US737819A - Paper-box machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 737,819. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903. W. G.. BAXTER.

PAPEE B0X MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1902.

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l PATENTED SEPT. l, 1903. W. C. BAXTER.

PAPER BOX MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 12. 1902.

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No. 737,819. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 190s. w. c. BAXTER.

PAPER B0X MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 12, 1902.

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No. 737,819. PATENTED SPT. l, 1903. W. C. BAXTER.

. PAPER BOX MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 12, 1902.

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W. C. BAXTER.

No MODEL.

PATENTED SEPT. 1, 190s.

PAPER B0X MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12v 1902.

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No. 737,819. i Patented September 1-, 1903i.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VVIIJIJIAM C. BAXTER, OF EAST BRIDGEVVATER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC BOX MACHINERY COMPANY, OF .BRIDGE WATER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

PAPER-BOX MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,819, dated September 1, 1903. Y

Application filed July 12| 1902. Serial No. 115.305. (No model.)

To all whom t may @0N/067%: blank of the pile of blanks when the latter 5 Be it known that I, VILLIAM C. BAXTER, a blank is lifted by the gum mer-picker. citizen of the United States, residing at East Another object of my invention provides Bridgewater, in the county of Plymouth and novel and effective means for shedding the State of Massachusetts, have invented an Imcompleted box from the former.

provement in Paper-Box Machines, of which These and other novel features of my inventhe following description, in connection with tion will be fully described hereinafter and the accompanying drawings,isaspecification, particularly pointed out in the following like characters on the drawings representing claims. 1o like parts. The general organization of the machine is This invention relates to machines formaksubstantially the same as shown in the patents 6o ing boxes from cardboard,pasteboard,or other hereinbefore referred to, andlin the following suitable blanks, of the general type of appaspecification only so much of the old mechanratus shown in United States Patent No. ism will be referred to as may be necessary to 519,531, dated May 8, 1891, and later patents, a proper understanding of the novel features No. 546,318, September 17, 1898, and No. of my present invention. 681,652, dated August 27, 1901. Such later Figure 1 isaleft-hand end elevation of the patents were for improvements on, additions machine shown in Fig. 2, the mechanism for to, or variations of certain features or mechoperating the side and end followers being zo anismsembodiedintheearlierpatent;and my omitted in order to more clearly illustrate present invention, relating to this same type the novel features of my invention. Fig. 2 7o of machine, provides for further improveis a side elevation of the apparatus, the pile ments therein which have become necessary of blanks being shown at the right-hand end in order to enable the parent machine to hanthereof. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective 25 dle work of a greater range and to insure detail of a part of the blank-feeding means.

increased accuracy in operation. Fig. 2b is an enlarged detail of a part of the 75 One object of my present invention is to mechanism shown in Fig. 2 for effecting the provide for the positioning of the blank with accurate positioning of the blank beneath the the greatest accuracyin readiness for the acformer. Fig. 2c is an enlarged perspective 3o tion of the former and other cooperating de- View of a part of the shedding means. Fig.

vices which fold orbend the parts of the blank 3 is a partial top or plan view, enlarged, of 8e to make the completed box. the mechanism shown in Figs. l and 2, but Another object of the invention is the proV With the arches or frames for sustaining the vision of means for accurately and readily former and glimmer-picker and such parts 35 handling the blanks from which long or deep omitted, the blank being shown as just about boxes are to be made, such blanks by their to be positioned beneath the formen Fig. peculiar shape having presented new prob- 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the mechlems to be solved in the mechanism for hananism shown in plan in Fig. 3 viewing the dling the same. latter from the side nearest the spectator. 4o Another object is the .production of means Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical for overcoming the effect ofthe suction besectional view taken through the former and 9o tween adjacent blanks when the topmost former-shaft to show clearly Vthe novel shedblank of the pile is engaged by the gummerding means. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail, in picker and lifted preparatory to the feeding side elevation, showing the positioned blank 45 of the blank to the forming mechanism. resting on the followers and the former on Frequently two or more blanks will be lifted, its downward stroke, just touching the blank, owing to the suction action between them, and the nearerside follower being omitted. Fig. I have provided novel separating means to 7 is a similar view, but showing the former 4 separate the second blank from the topmost as having continued its movement far enough to begin the formation of the box in full lines, the subsequent position of the parts being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the controlling-cams for governing the operation of the various mechanisms which act upon the blank. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the blank flattened out, showing the gummed surface and the general shape or con figuration of the blank to be handled by the various mechanisms embodying my invention. Fig. lO is a similar view, but showing the blank after a partial bending or forming has been effected.

It may be stated here that the formation of comparatively large boxes having a very considerable depth relative vto their cross-sectional area has given rise to some grave difficulties in practice,necessitating the construction of means for overcoming the same, and my present invention in certain of` its features'deals more particularly therewith, while .other features of the invention have a broad or general application to machines forvmak- I ing paper boxes, as will more fully appear v ing shown by the shaded parts bXX.

hereinafter.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, bx represents the bottom, oblong in shape; b b the opposite long sides, the former having the longijcover flap b5, while the opposite -side b has a prolongation h6 between and beyond the staysections b2 to constitute the cooperating coverflap. When the box is completed, the end sections b3 are bent over or folded on the dotted lines 2 3 to complete the cover or top of the box, and when the latter is completed the stay-section b2 and adjacent bottom-stay b4 will be in the same plane and stuckto the outer end section b3 by the gummed portion 'XX thereof.

In Figs. 2, 3, and 4 the pile of blanks B is shown as piled on an automatic elevator of any suitable construction common in envelop and box machines, over which pile moves the gummer-picker, comprising a vertically-reciprocating shaft f, to which are attached the depending gummer members g', supplied with gum at the proper time by a gum-supplying roll C, Fig. 2, mounted to slide hori- `zontally on supports q and operated by suitable mechanism forming no part of my invention. The gumming-faees of the members g are of the shape of the surface to be gummed, and herein such shape corresponds y i to the shaded portions bXX in Fig. 9, there beingtwo gummer members in the'present instance. The reciprocation of the shaft f is effected by the rocker-arm f4 on the usual rock-shaft f5, to which latter rocking motion is periodically imparted substantially in a manner well known in machines of this type; but to give some yield to the gummer-picker in its descent I have provided the rocker-arm f with a lateral pin f2 to enter a slot f3 in the link f6 of the actuating mechanism, a spring s, attached at one end to the arm f', being secured at its other end to the link and normally acting to retain the pin f2 in the bottom of the slot. If for any reason the glimmer-picker cannot descend the normal distance, the link f6 can complete its stroke, the spring stretching while the pin f2 travels in the slot f8, and a smash of the parts is obviated. When the gummer members g' descend upon and gum the topmost blank of the pile, the said blank is lifted by the ascent of the gum mer-picker, and sometimes the suction between the blanks .will cause two or more blanks to adhere and be lifted with the topmost blank, so that the operation of the machine is interfered with and annoying stoppage and delay ensue. In order to prevent such accidents, I have provided means to effeetually separate thev second blank of the pile from the topmost blank when the latter is lifted, and to this end I have mounted on the frame two upright posts t t, longitudinally notched at tx, Fig. 3, to receive the leading corners of the blank-'pile and act as positioning-gages therefor. A cross-bar t is secured to the gages, and blocks 252 are fastened to the cross-bar in such a position as will enable the flat faces of thin blade-like separators t3 to engage edges of the blanks, said separators being attached to the blocks. Herein I have so located the latter that the blades enter the slits 2 2 of the blanks. Now

when the topmost blank is lifted by the gummer-picker the adhesive action ofA the gum will be lgreater than the frictional action between the separators t3 and the contacting edges of said blank; but such friclional action between the next blank below andk the separators is great enough to overcome any adherence between the top and second blanks due to suction or otherwise, and only the topmost blank will belifted from the pile byitself. Any suitable means may be employed to strip the gummed blank from the members g' at the proper time, and as such stripping devices are common in envelop and paper-box machines, types thereof being shown in the @patents referred to hereinbefore, I do not -herein show or describe such devices in detail, it sufticing to say that the bars u, Fig. 2, are similar to those shown in Patent No. 546,318 and operate, as therein described, to vstrip the blank from the gummer-picker at the proper time.

The box-forming mechanism is generically such as is shown in the patents hereinbefore referred to,and comprises a former F,attached `to a vertically-reciprocated hollow plunger or vrshaft F', mounted in the arch-frame Q, and a folding box or throat constituted by the end followers B B and the vertical or upstanding IOO llO

side-folding plates D D, adj ustably arranged in opposite pairs on the slides E, which extend across the bed-plate QX of the main frame and are reciprocated by or through the rocking of the rock-shafts 47, having arms 48, pivotally connected with links 49, the lower ends of the latter cooperating with and being actuated by suitable cams, all substantially as in Patent No. 519,531. When the former F has descended part way, the movable parts B B and D D have their closing movements, the latter' acting upon the long opposite sides b b' of the blank, while the end followers operate to press the gummed end sections b3 upon the corner or stay sections b2 in wellknown manner. The toggle mechanism for moving the end followers B B is not shown herein for the sake of clearness, and it is in practice substantially as shown in Patent No.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 6 the throat members are shown in the position assumed as the former F is descending, the said members standing at the boundaries of a rectangle somewhat larger than the box-bottom bx, Figs. 9 and 10. The horizontal conveyer-rods 7L h are supported by and longitudinally movable in guides in the followers B in well-known manner,hav ing at their forward ends the abutments or abutment-hooks 7t7, adjustably secured to the rods, substantially as in PatentNo. 681,652, to engage the lateral edges of the blank lifted from the pile by the gommer-picker and under which the conVeyer-rods are thrust, the opposite or feeding stroke of the latter acting to place the blank or blank-supporting means, to be described, over the folding-throat. A cross-bar hX, mounted to slide on a stand M at the left-hand end of the machine, Fig. 2, is reciprocated by the swinging arms h on a rock-shaft h2, the latter being rocked in usual manner, and the cross-rodis adjust-ably oonnected with the conveyer-rods h by extending between a pair of annul'arly-grooved rolls h3, (see Fig. 2%) rotatably mounted on a collar h4, secured by a set-screw 8O to the rod h, one on each. Inasmuch as the end followers B B (in which said rods slide) are movable toward and from each other, it is necessary to provide for corresponding movement of the rods relative to the cross-bar hx, and this is effected by the rolls h3, which permit free lateral movement of the rods and greatly reduce the friction on the cross-bar, the grooving of the rolls preventing disengagement of the rods and cross-bar.

The plates D in Patent No. 681,652 are provided at their upper outer corners with lips of a peculiar shape to cooperate with the other parts of the box-forming mechanism in folding the blank, and in my present invention I make use of similar devices,but modified to adapt them to the somewhat peculiar character of the work to be performed.

Referring to Fig. 9, it will be seen that the end sections b3 project laterally beyond the bottom-stays bl, and in forming the box it is necessary to bend up the said stays before the end sections b3 are bent in order that the latter may assume their proper position outside of-the bottom-stays. side plates D at the end of the machine nearer the blank-pile BX are provided each with a lip m at the upper outer corner thereof, the lipsbeing solocated and of such length that they will project beneath the bottomstays b4 and the adjacent ends of the staysections b2 when the blank is in proper position to be folded, While the opposite pair of side plates D have at their outer upper corners projecting short lips m', laterally odset from the lips m, (see Fig. 3,) the lips m extending beneath the end sections b3 of the blank, but not being long enough to engage the bottom-stays, it being remembered thatV in Fig. 3 the blank is shown as slightly beyond its final position relatively tothe boxforming mechanism.

The position of the lips m and 'm' when the box is beingformed is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and as the points of the lips then overlap the object of laterally offsetting them, as shown in Fig. 3, will be apparent, and by reference to said figure it will also be seen that the lips m are nearer the longitudinal lines on which the stay-sections b2 and bottomstays b are to be folded. This results in turning up the parts 'b2 and 540i the blank before the lips m act to turn up the end sections b3, so that the latter will be outside, when the former F descends into the throat.

It has been found necessary in making boxes of such depth as herein illustrated to support and lift not only the long sides b and b', but also to provide for lifting the end sections b3 in unison with the side b', for in using light-weight stock the sides will bend back if not thus lifted at the time the former descends into the throat, and, furthermore, the end sections b3 of the blank tend to bend down or sag out of the plane of the side b', so that the ,forming mechanism will not operate properly to make a perfect box. In order to'support and lift the side b', I have provided an elongated lifter m2 concaved in the direction of its length, and pivoted at or near its inner end on a pin m3, mounted on the left-hand pair of side-folders D D, Fig. 3, to swing between them, the end ofthe lifter being extended and down-curved at m4 To this end the ICO IIO

to constitute an operating-cam. At its outer and as the former continues its descent the bottom of the box being formed wipes over the cam m4 and swings the lifter up from the position shown in Fig. 6 to upright position,`

(see dotted lines, Fig. 7,) with the `side against the corresponding vertical face of the former F. At this time the cam m4is moved -into dotted-line position out of the path of the descending former as it carries the partlyfolded blank down into the throatto complete the folding.

The means for supporting and lifting the end sections h3 and the side Z9 of the blank are mounted on the end followers and will now be described.

Brackets N on the bed QX of the frame of the machine, Figs. 3 and 4, support a rockshaft NX, which is extended transverselyA of and through holes in the end followers B B, and outside of the followers short upturned arms n are secured to the rock-shaft, the up per ends of the arms having holes to loosely receive inwardly-extended pins n', fast on lugs n2, adjustably held by set-screws 'nx in sockets n3, secured to or forming part of stands N', attached to the slide E nearer the blank-pile outside the followers B. The latter have a movement toward each other longitudinally of the rock-shaft NX, and, remembering that the slide E moves toward and from the former F, it will be manifest that movement of the slide to the left, Figs. 3 and 4 will act through the pins n' and arms n to rock the shaft NX in the directionof arrow 90, Figs. 6 and 7. Hubs n4 are secured to the rock-shaft between the followers, (see Fig. 3,) and to each hub a long rod or finger n is secured, the fingers being located in parallelism below the side b of the blank when the latter is in position over the folding-throat, and when the rock-shaft is turned, as has been described, the fingers will rise, (see Fig. 7,) lifting the side b of the blank, as shown, such lifting being simultaneous with the inward or closing movement of the side-folders D D. l have provided fingers n for supporting and lifting the end sections b3 of the blank, said fingers being secured to hubs nl, fulcrumed outside of the end followers on lateral pins ns, attached thereto, each hub having a depending offset arm ni to receive loosely in its lower end a stud n10, inturned from a shank w12, secured adjustably in the adjacent end of the stand N by a setscrew w13. The movement of the stands N which operates to rock the rock-shaft N also operates through the devices described to rock the hubs 'nl and swing the fingers n from the position shownl in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 7, the lifting movement of the ngers ns and n being timed to act in unison with the lifting movement of the side-lifter m2, hereinbefore described.

In Fig. 7 the extreme upward movementof the two pairs of fingers is shown, the parts of the blank at opposite sides of the bottom section 19X thereof being thereby started; but as the side b with its attached end sections b3 is much the heavier the lifter m2 will continue to support and raise that side as the former F descends. The inner faces of the lips m and m are beveled or inclined, as shown in moving downward with the parts in the pof sition shown in Fig. 6, the pressure of the former upon the blank will cause the sides Z) and b to rise, the tops of the platesD D acting as fulcra, and the lips mbegin to turn up the stay-sections b2 and bottom stays b4, while the lips m perform alike office for the gulnmed end sections b3. Now, however, the opposite pairs of plates D D approach the former while the latter descends and the lips m and m move toward each other,while simultaneously with such movement the fingers a5 and n are swung upward, carrying the superposed parts of the blank into about the position shown in Fig. 7, in which the plates D D have completed their inward movement, it being remembered that the side lifter m2 is actuated by the descending former, as described. The folding-up action is continued and completed by the descending former, the lips m folding over the end sections b3 outside of the bottom and stay sections h4 b2, the continued movement of the side lifter m2 to its dotted? line position, Fig. 7, aiding the lips m' in folding over the end sections b3, the gummed surfaces thereof coming in contact with the bottom and stay sections. The latter areturned angularly against the sides of the former, and when the former has descended to its final position, as at F50, dotted lines, Fig. 7, the blank has been completely folded and the sides b b are between the adjacent faces of the former and the side plates D D, and the end followers B B are then moved up to give the final setting or pressure to the end sec-4 tions b and the bottom and stay sections b4 b2. When this occurs, the only portions of the box above the throat are the cover-flaps h5 b and the small rectangular flaps Z920 at the tops ofthe end sections b3, the lips m and m being so located that after they have performed their requisite functions they will not interfere in any way with the final folding and completion of the boX. The formershaft F has its vertical reciprocation imparted thereto in a substantially well-known manner by means of a link fzo, connected with a rocker-arm fm, fast on a rock-shaft F2, mounted on a part of the arch Q and rocked by suitable and usual means, the link fzo being pivoted to a bracket F3, secured to the shaft F.

Referring to Fig. 5, the former is made' hollow and the shaft E is tubular, having bearings f22 and f23 for the shedder-rod O, the bearingfzfi being part of a couplingf24, which connects a dash-pot chamber f25 with the upper end of the former-shaft F', said chamber at its upper end having an openingfm, the

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size of which is regulated by a valve fi. A coiled spring S10 surrounds the shedder-rod between the top of the bearing]23 and a collarf23, secured to the rod and having a locking-lugf129 extended laterally through a longitudinal slot f3@ in the shaft F', the spring normally acting to maintain the shedder retracted, as in Fig. 5, `the shedder-rod having at its upper end a piston fm, movable in the dash-pot chamber.

A bracket F4 (shown separately in Fig. 2) is rigidly secured to the top of the arch or head Q and has earsfm, extended on each side of the shaft F', and a leverf, bifurcated at its inner end at 742, is fulcrumed between the ears on a pin fis, the bifurcated ends of said lever being slotted at f, Fig. 5, to receive a pin f, extended into vertical slots f46 in the sides of bracket F4. This pin f5 has mounted upon it a latch f, havingadependingleg carrying a roll fis, held by a spring S12 against or in position to engage the beveled end of a pin f4, adjustably secured in upright position on bracket F3 by a set-screw 100. The lever f is connected by a link]50 with a short arm j'51 on the rock-shaft F2, so that when the latter is turned to depress the former F the link will act to rock the lever, lifting the pin f to the upper ends of the slots j"46 and elevating the latch f4?, while at the same time the beveled pin]E49 descends, so that the spring S12 operates to swing the latch toward the shaft F in position to snap over and hold the locking-lugffi when it is brought into coperation with the latch about the time the former F is at its lowest point.

The relative position of former and shedder-rod O has not yet been changed from that shown in Fig. 5; but after the box has been formed and the former begins to rise the latch f47 will prevent rise of the shedder-rod and its foot o will engage the bottom of the box and hold it from moving up with the former, While at the saine time the spring S10 will be compressed. As the shaft F rises the lever f'11 will gradually return to its normal position, (shown in Fig. 2;) but the spring 12 will still hold the latch operative with its rollf18 in the path of the cain-rodf, which is rising with the shaft F', and when the beveled end of said rod engages the roll it will swing the latch on its fulcru'm f, withdrawing it from the lugfm, and thereby releasing the shedder-rod. The latter is then lifted by expansion of the spring sw to its normal position relative to the former shaft F and the former; but the sudden expansion of the spring is prevented by the dash-pot, so that all shock orjar is prevented, the sliedder-rod resuming its normal retracted position gradually and at a speed determined by the adjustment of the valve fi". The release of the shedder is not effected until after the former F has been withdrawn entirely from the box, and the latter drops out of the folding-throat as soon as the members B B and D D thereof separate in readiness to' coperatewith the next blank.

It now remains to describe the blank-supporting means onto which the blanks are delivered Witha sliding movement by the blankconveyer and the means for accurately positioning each blank upon the supporting means in readiness to be acted upon by the box-forming mechanism. The blank-supporting means consist of tracks K, located in parallelism outside of the end followers B B and supported on transverse rods KX, mounted in the arch Q, said tracks supporting the longitudinal edges of the blank and in this instance the outer longitudinal edges of the side sections b3 of the blank, lateral movement of the blank being prevented by the upright sides k of the tracks. These sides are provided with overhanging guards 7o at the en ds nearer the blank-pile, the free ends of the guards being preferably upturned, as shown in Fig. 4, the `guards preventing the leading portion of the blank from dying up as the conveyer-rods h ca rry the blank forward and slide it along the tracks K.

A back-stop E10, shown as a strip of metal secured to the bed QX of the frame, Figs. 3 and 4, is arranged to accurately position the back transverse edge of the blank when the former Fl descends, the upper horizontal portion of the back-stop having raised lips or shoulders el@ for the purpose of engaging the blank midway between its sides. Considerable momentum is imparted to the blank by the blankconveyer as it slides the blank onto and along the tracks K, and it has been found that if a fixed stop is provided to limit the feed movement of the blank the latter will sometimes hit the stop with sufficient force to canse it to rebound somewhat, and the resulting inaccurate position of the blank will cause an imperfect box to be made. To overcome this objection, I have provided a stop, which normally is beyond the position desired for the coperating transverse edge of the blank, means being provided to move the stop in a retrograde direction to a predetermined point after the blank has been deposited by the blank-conveyor. This final position of the stop is such as to position the blank with absolute accuracy, and the initial position of the blank is such that the maximum momentum of a blank can only carry it up tothe stop, and ordinarily the blank may not quite reach the stop. Then on the retrograde movement of the latter, which preferably is slow, the blank will be moved more or less oppositely to its feed movement into the precise position requisite to perfect action thereupon by the box-forming mechanism, the back-stop referred to preventing any accidental rearward movement of the blank beyond proper position. So far as l am aware this mode of effecting the final positioning IOO into the path of the leading edge ofthe blank.

A rod c3 connects the slides n and projects at each side beyond them to loosely enter forked arms '114, fast on a rock-shaft o5, mounted in bearings V on the main frame of the machine,

gthefends of the rods being thus slidable in the/arms v4 when the end followers B B are moved in and out. The rock-shaft has a rocker-arm USX, to which is pivotally con-` nected a link fu, forked at its upper end at 07 Fig. 2b, to embrace the rock-shaft F2, which operates the former F, said rock-shaft having secured to it a collar 1;8, provided with a wing 09, in which a cam-groove n10 is formed to receive a roller or other stud U12 on the link v6.

` In Fig. 2 the blank-conveyer is shown as having just delivered a blank to the blanksupporting means described and just about to return for the next blank to be fed and Y.the stops @X are stationary in the path of the leading edge of the blank, a similar condition of affairs being shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Now the former descends, due to turning of the rock-shaft F2, and as the latter turns the wing Q29 moves in the direction of arrow 102, Fig. 2b, the cam-groove om acting on the stud U12 to lift the link v6 slowly, and thereby to move the slides o by the connections described to the right, Figs. 3 and 4. The slow inward movement of the stops @X thus produced causes them to act upon the blank and move it from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 t-o the right just far enough to place the blank in absolutely correct position, and the former F descends upon it and the folding begins. Reverse movement of the wing o9 restores the stops to their normal position in readiness for the next blank as the former returns to its uppermost position, so that the stops are ready to prevent any possible overrunning of the blank. The tracks K are slightly higher than the tops of the conveyerrods, so that when they return they cannot carry the blank backward, the leading edge of the blank riding up over the back-stop E10 on its feeding movement and thence onto the tracks as the abutment-hooks hl continue the feed movement of the blank. The distance between the back-stop shoulders elo and the final inward position of the stops @X is equal to the extreme distance between the leading and rear edges of the blank. When l at rest, the side lifter m2 rests on the rod v3 between the stop carriers or slides Q), as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Various changes or modifications may be made in different details of construction andY arrangement of the several novel features of my invention Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as I have shown and described herein one practical embodiment of my invention. f

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire lto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a paper-box machine, a blank-pile support, upright, longitudinally-notched gages to position the blank-pile at the leadingcorners thereof, a glimmer-picker to gum and lift the topmost blank of the pile, and a fiat, separator-blade located between the gages to act upon the blanks between their leading corners and separate the next blank from the topmost blank when the latter is lifted.

2. In a paper-box machine, a support for a pile of slitted blanks superposed one upon another, agummer-picker to gum and lift the topmost blank of the pile, and a fixed thin and flat separator-blade to enter the slits of the blanks and by frictional engagement with the opposite edges of the slit thereof overcome lifting of the second blank due to suction between it and the topmost blank.

3. In a paper-box machine, a'support for a pile of slitted blanks superposed 'one upon another, a glimmer-picker to gum and lift the topmost blank of the pile, and a plurality of upright, thin and fiat parallel blades to enter the slits of the blanks and by frictional engagement with the opposed slitted edges prevent lifting of a plurality of blanks simultaneously by the operation of the gummerpicker.

4. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, means to support the blank to be acted upon thereby, a blankconveyer to convey a blank to said supporting means, and independent movable means to engage the blank and effect its accurate positioning relative to the forming mechanism.

5. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, means to support the blank to IOO TIO

be acted upon thereby, a blank-conveyer to conveyblanks one by one to said supporting means, and means movable oppositely to the feed movement of a blank, to engage the leading end of and move a blank into position to be acted upon by the box-forming mechanism.

6. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, means to support the blank to be acted upon thereby, a blank-conveyer to convey a blank to said supporting means, and means intermittingly movable opposite to feed movement of the blank to engage the leading end of the blank and accurately position it upon the supporting means.

7. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, means to support the blank to be acted upon thereby, a blank-conveyer to convey a blank to said supporting means, a device in the path of movement of the blank,

to stop its forward movement due to the action of'the conveyer, and means to thereafter move said device oppositely to feed movement of the blank, and accurately position the latter relatively to the forming mechanism;

S. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, a reciprocating blank-conveyer to convey a blank to said mechanism, a positioning device to engage the conveyed blank and by retrograde movement thereof accurately position it relatively to said forming mechanism, and means to intermittingly actuate said positioning device.

9. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, blank-supporting means, a horizontally-reciprocating conveyer to convey a blank to said means, a device in the path of movement of and to permit the blank to move beyond its proper position relative to the boxforming mechanism, and means to thereafter impart a slow movement to said device oppositely to the feed movement of the blank, to

engage the latter and effect its accurate positioning relative to the box-forming 'mechanism.

10. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, blank-supporting means, a conveyer to engage and slide a blank longitudinally upon said means, a device in the path of the leading end of the blank, and means to move said device to accurately position the blank after the same has been slid upon the supporting means. y

l1. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, blank-supporting means, a reciprocating conveyer to engage and slide a blank longitudinally upon said means, intermittingly-operative means to thereafter accurately effect the positioning of the blank relative to the box-forming mechanism, and a lixed back-stop to limit retrograde movement of the blank.

l2. In a machine for making'paper boxes from blanks of the character substantially as specied, the combination With box-forming mechanism, of blank-supporting means, a horizontally-reciprocating blank-conveyer to conveya blank to and slide it upon said means, stops in the path of a transverse leading edge of the blank, said stops being beyond the proper position for such edge When the blank is slid upon the supporting means, and means to thereafter move the stops oppositely to the feed movement of the blank, to engage the leading edge thereof and accurately position the blank relatively to the box-forming mechanism.

13. In a paper-box machine, a blank-conveyer comprising parallel, horizontally-reciprocating rods, abutments adjustably mounted thereon, to engage the blank, a cross-bar, means to reciprocate it, and annular-lygrooved rolls mounted in pairs on the rods and adapted to engage opposite sides of the cross-bar, to connect the latter and the rods and permit free movement of the latter toward and from each other, the grooves of the rolls preventing disengagement of the rods and cross-bar.

14. In a machine of the class described, boxforming mechanism, a blank-support, comprising parallel, stationary tracks above the box-forming mechanism to receive and support a blank; means to adj ust the tracks-toward and from each other; a blank-conveyor to conveyl a blank to the blank-support, and independent means to accurately position the blank upon the blank-support.

15. In a machine of the class described, a folding-throat, stationary tracks to support the blank at its sides above the throat, overhanging guards at the inlet ends of the tracks, a back-stop for the blank, and means movable oppositely to feed movement of the blank to engage the latter and effect its accurate positioning on the tracks subsequent to the delivery of the blanks thereupon by the conveyer.

16. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism comprising a vertically-reciprocating former and a cooperating foldingthroat; parallel tracks to engage the longitudinal edges of and support a blank over the folding-throat; overhanging guards at the inlet ends of the tracks, to prevent lifting of the blank; ahorizontally-reciprocating blankconveyer to engage a blank and slide it beneath the guards upon the tracks, the latter being higher than the top of the blank-conveyer, and means to lift the leading edge of the blank being fed to the level of the tracks.

17. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism comprising a vertically-reciprocating former and a coperating foldingthroat; parallel tracks to engage the longitudinal edges of and support a blank over the folding-throat; overhanging guards at the inlet ends of the tracks, to prevent lifting of the blank; ahorizontally-reciprocating blankconveyer to engage a blank and slide it beneath the guards upon the tracks, the latter being higher than the top of the blank-conveyer, means to lift the leading edge of the blank being fed to the level of the tracks, a back-stop for the rear edge of and to prevent retrograde movement of a blank, and means to engage the blank after it has been deposited on the tracks, and to move it back against the back-stop.

1S. In a paper-box machine, a horizontallyreciprocating blank-conveyer,`a verticallyreciprocating former, a cooperating foldingthroat comprising end followers and upstanding side plates, blank-supporting tracks fixedly mounted outside of and parallel to the end followers, the tracks being higher than the level of the blank-conveyer, means to lift the leading end of the blank being fed to the track-level, a back-stop for the blank, and means operative after deposit of the blank upon the tracks to accurately position such blank relatively to the folding-throat and former.

19. In a paper-box machine, a former, a co- IOO IIO

operatingfolding-throatcomprisingapproaching and receding side-folding plates, and end followers,andindependently-operatingmeans to engage and lift the side portions of the blank, operating in conjunction with the folding-throat, said means including pairs of elongated, pivotally-mounted fingers, and mechanism indep'endentof the former to swing said fingers positively.

20. In a machine for making paper boxes from blanks of the character substantially as specified, the combination with a verticallyreciprocating former, of a cooperating folding-throat comprising end followers, and approaching and receding, upstanding sidefolding plates; a separately-actuated sidelifter to act upon the under surface of one side section of the blank and swing it up against a Vertical face of the former, and means actuated independently of but operating in conjunction with the side-folding Aplates to engage near their edges, and lift the side sections of the blank.

2l. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the vertically-reciprocating former, and lthe movable members constituting the contractible folding throat beneath the former, of independently-actuated means to engage and lift the side sections of a blank contemporaneously with the descent of the former and the contraction of the foldingthroat.

22. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the vertically-reciprocating former, and the movable members constituting the contractible folding-throat beneath the former, of pairs of elongated fingers mounted to swing in vertical planes and adapted to engage the under surfaces of and lift the side sections of the box at the beginning of the folding operation, and means to actuate the iingers independently of the throat-forming members, the fingers preventing bending down of the supported portions of the blank as the former and throat-forming members cooperate.

23. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the vertically-reciprocating former, and the movable members constituting the contractible folding-throat beneath the former, a device to engage one of the side sections of the blank midwaybet-ween its sides, means actuated by or through descent of the former to swing said device upward and thereby lift the portion of the blank sustained thereby, and independently-actuated pairs of swinging fingers to engage and lift one side section and the two end sections of the blank at the beginning of the folding of the blank by cooperation of the former and the throat-forming members.

24:. In a paper-box machine, a verticallyreciprocating former, a cooperating contractible folding-throat comprising movable end followers and approaching and receding sidefolding plates arranged in opposite pairs, a

side-lifter fulcrumed between one pair of said plates and having acam end in the path of the former, said lifter being swung upward by the action of the former upon its cam end, to lift the overlying side section of the blank, and independent swinging fingers operated by or through inward movement of the side plates to engage and lift both the side sections of the blank preparatory to complete cooperation of the former and folding-throat.

25. In a machine for making boxes from blanks having side sections and end sections on one of the side sections, a former, a contractible folding-throat, means to engage the side sections and swing them upward at the commencement of the folding operatiomand means to engage and lift the end sections at such time, said means being separate from and operating independently of the means for lifting the side section to which the end sections are attached.

26. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the reciprocating former, acontractible folding-throat with which it coperates, and means to support the blank in position to be operated thereby, of means, including pivotally-mounted elongated fingers located at opposite sides of the former-path to engage and swing the side sections of the blank upward from the horizontal as the former begins to depress the bottom section of the blank into the folding-throat, connections between and to move the fingers ontheir fulcra in unison in opposite directions, and means independent of the form er to positively swing the fingers.

27. In a machine for making boxes from blanks having end-forming sections and sideforming sections, a reciprocating former, a contractible folding-throat coperating'therewith, means operating independently of the folding-throat to lift the side-forming sections as the former enters the folding-throat, l

and separate means to simultaneously engage and lift the end-forming sections.

28. In a machine for making boxes from blanks having long side sections, and endforming sections on one of the side sections, the combination with a blank-support, a contractible folding-throat beneath the supported blank, and a vertically-reciprocating former above and to enter said throat, of upwardlyswinging and independently-actuated devices to extend beneath and lift the side sections, means to similarly cooperate with and lift the end-forming sections, said means being operatively connected with one of the upwardlyswinging devices, and separate mechanism to operate said swinging devices as the former descends upon thel blank and begins to depress the latter into the folding-throat.

29. In a paper-box machine, a glimmer'- picker to gum and lift the topm ost blank from a pile of blanks, box-forming mechanism, a blank-conveyer to engage the lifted blank and convey the same to the boX-f'ormingmechan- ICO ,ism, and automatic means to thereafter effeet the accurate positioning of the blank relative to the box-forming mechanism.

30. In a paper-box machine, a gummerpicker to gum and lift the topmost blank-from a pile of blanks, box-forming mechanism, a blank-conveyerto engage the lifted blank and convey the same to the box-forming mechanism, and intermittingly-movable means to stop the feed movement of the blank delivered by the blank-conveyer and thereafter to automatically effect the accurate positioning of the blank relative to the box-forming mechanism.

3l. In a paper-boX-making machine, boxforming mechanism, including a reciprocating former,a blank-conveyer to convey blanks singly to said mechanism, means to engage and position the blank when delivered by the conveyer, and actuating connections between said means and the former, to accurately position the blank simultaneously with the descent of the former.

32. In a paper-box-making machine, boxforming mechanism, including a reciprocating for1ner,a blank-conveyer to convey blanks singly to said mechanism, intermittinglymovable means to effect the accurate positioning of the blank relatively to the boX- forming mechanism, and actuating connections between the former and said means, to operate the latter and position the blank as the former is about to engage it.

33. In a paper-box machine, a verticallyreciprocating former, means, including a rock-shaft, to actuate it, a cam on said rockshaft, a folding-throat below and to coperate with the former, a conveyer to feed blanks one by one between the former and the folding-throat, a stop in the path of and to limit feed movement of the'blank, and connections between the cam and stop, to move the latter and position the blank accurately immediately before the descent of the former upon the blank.

34. In a paper-box machine, a verticallyreciprocating former, a cooperating contractible folding-throat comprising end followers and side-folding plates, a blank-conveyer,

stop-carriers slidably mounted on the end followers and having upturned stops in the path of the leading edge of the blank, and means to slide the stop-carriers simultaneously opposite to feed movement of the blank, to accurately position the latter relativev to the folding-throat and former.

35. In a paper-box machine, a verticallyreciprocating former, a cooperating contractible folding-throat comprising end followers and side-folding plates, a blank-conveyer, stop-carriers slidably mounted on the end followers and having upturned stops in the path of the leading edge of the blank, and means actuated by the movement of the former to move the stop-carriers opposite to feed movement of the blank as the former descends, to position the blank, and to return said stopcarriers and their stops to normal position as the former rises.

36. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, including a former, a shedder Working therethrough, means to eifect downward movement of the shedder in unison with the former, a device to hold the shedder down and stationary when the former rises, to thereby shed the box, and means to release the shedder thereafter from the control of the retaining device.

37. In a paper-box machine, a former, a tubular, vertically-reciprocating shaft to actuate it, a shedder Working longitudinally in said former and its shaft, means to eect downward movement of the shedder and former in unison, and means to hold the shedder down and stationary temporarily when.

the former rises, to thereby shed the box from the former. V

38. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, including a former, a' shedder working therethrough, a 'spring to lift the shedder, means to hold the shedder down and stationary when the former rises, to thereby shed the box from the former, and a device to thereafter automatically release the shedder and permit the spring to lift it into normal position relative to the former.

39. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, including a former, a shedder working therethrough, a retracting-spring for the shedder, means to temporarily hold the shedder down and stationary as the former ascends, to strip the box therefrom, and to release the shedder at a predetermined rise of the former, and means to cushion the released shedder.

40. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, including a former, a shedder working therethrough, a retracting-spring for the shedder, means to temporarily hold the shedder down and stationary as the former ascends, to strip the box therefrom, and to release the shedder at a predetermined rise of the former, and a pneumatic cushioning device to control the ,spring-actuated retractile stroke of the shedder.

41. In a paper-box machine, a hollow, vertically-reciprocating shaft, a former attached thereto, a shedder working longitudinally in the shaft and former and having a laterallyprojecting lug, a retracting-spring for the shedder, a latch to engage the lug when the former and shedder have descended to a predetermined point, to hold the shedder stationary when the former rises, and a device movable with the former to disengage the latch and lug, and thereby release the shedder, when the former has ascended a predetermined distance.

42. In a paper-box machine, a hollow, vertically-reciprocating shaft having a longitudinal slot, a lug on the shedder extended through said slot, a spring within the latter to lift the shedder and retract it, a latch to automatically engage said lug upon the de- IOO scent in unison of the former and shedder to a predetermined point, to hold the shedder down when the former ascends, compressing the spring, and means operated by ascentof the former to render said latch inoperative after the box has been shed, permitting the spring to expand and lift the shedder, retracting it to normal posit-ion.

43. In a paper-box lnachine, a hollow, vertically-reciprocating shaft having a longitudinal slot, a lug on the shedder extended through said slot, a spring within the latter to lift the shedder and retract it, a latch to automatically engage said lug upon the descent in unison ot the former and shedder to a predetermined point, to hold the shedder down when the former ascends, compressing the spring, means operated by ascent of the former to release the shedder after it has shed the box from the former, permitting the spring to expand and retract the shedder, and an adjustable device to cushion the retractile movement of the shedder.

44. In a paper-box machine, a reciprocat ing former anda contained shedder movable `in unison therewith on the operating stroke thereof, means to temporarily hold the shedder stationary When the former, moves back after operating, to strip the box from said former, and means to return the shedder when released to normal, retracted position.

45. In a paper-box machine, a reciprocating former and a contained shedder movable r.in unison therewith on the operating stroke thereof, means to lock and hold the shedder stationary and thereby project it from the `former on the return stroke thereof, to shed

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