US3187648A

US3187648A - Box forming machine

Info

Publication number: US3187648A
Application number: US98229A
Authority: US
Inventors: Konstantinos M Tserpes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-03-24
Filing date: 1961-03-24
Publication date: 1965-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-08

Description

June 8, 1965 K. M. TSERPES BOX FORMING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 24. 1961 INVENTOR. Kowsmumos means June 8, 1965 K. M. TSERIQ'ES 3,187,648

BOX FORMING MACHINE Filed March 24. 1961 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 doukcs (F [I] sup /J INVENTOR. KONSTAwrmos M.TSERPES K. M. TSERPES BOX FORMING MACHINE June 8, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 24. 1961 FIG u 7/,

INVENTOR. KONSTRNTINOS \KSERVFS 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 24. 1961 INVENTOR. KON$TQNTW05MF5EKPE$ June 8, 1965 K. M. TSERPES BOX FORMING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 24. 1961 INVENTOR. KONS'MIVTWOS M- TSERPES J1me 1965 K. M. TSERPES 3,

BOX FORMING MACHINE Filed March 24. 1961 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 BASE INVENTOR. K STHNTWOS M.TSERPES FIGI8 (D BY June 8, 1965 Filed March 24. 1961 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 F|G.l9

2ol--- & 15455 J INVENTOR.

KON5TRNTW05 MISERPES 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 @H A H II K. M. TSERPES BOX FORMING MACHINE PHI:

Yo b cm June 8, 1965 Filed March 24. 1961 INVENTOR. KONHMNWOS MITSERP ES United States Patent 3,187,648 BOX FORMING MACHINE Konstantinos M. Tserpes, New York, N.Y. (48 Valley St., Rochester 12, N.Y.) Filed Mar. 24, 1%1, Ser. No. 98,229

17 Claims. (Cl. 93-47) I This invention is a new machine for making complete boxes of all types and dimensions suitable for every use, either in the form they are produced by the machine, or to be later wrapped as a quality box by every known means of wrapping. This machine by means of its own is self-feeding in paper either in rolls or in sheets and by one entire movement of the machine forms the complete box which it later lays completed on a conveyor and inspection belt.

This belt is able to service one or two box wrapping machines in the same time by conveying in a continuous way to the one machine the lid, and to the other the base.

Although the invention will be described in connection with the building of one type of box, it must be understood that the machine and the principles of this invention have been specially evolved to be used ina wider field of practice on the various phases of all types of box making.

One of the ways followed today in making boxes is for the worker to take a sheet of paper, apply it to a machine which will score and crease it in one direction; then this same sheet of paper will be scored and creased crosswise by the same machine following adjustment (or by another machine); then this sheet of paper is cut in pieces and is taken over to have its eight corners cut (for the box, lid and base); also other movements are'required to cut the two thumbholes at the folded sides of the upper part of the box to facilitate the opening; then other means are required to effect the re-folding of the eight sides and there follows the fixing of the eight corners.

The machine known up to date present definite disadvantages the main results of which is the higher cost of this item which is charged to the consumer. To these charges is due the progressive abandonment of the use of the box which constitutes the ideal packaging means.

As a result of the invention of this machine, all successive movements required to make all types of boxes are done automatically by one single turn of the machine. Through repetition of the movement this machine produces a continuous run of complete boxes or boxes ready for wrapping.

One of the objects of this invention is to ensure a machine whereby the paper roll (or sheet) material is rhythmically forwarded by means of the machine to the section of the machine which does the box-making.

Another object of this invention is to ensure that the paper thus forwarded is cut at the proper time and at the proper point from the roll or the sheet.

Another object of the invention is to produce a machine to control the cut pieces which are to be made into boxes.

Another object of the invention is to ensure the cutting of the eight corners required to complete a box.

Another object of the invention is to ensure a machine whereby the thumbholes facilitating the opening of the box are cut at the proper place and at the proper time.

Another object of this invention is to ensure a machine for creasing or scoring at the eight proper points of the paper which are to form the sides of the box to be folded.

Another object of the method is to ensure a way of folding the eight sides which will constitute the complete box.

Another object of the invention is to ensure a machine of simultaneously solid fixing of the eight corners which constitute the box, lid and base, by one of the known ways and means of fixing corners (bywarm tape, by cold tape, by metal tape, by single wire corner fixing, by double wire corner fixing, by manifold wire corner fixing, by side corner fixing, with one or many wires, etc.).

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more specifically determined in the chapter of the claims and will be made apparent in the following description, when examined in connection with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the machine that is made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the machine shown in FIGURE 1 with feeder omitted.

FIG. 3 is a top view of FIGURE 1 and shows the machine in plan view.

FIG. 4 is a view of the section that is taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIG. 5 is a view of the section that is taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4. Shown also is the upper sliding head with the upper bell crank.

FIGURE 6 is a view of the section that was taken 0 the line 66 of FIGURE 4.

FIG. 7 is a view of the section that was taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 1. Here also is shown how the feeders operate.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view that shows how the eccentric wheel moves the rod that operates the handle of the feeder.

FIG. 9 is a view of the cam in section that was taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4. There are shown on the two sides cam lines.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view taken substantially on the lines 1010 of FIGURE 2 in the direction indicated by the arrow showing how the inside of the dies are and how the assembly was made. Also shown are the encircling cutting and scoring dies that are together on the same plate. The upper and the lower sliding head are shown partially.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view in larger scale than FIGURE 10 showing the central moving base backing plate and the female dies.

FIG. 12 is a view of the section that was taken on the line 1212 of FIGURE 10 in the direction indicated bv the arrow.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of FIGURE 10 showing an alternate and perhaps preferred form. Here is shown the encircling scoring knife that is on the central moving base portion or backing plate.

FIG. 14 is a view in reduced scale of the section that was taken on the line 14-14 in FIGURE 13 in direction indicated by the arrow.

FIG. 15 is a view in reduced scale than FIG. 14 and shows the upper die in the direction indicated by the arrow 15 in FIGURE 14.

FIG. 16 is in the same scale as FIGURE 15 and shows the lower die in the direction indicated by the arrow 16 in FIGURE 14.

FIG. 17 is a view of the section of the die that shows a second and perhaps preferred embodiment of the inven tion. Here also is shown parts of the die that are in different positions from that shown in FIGURES 10 and 13.

FIG. 18 is a view of the section that was taken on the line 1818 of FIGURE 17 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

FIG. 19 is a view of the section of the die that shows the third and perhaps preferred embodiment of the invention. The views that are indicated With

arrows

24 and 25 are shown in FIGURES 24 and 25.

FIG. 20 is a view of the section that was taken on the line 2020 of FIGURE 19 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

snszsas FIG. 21 is a perspective viewof how the male rod with the arrow-type point operates the two pivotal assemblies.

FIG. 22 is in a reduced scale than FIGURE 19 and 7 shows the top view :of the male rod with the arrow-type point that descends to insert into the two pivotal a-s-. semblies. Also shown are the female dies that bend the extending panels of the boxes.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the screw 23.

FIG. 24 isa view in a reduced scale than FIGURE 20 and shows the upper die in direction indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 20. 1

FIGURE 25 is in the same scale as FIGURE 24 and shows the lower die in the direction indicated by the arrow 25 in FIGURE 20.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG- URE 3 of the instant'application in which the machine is shown in plan view: Paper 41 to be formed into boxes is fed from rollers supported adjacent to both sides of the box-making machine. Feeding of the paper 41 is accomplished by rollers 46 and 42 which are driven by the eccentric wheel 44, rod 46 and handle 43 (shown in FIGURES 1, 3, 4, 7, and 8). Upon half of the rotation of wheel 44 FIGURES 4, 7, and 8 the paper 41 is fed into the machine and upon the other half of the rotation of wheel 44, the paper 4 1 is stationary to allow the forming dies to cut and form the boxes. The covers and bottoms'of the boxes are shown completed, coming from the machine on conveyer belt FIGURE'3.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 7, thestructure of the machine is shown without the forming dies but with the cam operating means. The cam means actuates upper and lower rods 50 which. move upper and lower bell cranks 52 about pivots 54. Upper bell crank 52. is connected to the sliding head I (see FIGURES 1, 3 and and lower bell crank 52 is connected to the movable lower base. It should be noted that the cam 56 includes cam tracks on both sides (see FIGURES 9, 4, and 6) that would provide a movement as is hereinafter more fully described. I I

Primarily this invention comprises three difierent em bodiments. Each apparatus consists of two main parts: a set of progressiveor follow dies comprise-d of two or three pieces, which are secured to the upper sliding head I of the machine, and the lower movable base dies carried by the lower movable base of the machine.

The first embodiment is shown in FIGURES 1Q, 11, and 12. Referring to the figures, paper from a source of supply is fed by rollers 40 and 42 from the right and left of the machine (see FIGURES 3 and 1) above the Work station or lower base dies to meet at the center of the machine. As hereinbefore described, the two pair of rollers 4t and 42 are set to feed a predetermined length of paper into both sides of the machine. Then they will stop momentarily for the cutting and forming operation of the upper and lower dies. The upper progressive set of dies comprises two plates 58, two male dies 60 and an encircling cutting and scoring die 62. Each of the lower base dies comprise four plates, 64 forming the female die and a central movable base portion or backing plate 66. The cam system shown in FIGURE 4 operates to move the upper and lower dies as follows:

1) Plates 58 descend and clamp the now stationary sheets of paper 41 against the movable portion 66 at the plane of the lower base; plate 58 and bases 66 having the same cross-sectional dimensions.

(2) As the cam continues to extend the progressive dies downward, the male dies 60, which have dimensions slightly larger than plates 58, contact the plates 58 from above.

(3) Next, the cutting and scoring die 62, which is in the form as shown in FIGURES 15, 10, and 12 descends to cut with the steel rule dies that it has two blanks of paper of a predetermined length and to cut the corners or" both lengths of paper to form two box blanks each having a central panel and tour outwardly extending panels. At

. 4 the same time, scoring knives 68 score the central rectangular panel from which the four above mentioned panels extend to define two complete box blanks.

(4) After the cutting and scoring operation of die 62 the cam means operates to raise this die up a short distance to release the four extending panels.

(5) At this point'the movable base portions 66 drop approximately 6 inches to permit the male dies 66 to descend downward into the female dies formed on plates 64 to fold the four extending panels perpendicularly to the center panels.

(6) Next, the gluing machines (not shown) enter the four open corners of each unit between the plates 64 to glue the edges "of the two boxes, that is, the cover and the bottom of a complete enclosed box.

(7) Thereupon the cam again operates to drop the plate 66 an additional 6 inches (approximately) which permits plates 53 to extend beyond male dies 60 to pull the boxes oft the male dies 6%. It should be understood that the reason the box is released is that plates 58 are smaller than dies on and therefone smaller than the box which permits the release of these boxes of the plates 58. The box easily falls off the plate 58.

(8) The box cover and bottom are then blown or pushed oif to the conveyor belt as shown in FIGURE 3.

(9) At this timethe progressing dies return to their uppermost position, the base portions 66 return to the working areaand the rollers and 42 begin to operate to feed additional predetermined lengths of paper to the machine from both sides to begin the cycle all over again.

Part of this embodiment (with a slight variation), is shown in FIGURES 13, 14, 15,'and 16. Here, each of the bottom base portions 66 are made up of an upper and a lower part, having a spring '70 interposed between them andwith scoring knives 72 attached to the lower part. This provides scoring of the box from the bottom. The operation of this apparatus is the same as the operation of the apparatus of the first part of this embodiment except that both parts of the lower plate are lifted together a small distance as all three of the progressive dies are in the lowermost position and clamped against the paper. Since the upper part of 66 is spring-loaded, it will drop, permitting the scoring knives 72 to extend upward above the plane of the working station and to be inserted to score the box blank at the bottom. Thereupon the plate 66 will drop to permit the male die 6t? to be inserted within the female die formed by the plates 64 to bend the four extended panels perpendicularly to the center panel to form the box as hereinbefore described.

A second embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGURES l7 and 18. Herein the female dies formed by plates '64 are located above the male dies 58. The fperation of the apparatus of this embodiment is as folows:

(l) The upper sliding head I carrying the upper dies descends to clamp two predetermined lengths of paper fed to the machine, as hereinbefore described, between the upper spring-loaded plates 66 and the lower male dies 58'. Here again the plates 66 and male dies 58 have the same horizontal cross-sectional dimensions.

(2) The sliding head I carrying the plates 66 and the female dies continue to descend until the scoring and cutting knives 68 cut and score said paper to define two box blanks thereon having a central panel and 4 extending panels as did the apparatus of the first embodiment.

(3) As in the other embodiment, the cutting knives are then raised to release the four side extending panels before the forming operation.

(4) The cam operating means then continue to extend the male dies 58 upward through the plane of the paper into the female dies 64 to bend the four extending panels perpendicular to the central panel. As the male dies 58 are inserted into the female dies, plates 66 are raised approximately 6 inches.

(5) At this time two sets of four gluing machines (not shown) enter between plates 64 to glue the corners of the boxes.

(6) To release the boxes from the male dies there are provided ejector rods or plungers 74 operable to extend through the central portion of the male dies 58 which operate to eject the boxes in the following manner: as the lower movable base with the male die ascends, it carries a spring-loaded rod 76 upward as best shown in FIGURE 17. The upper end of the rod 76 contacts the under side of plate 78 of the lower base to extend the rod downward, relative to the upward movement of the male dies 58. Ring-bracket 80 which is movable along the length of the rods 76 is connected to a pair of cables 82. The cables extend upward from the ring-bracket, around pulleys 84 and downward connecting to a plate, 86. At the ends of the plate 86 are connected ejector rods 74. Therefore, when rod 76 goes down, rods 74 go up to eject the finished boxes onto holding springs 88. It should be noted that as long as the plates 66 bear on the male dies 58, the ejector rods 74- cannot actuate to release the box of the male dies. The ring bracket 80 will be spring-loaded and ready to actuate and travel downward along the length of rod 76 when plate 66 is extended to its uppermost position. To permit the ejection of the boxes, the plates 66 are held in a completely upward retracted position by latch 90, see FIGURE 18. The operation of this latch is as follows: referring to FIGURE 18, a rod 92 is inserted into a hole provided in the latch so to lock the rod 94 in an uppermost position until the boxes are formed and ejected by rod 74 onto springs 88. The finished boxes are then blown olf onto the conveyor belt as shown in FIGURE 3. The lower portion of the machine then drops, pulling the rod 92 with it to release the latch 90 which releases the rods 94 permitting the plates 66 to drop to their original position and begin the cycle all over again.

The last embodiment as shown in FIGURES 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 comprise the same upper progressive dies and the same lower female dies as described in the apparatus of the second part of the first embodiment. The upper progressive dies comprise plates 58, male dies 60 and the cutting die 62 which descend in sequence to form the box blanks. The cutting knives 96 are located on the upper dies 62 and the scoring knives are located on the bottom portion of the two-piece plate 6'6 as shown in the figures. Here again the bottom plate 66 is made of two parts with springs 70 interposed between them. The main difference between this apparatus and the other herein described is that the cam means powers only the upper sliding head which moves the lower base as herein more fully described. After the progressive dies have formed the box blanks, they will descend a fraction of an inch to permit the scoring knives 72 to project upward to score the box blank. It is necessaryfor the circumferential portion of the bottom base 98 to also drop, in addition to the upper part of movable base 66. Therefore, as best shown in FIGURE 20, the circumferential portion is also spring-loaded by springs 100. To move the lower part of the machine, a male rod 102, having an arrow-type point at it lower and, as best shown in FIGURE 21, is inserted into a female portion made up of two pivotal rod assemblies 104. Therefore when the male rod 102 ascends after the progressive dies have formed the box blank, it will carry the lower female portion with the female dies upward. The upward movement of the female die will bend the box blank around.

the male die 60 to bend the extended panels perpendicular to the center panel. Here the four side panels of each box will extend downward in relation to the center panel. Next the gluing machines will glue the corners to form the box as hereinbefore described. As the rod 102 continues upward, the rod assemblies 104 will rotate on pivots 106. The rod assembly with its extending legs 6 108 will be positioned diagonally to permit the release of the rod assemblies with the female dies from rod 102. The female dies vw'll drop, permitting the plates 58 to extend relative to male dies 60 to release the finished boxes from the male dies.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention, as shown and described, is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended to claim the present invention broadly as well as specifically as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A box-forming machine comprising:

(a) means defining a work station;

(b) means for locating a sheet of material at said work station;

(c) forming members movable to said work station to clamp said sheet material thereon over an area on said sheet corresponding to a center panel of the box to be formed;

(d) movable means movable at least to the plane of said work station to cut and score said sheet material t-o define a box blank thereon with additional panels extending outward from said panel; and

(e) fold members operable to receive said forming members through the plane of said work station to fold additional panels substantially perpendicular to said center panel.

2. The structure of claim 1, further characterized in that said means for locating a sheet of material at said work station includes a pair of rollers operable to feed said sheet material on top of said work station, an eccentric means extending towards and moving said rollers, a wheel supporting said eccentric means and operable to move said eccentric at one half revolution of said wheel and to check its movement for the other half of its rotation wherein said sheet of paper remains stationary for a predetermined length of time at said work station.

3. The structure of claim 1, further characterized in that said forming members comprise a spring-loaded plate operable to extend to said sheet of material to clamp said sheet of material on to said work station and a male spring-load die operable to extend past the work station to fold said additional panels.

4. The structure of claim 3, further characterized in that said forming members includes said male die having cross-sectional dimensions larger than the dimensions of said spring-loaded plate and whereby said male die operates over said spring-loaded plate to extend the sheet of material past the plane of the work station to form said sheet into a box, and further comprising a base substantially the size of the male die and operable to extend in the direction of movement of said male die a predetermined distance to hold said sheet of material in a clamped position as it is formed and to move away from said male die to permit said spring-loaded plate to re lease said box from said male die.

5. The structure of claim 1, further characterized in that said (d) movable means include an encircling die comprising a plurality of cutting knives operable to cut a predetermined length of sheet of material and to cut the corners thereof to form a box blank, and a plurality of scoring knives operable to score the sheet circumferentially at said panel. I

6. A structure as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said spring-loaded plate, said male die and said encircling die are operable by a cam system comprising a cam wheel having a cam track on each side of a predetermined configuration, cam followers operable within said cam tracks, a sliding head operable by said cam followers in a predetermined vertical movement and supporting said spring-loaded plate, progressive dies operable to .be extended by said sliding head in a sequential movement, whereby the spring-loaded plate first clamps the sheet material, the male die presses upon said springloaded plate, and encircling die extends to cut and crease the box blank. V

7. The structure of claim 6, further characterized in that said fold members include a female die comprising a plurality of plates extending to form a four-sided box having open corners, and that said male die is operable by said cam system to extend through the plane of said work station to fold said additional panels substantially perpendicular to said center panel whereby 'a gluing machine operable through the open corners of said female die may glue the corners to form a box.

8, A box-forming machine comprising:

(a) a sliding head;

(b) a movable lower base;

(c) a source of supply of sheet paper;

(d) rollers operable to feed sheet paper from said source of supply between said sliding head and said lower base;

(e) cam means operable to extend said sliding head downward at a predetermined speed and timing and operable to extend said lower base downward at a predetermined speed and timing comparable to the downward extension of said sliding head;

(f) progressive dies supported by said sliding head comprising a plate operable by said cam means to clamp said sheet paper on to said lower base, a male die above said plate operable by said cam means to extend and meet said plate, and an encircling die surrounding said male die and having cutting and scoring knives operable to cut off a predetermined length of sheet paper from said source of paper and to cut the corners of said sheet to provide a center panel and four panels extending from said center panel, and cam means operable to raise said encircling die from said sheet of material after the cutting and scoring operation;

(g) a movable backing plate supported by said base and operable by said cam means to drop after said encircling die is raised from said sheet of material; and,

(h) a forming female die operable to receive said male die to fold said extending panels perpendicularly to said center panel.

9. The structure of claim 8, further characterized in that said forming female die comprises a rectangular frame and four plates extending from said frame to form a four-sided box configuration with open corners, whereby gluing machines may enter to glue the sides of said extending panels as they are held perpendicularly to said center panel by said male and female dies to thereby form a box.

N. The structure of claim 9, further characterized in that said plate of said progressive dies is operable to extend further down than said male die, and said movable backing plate is operable to extend beyond' the travel of said male die whereby said plate pulls the finished lower base towards the feed of the first sheet of paper,

and said progressive dies including two plates, two male dies and encircling die operable to encircle said plates and said male dies, and said movable base including two movable backing plates and a female die, whereby said progressive dies and said movable base are operated to form a cover and a bottom of an enclosed box. 7

12. The structure of claim 10, further characterized in that said encircling die of said progressive dies carries said cutting knives to out said sheet of material to form the blank and'said backing plate carries said scoring knives to score said box blank on the other side, whereby when box is formed the scoring will be on the outside of the box.

13. A box-forming machine comprising;

(a) means defining a horizontal work station;

(b) means for feeding a predetermined length of paper to said work station;

(0) a male forming die supporting said paper from below;

(d) a movable plate substantially the same cross-sectional dimensions as said male die operable from above to clamp said paper between it and said male forming die;

(e) an encircling cutting die operable from above and around said plate, and movable to the plane of said work station to cut and score said paper to define a center panel thereon with additional panels extending outward from said center panel;

(f) a female die supported by said cutting die above said male forming die; and,

(g) cam means operable to move said dies and to extend said male die upward past the plane of said work station within the female die to fold said additional panels substantially perpendicular to said center panel,

14. A tructure of claim 13, further comprising an ejecto: rod operable to extend through the male die operable to release said box from said male die.

15. A structure of claim 14, further comprising a movable spring-loaded rod substantially parallel to said ejector rod, a pulley located between said rods above the lowest endof said first mentioned rod, a cable connected to said lowermost end of said ejector rod extending upward, threaded around said pulley and extended downward to be connected to the lowermost end of said spring-loaded rod, whereby the uppermost end of said spring-loaded rod contacts a portion below said work station to thereby pull the cable downward around said pulley and lift the ejector rod upward to disengage the box from said male die.

16. A box-forming machine comprises:

(a) a power press type of structure;

(b) a sliding head supported on the-top portion of said structure and operable to extend downward;

(e) a movable base supported on the lower portion of said structure;

(d) means operable to move said sliding head vertically downward;

(ei) means locating a sheet of material at said movable ase;

(f) progressive dies supported by said sliding head comprising a plate operable to extend vertically downward to clamp said sheet of material between said plate and said movable base, said plate and said movable plate having substantially the same horizontal cross-sectional dimensions, and a male die above said plate operable to extend and meet said plate, said male die being larger in cross-sectional dimensions than said plate;

(g) springs urging said movable base upward;

(h) scoring knives surrounding said movable base wherein said knives project upward around said plate to creasesaid sheet of material; and,

(i) cutting knives surrounding the male die movable at least to the plane of said movable base to out said sheet of material to define a box blank thereon with a rectangular central panel and additional panels extending outward from said panel to torm a box blank. a a

17. The structure of claim 16, further comprising a female die supported by said movable base opposite said male die, a male rod extending downward from said sliding head having arrowhead configuration at its lowest end, female structure supported by the movable base operable to be engaged bysaid male rod to lift said movable base vertically upward as said sliding head 9 10 moves vertically to move said female die upward a'pre- 2,890,630 6/59 Bailey et a1 93-58.3 determined distance to fold said additional panels around 2,977,860 4/61 Hery 93-47 said male die perpendicular to said center panel. 2,982,188. 5/61 Hofe et al. 9341 References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 51,181 3/90 Germany. 437,963 10/90 Barnes 93-47 80,128 3/95 Germany- 1,383,697 7/21 Davis 93-41 1,782,777 11/30 Fine 93 47 FRANK E. BAILEY, Prlmary Examiner. 2,132,859

10/38 Mednick et a1. 93-61 10 FRANK H. BRONAUGH, Examiner.

Claims

1. A BOX-FORMING MACHINE COMPRISING: (A) MEANS DEFINING A WORK STATION; (B) MEANS FOR LOCATING A SHEET OF MATERIAL AT SAID WORK STATION; (C) FORMING MEMBERS MOVABLE TO SAID WORK STATION TO CLAMP SAID SHEET MATERIAL THEREON OVER AN AREA ON SAID SHEET CORRESPONDING TO A CENTER PANEL OF THE BOX TO BE FORMED; (D) MOVABLE MEANS MOVABLE AT LEAST TO THE PLANE OF SAID WORK STATION TO CUT AND SCORE SAID SHEET MATERIAL TO DEFINE A BOX BLANK THEREON WITH ADDITIONAL PANELS EXTENDING OUTWARD FROM SAID PANEL; AND (E) FOLD MEMBER OPERABLE TO RECEIVE SAID FORMING MEMBERS THROUGH THE PLANE OF SAID WORK STATION TO FOLD ADDITIONAL PANELS SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID CENTER PANEL.