US1983547A - Box making machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 11, 1934. c. D. KNOWLTON 1,983,547

BOX MAKING MACHINE.

Filed Sept. 24, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

Dgc. 11, 1934. c. D. KNOWLTON BOX MAKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1931 Dec. 11, 1934. D, KNQWLTON 1,983,547

BOX MAKING MACH INE il'm afava KM Dec. 11, 1934.

C. D. KNOWLTON BOX MAKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 24, 1931 Patented Dec. 11, 1-934 PATENT OFFICE B0x MAKING MACHINE Cutler D. Knowlton, Beverly, Mass assignor to Hoague-Spmgue Corporation,- Lynn, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 24, 1931, Serial No. 564,803

39 Claims,

This invention relatesto machines for the making of boxes, it being especially concerned with the application to boxes of such sheets as labels.

Box-bodies and their covers, either of which, since they may differ only in dimensions, are to be looked upon as boxes or box-portions, frequently have a label secured adhesively to certain areas, as to. one or both of their ends. An object of my'invention is to effect such an attachment of the sheets to boxes during their production, said sheets being rapidly applied and accurately positioned. In carrying out this object, I'arrange a sheet-applying mechanism between a feeder for box-blanks and a mechanism for setting up said blanks in box-form, the applying mechanism preferably functioning during theadvance of the blanks by conveying. means from the feeder to the setting-up mechanism. In

this way, there is attained the ease and speed of operation upon flat blanks, as distinguished from the more bulky and easily deformed folded boxes, while at the same time such blanks are stable and free fromthe warping and distortion which may result from the application of the sheets to the cover-paper for boxes before'this has been associated with the shell-material. The applying mechanism is operated in definite time-relation to the feeding and conveying means, so said applying mechanism acts correctly upon each sheet fed, and, to prevent the delivery of a sheet if there has been a failure of the blank-feed, the operation of the applying mechanism is controlled upon the engagement of the feeder with a blank. I have herein shown this as accomplished by an interconnection of pneumatic engaging means at the feeder and applying mechanism, one of which means controls the operation of the other. Means is illustrated for varying the time-relation between the applying mechanism and the sheetadvancing means, so the applied sheets may be caused to register correctly with the blanks, this conveniently being accomplished by changing the angular relation of a member, as a sprocketwheel through which one of the mechanisms is operated. This receives power from an associated mechanism or from a common source. T free the machine from the effect of irregularities in action of the blank-conveying means, I provide for the rotation of the blank-engaging means at a greater peripheral speed than. the rate of travel of the conveyor, so that blank is removed from the influence of the conveyor while it is being acted upon by the applying mechanism. Both the box-blanks and the applied sheets or labels are commonly elongated in one direction, the blanks having end-wings, to one of which wings the labels may be aflixed. I arrange for most advantageous delivery of the labels to the blanks, the latter being contained in a magazine which holds them with their major dimension transverse to the advancing conveyor, with the endwings at'opposite sides thereof, while the labelmagazine so presents'its contents that they may be drawn out longitudinally and applied transversely of the box-end-wings. This longitudinal delivery of elongated sheets minimizes their tendency to choke or resistv advance in event of their angular displacement.

A further object of this invention is to improve the construction and operation of the sheetor label-applying mechanism. There is here involved a novel mounting of the label-applying mechanism; an arrangement of a suction-roll which successively removes the labels from the "magazine and transfers them to the receiving surfaces, together with means for separating and supporting the labels during their withdrawal and transfer and presenting them properly to an adhesive-applying member; power-actuation of the applying member, which is movable between adhesive-supplying means and a label-transferring member, and its control under the influence of the transferring member; and an arrangement of the surface of the adhesive-applying member which facilitates'the maintenance of the label upon the transferring member during the application of the adhesive.

One of the several possible embodiments of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation of those portions of a box-making machine with which the invention is most closely concerned;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the mechanism;

Fig. 3 shows in perspective a labeled blank;

Fig. 4 is an irregular vertical section taken near the center of Fig. 2;

' Fig. 5, a fragmentary vertical section in which the label-engaging elements are in a position succeeding in the operating cycle that of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6, an enlarged vertical sectional detail taken at the suction-openings of the transferring segment;

Fig. 7, a still further enlarged transverse section through the same elements;

Fig. 8, an irregular vertical transverse section taken upon Fig. 4 just in advance of the labelmagazine;

labeling Fig. 9, a vertical sectional detail on the line IX-IX of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10, a detail in perspective of the sprocket-adjusting means.

This invention may be applied to the boxmaking machine which is the subject of an application for Letters Patent filed in my name in the United States Patent Office on July 7, 1930, and bearing the Serial No. 465,941. It is to be noted that, while the apparatus of the application has been described as being particularly de signed for the production of box-covers, its use for the making of box-bodies is merely a matter of minor changes, such as in its proportions. In Fig. 1 of the present case, there appears a portion of the frame 18 of said machine, and particularly the side- rails 20, 20 thereof, which extend from a blank-feeder F to a mechanism S, which folds and sets the blanks up in boxform. An endless conveyor C, which, in the present instance, may be supplied by spaced sprocket-chains provided with engaging projections 0, receives the blanks delivered by the feeder and advances them to the setting-up mechanism. Of the feeder, there is shown in Fig. 1 a magazine 22, in which box-blanks B are supported in a horizontal stack or series upon one edge. The

, form of the blank is generally that of an elongated rectangle, being intended for the production of boxes such as are used for containing shoes. 11, side-wings e, e, each with corner-laps j, j, and end-wings g, g. The arrangement of the blank-elements when the box is set up is well known. In the magazine 22, each blank is arranged with its major dimension transverse to the path of advance, the end-wings being adjacent to the side-rails .20, 20. It will be assumed that, in the present instance, to one of these end-Wings a label I is to be adhesively secured, it being applied to the layer of coverpaper which has been adhesively fixed to the shell-material when the blank was produced by a prior operation. In the magazine 22, the blanks are arranged with the cover-paper to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1. They are removed therefrom one by one by pneumatic suction-nozzles 24, which introduce them successively between a pair of delivering belts 26, 26, these depositing each blank upon the conveyor C, each just in advance of a projection c. The application of suction is controlled in the proper relation to the movement of the nozzles 24 and to the conveyor-advance by an automatically operated valve 28, to which is joined a conduit 30 in which suction is maintained. The setting-up mechanism S consists more essentially of a form 30, an opposed abutment-plate 32 and side-walls 34. The blanks are introduced from the conveyor C between the form and plate, which, with the blank clamped between them, rise and cause the wings and corner-laps to be folded by contact with the walls. In this setting-up, the box-elements are retained in form by an adhesive applied by a mechanism, not illustrated, during the travel of the blanks from the feeder F. Power for the operation of the various portions of the machine comes from a source common to all, as a countershaft 36.

Situated at that side of the conveyor C at which is located a blank-end-wing g to which a label I is to be applied, is a labeling mechanism L. Its mounting may consist of two bars 40 resting at their outer extremities upon the top of a siderail 20 and unsupported at their inner ends. The

Each blank (Fig. 3) has a body-portion outer portions overhang the rail and are each connected by a screw 42 to a bar 44 extending the full width of the frame beneath the side-rails,

and at the opposite-side of the frame these bars 44 are joined by screws to yokes or blocks 48 (Fig. 1)- resting upon the top of the rail. Within the side-rail opposite the screws 42, the bars 40 and 44 are spaced by interposed thimbles 47, through which and the bars pass screws 49. Secured to the bars 40 are two side- frames 50 and 51 of the labeling mechanism L, these frames being spaced from each other and connected by cross-rods 52. The effect of the support of the frame for the labeling mechanism upon the bars 40 at one side only of the machine-frame is to leave at the opposite side of said frame an open space, through which ready access may be had to blanks being forwarded by the conveyor C. From the inner side-frame 51 rises a guide-wall 54 (Fig. 2) extending longitudinally of the conveyor, and upon this wall a slide 56 is mounted to reciprocate. Extending horizontally from the lower portion of the slide above the path of the blanks in their advance by the conveyor from the feeder to the setting-up mechanism is a platform 58 guided at its opposite edge in ways 60 in the side-frame 50. The platform serves as the bottom of a magazine m for a vertical stack of the labels 1, the stack being retained against horizontal displacement by side- walls 62, 62 and end-walls 64 and 66.- To allow the magazine to accommodate different sizes of labels, the walls 62 and 64 are adjustable upon the platform by slot-and-screw connections 68. The wall 66 is fixed against movement upon the slide 56, serving to locate one of the margins of the labels in the stack at a predetermined position, from which withdrawal through an opening 70 (Fig. 4) in the platform between its inner edge and the wall 66 may occur. For such withdrawal of each label, the magazine is reciprocated by a link '72 articulated to the upper extremity of l lever '74 fulcrumed at '76 upon the frame and having a roll '77 entering a cam-track in a disk '78 fast upon a shaft journaled in the side-frames above the conveyor. The manner in which the cam is rotated and acts upon the magazine will later be described.

Situated just below the forward extremity of the bottom label in the magazine is a delivering roll 82 rotatable in the side-frames. In this roll is an axial passage 84, from which lead radial passages 86 through the periphery of the roll. Initially the passages 86 are substantially vertical, the forward margin of the lowest label covering them. Suction is applied to the roll-passages, to cause the retention and partial withdrawal from the magazine of the label engaged, by way of a conduit 88 (Fig. 2), a valve-casing 90, a conduit 92 and a valve-casing 94 (Fig. 1) situated in close proximity to the valve 28 and joined to it by a conduit 96. The connection between the suctionconduits 88 and 92 is governed by a plungervave 98 movable in the casing 90, said valve being held normally closed by a spring 100 and opened by an adjustable two-piece cam 102 at the appropriate time to cause the roll 82 to seize the bottom label. The cam 102 is fixed to the shaft 80. In the casing 94 is a plunger-valve 104, which is under the influence of a spring 106 to normally cut off the suction in the conduit 96 from the conduit 92. As long as the nozzles 24 are not in engagement with a blank, the valve 104 remains closed, any suction applied to the conduit 96 by way of the valve 28 being broken by the inflow through the nozzle-openings. But when theseopenings are closed by the presence of 'a blank held by the nozzles for delivery, the-suction acts upon the valve 104. "This valve has spaced plungers, that next the spring 106 being of greater diameter than its companion. Consequently, there will be an excess of atmospheric pressure upon that side of the valve to move it against the resistance of the spring and thus open connection between the conduits 96 and 92. As a result of this, a label in the magazine 111. will be pneumatically engagedby the roll-passages 86 only when a box-blank has been effectively drawn from the magazine 22 to receive its label. In absence of the control exercised over the suction at the roll 82 by the valve 104, the force applied through the conduit 30 might be sufllclent to cause the active engagement of a label in the magazine by the roll 82 even with the nozzles 24 left open by the absence of a blank.

When suction has been applied to the passages at 86, as just described, and the bottom label in the magazine is held under its influence against the roll 82, the magazine is advanced by the lever 74. This movement is caused to rotate the roll 82 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4, as by a gearing consistingof a rack 108 secured to the under side of the slide 56 and meshing with a pinion 110 fixed upon the roll. The simultaneous advance of the magazine and rotation of the delivering roll causes the bottom label to be wound about a portion of the periphery of the latter, the relatively sharp deflection due to the small diameter of the roll being effective to break the adhesion between the label acted upon and the next in the stack. At this time, there is no resistance offered by the slipping of one label over another, the bodily advance of the stack by the magazine preventing this. Before the travel of the magazine and the rotation of the roll ceases, and suction is removed from the rollopenings 86 by the closing of the valve.98, the forward edge of the label will have reached a line below the inner edge of a horizontal labelseparating and stack-supporting wall 112 extending between the side- frames 50 and 51. This inner edge of the wall, ,or that toward and in close proximity to the roll 82, has lower and upper converging surfaces 114 and 116, respectively. The former is engaged by the upper face of the label being withdrawn to direct this down into a position to be further acted upon. The latter guides thesucceeding sheets in the stack, which overhang the opening in the bottom of the magazine, up upon a horizontal supporting surface 118 of the wall 112. The surface 116, by contact with the lower edge of the magazine-wall 66, may also direct this upon the surface 118, producing a close engagement between the walls, which will insure the retention of the lower labels in the stack in place when the magazine-travel is reversed to return it to normal. As the label being fed is advanced by the magazine beneath the wall 112 after release by the roll 82, it passes above a bar 120 having a reduced edge at 122 (Fig. 5), and which is shown as suspended from the wall 112 by lugs 124. As the leading edge of the label tends to fall, due to its projection from the magazine, it receives the support of this bar and is more accurately held in position for the succeeding operation upon it.

Upon the shaft is carried a label-holding and transferring roll, in the form of a segment 130. The radius of the segment is such that it fed label, and its width and circumferential extent give a surface suflicient to support the label to be applied, the latter preferably projecting somewhat beyond the supportingsurface of the segment. The shaft 80 has an axial passage 132 connected by a radial passage 134 to a transverse passage 136. From the passage 136, openings 138 pass through the periphery of the segment adjacent to the edge which leads in itsfrotation. A conduit 140 joins the passage 132 to a portion of the casing in which operates a plunger-valve 142 (Fig. 2). When suction is applied to the conduit 92 under the control of the valve 104, its effect upon the conduit and the passages in the segment 130 may be governed by the valve 142. This valve is normally closed by a spring 144 and is opened by a cam 146 fast upon the shaft 80 and arranged similarly to the cam 102. The timing of the elements is such that the suction through the-openings 138 is created as they reach the forward extremity of the label being fed, after this 'has been released by the passages 86 of the roll 82 and while it is being advanced by the magazine at the same speed as the periphery of the segment 130 is traveling. A label having been thus engaged by the segment, and the inner end of the magazine-opening 70 having reached the roll 82, the advance of the magazine ceases, and continued rotation of the segment completes the drawing of the label from beneath the stack. I have shown the openings 138 formed in a surface 141 (Fig. 6) at the forward edge of the segment, this surface being inclined forwardly and inwardly from the circumferential label-engaging surface. This causes the forward extremity of the label to be bent inwardly at an angle to the remainder, to avoid a scraping contact with an adhesive-applying member which will now be described.

Supported adjacent to the transferring segment 130 is a tray 143 (Fig. 4), mounted between the side- frames 50 and 51, and in this tray is carried a pan or receptacle l45ifor glue or other adhesive. Operating in this pan is a supplying roll 147, the horizontal shaft of which is journaled in bell-crank levers 148 fulcrumed at 150 on the side-frames. To each lever and to an arm 152 fixed upon a shaft 154 turning in the frame is pivoted a telescopic rod 156 acted on by a spring 158 and forcing .the roll 147 in the direction of the segment. This movement is adjustably limited by a screw 160 threaded horizontally into each lever and contacting with the frame. Upon the shaft 154 is secured a hand-crank 162 limited in its movement in opposite directionsby engagement with a projection 164 from the side-frame 50. In one extreme position of the crank, or that illustrated in Fig. 2, the angle of the arms 152 is such that the roll 147 is in its operating relation, immersed in the adhesive in the pan.

145. In the alternate position of the crank, the levers 148 are turned to lift the roll from the pan to facilitate cleaning and the removal of said pan to refill it. In the operating position, the supplying roll delivers the adhesive.to an intermediate roll 166 journaled in the side-frames parallel to the supplying roll. This intermediate roll preferably has a yieldable covering, as of rubber. The closeness of engagement of the roll 147 with the roll 166, and therefore the amount of adhesive delivered to it, is determined by adjustment of the screw 160. Extending across the frame, in advance of the roll 166 and parallel to its axis, is a readily removable spindle .168, and upon this spindle there is arranged to turn a sleeve 170 having projecting from it spaced arms 1'72; 1'72, in which is iournaled' an adhesive-applying roll 1'74, the axis of this r011 being parallel to that of the roll 166. The roll 1'74 is movable by oscillation of the arms 1'72 from an adhesive-receiving position at the roll 166 to one in which it applies the adhesive to a label held upon the segment 130. The length of the roll is such that, as the label is carried in contact with it by the segment, substantially the entire surface of said label is coated. On account of the extension of the label beyond the edges of the supporting surface of the segment, there is no opportunity for smearing the latter, and, because of the bending of the leading edge of the label over the surface 141, this edge does not scrape over the adhesive upon the roll 1'74 with a tendency to transfer said adhesive to the printed face of the label. I have shown the applying surface of the roll 174 as grooved at 1'76 (Fig. '7), conveniently in the form of a helix. This groove will transmit atmospheric pressure to the surface of the label over the segment-openings 138, so contact of the applying roll will not destroy the label-holding suction. Italso reduces the contactarea of the applying roll, thus diminishing the adhesion of the label thereto and the liability of it being carried away from the segment. The helical groove is easy to machine and eifectively distributes the wear upon the roll 166.

The rolls of the adhesive-supplying chain are rotated by gearing which imparts to the applying roll 1'74 a peripheral speed substantially that of the segment, to properly spread the adhesive without disturbing the position of the label upon said segment. The intermediate roll 166 preferably has the same peripheral speed as the applying roll, while the roll 147 is rotated at a much slower speed to bring up a sufllcient supply of the adhesive from the pan 145 without unnecessarily agitating its contents. Upon the shaft 80 of the segment 130 is secured a gear 180, which rotates the applying roll 174 by meshing with a pinion 182 fast upon the shaft of said roll. To the opposite extremity of this roll-shaft is attached a gear 184 engaging a gear 186 upon the shaft of the roll 166, which also has fixed upon it a pinion 188. The latter transmits movement to the roll 146 by meshing with a gear 190 fast upon its shaft.

To oscillate the applying roll 1'74 between its position of contact with the intermediate adhesive-roll 166 and the label-holding segment 130 in the correct time-relation for the application of the adhesive to the label, the roll-supporting sleeve 170 has an upwardly extending arm 192, to which an actuating force is applied. This arm is joined by a link 194 to a piston 196 operating in a cylinder 198 supported by the side-frames. Normally, a spring 200, acting upon the piston within the cylinder, holds the roll 1'74 toward the roll 166 to receive a coating of the adhesive. The closeness of approach, and therefore the amount of adhesive transferred, may be determined by a set-screw 201 threaded through a portion of the cylinder-casting, and with which the piston contacts. Opening into the cylinder is a conduit 202, which branches from the conduit 140 and therefore applies to the cylinder a suction controlled by the valve 142 simultaneously with that produced in the passages of the segment 130. Consequently, when the suction through the segment-openings 138 causes a label to be held against said segment, the periphery of the applying roll 1'74 is moved into the path of the label, which, as it is carried past this roll,

receives a coating of the adhesive. The closeness of engagement depends upon the adjustment of a stop-screw 203 carried by the cylinder-casting, which receives contact of the piston within the cylinder to limit its travel in this direction. The label having been coated and the valve 142 closed, the applying roll is returned by the spring 200 to the roll 166 to receive a fresh supply of the adhesive. If the segment-openings 138 are not closed by a label being drawn from the magazine and presented to receive its coating, the suction will be broken by the entering air and will be ineffective to shift the applying roll 174 against the resistance of its spring 200. In consequence of this interdependence between the retention of the label upon the segment and the moving of the adhesive-applying roll to its active position, danger of spreading the adhesive upon the label-receiving surface of the segment is removed.

The rotation of the segment is timed with the delivery of blanks from the feeder F and their advance by the conveyor-C, so that the forward edge of a label held upon the segment is correctly presented to the forward edge of an end-wing g of a blank B being advanced to the setting-up mechanism S by a conveyor-projection c. At this time, the contacting edges of the blank-end-wing and of the label are situated above a bedor. abutment-roll 206, which is preferably covered with rubber or otheryieldable material. The horizontal shaft 208 of the bed-roll is rotatable in hearing blocks 210 arranged for movement along vertical ways in brackets 212 supported upon the upper faces of the bars 44. The roll is thrust toward the segment 130, to force the coated label and blank toward it and into intimate contact with each other, by springs 214 interposed between the bearing-blocks and screws 216 threaded through the brackets and by which the force of the springs may be adjusted. This movement of the roll toward the segment is shown as adjustably limited by screws 218, with which the bearing-blocks contact.

The bed-roll 206 is rotated at the appropriate peripheral speed, preferably not less than that of the segment 130, by sprocket-gearing including a wheel 220 connected by a chain 222 to a shaft at the feeding mechanism F. From the shaft 208, the other rotatable elements of the labeling mechanism are driven by a gear 224 fixed upon the shaft and meshing with the gear 180. Because of the connection of the labeling mechanism shaft 208 and the associated mechanisms of the boxmaking machine to a common source of power through positive gearing, all these mechanisms will operate in a definite time-relation. To permit the area to which the labels are to be applied to be varied transversely of the end-wings g of the blanks, so said labels may be symmetrically located, means is provided for changing about the shaft 208 the angular relation of the sprocketwheel 220. The effect of this is to correspondingly alter the angular position of the rotatable elements of the labeling mechanism with respect to the projections c of the conveyor 0. To this sprocket-wheel there is secured about the shaft 208 a sleeve 226, through which is a slot 228 ii.- clined to the axis (Figs. 8, 9 and The shaft is slotted within the sleeve 226 and within the bearing-block, and movable longitudinally of this shaft-slot is a sliding key 230 provided with a projection 232 entering the sleeve-slot 228. The outer extremity of the key has a depression to receive an annular flange 234 upon a thumb-screw 236 threaded into the shaft 208 at the axis. When the cam 78, the magazine is again moved forward, at first gradually and then attaining the same rate of travel as the segment. The segthe screw 236 is turned, the eilect is to shift'the relative angular positions of the shaft 208 and the sprocket 220, and thus the relation of the rotatable elements of the labeling mechanism to the associated mechanisms of the box-making machine which include the blank-presenting conveyor C, all these parts operating in synchronism. This leads to a change in the time of presentation by the transferring segment 130 of the labels to the blanks forwarded by the conveyor, and a consequent variation in their positions upon the blank-end-wings.

To outline the general operation of the machine, it may be said that the magazine 22 of the feeder F is supplied with a stack of box-blanks, each bearing its cover-paper, and with the major dimension of the blanks extending transversely of the conveyor C, so the end-wings a lie at opposite sides of the machine-frame. A stack of labels 1 is placed in the magazine m of the labeling mechanism L, these having their major dimension extending longitudinally of the conveyor C or transversely of the blank-end-wings to which the labels are to be applied. The pan 145 contains the adhesive to be employed for the attachment of the labels. Delivered one by one from the magazine 22 by the suction-nozzles 24 and the belts 26, the blanks are advanced by the projections c of the conveyor toward the setting-up mechanism S. As each blank approaches the labeling mechanism L, the elements of said mechanism at the beginning of a label-applying cycle'will be positioned as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The roll 7'7 on the lever 74 for reciprocating the magazine m is located in the groove in the cam 78 at a point u, beginning a concentric section of the groove extending to 1:. During the rotation of the cam through this angle, the magazine is at rest and, the valve 28 being open to cause the feeding of the blank from the magazine 22, the cam 102 at mechanism L opens the valve 98, so suction is created through the openings 86 in the delivering roll 82, to permit firm engagement between the roll and the bottom label in the magazine to be established. If the nozzles 2 of the conveyor have failed to seize a blank, the valve 104 will be operated to cut off the suction from the roll 82, so no label-removal from the magazine m will be initiated; Following the engagement between the label and suction-roll 82, a portion of decreasing diameter of the cam '78 from v to w acts to advance the magazine m, this turning the roll 82 through the gearing 108, 110 as the opening 70 of the magazine travels over the roll, so the latter can draw the forward extremity of the label down without exerting upon it as a whole a displacing force. This movement of the magazine is preferably rather gradual, avoiding accidental disengagement of the label from the suction-roll. The leading end of the label is now beneath the separating wall 112, deflected downwardly by the surface 114, and suction through the roll-open-' roll 82 being thus supported. The cam-track from w to .r is again concentric, and the magazine rests. During this period and preceding, portion of the cycle, thesegment 130 has been transferring and applying a previously withdrawn label, and its suction-openings 138 are approaching the projected end of the label the delivery of which is being considered. From w to 11 in the groove of ment-openings 138 are now beneath the end of the label (Fig. held in their path by the wallsurface 114 and prevented from sagging, arid thus destroyingproper registration, by the support furnished by the bar 120.

When this conditiom suitable for the engagementand-retention of the label by theesegment, has been attained, the valve 142 is opened by the cam 146 to give suction through the openings 138, holding the end of the label to the segment. A concentric portion of the cam from y to 2 reaches the lever-roll 77, stopping the travel of the magazine as the outer edge of the opening '70 arrives at the roll 82. The drawing of the label from the magazine is therefore completed by the tension created by the rotation of the segment 130. Simultaneously with the application of suction to the segment-openings, but occurring only if there is a label in place upon the segment ready for the operation upon it, suction is created in the cylinder 198 under the control of the valve 142 to cause the applying roll 1'74 to move from its engagement with the adhesive-carrying roll 166 against the label upon'the' segment, coating such label. The label having been fully withdrawn from the magazine, a camportion of increasing diameter from a to it returns the magazine rapidly to its normal position, where it abruptly stops. The inertia of the labels tends to force them back against the magazine-wall 66, alining their edges vertically, so the succeeding label to be fed will have the desired relation to the suction-openings in the roll 82. During the return-movement of the magazine, the sliding of the wall 66 over the surface 1.18 holds the lower labels from being displaced beneath said wall. As the withdrawn label is being carried down by the segment, because of the definite timing of the operation of the feeder F and conveyor C, its forward edge will meet the leading side-margin of the end-wing g of a blank B being advanced by a conveyor-projection c, and will be pressed against the wing-surface, under the influence of the bed-roll 20s, to cause adhesion. Afterthe pressure of the label upon the blank has been established, the greater speed of the segment will somewhat move the label'and blank away from the conveyor-projection, making the application independent of irregularities. in the conveyordrive. With the attached label, the blank is carriedonto the setting-up mechanism S, where, because of the timing of :said mechanism with respect to the co-operating mechanisms, it arrives'in the proper position to receive the folding action of the elements 30, 32 and 34. During the application of the label, another label-withdrawing cycle is being initiated. Instead ofacting atone extremity of a box only, the mechanism L may be duplicated, to apply labels to opposite ends, or an application may be made at an intermediate point, as at the center of a boxcover.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a box-making machine, setting-up mechanism, a conveyor for advancing blanks to the setting-up mechanism, sheet-applying mechanism acting upon the blanks during their advance by the conveyor, and means for operating the setting-up mechanism, conveyor and sheet-applying mechanism in constant definitely timed relation.

2. In a box-making machine, setting-up mechanism, a conveyor for supplying the setting-up mechanism, a box-blank-magazine, means for removing blanks from the magazine and delivering them tothe conveyor, label-applying mechanism including a magazine and means for withdrawing labels therefrom and applying them to the blanks between the delivering means and setting-up mechanism and during their advance by the conveyor, and means for operating the setting up mechanism, conveyor, blank-removing and delivering means and label-withdrawing and applying means in constant definitely timed relation.

3. In a box-making machine, setting-up mechanism, a. conveyor for supplying the setting-up mechanism, a magazine arranged to hold elongated box-blanks with their major dimension extending transversely of the conveyor, means for removing blanks from the magazine and delivering them to the conveyor, a label-magazine situated at one side of the path of the blanks upon the conveyor, and means for withdrawing the labels from the 7 magazine and applying, them transversely of one extremity of the blanks during their advance by the conveyor.

4. In a box-making machine, setting-up mechanism, a conveyor for supplying the setting-up mechanism, a magazine arranged to hold boxblanks having sideand end-wings, means for removing the blanks from the magazine and delivering them with the end-wings at opposite sides of the conveyor, a magazine for elongated labels situated at one side of the path of the blanks upon the conveyor, and means for withdrawing the labels longitudinally from the magazine and applying them transversely of the endwings of the blanks.

5. In a box-making machine,'a box-blank-feeder, blank-setting-up mechanism, means for advancing blanks from the feeder to the settingup mechanism, sheetapplying mechanism situated between the feeder and setting-up mechanism and acting upon the blanks during their advance, and means for operating the sheet-applying mechanism upon each operation of the feeder.

6. In a box-making machine, a box-blank-feeder, setting-up mechanism, a conveyor having projections for engaging the blanks delivered by the feeder and advancing them to the setting-up mechanism, sheet-applying mechanism co-operating with the feeder, and means for operating the sheet-applying mechanism once for each blank-engaging projection supplied with a blank by the feeder.

7. In a box-making machine, setting-up mechanism, a conveyor for supplying the setting-up mechanism, a box-blank-magazine, means for removing blanks from the magazine and delivering them to the conveyor, label-applying mechanism acting upon the blanks between the delivering means and setting-up mechanism, and means for operating the blank-delivering means and label-applying mechanism in definite timerelation.

8. In a box-making machine, a feeder for boxblanks, mechanism for applying ,a label to a wing of each box-blank, means for advancing the blanks from the feeder to the applying mechanism, means for operating the advancing means and applying mechanism in definite time-relation, and means arranged to vary such time-relation and thereby shift the label-receiving are upon the wing.

9. In a box-making machine, a blank-feeder, mechanism for applying sheets to the blanks, means for advancing the blanks from the feeder to the applying mechanism, said applying mechanism and advancing means having power-receivlabel-applying mechanism, a conveyor-chain engaging blanks delivered by the feeder and advancing them to the applying mechanism, and means for driving the conveyor-chain and applying mechanism and including an angularly adjustable sprocket-wheel.

11. In a box-making machine, a blank-feeder, label-applying mechanism provided with a blankengaging roll, a conveyor-chain having projections engaging blanks delivered by the feeder and advancing them to the applying mechanism, means for driving the conveyor-chain and applying mechanism and including a sprocketwheel mounted with the blank-engaging roll, and means arranged to rotate the sprocket-wheel with reference to the roll.

12. In a box-making machine, blank-delivering means, driving means therefor, label-applying mechanism supplied with blanks by the delivering means, a driving shaft for the applying mechanism, a driving member through which the shaft is rotated from the driving means, and means movable upon the shaft for changing the angular relation between said shaft and the driving member.

13. In a box-making machine, blank-delivering means, driving means therefor, label-applying mechanism supplied with blanks by the delivering means, a driving shaft for the applying mechanism, a driving member through which the shaft is rotated from the driving means, said driving member having a slot inclined. with respect to the axis, and a key movable upon the shaft and entering the slot. e

14. In a box-making machine, blank-delivering means, driving means therefor, label-applying mechanism supplied with blanks by the delivering means, a driving shaft for the applying mechanism, a driving member through which the shaft is rotated from the driving means, said driving member having a slot inclined with respect to the axis, a key movable upon the shaft and entering the slot, and a screw threaded into the shaft at the axis and engaging the key to efiect its movement. 7, v

15. In a box-making machine, box-blank-setting-up mechanism, a feeder having a blank-engaging suction member, label-applying mechanism situated between the feeder and setting-up mechanism and having a label-engaging suction member, and means for creating suction in the blankengaging member of the feeder and label-engaging member of the applying mechanism in definite time-relation.

16. In a box-making machine, a box-blankfeeder, mechanism for operating upon the blanks fed, and means controlled upon engagement of the feeder with a blank for causing the operation of said mechanism.

1'7. In a box-making machine, box-blank-feeding mechanism, and mechanism for applying sheets to the blanks, each of the mechanisms having pneumatic engaging means and one of said engaging means controlling the operation of the other.

adjacent to the magazine oppositely inclined 18. In a box-making machine, box-blank-teeding mechanism, mechanism for applying sheets to the blanks, each of the mechanisms having a suction device, a suction-conduit connected to the suction devices, and a valve in the suction-conduit, said valve being controlled by the condition of one suction device and controlling the suction through the other device.

19. In a box-making machine, box-blank-feeding mechanism, mechanism for applying labels to the blanks,'each of said mechanisms having a suction device, a suction-conduit connected to the suction devices, and a valve in the suctionconduit, said valve being controlled by the condition of the suction device at the blank-feeding mechanism and controlling the suction through the label-applying mechanism.

20. In a box-making machine, a blank-feeder, mechanism for applying sheets to the blanks, said mechanism having a rotatable blank-engaging member, a conveyor for advancing blanks from the feeder to the sheet-applying mechanism, means for driving the conveyor, and means for rotating the blank-engaging member at a greater peripheral speed than the rate of advance of the conveyor.

21. In a box-making machine, a blank-feeder, mechanism for applying sheets to the blanks, said mechanism having opposite rotatable blankengaging rolls, a conveyor for advancing blanks from the holder to the sheet-applying mechanism, means for driving the conveyor, and means for rotating the rolls at a greater peripheral speed than the rate of advance of the conveyor.

22. In a' box-making machine, a blank-feeder, mechanism for applying sheets to the blanks, said mechanism having opposite rotatable blank-engaging rolls, blank-setting-up mechanism, a conveyor provided with projections arranged to engage blanks and advance them from the feeder to the label-applying mechanism and to the setting-up mechanism, means for driving the conveyor, and means for rotating the rolls at a greater peripheral speed than the rate of advance of the conveyor-projections.

23. In a box-making machine, side-rails extending longitudinally of the machine, a boxblank-conveyor traveling between the rails, bars extending from a side-rail transversely of the conveyor, and label-applying mechanism mounted upon the bars and leaving the conveyor free for access at one side of the machine.

24. In a box-making machine, a frame having side-rails, setting-up mechanism carried by the frame, a bar extending transversely of the frame beneath the side-rails, a bar extending partially across the frame above one of the side-rails, means for connecting the outer extremities of the bars at one side of the frame, and label-applying mechanism mounted upon the bars.

25. In a sheet-applying mechanism, a sheetmagazine, a rotatable suction-roll for delivering sheets from the magazine, a rotatable sheettransferring suction-roll receiving sheets from the delivering roll, and an abutment-roll co-operating with the transferring roll.

26. In a sheet-applying mechanism, a reciprocatory magazine for a stack of sheets, said magazine being provided with a bottom-opening, a suction sheet-delivering roll situated beneath the opening in the magazine and upon which the bottom sheet of the stack rests, and a stationary horizontal wall upon opposite sides of which travel the delivered sheet and the succeeding sheets of the stack, said wall having at its-end sheet-engaging surfaces.

27: In a sheet-applying mechanism, a reciprocatory sheet-magazine, a rotatable suction-roll for delivering sheets from the magazine, a rotatable sheet-transfe g suction-roll receiving sheets from the de ivering roll, a dividing wall beneath which the delivered sheet is directed by the delivering roll in its advance to the transferring roll, and an abutment-roll co-operating with the transferring roll.

28. In a sheet-applying mechanism, a reciprocatory sheet-magazine, a rotatable suction-roll for delivering sheets from the magazine, a rotatable sheet-transferring suction-roll receiving sheets from the delivering roll, a dividing wall beneath which the delivered sheet is directed by the delivering roll in its advance to the transferring roll, said dividing wall having an inclined surface arranged to deflect the delivered sheet toward the transferring roll, and an abutment-roll co-operating with the transferring roll.

29. In a sheet-applying mechanism, a magaprovided with a forward stack-retainingwall and with a bottom-opening, a sheet-delivering roll situated beneath the opening in the magazine and upon which the bottom sheet of the stack rests, and a stationary sheet-dividing wall into contact with which the lower edge of the magazine-wall moves in the delivery of a sheet, said contact being maintained during the further movement of the magazine.

30. In a sheet-applying mechanism, a magazine for a stack of sheets, said magazine being provided with a forward stack-retaining wall and with a bottom-opening, a sheet-delivering roll situated beneath the opening in the magazine and upon which the bottom sheet of the stack rests, and a stationary sheet-dividing wall into contact with which the lower edge of the magazine-wall moves in the delivery of a sheet, said contact being maintained during the further movement of the magazine, the wall having at its end adjacent to the magazine a surface inclined upwardly and away from said magazine for engagement thereby.

31. In a sheet-applying mechanism, a reciprocatory sheet-magazine, a rotatable suction-roll for delivering sheets from the magazine, a rotatable sheet-transferring suction-roll receiving sheets from the delivering roll, a dividing wall beneath which the delivered sheet is directed by the delivering roll in its advance to the transferring roll, said dividing wall having an'inclined surface arranged to deflect the delivered sheet toward thetransferring roll, an abutment-roll co-operating with the transferring roll, and a sheet-supporting bar situated below and in proximity to the inclined surface of the dividing wall.

32. In a sheet-applying mechanism, a sheetdelivering member, 'arotatable transferring segment receiving upon its periphery sheets from the delivering member, said segment being provided near one edge with a surface inclined inwardly from the peripheral sheet-engaging surface and means for bending the edge of the transferred sheet over such inclined surface, and an wardly from the peripheral sheet-engaging surface, there being suction-openings in the inclined surface, means for creating a suction through the openings to draw a sheet to the inclined surface, and an adhesive-applying member to which the segment presents the sheets.

34. In a sheet-applying mechanism, a rotatable sheet-transferring member, adhesive-supplying means, an adhesive-applying member movable between the supplying means and transierring member, and pneumatic means for moving the applying member.

35. In a sheet-applying mechanism, a rotatable sheet-transferring member, adhesivesupplying means, a lever, an adhesive-applying roll rotatable upon the lever and movable thereby between the transferring member and supplying means, a co-operating cylinder and piston acting upon the lever, and means for applying suction to the cylinder.

36. In a sheet-applying mechanism, a rotatable sheet-transferring member, pneumatic means for holding a sheet upon the transferring member, adhesive-supplying means, an adhesiveapplying member movable between the supplying means and transferring member, pneumatic means for moving the applying member, and pneumatic connections common to the moving means and holding means.

3'7. In a sheet-applying mechanism, a rotatable sheet-transferring member provided with a suction-opening, adhesive-supplying means, a lever, an adhesive-applying roll rotatable upon the lever and movable thereby between the transferring member and supplying means, a co-operating cylinder and piston acting upon the lever, conduits joined to the suction-opening and to the cylinder, a valve controlling the flow through both conduits, and meansior applying suction to the conduits.

38. In a sheet-applying mechanism, a rotatable sheet-transferring member provided with a suction-opening, adhesive-supplying means, and an adhesive-applying roll arranged for co-operation with the supplying means and transferring member and provided with a groove opposite the suction-opening of said transferring member.

39. In a sheet-applying mechanism, a rotatable sheet-transferring roll provided with a series of suction-openings in its periphery, adhesivesupplying means, and an adhesive-applying roll arranged for co-operation with the supplying means and transferring roll and provided in its periphery with a helical groove.

CUTLER D.- KNOWLTON.

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