US2499461A - Box sealing machine - Google Patents

Description

C. CHRISTIANSEN BOX SEALING MACHINE March 7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23, 1943 March 7, 1950 CHRISTIANSEN BOX SEALING MACHINE 2 SheetS-Sheec 2 Filed April 23, 1943 Patented Mar. 7,- 1950 UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE BOX SEALING MACHINE Christian Christiansen, Swampscott, Mass.

Application April 23, 1943, Serial N0. 484,271

11 Claims. (Cl. 93-363) This invention relates to an improvement in machines for pressing or sealing the glued ends of box blanks to the infolded side tabs of the blanks to form boxes and boxcovers. The invention is used especially for sealing plain cardboard boxes of the type commonly used as containers for shoes.

Boxes of this type are made from blanks which are cut to form a top or bottom surface, side walls having flaps adapted to be folded inwardly, and ends extending from the top or bottom surfaces which are adapted to be folded up against infolded end flaps, folded over the tops of the flaps, and secured in position. The inner surfaces of the ends are coated with glue and, after being held in the final position, are pressed against-the outer surfaces of the end flaps to form a tight bond.

The object of the present invention is to provide simpler, lighter and less expensive mechanism for pressing the ends, which have already been coated with adhesive, against the flaps to form a strong, secure end wall for the box.

The present invention includes mechanism for applying pressure progressively over the surfaces of the parts to which the glue has already been applied, the pressure applied being greater than the weight of the pressing means, and the progressive application of the pressure being adapted to squeeze out any surplus glue and to insure the proper spreading and distribution of the glue during the bonding operation.

The nature and objects of the invention will best be understood from the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the position of the folded box blank when inserted into the machine.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one end of a partially folded box blank. 7

Fig.7 is a perspective view of the pressing mechanism of the present invention during one phase of its operative movement.

Fig. 8 is a detail view in front elevation of a part of the machine of Fig. 1.

In-the drawings, a glue applying mechanism generally indicated at A is supported by a pair of arms I, l securedby bolts 2 to the top of a frame 3 comprising a base 4 and upright side plates 5. This mechanism is more fully described and claimed in a co-pending application of the present inventor, Serial No. 484,270, on which United States Letters Patent No. 2,379,216 subsequently issued, which application was filed simultaneously herewith, and forms no part of the present invention.

The pressing mechanism B is mounted at an angle on the frame 3 of the machine (see Fig. 1) to allow the operator to insert'box blanks easily and quickly into the machine. In this mechanism, a bed 6 is provided with lugs l and 8 secured to the frame 3 as by bolts 2 and 9. Secured to the bed 6 as by bolts ID, are spaced parallel gear racks H. The bed '6 is also adapted to receive and support, in the space provided therefor by said racks, an assembly comprising a fiat platen l2 adapted to provide a rigid support for the inside of the box, and parallel guides l3 secured, as by screws M, to the sides of the rear portion l5 of the platen. The space between the racks H is wide enough to permit the bed 6 to receive platens of varying sizes, the size chosen depending on the size of the box blank upon which the machine is to operate at any given time. The guides i3 are attached to the particular platen to be used, and the assembly is then placed in the bed 6 and secured thereto as by bolts I6. A portion of the bed 6 underlying the guides I3 is cut away to form slots indicated at 6a and 6b underlying the guides 13 to enable the sides of the folded box blank to slide inwardly over the edges of the platen l2. Extending upwardly from the bed 6 are posts I! which bear a head It having pairs of horizontal and vertical guide surfaces l9, l9 and 20, 2!) respectively, formed thereon. Mounted within the frame formed by said bed 6 and head 18 is a reciprocably movable carriage comprising end members 2| and 22 connected at the top by rods 23 and 24 and at the bottom by a shaft 25 rotatably journalled in the end members. The

rods 23 and 24 each bear pairs of rolls 26 whichare adapted to follow the guide surfaces 29, 29. Extending upwardly from rods 23 and 24 are posts 2'! which carry rolls 28 which are adapted to follow the guide surfaces I9, l9. The shaft 25 carries a segmental drum or rotary press 29 on either end of which are secured, as by screws 39 and dowels 3i, the segmental gears 32 and 33 which are adapted to follow the racks H. The full weight of the drum 29 is not borne by the gear racks, or the platen, however, as the drum rests upon the top surfaces 34 of supporting and guiding rails 35, 35 carried by the bed 6 adjacent the racks l l. The rails 35 and the racks I! may be integrally formed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7. Since the rails do not allow the press to bear on the platen and the rolls 262t do not allow the press to rise, the press is supported unyieldingly with its surface a distance from the platen which is less than the thickness of the ele ments of the box which are to be glued together.

The diameter of the segmental drum 25, as shown in Fig. 1, is not the same as the pitch diameter of the segmental gears 32 and '33. This difference in diameter causes the drum to be carried bodily forward and back over the platen with a wiping movement, due to the fact "that the forward movement given it by the carriage is not co-extensive with the rotative peripheral movement given it by the gears. When the diameter of the drum is less than the pitch diameter of the gears, asillustrated in Fig. 1, the wiping movement is in the direction of travel of the drum.

Secured to the rods 23 and 2'4 are two rearwardly extending bars 36 and!!! bearing in their ends a cross rod 38 engaged by one end of a link 39 pivoted at 10 to one or more links M pivoted at 42 to an upright 53 supported by the base l. The link 39 is also pivoted at 49 to one or more links 44 connected to the crank G on a crank shaft 46 journalled in suitable bearings in a standard 41 supported by the base d. Secured to the crank shaft 46 is a pulley 4L8 adapted to be driven by a belt 59 from a pulley ti! on a shaft 51 suitably journalled in a'support 52 rising from the base 4. The shaft 5% also carries a large pulley 53 adapted to be driven by a belt 54 from a pulley 55 secured to the shaft 56 of a motor 5'! supported on an upright 58 rising from the base 4. J ournaled in suitable bearings 59 on the base 4 of the frame is a shaft '65) to which is secured a starting pedal 6!, and secured at the end of the shaft 69 is an arm 52 pivoted to a link 63 pivotally connected at its other end to an arm 64 of a clutch mechanism (indicated at 55) of any suitable and well known type for connecting the pulley 5!! with the shaft 5i.

The support or platen i2 is preferably formed with a transverse groove 65 (Fig. 3) having two small grooves or indentations B? and 68 at either end thereof. The groove 66 is adapted to receive the-infolded portion 69 of the end 72 (see Fig. 6) and the grooves 67 and 68 are adapted to receive the two small reinforcing tabs of the box lank, these grooves-thusserving to compensate, during the pressing operation, for the extra thickness formed by these parts.

In preparing the box for pressing, the operator applies glue to the end 12 by the glue applying mechanism A, folds the side flaps ill inwardly as shown in Fig. 6, brings the glued .end 12 up close against-the outer surfaces of the flaps ll and folds the flap 6 9 over the top of said flaps ll and also over the reinforcing tabs it which extend from the sides of the blank. The posiion of the parts of the blank is then as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The operator then inserts the folded blank between the guides l3 and pushes it forwardly into the machine (see Fig. 7) until it fits completely over and upon the platen 52 in such manner that the inner surfaces of the flaps I! lie flat on the top surface of the platen l 2 and the infolded glued flap Sillies in the groove (it. When the folded blank is in this position, the

reinforcing tabs 10 lie directly over the grooves 6'5 and 68 formed in the groove 66.

The operator then depresses the starting pedal 6! to start the machine, and, through the driving mechanism above described, the segmental drum 29 is rotated counterclockwise in Fig. 1 over the rails 35 which hold it properly spaced from the platen, and the segmental gears 32 and 33 follow the gear racks H. As the segmental drum advances, it rolls over and presses the folded layers of the box blank together so that the glued end 12 forms a tight seal with the outer surfaces of the flaps II and the folded flap 59 forms a tight seal with the top part of the inner surfaces of the flaps H and seals in the small reinforcing tabs '10. Thedrum is not allowed to rise as it moves forwardly, since the carriage in which it is mounted must "follow the guides 29, 20 formed in the'head of the machine. Since the space between the peripheral surface of the drum and the top surface of theplaten issubstantially constant, the pressure onthe folded glued blank may consequently be much greater than the weight of the drum. As the drum moves forwardly it presses downward upon and squeezes at any one time only a small additionalportion .of the blank held between the drum and the platen. -Consequently, .the area of the blank which offers resistance to the pressing means is smallat any given time and the amount of force required for pressing is far less than that which would be required for pressing the whole surface at once. The-forwardmovement of the .drum also serves to spread the -glue evenly as :it progresses, any excess-glue beingpushed. ahead of .the drum, and anydry spots being ..covered.

When the diameterof .the drum. is smaller. than the pitch diameter of the gears, .as illustrated in Fig. 1, thedrum is'dragged along bodily as well as-being rotated. The peripheral surface .of the drum, therefore, is-not onlypressed downwardly on the surface-of the-boxblank as it is turned, but is also given a wiping motion. This serves to loosen any glue that may have become stuck on the drum or platen. It'also in a effect irons the surface of the blank and so-aids in bonding the parts.

Since the degree of pressure applied to the blank is not determined by the weight of the drum, the drum can'be made'as light as is consistent withrthe proper degree of strength, and since the pressure is progressively applied to a small part of 'the blank, themachine as a whole need not be constructed from the heavy parts heretofore used in pressing operations in which the pressure is applied to the entire surface or to a substantial portion of thesurface of the blank at one time. Both because of the squeezing action due to the forward rectilinear movement of the'drum between the fixed support and head of the pressing mechanism,'and because of the progressive applicationof pressure, the machine of the present invention weighs hardly one'third. as much as the usual-type-of pressing machines now in' use. The lightnessof its construction and the pressing of small portions of the blank at any one time allow the machine to-operate on approximately one fifth of the power formerly used, make for far quieter operation of the press, and practically eliminate shock or jar-during opera.- tion. It is, therefore, not necessary to use the machine on specially reinforced flooring, a matter which is particularly important at the present time, when the difliculty intransporting ready-touseboxes from the .factoryhas .ledto the pracof insecurely glued boxes which have to be discarded.

I claim:

1. A device for sealing under high pressure folded glued flaps of box blanks and the like comprising, in combination, a rotary press having an arcuate pressing surface, a rigid pressureresisting frame, means for guiding said press in an undeviating rectilinear path through said frame, means for giving said press a rotary and a reciprocating rectilinear movement, a platen secured in said frame having a pressing surface spaced from the arcuate pressing surface of said press throughout said path a distance less than the normal thickness of the blank to be pressed thereon, and means for admitting a blank to said platen with one side thereof held fiat against the top surface of said platen.

2. A device for sealing under high pressure folded glued flaps of box blanks and the like comprising, in combination, a rotary press having an arcuate pressing surface, a frame having spaced members secured to each other against relative displacement by pressure created between them, means for guiding said press in an undeviating rectilinear path through said frame, means for giving said press a rotary and a reciprocating rectilinear movement, a platen secured in said frame having a pressing surface spaced from the arcuate pressing surface of said press throughout said path a distance less than the normal thickness of the blank to be pressed thereon, and means for admitting a blank to said platen with one side thereof held flat against the top surface of said platen, the rotary rectilinear movement of the press between the non-yielding members and over the side of the folded blank exerting a squeezing forward pressure on the upper surface thereof which serves to spread the glue evenly and uniformly ahead of the point of pressure and to bond the remainder securely with the material of the blank.

3. A pressure sealing device adapted to press the folded glued flaps of box blanks under compression comprising, in combination, a frame having spaced members secured to each other against relative displacement by pressure created between them, a rotary press mounted in said frame for reciprocal linear movement, means on one of said members for supporting the weight of said press, means for reciprocally moving said press, means for rotating the press during reciprocal movement thereof, a platen for supporting a box blank held unyieldingly on the spaced member on which said press supporting means are placed, means on the other supporting member for causing said rotary press to bear constantly on its supporting means, and means on said platen for admitting a blank with one side thereof held flat against the pressure receiving surface of said platen.

4. A device for sealing glued box blanks as defined in claim 3 in which said rotary press is carried by a carriage guided between said spaced members in an undeviating rectilinear path.

5. A device for sealing glued box blanks as defined in claim 3 in which the rotary press is a segmental drum.

6. A device for sealing glued box blanks as defined in claim 3 in which the means for giving said rotary press an undeviating rectilinear movement include a carriage for said press, supporting rails for said press mounted on one of said pressure resisting members and adapted to hold said press throughout its path of rectilinear movement a given minimum distance from the platen, and cooperating means on said carriage and the other pressure resisting member adapted to cause said rotary press to follow said rails without deviation therefrom.

7. A device for sealing glued box blanks as defined in claim 2 in which said pressure resisting members are provided with spaced parallel means for guiding said rotary press and causing it to follow an undeviating rectilinear path.

8. A device for sealing glued box blanks as defined in claim 2 in which said rotary press is provided with gears and one of said pressure resisting members is provided with cooperating gear racks.

9. A device as defined in claim 2 in which said press has a segmental drum provided with segmental gears on either end thereof, and one of said pressure resisting members is provided with gear racks adapted to rotate said segmental drum as it is given rectilinear movement.

/ 10. A device as defined in claim 2 in which said rotary press is provided with gears and one of said pressure resisting members is provided with gear racks adapted to rotate said press as it is given rectilinear movement, and said rotary press has an arcuate surface with a diameter that is different from the pitch diameter of said gears, so that linear movement of said press during its rotative movement wipes a part of said arcuate surface over the blank being pressed.

11. A device as defined in claim 2 in which said rotary press has gears at either end thereof and one of said spaced members is provided with spaced parallel gear racks adapted to cooperate with said gears, and said gears have a pitch diameter that is greater than the diameter of the arcuate surface of said rotary press.

CHRISTIAN CHRISTIANSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 71,929, Walker Dec. 10, 1867 463,592 Bacon Nov. 17, 1891 469,632 Ethridge et a1 Feb. 23, 1892 659,398 Johnson et al. Oct. 9, 1900 659,399 Johnson et al Oct. 9, 1900 808,806 Barnett Jan. 2, 1906 906,329 Stimpson et a1 Dec. 8, 1908 992,461 Vandercook May 16, 1911 1,166,016 Smith Dec. 28, 1915 1,519,129 Gautier Dec. 16, 1924 ,527,796 Hammer Feb. 24, 1925 1,703,849 Winkley Feb. 26, 1929 3 I-Iueber Jan. 11, 1938 ,1 ,977 Knowlton Jan. 16, 1940

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