US3913464A

US3913464A - Positioning means for hold-down

Info

Publication number: US3913464A
Application number: US526394A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stephen S Flaum
Original assignee: S&S Corrugated Paper Machinery Co Inc
Current assignee: S&S Corrugated Paper Machinery Co Inc
Priority date: 1974-11-22
Filing date: 1974-11-22
Publication date: 1975-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-21
Also published as: GB1477761A; CA1021978A

Abstract

Apparatus for producing a folded tubular box from a box blank is provided with power driven means for adjusting the folding elements to operate on different size box panels. As the tubular boxes are produced, they are underfed into a stack and periodically a pile of boxes at the top of the stack is removed. While the boxes are in the stack, a hold-down means provides a downward force on the glue joint region connecting the inwardly folded panels of the box. A cable system interconnects the holddown means with the power driven means for adjusting the folding sections so that as the apparatus is adjusted for different size boxes, the hold-down means is automatically positioned to apply a downward pressure at the joint region.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Flaum POSITIONING MEANS FOR HOLD-DOWN [75] Inventor: Stephen S. Flaum, New York, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: S&S Corrugated Paper Machinery Co;, Inc.,- Brooklyn, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Nov. 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 526,394

[52] U.S. Cl. 93/365; 93/49 R, 93/93 R [51] Int. Cl. B31B 3/74; B31B H98 [58] Field of Search 93/49 R, 52 R, 36 R, 93 R,

93/94 PS, 93 DP, 36.3; 83/499, 501, 502,

504; 214/6 H, 6 S, 6 F; 53/387 [56] A References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 2,440,158 4/1948 Sly 83/504 x 3,601,265 8/1971 Shields'......-

Shields Hottendorf 93/49 R X Oct. 21, 1975 Primary Examiner-Roy Lake I Assistant ExaminerJames F. Coan Attorney; Agent, or Firm0strolenk, Faber,Gerb*& Soffen [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for producing a folded tubular box from a box blank is provided with power driven means for adjusting the folding elements to operate on'different size box panels. As the tubular boxes are produced, they are underfed into a stack and periodically a pile of boxes at the top of the stack is removed. While the 1 boxes are in the stack, a hold-down means provides a downward force on the glue joint region connecting the inwardly folded panels of the box. A cable system interconnects the hold-down means with the power driven means for adjusting the folding sections so' that as the apparatus is adjusted for different size boxes,

' the hold down means is automatically positioned to apply a downward pressure at the. joint region,

' 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures a. mm 0ct.21,1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,913,464

1 POSITIONING MEANSFOR HOLD-DOWN -the joint re gion of a foldedtubular box as the apparatus is adjusted for different size boxes. 1

ln the A. F. Shields U.S. Pat. No. 2,982,189 issued May 2,-- l96l, for a Power Driven Adjusting Means For Slotting, Scoring, Creasing, and Slitting Machine, there is disclosed box making apparatus which transforms box blanks into folded tubular boxes and delivers these boxesv in piles containing a predetermined number of boxes. The transformation from box blank to folded tu- 'bu-lar box requires that outboard panels of the blank be inwardly folded topositions where the outboard or free edges of the blank are positioned at a joint region where they are connected by taping or by, direct gluing.

In order to be able to produce different size boxes the panel folding sections are laterally adjustable by powerdriven means. In the stacking and delivery section, there is a holddown means which must be maintained in position to apply a downward force against the box at the joint region thereof. Since the folded panels are usually of different widths the position of the joint region changes for different size boxes. Thus, positioning of the folding sections requires repositioning of the hold-down means.

When the operator is adjusting the folding sections, he is located at a position very remote from the holddown means which is located in the stacking and delivery section. At this time the operators view of the hold down means is usually obscured and/or the operators concentration on adjusting the folding sections causes him to temporarily forget the existence of the holddown means. Due to the foregoing circumstances, it often happens that the power driven movable frame, carrying a folding section, engages and thereby damages the hold-down means. Even when the hold-down means is not damaged, the operator must go to the opposite end of the apparatus and reposition the holddown means.

To eliminate this problem and effort, the prior art as exemplified by the A. F. Shields U.S. Pat. No. 3,618,479 for an Automatic Positioner For Hold-Down Means utilizes a differential gearing unit which provides 'driving mechanical connections between the hold-down means and the folding sections so that as the folding sections are adjusted the position of the holddown means is automatically adjusted in a manner such the differential gearing system of the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No- 3,618,479 for automaticallypositioning the hold-down means.

Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide novel means 'for automatically posihold-down means is automatically adjusted as the positions of the folding sections are adjusted.

Still another object is to provide a cable system which drivingly interconnects power adjusted folding sections to automatically power adjust the hold-down means.

These objects as well as other objects of this invention will become readily apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of box making apparatus constructed in accordance with teachings of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the changes in the condition of the entering blank as various operations are performed thereon until such blank emerges as a folded tubular box.

FIG. 3 is a perspective of the cutting section, gluing section, folding section, and stacking and delivery sections of the automatic apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the cable system for automatically positioning the hold-down means.

Now referring to the figures, automatic box making machine comprises feed-in section 11 adapted to a feed individual sheets S of cardboard or corrugated tioning the hold-down means of a stacking and'delivery section at the feed-outend of box'makin'g apparatus. Another object is to provide novel and relatively inexpensive means interconnecting the hold-down means with the folding sections'so that the position of the board, merely having

transverse score lines

80, 81 thereon, from stack 99 into cutting section 100. A first group of laterally aligned cutting heads of cutting section simultaneously applies longitudinal score lines 82-84 and

crushes areas

85, 86 of sheet S. The term longitudinal refers to the direction of blank movement through machine 10. Thereafter, a second group of laterally aligned cutting heads of cutting section 100 slots sheet S at 94-97 and trims at 88 to form box blank B. For details of the heads in cutting section 100 and the head adjusting means, reference is made to the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 2,982,189.

Box blank B passes from cutting section 100 to gluing folding section 300 where glue is applied to crushed lap 89 and panels 90, 91 .are folded over with crushed area 86 overlying glued lap 89, thereby forming a folded tubular box T. Folded tubular box T then enters stacking section 400 to become the bottom box T of stack 92 from which pusher 401 removes pile 93 containing a predetermined number of folded tubular boxes T. In stacking section 400, hold-down means 450 thereof applies a downward force on the top of stack 92 at the joint region where lap 89 overlies panel 91. For details of hold-down means 450, reference is made to the A.

. F. Shields U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,265 for a Blank Stacking, Straightening, and Delivery Means.

Feed-in section 11 comprises bed 12, whereon stack 99 of sheets S is placed between the rear 13 and front 14 gauges. The bottom blank in stack 99 is fed towards the right, by reciprocating feed slat 15, through space 16 below the front gauge 14. Space 16 is so adjusted that it is just high enough to permit one of the sheets S to pass through while holding back the remainder of stack 99. As sheet S passes through opening 16, sheet S passes between upper and lower feed rollers 17 and 18, respectively, which engage sheet S and drive it forward into cutting section 100 where sheet S is transformed into box blank B.

Cutting section 100 comprises

stationary frame members

101, 102 between which the cutting heads are positioned. Reference to'a cutting head in this specification isintended to designate a head which performs any one of the operations necessary to transform sheet S into box blank-B. That is, a cutting head may score,

trim, slit, slot and/or crush.

Support rods 103-106 extend transversely. across the feed path of sheet S and are secured at the ends thereof to frame

stationary members

101, 102. Carriers 107-110 are slidably mounted on support rods 103-106. Each'carrier comprises an upper and a lower part with the upper part being supported by rods 103,

with threaded members (not shown) secured to carri- I ers 107-109. Similarly, lateral movement of the lower parts of carrier'l07-l10 and theirassociated cutting heads is achieved by means of lead'screws 143-146, respectively, mating with appropriately threaded members secured to the respective carriers 107-110. The

lateral adjustment of the upper and lower parts of each carrier occurs simultaneously and to the same degree to assure proper alignment between the cutting blades,

for each set of cutting heads.

Box blank B is'ejected from cutting section 100 and engaged by moving conveyor belts 301, 302 beneath sets of rollers 304-307. Glue stored in drum 308 is fed through tube 309 to glue applying means 310 where :gluing roller 311"applies glue to flap-89 as it is backed up by roller 312. Thereafter, blank B is engaged by moving

folding belts

313, 314, which gradually fold outboard panels 90, 91 of blank

B'along score lines

97 and 95, respectively, until crushed area 86 is in contact with glued flap 89. Roller sets 304 and 305 assist

folding belts

313, 314 as they initially engage blank B, to produce the folds along score lines'97 and -95.

Roller sets 304,306 are mounted to member 315 which depends from an upper longitudinal frame member (not shown) secured at one end of the upper part of carrier 108, thereby moving laterally therewith. Similarly roller sets 305, 307 are mounted to another longitudinal frame member (not shown) which in turn is secured at one end of the upper part of carrier 109 to move laterally in unison therewith. Adjustable struts (not shown), similar to extensions 398, 399, secure member 316 to upper longitudinal frame member 326. Lower longitudinal frame members317, 318 are secured to the lower parts of

carriers

108, 109, respectively, to move laterally in unison therewith.

Idler rolls 319, to guide conveyor belt 301, as well as drive roll 320, are mounted on frame member 317. Similarly, idler rolls 322, which guide belt 302, as well as roll 321 for driving belts 302 are mounted on frame 318. Drive rolls 320, 321 are also keyed to drive shaft 350 for rotation therewith, but are movable axially with respect thereto.

Stationary frame members

352, 353

support drive shaft-350 at the ends thereof.

'

Folding belts

313, 314 are twisted and extend between drivingrolls 327, 328'and idler rolls329, 330, which are mounted to lower frame members317, 318, respectively. Folding

belts

313, 314 also follow a path defined by

conical idlers

331, 332, respectively, which are mounted to

lower frame members

317, 318.

Drive rollers

327, 328 are keyed to drive shaft 351 for rotation therewith, but are movable axially with respect thereto.

Stationary frame members

352, 353 support quite often segmental blades, and their mating member drive shaft '351 at the ends thereof. Straightening rolls 333, secured to

lower frame members

317, 318, serve to bring the fold lines into parallelism'so that a perfect box will be formed from the folded tubular box T.

'Thefolded tubular box Tis passed from gluing, folding section 300 to stacking section 400where folded box T is received by conveyor 404 and passed between vertically moving belts 402, 403'which convey folded box T upward to the undersideof stack 92. Pusher 401, secured to assembly 405 traveling on overhead chains 406, 407, periodically removes pile 93, having a predetermined number of folded tubular boxes T,from the top of stack 92 and passes pile 93 to a conveyor for bundling.

Stack 92 is subjected to a downward force by holddown means 450, which applies such force at the joint region where flap 89 of panel is glued to crushed section 86 of panel 91. Briefly, hold-down means 450 includes lower section 451 pivotally connected to support plate 452 by arm 453. The upper section includes elongated metal slat 455, hinged at its rear end to support 452 and carrying roller 456 at a location forward of support plate 452. The latter is fixedly secured to the lower surface of support block 457, which is slidably mounted on stabilizing

rods

458, 460 that'extend between

stationary frame members

352 and 353.

Drive motor 40 is operatively connected to main drive shaft 41 which extends from one set of

stationary frame members

101, 102 to the

other set

352, 353.

Through appropriate gearingand chain connections, well known in the art, driving power necessary toconvey blanks B through automatic machinery 10 is supplied tothe various sections thereof 11, 100, 300, 400

' so that the blanks B move therethrough with a continuous movement. Each carrier 107-110 is power driven for lateral adjustment of its associated cutting heads, by means of an individual motor selectivelycontrollable from a control panel located in the region of cutting section 100. For purposes of explaining the instant invention, the adjustment of

movable frame members

107, 110 need not, and will not, be described.

Motors

502, 503 for adjusting

movable frame members

108, 109 are mounted in an elevated position on top of tower 520. Sprocket wheels 521 and 522 are both keyed to motor shaft 523 while sprocket wheels 524 and 525 are both keyed to motor shaft 526. Chain 530 is driven by sprocket wheel 521 and in turn drives a sprocket wheel (not shown) which is keyed to shaft 532 secured to stationary support member 101. Sprocket wheel 533 is also, keyed to shaft 532 and drives chain 534. Chain 534 is in engagement with

sprocket wheels

535, 536 which are keyed to lead screws 133, 144, respectively. It is now apparent that rotation of motor 502 will cause rotation of lead screws 133, 144 which in turn will bringabout equal lateral movements of the upper and lower parts of carrier 108. The longitudinal frame members secured at their left ends to carrier 108 will automatically receive the proper lateral adjustment at their left ends.

However, these longitudinal frame members are very long so that lateral'movement of one end thereof will not necessarily be accompanied by an equal lateral movement of the other-end. Therefore, chain 540 extends to the right and is driven by sprocket wheel 522. Chain 540 in turn engages and drives sprocket wheel 541 whichis keyed to shaft 542 mounted on stationary frame member 352. Sprocket wheel 543 is also keyed to shaft 542 and drives chain 544 which in turn drives sprocket wheels 545, 546 (FIG. 1).

Sprocket wheels

545, 546 are keyed to lead screws 596, 597 that are in driving engagement with upper and lower

longitudinal frame members

325, 317 extending from carrier 108.

Shafts 392-395, supported at their ends by

stationary members

352, 353, support and journal the movement of the right ends of these longitudinalframe members. In this manner equal lateral movements of these upper and lower longitudinal frame members, as well as equal lateral movements of both ends thereof, is assured.

Similarly, sprocket wheel 525 drives chain 550 which engages sprocket wheel 551 keyed to shaft 552 near one end thereof. The ends of shaft 552 are journalled in

stationary frame members

101, 102 while sprocket wheel 553 is keyed to shaft 552 near the other end.

thereof. Chain 554 is driven by sprocket wheel 553 and in turn drives sprocket wheels 554, 555 which are keyed to lead screws 135, 145, respectively. Rotation of motor 503 causes movement of chain 550 which in turn causes rotation of shaft 552, movement of chains 554, rotation of sprocket wheels 554, 555, rotation of trated as being spaced by a distance C from fixed longitudinally extending reference line 98 on which score line 83 always lies. Thus, the distance C equals the difference between the width of panels 90 and 91.

The position of folding belt 313 with respect to reference line 98 is dictated by the position of score line 84,

which in turn is dictated by the width N of narrower lead screws 134, 145 and finally equal lateral movements of the upper and lower parts of carrier 109 and its associated cutting heads.

Since carrier parts 109 carry another set of upper and lower

longitudinal frame members

326, 318, they too will be laterally adjusted at one of their ends. The other ends of these longitudinal frame members are positively moved by means of chain 560 which is driven by sprocket wheel 524. Chain 560 drives sprocket wheel 561, which is keyed to shaft 562 whose ends are journalled in

stationary support members

352, 353.

Sprocket wheel 563 is also keyed to shaft 562 and drives chain 564 which in turn drives

sprockets

565, 566 keyed to lead screws 567, 568, respectively. Lead screws 567, 568 are operatively engaged (not shown) with upper 326 and lower 318 longitudinal frame members, respectively, for lateral adjustment of the right ends thereof journalled on shafts 592-595.

Ends 601, 607 of drive cable 602 are anchored, respectively, to upper movable frame 325 and support block 457 of hold-down means 450. Cable 602 passes around guide pulley 603, anchored to stationary frame 352, and also around section 604 of movable pulley or guide means 606. Guide cable 608 passes around one pulley section 609 of movable guide means 610 and is anchored at opposite ends 631, 632 thereof to stationary frame 352 and movable frame 325, respectively.

Ends

613, 617 of drive cable 615 are anchored, respectively, to support block 457 and upper movable carrier 326. Cable 615 passes around the other section 611 of movable guide 610 and around pulley 616, anchored to stationary frame 353. Ends 621, 622 of guide cable 623 are anchored, respectively, to movable frame 326 and stationary frame 353 after passing around one pulley section 605 of movable guide means 606.

As will hereinafter be seen, the rotation of folding

belt adjusting shafts

542, 562 is effective to automatically operatively position hold-down means 450 so that it always exerts a downward force in the joint region where glued lap 89 engages panel 91. That is, panels 91 and 91 are of equal widths and panels 90 and 90' are of equal widths. The width of narrow panel 90 is indicated as being equal to N in the righthandmost illustration of FIG. 2, while the width of wide panel 91 is illustrated as being equal to W. Joint region 89' is illuspanel Similarly, the position of the other folding belt 314 is dictated by the position of score line 82, which in turn is controlled by the width W of the larger panel 91.

Rotation of shaft 542 to adjust the position of folding belt 313 causes transverse movement of upper movable frame 325. If this movement is to the right with respect to FIG. 4, it will be transmitted directly through drive cable 602 to move support block 457 the same distance to the right. As movable frame 325 moves to the right, moving support block 457 to the right, end 613 of drive cable 604 is permitted to move to the right in that movable guide 611 also, moves to the right in that end 631 of guide cable 601 also moves to the right. If movement of movable frame 325 is to the left with respect to FIG. 4, end 631 of guide cable 608 moves tothe left, carrying movable guide 611 to the left. This causes end 613 of cable 615 to move to the left, carrying block 457 to the left. Cable 602 moves clockwise so that slack does not develop in any of the cables in the system. Similar operations occur when upper movable frame 326 is adjusted transversely through the rotation of shaft 562.

Although there have been described preferred embodiments of this novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited not by the specific disclosure herein but only by the appending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In box makingapparatus the combination comprising a first section for transforming box blanks into folded tubular boxes and a second section for forming boxes received from said first section into a stack and periodically removing piles of boxes from the stack; said first section including conveyor means for moving blanks and folded tubular boxes along a feed path extending parallel .to' a reference line; said first section also including first and second folding portions on opposite sides of said reference line for inwardly folding respective first and second outboard panels of box blanks along first and second score lines thereof to positions where the outboard edges of said blank are in juxtaposition at a jointarea; said first and second score lines being parallel to said reference line and being spaced therefrom by first and second distances, respectively; said second section including a hold-down means for applying downward pressure to the stack at the joint region; first and second adjusting means for positioning the respective first and second folding portions transversely in relation to said reference line in accordance with the respective first and second distances; and a cable system connecting both of said folding portions to said hold-down means to move the latter transverse to said reference line to automatically maintain said hold-down means at said joint area as said joint region shifts with changes in said first and second distances.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the joint area is spaced from said reference line by a third distance equal to said first distance minus said second distance.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, in which 4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the cable system includes a first drive cable anchored to said hold-down means and said first folding portion, a first fixed guide for said first drive cable secured to a first stationary area outboard of said first folding portion, a first movable guide for said first drive cable, a second drive cable anchored to said hold-down means and said second folding portion, a second fixed guide for said second drive cable secured to a second stationary area outboard of said second folding portion, a second movable guide for said second drive cable, a first guide cable supporting said first movable guide and anchored to said second folding portion and said second stationary area, and a second guide cable supporting said second movable guide and anchored to said first folding portion and said first stationary area! 5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 in which the first folding portion is disposed between the holddown means and the first stationary area, said second folding portion being disposed between the hold-down means and the second stationary area.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 in which thefirst movable guide is positioned between the holddown means and the firstfolding portion, said second movable guide being positioned between the holddown means and the second folding portion.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6, in which the joint area is spaced from said reference line by a third distance equal to said first distance minus said second distance.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7, in which the first distance is larger than said second distance and the joint region is between said reference line and said first score line.

UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,913,464 Dated October 21, 1975 Inventor(s) Stephen llaum It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In column 8, line 10 replace "first" by --second--.

In column 8, line 12 replace "second" by -first--.

Signed and Scaled this First D y Of March 1977 [SEAL] A tlest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner oflarems and Trademarks

Claims

1. In box making apparatus the combination comprising a first section for transforming box blanks into folded tubular boxes and a second section for forming boxes received from said first section into a stack and periodically removing piles of boxes from the stack; said first section including conveyor means for moving blanks and folded tubular boxes along a feed path extending parallel to a reference line; said first section also including first and second folding portions on opposite sides of said reference line for inwardly folding respective first and second outboard panels of box blanks along first and second score lines thereof to positions where the outboard edges of said blank are in juxtaposition at a joint area; said first and second score lines being parallel to said reference line and being spaced therefrom by first and second distances, respectively; said second section including a hold-down means for applying downward pressure to the stack at the joint region; first and second adjusting means for positioning the respective first and second folding portions transversely in relation to said reference line in accordance with the respective first and second distances; and a cable system connecting both of said folding portions to said hold-down means to move the latter transverse to said reference line to automatically maintain said hold-down means at said joint area as said joint region shifts with changes in said first and second distances.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, in which the first distance is larger than said second distance and the joint region is between said reference line and said first score line.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the cable system includes a first drive cable anchored to said hold-down means and said first folding portion, a first fixed guide for said first drive cable secured to a first stationary area outboard of said first folding portion, a first movable guide for said first drive cable, a second drive cable anchored to said hold-down means and said second folding portion, a second fixed guide for said second drive cable secured to a second stationary area outboard of said second folding portion, a second movable guide for said second drive cable, a first guide cable supporting said first movable guide and anchored to said second folding portion and said second stationary area, and a second guide cable supporting said second movable guide and anchored to said first folding portion and said first stationary area.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 in which the first folding portion is disposed between the hold-down means and the first stationary area, said second folding portion being disposed between the hold-down means and the second stationary area.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 in which the first movable guide is positioned between the hold-down means and the first folding portion, said second movable guide being positioned between the hoLd-down means and the second folding portion.