .an inclined plate .160 which may be the end of sthe .plate .136 :and :by .an angularly inclined flange 161 which may provide a narrowed extension .Of the .plate 135. An angle bracket '162is supported inwardly -;0f the .channel :153 ;by spacing members 163. An angle plate 164 rests upon v:the table :152 or is supported slfightf 1y above this table and thevertical flange 165 of this angle 164 supports an angular guide 166 through the medium .of spacers 167. The {plate 160 with its flange 161, combined with the angular guides 162 and 1 66 guide :the post in :its movement as the creasing :wheel 159 engages the central portions of the .adhered panels .13 and 16, foldingthese panels inwardly along heir central fold lines 17 .and119.

As is indicated in Figure .9 of the drawings, t-the table 152 also supports .a third vertical channel member 169 which fis'also connected .;to the channels .153 and 154 by the transverse .channels 155. The .channels,1 6.9 2.61 aisupporrt-ior :a transverse cylinder 177.0 which includes a piston connected to she .connecting rod .171. The vend of theypiston :rod .or connecting .rod 171 is connected to the:vertical:flange 1'72.of.a.channel:173. The other vertical side 174oitheehannel 173 is connected to a plurality of pushing rods 175 which are connecte :1 .1 6 5 319 bracket 164. .A spring 176 connects the channel flange 17 4 to the .channel 169 .to retract the plunger v17 1 when the pressure is not experienced in this .cylinder.

When L'flllid is introduced .into the cylinder 70, the plunger r171 slides the channel 173 to the right acting through the push rods .175 to force the ,angle members 164 219 the right as viewed in Figure .9. This causes the blank A-to be lkinked inwardly in the manner illustrated in thedrawings to form a definite break in the double panels which will form the diagonal panels extending across theconnersof .thecase. Figure 9 of the drawings shows the blank A Elll bent form. The

panels

13 and 16 always fold inwardly due to the :fact that they have been broken inwardly :to some extent by the creasing roller 159. After the :blank has :been, bent into the form shown in..Figure 9, thepressure .in .the cylinder 1.70 is released and the springs :177 return-theangle member 16.4 to its normal retracted position shown in Figure 14 .of'the drawings. Due to theresilience .of .the material storming the post, the posts will-partially return to their normal position and willremain in approximately the cross-sectional shape illustrated in Figure 1.4 of .the drawings.

The operation ofthe apparatus has, for the most part, been .desoribedin conjunction with the description of the device. As ashort vsummary of the operation, the .cycle began with .the rfeed plate 4-1 and plunger 129 in the retracted-position illustrated in Figure 1, with the plunger mechanism 1117 .in elevated .position, and withthe laterallyoperating folding .plates 91and92 in post :forming positionas ihown in Figure 11.1 .of the drawing, and with the :folding horn 123 also in .postforming,positionshown in Figure 12. Fluid .under pressure is applied to the plungercylinder .45 tending to retract the piston in this cylinder and to move the plunger 129 and feed .plate .41 tothe left from .the .positionishownin Figure 1. The feed plate .picks up .the lowermost .blank Aofthe stack of ;the blanks ewithinzthe .hoper .35 and the pressure plate ofthe'plunger r129 enters the .V.=shaped space formed ;by the :fixed :plate .14 .and .the..=r noveable plate :92, th P t sure plate :130 entering :the (notch e31.-=at :the end .cfztlle top'folding plate 91. This motion continues until the blank A is fed into position above the forming pocket 55 and any post in the forming pocket is formed into .the compression unit. However, during this operation, fluid is applied to the cylinder 82 to force the folding plzates 91 and 92 out of the path of the pressure plate 13 As the blank is fed into place, the forward edge of the blank passes beneath the glue applicator cylinder 102 which is in slightly raised position above the table 32. Just at the time the forward edge of the blank passes beneath the glue cylinder 102, pressure is applied to the cylinder 109 applying tension to the spring 112 and swinging the glue cylinder 102 against the upper surface of the blank. Simultaneously, pressure is applied to the valve 116 to open this valve and to transmit pressure to the glue cylinder 102 to force adhesive from this cylinder. Thus during travel of the blank beneath the glue cylinder, glue is applied to a portion of the upper surface of the panel 13.

When the feed plate 41 and plunger 129 reach fully retracted position or the limit of movement of the piston within the cylinder 45 fluid is automatically applied to the opposite end of the cylinder 45 tending to project the piston rod 47 and to return the feed plate 41 and plunger 129 to their starting position. When this movement is accomplished, fluid is automatically applied to the cylinder 65 to lower the plunger element 117 against the blank and to force the blank into the pocket 55.

As the plunger assembly 117 moves downwardly, the hinge plates 72 and 73 engage the approximate center of the blank A or along the fold line 11 which tends to fold the blank centrally into sections. During this operation, the plate 73 swings upwardly so that equal pressure is applied to both sides of the blank. This folding operation continues until the panel 14 of the blank engages the inclined fixed plate 79 and limits the lowering the portion of this panel. As a result, the plate 72 swings toward the fixed plunge-r plate 70 and the plate 73 swings toward horizontal position to move the blank into position illustrated in Figure 10. In this position the panel 14 is inclined to the angle of the fixed plate 79, the adjoining panel 13 is in substantially vertical position against the pocket flange 57, the panel 15 is horizontal against the bottom of the pocket, and the panel 16 extends vertically with its upper edge beneath the shoulder 61 on the pocket side 60.

The plunger assembly 117 then is returned to elevated position by fluid operation of the cylinder 114 and fluid under pressure is applied to the cylinder 82 tending to retract the piston in this cylinder and to move the plate 84 to the left from the position shown in Figure 10 of the drawings to the position shown in Figure 11 thereof. Obviously, spring means may be employed to produce this return movement in place of the fluid movement which has been described. As the plate 91 strikes the panel 16, it folds this panel toward a horizontal position. Subsequently, the plate 92 engages the juncture 12 between the

panels

15 and 16 to swing the panel 15 into upwardly inclined position against the upper surface of the plate 92. Just before the completion of the movement of the plate 84, the cam pin 125 strikes the end 124 of the folding arm 123 and swings this arm in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7 thus folding the panel 13 down into position to partially overlie the folding plate 91 but spaced sufliciently therefrom so that the adhesively coated undersurface does not engage the plate 91.

This completes the cycle. During the next cycle of operation, the post which has been formed is engaged by the pressure plate 130 of the plunger 129 moving the post 'beneath the folding horn 132 while the post is held in partially folded position as described. The

folding plates

91, 92 are then returned to the disengage posi- 10 tion shown in Figure 10 permitting the pressure plate to force the post into the compression unit.

As each post is forced into the compression unit, its forward edge engages the rear edge of the next or previously formed post and urges it toward the outlet end of the compression unit. The last post of the series is advanced beneath the creasing wheel 159 to its final position at the outlet end of the machine. During the dwell of the cycle the cylinder is actuated to kink the post inwardly as shown in Figures 9 and 15. The completely formed post is forced from the outlet end of the machine by the entrance of the next post into its final position.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of construction and operation of my postforming machine, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A post forming apparatus for forming a generally triangular post from a flat blank having four panels hingedly secured together along substantially parallel fold lines, the apparatus including a plunger means engageable with the blank for folding the blank along its inter mediate fold line into U-shaped form with the end panels of the blank generally parallel, plunger means engaging one of said parallel end panels of the blank folding said one end panel of the series to extend diagonally across the next adjoining panels and folding said next adjoining panels into angular relation, means folding the other end panel of the series to overlie the first folded end panel, and means securing the two end panels of the series in surface contact.

2. The apparatus described in claim 1 and including means applying adhesive to one end panel of the series prior to folding this end panel into surface contact with the other end panel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 and including means moving the folded blank longitudinally and holding said end panels in surface contact. I 4. A post forming apparatus for forming a generally triangular post from a generally rectangular blank creased along parallel fold lines to form four hingedly connected panels, the apparatus including a frame including a forming pocket, means positioning a blank in registry with said pocket, plunger means engageable with the blank to fold the same along its central fold line into said pocket, plunger means engageable with an end panel of the blank in said pocket to fold the end panel to extend diagonally across the two adjacent panels, and means engageable with the remaining end panel of the series to fold the remaining end panel into surface contact with the first folded end panel, and means securing said end panels in surface contact.

5. The structure of claim 4 and including means moving said post longitudinally from said pocket and means engageable with said superposed end panels to fold the same inwardly between their side edges.

6. The structure of claim 5 and in which said last named means engages said superposed panels upon longitudinal movement of the post.

7. A post forming machine for forming generally triangular posts from substantially rectangular flat blanks creased on substantially parallel fold lines to provide four hingedly connected panels, said apparatus including a feed table having a forming pocket therein, means engageable with a blank on said table to move the same from a starting position to position over said pocket, means engageable with a blank positioned over said pocket to fold the blank along its intermediate crease and plunge the blank into said pocket, means engageable with an end panel of the series to fold the same to extend diagonally across the next two adjoining angularly related panels, means engageable with the remaining end panel of the series to aggoasse told the sam'e to overlie said first :Eolded end panel, vrand means moving said blank longitudinally of its sc'ore lines 'Pf-rOm' s'aid pooket while holding said end panels superposed.

" 8. The structure of claim 7 and inoluding'means for applying adhesiyeto one-of said end -panels during movement of the blank from starting.positionstoposition "over pocket.

9. The-structure described in claim 7 and in which said means for moving said blank :Erom starting position .is conneoted to-said means for .movingsaid blank from :said pocket for operation inuniso'n.

10. The structure described in claim 7 and in which the meansfioramoving.lthe5blank fromstarting position .:and the means for moving the blank from said pocket comprise connected rrecipro'cable plungers.

:l l. The structure of cl'aim'7 and including means engageable withsaid sup'erposed endpanels-for folding the same inwardly interrnediatetheir longitudinal edges.

12. The structure of claim 7 andincluding means engageable with said superposed end panels duringvmoven'rent-of said'blank for folding the :same inwardly, and means engageable with opposite edges ofs'aid superposed end panels for;further.=folding the same inwardly.

l3. .A:blank folding apparatusifor folding a flat-rectangula'r bl ank creasedsalong parallel foldlines to. form tour connected panels into a -:generally triangular "post, the apparatus including .a :forming pocket, .rneans engaging the blank along its intermediate crease 'towfold the blank into -V-shape into :said pocket, means engageable with oneiinterrnediate panel ofthe :seriesto hold the same upwardly inclined them :the center crease, .rneans iforming one-side of said pocket ihcldingithe oneendpanel eon nected to said one intermediate panel insubstantial'ly vertical relation, means folding the other intermediate panel into -'substantiall-y horizontal position; means-form ing an opposite side of said pocket'holding the remai m ing' end panel insubstantiallyyertical; position, means engageable with said other intermediate panelto-Iold the same into upwardly inclined position from-the center crease and folding said remaining 'end panel intosubstantially horizontal position to extend -diagonal o'fs'aid intennediate panels and means engageable with said one 1 2 end .panel to fold it into overlying 'rrelation to :said maining end panel.

:14. The Structureof claim 1:3 and including'zmeam en- .gageable'withthe longitudinal edge. of said remaining end vpanel for holding the blank in said pocket while .said means engaging the blank along its intermediate crease is Withdrawn, and means for Withdrawing said last named means.

.15. The structureofclaim 13 and in which the means engaging the blank .along its intermediate crease-includes a plunger having angelong'ated ,blank engaging member of V-shapedsection:hingedly connected thereto substan- .tially along its apex.

16. The structure of claim 15 andin which said means engageable with one intermediate gpanellaets through the blankto hinge said bl-anl =engaging member.

17. A gIDfithGd of "forming a corner post from :a gen erally Lreetangularblank divided bythre-e parallel oreajses into .-four connected panels, the method comprifsing the steps of folding the blank along its intermediate crease into v shape, folding the -blank along its outerioreases to hinge th eendpanels relative to: the intermediate penels, .ioldi-ng one intermediate panel into a substantially ihorizontal plane while holding "the other vintermediate panel upwardly inclined from the intermediate. crease andshold ing the end panels substantially-vertical, folding the end panel connected to the horizontal panel inwardly toward horizontal positionwhilelsimultaneously folding the horizontal panel upwardly. into inclined relation with the zontal, and foldingtl e remaining end,- panelto overlie the first folded; end ,panel.

18. The method }Of claim :17 andincluding;the step 'of applying adhesive upon one of-said end panels prior to the folding operation.

19. :The method of claim 17 andincluding the further step of vmoving the .folded blank longitudinally of its creases and urging said end panels into surface contact during thismovement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,061,286 Millett Nov.-1 '7., 19.36 2,580,846 Sayre .etal ;J-an. 1,1952