US639354A - Box filling and covering machine. - Google Patents

Description

vNo. 639,354. Patented Dec. l9, I899.

W. H. BUTLER.

BOX FILLING AND COVERING MACHINE;

(Application filed July 12, 1898.)

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet I Ill *3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. l9, I899, w H. BUTLER. BOX FILLING AND COVERING MACHINE.

(Application filed .m 12, 1898.)

8 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

m: u'oams PETERS co. PHDTU-LITHD" WASHINGTON. o. c.

No. 639,354. Patented Dec. l9, I899.

' W. H. BUTLER.

BUX FlLLlNG 'AND COVERING MACHINE. (Application filed July 12, 1898.) No Model.) 8 Sheets-$heet 3.

mmnnmummmnmunn fff gag!" No. 639,354. Patented Dec. l9, I899. W. H. BUTLER.

BOX FILLING AND CUVERING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 12, 1898.)

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 4.

m lv\ m ATTORNE S.

WITNESSES:

No. 639,354. Patented Dec. I9, I899.

w., H. BUTLER.

BUX FILLING AND COVERING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 12, 1898.)

(No Model.) 8 SheetsShee't 5.

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E I I Q =3 JAM/film murmurs.

No. 639,354. Patented Dec. I9. I899.

W. H. BUTLER.

BOX FILLING AND COVERING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 12, 1898.)

(No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet e.

m ii Q Q IIHHI i h m Illlllllll \mm-umT- llllll I i Q ml k i'rggy fig g guu-um j ag IN" mum No. 639,354. Pa tent'ed Dec. I9, 1899. w. H. BUTLER.

BOX FILLING AND COVERING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 12, 1898.)

(No Model.) 8 sheets sheet 7.

WITNE INVENTOR WM )4 W1 ATTORNEYS THE udnms PU'ERS co.. mmou na. WASHINGTON, 0 cv No. 639,354. Patented Dec. l9; I899.

w. H. BUTLER. BOX FILLING AND COVERING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 12, 1898.) (N o M o d e I a sheetsshe t s.

ATTORNEYS WILLIAM H. BUTLER,

PATENT FFiCE.

OF NEW YORK, at.

BOX FILLING AND COVERING MACHINE;

SPECIFICATION forming bait of Letters Patent No. 639,354, dated December 19 iced.

Application filed July 12, 1898. Serial No. 685,725. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. BUTLER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Filling and Covering Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to box filling and covering machines, and in certain features of my invention to machines for filling boxes with cigarettes or similar articles. Its object is to provide improved means for opening or squaring the shell or outer cover of the box to enable the box to be inserted in the shell.

It has also for its object to provide means for feeding into a box along with the cigarettes-a row or rows of cigarette tips or holders and also means for causing the cigarette tips or holders to present a substantially level surface when placed in the box.

It has also for its object to provide certain other improvements in the construction of a box filling and covering machine to be hereinafter described.

It consists of the improved devices herein shown and described.

In the drawings accompanying'this specification and forming part hereof I have shown and will now proceed to describe the pre ferred form of my improved devices, similar reference characters in the different figures representing corresponding parts of the mechanism.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved box filling and covering machine. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical section through a part of the same, and Fig. 3 is a plan of the said part. Fig. 4 is a detailed side view of the interior face of a side wall of the box blank magazine. Fig.5 is a central longitudinal vertical section of the remaining part of my machine, and Fig. 6 is a plan of the said part. Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-section taken on the lines 7 7 of Fig. 3, viewed as shown by the arrow. Fig. 8 is a Vertical crosssection on the lines 8 8 on Fig. 6 as viewed by the arrow. Figs. 9 and 10 are detailed views of the wheels for feeding the cigarette tips or holders. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the magazine for box-blanks and the magazine for cigarettes and cigarette-tips and connecting mechanism viewed fromthe opposite side to that of Fig; Fig. 12 is a' vertical longitudinal section through the magazine for cigarettes and cigarette-tips. Fig. 13 is a vertical longitudinal section of the feeding de vices taken on a line between the said feeding devices and the hopper. Fig. 14 is a de tail of the clamping devices; and Figs. 15 and 16 are enlarged views of the wedge-shaped device for opening and squaring shells, Fig. 15 being a vertical longitudinal section and Fig. 16 a plan of the same.

My im proved devices are shown in the draw ings herein and will be described in connec tion with a machine for automatically making cigarette-boxes out of fiat box-blanks, inserting cigarettes into the box, closing the box, inserting the filled box into an outer cover or shell, and discharging the covered box from the machine, such as is shown and described in United States Patents No. 567,014, granted September 1, 1896, to Van Vleet and Hurd for a cigarette-packing machine, and No. 566,823, granted September 1, 1896, to Van Vleet and Osborneforabox-machine. Myimprovedde- Vices may, however, be used in or in connection with other kinds of box-filling and boxcovering machines, although I prefer to use them in a machine in which all of the above operations are continuously and automatic ally performed, as in the machines described in the above-named patents.

In the machine shown in the drawings an endless belt A passes over and is driven by two pulleys B B. In one part of its course it passes above the table 0 of the machine, and during this part of its movement it receives the box-blank and carries it forward during the various steps of forming it into a box, filling it with cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders, turning down the upper flaps, so as to completely close the box, inserting the box into an outer cover or shell, and discharging the completed and covered box from the machine, most of these steps being performed in substantially the same manner as shown in the above-named patents.

D is the magazine for the box-blanks.

E is the trough, in which the belt and boxblank move forward, the sides of the trough gradually assuming an inclined position more and more toward the perpendicular for turning up the side flaps of the blank.

F is the magazine for cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders, and G the plunger for forcing the desired number of cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders into the box.

H are the fingers or folders for turning up the forward flap and bending it down upon the top of the box.

I are the folders for turning up the rear flap of the box-blank.

J are the toothed wheels for turning down the rear flap upon the top of the box.

' K is the magazine for holding the flattened covers or shells. L is the plunger for forcing the shells separately from the said magazine into position where the shells can be opened by mechanism presently to be described,

. whereupon the closed box isinserted into the shell and discharged from the machine by mechanism presently to be described.

In much of the above-described mechanism and the operation thereof the parts are substantially the same and operate in substantially the same way as shown and described in the above-named patents, and such part of the mechanism will not be described in full detail. I will now proceed to describe in detail the different parts of my improved devices, referring as briefly as possible in the description to the parts which are shown and described in the above patents.

' The belt A is driven by the pulley B in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, the pulley being driven by any suitable driving mechanism. of the belt and to avoid slipping upon the pulleys, pins 19 project from the pulleys and take into holes a in the belt.

The box-blanks, out of which the boxes are formed, have the form shown in Fig. 3, in which part 2 is to form the bottom of the box and the forward flap 3 to form the top. The bottom 2 has two side flaps 4 4L and a rear flap 5, creased along the line 6 6. The top 3 has side flaps 7 7, with a part 8 connecting it with the bottom of the box. The side flaps are creased along the line joining them to the bottom or top of the boX, the rear flap 5 is creased along the line joining it to the bottom 2, and the part 8 is creased along the lines joining it to both the bottom 2 and the top 3.

The magazine D is made of a shape corresponding in horizontal cross-section to the shape of the box-blank, having ribs 9 9, separating the part holding the bottom from the top of the blanks, and ribs 10 10 in the forward part of the magazine, as shown in Fig. 3, for the purpose of securely holding the blanks in proper position. Each rib 9 has a piece 11 secured by a slot in rib 9 (not shown) and screws, so as to be adjustable up and down, as shown in Fig. 4, for the purpose of adj usting the size of theopening 12 to accommodate it to different thicknesses of box-blanks in order to prevent the escape of more than one box-blank from the magazine at a time. This opening 12 and opening 13 in rear ribs 14: of the magazine are for the purpose of permit- To insure the steady revolution ting one blank at a time to be pushed out by the plunger. I preferably employ a weight 15 to be placed upon the box-blanks in the magazine. Part of the weight lies inside of the magazine upon the top of the box-blank, and part of it, 15, lies outside of it on either side, the two parts being connected by a front connecting-bar 15. When the weight has reached the opening 16 in ribs 10, it can be drawn forward by means of the handle 17 through the openings 16 out of the magazine. The plunger 18 has two pushers 19 19 for the purpose of pushing one box-blank at a time partially out of the magazine. The plunger 18 is given a reciprocating motion to accomplish this purpose through the following chain of gearing and connectionsnamely, gear 20, driven by the shaft of pulley B, gear-wheel 21 on shaft 22, crank 22", pitman 22", bellorank 23, and rod 24, pivoted to plunger 18. Screws 25 in slots 26 act as guides for the plunger and its reciprocating movement. The plunger 18 moves forward and backward twice at each revolution of pulley B, each time pushing a box-blank partially out of the magazine.

27 are pickers which are secured to the endless belt at regular stated intervals. They are constructed as described in the patents above named. After a box-blank has been partially ejected from the magazine by plunger 18 the pickers 27 strike against the rear edge of the box-blank and force it forward out of the magazine and along trough E. In Fig. 2 the box-blank is shown in the process of being pushed out of the magazine by the pickers. As the box-blank advances along trough E the side flaps 4 and 7 are turned up by the sloping sides 28 of the trough, these sides sloping up more and more toward the perpendicular as the box-blank advances until the side flaps of the box-blanks assume the position shown in Fig. 7 immediately under the cigarette-magazine F. Wheels 29 29 aid in this work, bending the boX along the indented or creased edges between the side flaps and the bottom or top of the box-blank. This mechanism is substantially the same as shown and described in the former patents and will not be described. In both sides of the trough running from the magazine to the first wheel 29 is a slight groove 30 to receive the edges of the blank to insure the blank being kept down in the trough, so as to pass under the wheels 29. The box-blank with its side flaps turned up, as shown in Fig. 7, has its bottom 2 immediately under cigarettemagazine F when it reaches this point in its course ready for receiving the cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders.

The mechanism for supplying the magazine with cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders will now be described.

The magazine is constructed in any suitable man-ner, but preferably with vertical partitions 31 to separate the vertical rows of cigarettes from each other and from a vertical row of cigarette tips or holders. As shown, I have arranged for five vertical rows 32 of cigarettes and one vertical row 33 of cigarette tips or holders. The cigarettes are supplied to the magazine in any well-known manner through hopper 34. -A gyratory motion is given to the hopper through lever 35, pivoted at 36 and having at its lower end a slotted guide, with the slot or groove irregularly curved and the pin 37 attached to the top of rod 38, adapted to take into the said slot or groove. This rod is provided with gear-teeth 39 on its under side, which mesh with the teeth 40 of segment 41. A reciprocating motion is imparted to this segment and thence to rod 38 through pitman 42, crank-arm 44, pivotally connected to pitman 42 at 43 and mounted on shaft 22, and gear-wheel 45, secured on the shaft of pulley B. Rod 38 as it moves forward and backward thus gives a gyratory motion to hopper 34, as well as imparting motion to various other parts of the mechanism to be described. By the above means the cigarettes are fed into the different vertical receptacles intended for them.

The devices for feeding cigarette tips or holders into the magazine are as follows: In my preferred form of devices for this purpose the cigarette tips or holders are fed forward by suitable feeding devices toward the magazine in two rows from opposite directions, the mouthpieces in'one row pointing one way and the mouthpieces in the other row pointing the other way, a certain predetermined number of cigarette tips or holders in each row being seized by suitable gripping devices and fed forward away from the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row, the latter being also preferably seized and held from being carried forward with the said predetermined number by means of suitable clamping devices, so that sets of nested cigarette tips or holders of the predetermined number are fed into one of the vertical spaces in the magazine, one set having the mouthpieces of the cigarette tips or holders pointing inone direction, the next set above it with the mouthpieces pointing in the other direction, and so on. Thus two sets of cigarette tips or holders in the vertical space of the magazine have a level surface. This operation 1 preferably accomplish by means of the following mechanism:

46 46 are two inclined tables for holding and nesting cigarette tips or holders. The cigarette tips or holders are nested together, as shown in Fig. 3, so that a row of nested cigarette tips or holders lies along the lower part of the table, preferably in the groove 47, the mouthpieces of the cigarette tips or holders in the row on one table pointing one way and the mouthpieces of the cigarette tips or holders in the row on the other table pointing the other way, as shown in Fig. 3. The mouthpieces, as shown, point toward the magazine in each case, one table being upon one side of the magazine and the other table being upon the other side. The feeding devices for feeding forward each row of cigarette tips or holders consist of two wheels 48 49, one above the other, as shown in Fig. 1. These wheels have concave rims, and the two wheels are arranged in reference to each other so that there is barely room for the row of cigarette tips or holders to pass between them. Vheel 48 is driven positively through toothed segment 50, toothed segment 51 meshing with the teeth 40 of segment 41. Segment 50 is mounted on shaft 52, which carries ratchet wheel 53. Meshing with the teeth of this ratchet-wheel is a pawl 54, mounted on arm 55, which is secured to sleeve 56. Upon this sleeve is also mounted wheel 48. As segment 50 rocks in one direc tion the ratchet-wheel 53, through pawl 54 and arm 55, rotates sleeve 56 and with it wheel 48, causing the latter to feed forward the row of cigarette tips or holders a certain distance. When segment 50 rotates in the other direction, pawl 54 slips'idly over wheel 53, and wheel 48 accordingly remains at rest.

In order to insert into the magazine at each feed the exact number of cigarette tips or holders required, I use gripping devices for seizing upon a predetermined number of cigarette tips or holders for carrying them to the proper place for insertion into the magazine. These gripping devices consist of two sets of spring-grippers 57, both sets mounted upon a carriage 58, one set at one end of the carriage facing one way and the other set of grippers at the otherend of the carriage facing the other way. A reciprocating movement is given to this carriage, so as to feed it backward and forward. when it feeds in one direction, the spring-grippers at one end slip over a predetermined number of cigarette tips or holders in the row of cigarette tips or holders on one side, and when the limit of its movement is reached it snaps over and seizes the said number of cigarette tips and on its return movement draws them toward the magazine. Each gripper consists of a spring-arm fastened to the carriage, having a hook at its end. In Fig. 3 one set of the grippers is shown as gripping and carrying a number of cigarette tips or holders. In the drawings I have shown five cigarette tips or holders carried by the grippers at each feed. The grippers carry these tips or holders toward the magazine until they reach the inclined wall 59 of the magazine, down which they pass into the vertical space at oneside of the magazine reserved for cigarette tips or holders. Another set of five cigarette tips or holders from the other row of cigarette tips or holders on the other side of the magazine is then seized by the grippers on that side and is drawn over and inserted into the box. The two sets lie one on top of the other, and as the mouth pieces of the cigarette .tips or holders face in different directions the two layers make an even horizontal surface.

\Vhen a set of grippers seizes a number of cigarette tips or holdersas, for instance, five, as shown in the drawings-in order to carry them forward for insertion into the magazine, it is necessary at the moment the grippers seize the said cigarette tips or holders to hold the sixth and remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row in order to prevent the grippers from carrying them forward with the five cigarette tips or holders which it has seized. In order to prevent the sixth cigarette tip or holder and the other ones behind it remaining in the row from being carried forward by the grippers along with the five cigarettetips or holders seized by the grippers, I provide a clamping device for seizing and holding the sixth cigarette tip or holder. The clamping device which I prefer and which is shown in the drawings consists of two semicircular parts, one a fixed part 1.17, supported upon a bracket 118, secured to the shaft upon which wheel 19 loosely rotates, the other a movable part 119, supported upon a lever 120, pivoted in a support 122, pendent from the shaft upon which wheel 49 rotates, said lever 120 having a spring 121, which, when free to act, tends to push the movable part of the clamp toward the fixed part of the clamp to grip a cigarette tip or holder, and also having a knob 122 at its other end. 123 is a Wheel mounted on shaft 52 and reciprocating with it and having notches 124 in its surface adjacent to lever 120. The knob 122 of lever 120 normally presses against the side surface of wheel 123 and holds the movable clamp against the action of the spring away from the fixed part of the clamp. As wheel 123 rotates, knob 122 slips into one of the notches 124 and permits spring 121 to throw the movable clamp toward the fixed clamp, thus seizing the sixth cigarette tip or holder or such other as it is desired to hold. This grip separates the fifth and sixth cigarette tips or holders and prevents the latter and the ones behind it from being drawn forward by the grippers.

The mechanism for giving a reciprocating motion to carriage 58 consists of a swinging arm 60, keyed to shaft 52, having pivoted to its end a rod 61, which is pivoted to a block 62, connected by support 63 to and forming part of carriage 58. Block 62 and carriage 58 are supported upon sliding bar 64, which slides freely back and forth in bearings 65 in the framework of the machine. As shaft 52 rocks,reciprocatin g motion is imparted to carriage 58 through the parts just described, causing the grippers at one side to advance and seize a predetermined number of cigarette tips or holders and then carry them backward for insertion into the magazine, the other set of grippers meanwhile during the above operation carrying to the magazine another set of the same number of cigarette-tips which they had seized from the opposite row and then retreating to seize another set as the first-mentioned grippers carry their cigarette tips or holders to the magazine. In this way rows of cigarette tips or holders with the mouthpieces pointing in opposite directions are alternately fed from one side and the other into the magazine. Feeding devices for feeding forward the other row of cigarette tips or holders from the other table consist of a similar set of wheels and their connections. The mechanism for imparting motion to these wheels consists of a rod 66, pivoted to swinging arm 60, and swinging arm 67, pivoted to it and at its other end keyed to shaft 68, the latter carrying withit ratchet-wheel 69. Meshin g with this ratchet-wheel is a pawl 70, mounted on an arm 71, which is secured to the sleeve 72, upon which wheel 48 is rigidly mounted. The teeth of ratchet-wheel 69 point in the opposite direction to the teeth of ratchet-wheel 53 on the other side, and the pawl 70 points in the opposite direction to that of the pawl 51. By this arrangement while ratchet-wheel 53 is feeding forward wheel 48 at one side of the machine pawl 70 slips idly over the other ratchet wheel 69; but when the motion of swinging arm 60 and rod 66 is in the reverse direction pawl 70 is moved to turn wheel 18, while the other wheel 48 remains at rest. In this way the feeding devicespn one side for feeding one row of cigarette tips or holders feed forward, while the feeding devices on the other side for feeding the other row of ciga rette tips or holders remain at rest. Each set of feeding devices has an intermittent feeding motion, which is always, however, in the same direction.

The devices for forcing the requisite number of cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders from the magazine into the box are substantially the same as those shown and described in the patents referred to for feeding cigarettes from a magazine into a box. They consist of the plunger G, which reciprocates back and forth, at each forward movement pushing out of the magazine ten cigarettes and two cigarette tips or holders, and the mechanism for driving the plunger, which is not shown and will not be described. It is timed so as to force the cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders to fall into the box when the latter is in such a position that the cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders will fall exactly upon the bottom 2 of the box-blank after its edges have already been turned up.

The devices for turning up the forward flap or top 3 of the blank and of turning it over and down upon the lower part of the box and the inclosed cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders and thedevices for turning up the .rear flap 5 are substantially the same as shown in the earlier patents referred to. The devices for turning up and over the top 3 consist of the fingers or folders H, mounted on rocking shaft '73. the position shown in Fig. 5 until top 3 of the box-flap reaches them and begins to ride up on them, when rocking shaft 73 is rocked, so as to throw the fingers H upward, by hook 745 on rod 38 striking pin 75, which IIO These normally lie in .Fig. 5.

projects over rod 38 from an arm 7 6, keyed to shaft 73. Fingers H are held in their normal position downward by means of springpressed arm 76' pressing against roller 76 on arm 76. The fingers 11 thus force top 3 first up and then press it down upon the top of the boX into the position shown in Fig. 5. Meanwhile rear flap 5 is turned up by means of folder 1. This folder normally lies in the position shown in Fig. 2 until its lower part 77 strikes ridge or projection 78 on the table, when it is forced into the position it occupies in Fig. 5. As its upper arm rises it turns up rear fiap 5 into the upright position shown in Folders I are secured to and carried by the belt. From this point on the folder I pushes the box forward instead of the picker. Arms H are rocked sufficiently high to allow rear flap 5 to pass under them into the position shown in Fig. 5. The devices for turning down this flap upon top 3 consist of the toothed wheels J, mounted upon shaft 79. These toothed wheels revolve rapidly in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 5, and strike against upright flap 5 and press it down upon the top of the box as the box passes under the wheels. Wheels J are driven by the following train of gearing-namely, gearwheel 80, mounted on the shaft of pulley B, gear-wheel 81, mounted on shaft 82, gearwheel 83, mounted on the same shaft, pinion 84, and gear-wheel on the shaft of toothed wheels J.

86 is an upper plate or guide lying over the belt immediately beyond wheels J. 87 is a plate lying under guide 86 and immediately over the belt and at its rear end resting upon the bottom of a wedge-shaped device to be presently described. The guides 86 87 and the sides of the trough E act as guides for the box in its movement at this point of the machine and aid in bringing it to the proper point to enter the wedge'shaped device to be inserted into the shell in a manner presently to be described. Guide 86 is pivoted at its rear end on stud 88.- The object of thus pivoting the guide is to permit the raising of guide 86 in case of any clogging of the machine at this point. In all machines of a similar nature to the one described in this application great difficulty has been encountered heretofore in finding out the trouble and doing away with it whenever any clogging has occurred in this part of the mechanism.

The devices for opening orsquaring ashell preparatory to the insertion into it of the covered box I will. now describe.

.K is the magazine for the outer covers or shells. These shells are made with one or both ends open and are flattened down and in that position lie in the magazine upon one another. The front wall of the magazine has an opening 89 at this lower end just large enough to allow a shell to be pushed out. This is performed by plunger L by means of pushers 90 90 in the same manner as described in the patents above referred to. Motion is imparted to plunger L by means of a toothed segment 91, meshing with teeth 92 on thelower side of rod 93. This rod moves freely in bear ings 94 and is connected by arm 95 with plunger L. As the segment 91 reciprocates one way or the other plunger L moves with it through the means above described. Seg ment 91 is driven by means of pitman 96, pivoted to crank-arm 97, mounted on shaft 98. On the same shaft is keyed gear 99, which meshes with large gear on the shaft of pulley B. As the pulley-shaft revolves plunger Lis reciprocated backward and forward, feeding forward one shell at a time. As the shell is forced by pushers 90 out from the magazine it falls upon the swinging platform 101. This platform is pivoted at 102 and is supported at its outer end by curved arms 103, carrying at their lower ends friction-rollslO t. These rolls 10st press upon and are supported by cams 105, mounted upon and turning with shaft-pulley B. When a shell is discharged upon platform 101, the cam is in such position that the platform is supported in its horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 5. After the box has been completely inserted into the shell the cams have reached the point where they allow rolls 104 and arms 103 to sink downward, thus tilting platform 101 downward sufficiently to cause the covered box to slide off from the platform into any proper receptacle.

N is a wedge-shaped device for opening and squaring the flattened shells. As shown in the drawings, it consists of spring-plates, forming the top, bottom, and sides of a wedge-shaped device. In the form shown in the drawings the wedge-shaped device has a top plate 106, two bottom plates 107, and two side plates 108. Each of these is secured at its end farthest removed from the shell-magazine. The wedge-shaped device enters the flattened shell and squares it. The box is then forced by the belt forward into the open end of the wedge-shaped device, forcing the spring top, bottom, and sides of the latter apart and passes into the shell.

To assist the wedge-shaped device in opening or squaring a shell, I provide devices for exerting a pressure on the sides of the flattened shell as it comes from the magazine to cause the flattened shell to open sufficiently to permit the wedge-shaped device to enter the shell and also to aid the wedge-shaped device generally in the work of squaring a shell. These devices consist of cams 109,0ne on each side of trough E. Each cam has a short segmental rack 110, the teeth of which mesh into a straight rack 111. The latter rack carries a pin 112 at its end toward the magazine. As plunger L moves forward to force a shell from the magazine the part of its surface near the pushers strikes pins 112 toward the close of the forward movement of plunger L, moves racks 111, and rotates thereby cams 109. As cams 109 rotate part of their cam-surfaces project forward, striking against both sides of the flattened shell, partially opening the shell to permit the wedge-shaped device to enter. On thereturn of plunger I. to its original position shoulders 113 on each side strike against pins 112, carrying them and the racks 111 and the cams back to their original position.

114: are stops, one on each side, against which the back part of the shell rests after it has been opened and squared and while the box is being inserted into the shell. These stops prevent the shell from moving back- .ward d nring this operation. Immediately over the wedge-shaped device, platform, and other parts of the box-covering mechanism is a cover 115. This is pivoted at 1l6, so as to allow the cover to be raised in case of clogging.

Heretofore in devices for squaring shells for inserting boxes into them the devices for squaring the shells have always, so far as I am aware, acted entirely upon the outside of the flattened or collapsed shell. In my improved devices for this purpose the devices operate mainly from the inside of the shell. My improved device is accordingly more certain in its operation. In prior existing devices it has always been necessary to have the flattened box folded in the same way or with the same side up or the devices would not operate to open and square the shells, the shell, if wrong side up, buckling or clogging the mechanism. In my improved devices no such difficulty exists, as the shells are always opened positively, no matter which way the flattened shells lie folded in the magazine. My improved device has the further advantage that as the box passes through the wedgeshaped device all danger of. collision between the box and the shell is avoided.

Myimproved devices for filling boxes provide means for inserting rows of cigarette tips or holders into the box along with the cigarettes. So far as I am aware this has hereto- .fore never been done by a machine or automatically, it always being necessary heretofore to put the tips into the box by hand. My improved device furnishes a simple and automatic means for accomplishing this result and for placing the cigarette tips or holders arranged in two adjoining rows, with the mouthpieces of one row pointing one way and the mouthpieces of the other row pointing the other way, so that the two rows fit closely together and present a level surface without waste of room. The wedge-shaped device which I prefer to use for squaring a shell is composed, as shown, of separate pieces or sides, each movable independently of the other pieces or sides and each pivoted at its end which is farthest removed from the magazine. In the drawings I show these sides or pieces as composed of a top piece or side, two bottom pieces, and two side pieces. The number of such pieces can of course be varied as desired. By means of such a construction I am enabled to square a shell positively from the interior of the shell and also to permit the filled box to pass through the wedgeshaped device between the movable sides thereof as it entersthe shell, thus effectually preventing any collisions between the box and shell and any consequent clogging of the machine.

The carriage 58, which carries both sets of grippers, is shown as bentdownward toward one side, so that one set of grippers works on a lower plane than the other set. The feeding devices and the table on the same side of the magazine are also placed lower than the same devices on the other side of the magazine. This is to prevent any collisions between the opposing rows of cigarette tips or holders as they are fed out toward each other in opposite directions, and this enables me to feed cigarette tips or holders forward from both sides faster than would be possible if the two rows of cigarette tips or holders were exactly opposite to each other.

In the preferred form of my improved machine all the operations are continuously and automatically performed, the mechanism actuating the different parts for accomplishing the different steps being operated preferably by the driving mechanism of the machine.

In the machine shown in the drawings I have shown the cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders as fed into a magazine preparatory to being inserted into the boxes. My improved devices for inserting cigarette tips or holders could, however, be used, if desired, to feed them directly into the box that is to be filled. I prefer, however, to use the magazine, as it is much more satisfactory, and the filling process can then be more quickly and efficiently performed.

Many other modifications may be madein the devices shown in the drawings described herein without departing from my invention. Thus the form and construction of the wedge shaped device can be varied without departing from my invention as long as the wedge character is preserved with a comparatively small portion at one end adapted to easily enter a partially-opened shell and with a larger part toward the other end for the purpose of fully squaring the shell after the wedge-shaped device has entered the shell.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of mechanism for feedingcigarettes into the box, and devices for automatically feeding cigarette tips or holders into the box, substantially as set forth.

In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of mechanism for forming boxes out of boxblanks, and for filling such boxes with cigarettes, and devices for automatically feeding cigarette tips or holders into the box, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders, mechanism for driving said feeding devices, grippers for seizing and carrying the proper number of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the box, and mechanism for actuating the grippers.

4:- In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes or similar articles, the combination of a magazine for holding cigarette tips or holders, feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips, or holders, mechanism for driving said feeding devices, grippers for seizing and carrying the proper number of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the magazine, and mechanism for actuating the grippers.

5. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders, mechanism for driving said feeding devices, grippers for seizing and carrying the proper number of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the box, mechanism for actuatingthe grippers, a clamp for seizing and holding the remaining cigarette tips or holdersin the row, and mechanism for operating and releasing the clamp, whereby the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row will be prevented from being carried forward by the grippers.

6. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders, having the mouthpieces of the tips or holders pointing in one way, feeding devices for feeding forward another row of cigarette tips or holders from the opposite direction, having their mouthpieces pointing the other way, grippers for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing and carrying the proper number of cigarette tips or holders from said row for insertion into the box, mechanism for driving the feeding devices, and mechanism for actuating the grippers.

7. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of mechanism for feeding cigarettes into a box, supports upon opposite sides of the box for holding rows of cigarette tips or holders, one row having the mouthpieces of the tips or holders pointing in one direction and the other row having the mouthpieces of the tips or holders pointing in the other direction, feeding devices for feeding forward alternately fromopposite sides a predetermined number of cigarette tips or holders, whereby rows of cigarette tips or holders will be fed into the box with the mouthpieces of the tips in adjacent rows pointing in different directions.

S. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of mechanism for forming boxes out of boxblanks and for filling such boxes with cigarettes, supports upon opposite sides of the box for holding rows of cigarette tips or holders, one row having the mouthpieces of the tips or holders pointing in one direction and the other row having the mouthpieces of the tips or holders pointing in the other direction, feeding devices for feeding forward alternately from opposite sides a predetermined number of cigarette tips or holders, whereby rows of cigarette tips or holders will be fed into the box with the mouthpieces of the tips in adjacent rows pointing in different direc tions.

9. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of a magazine for holding cigarette tips or holders, feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders, having the mouthpieces of the tips or holders pointing one way, feeding devices for feeding forward another row of cigarette tips or holders from the opposite direction, having their mouthpieces pointing the other way, mechanism for driving said feeding devices, grippers for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing and carrying the proper number of said cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the magazine, and mechanism for actuating the grippers.

10. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders, having the mouthpieces of the tips or holders pointing one way, feeding devices for feeding forward another row of tips or holders from the opposite direction, having their mouthpieces pointing the other way, mechanism for driving said feeding devices, grippers for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing and carrying the proper 11 umberof cigarette tips or holders for insertion in to the box, mechanism for actuating the grippers, a clamp for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing and holding the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row, and mechanism for operating and releasing the clamp, whereby the remaining cigarette tipsor holders in the row will be prevented from being carried forward by the grippers, and whereby two rows of cigarette tips or holders with their mouthpieces pointing in opposite ways will be inserted into the box.

ll. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes or similar articles, the combination of a magazine for holding cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders, feeding devices for feed ing forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders, mechanism for driving said feeding devices, grippers for seizing and carrying a proper number of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the magazine, a clamp for seizing and holding the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row, and mechanism for operating and releasing the clamp whereby the proper number of cigarette tips or holders will be inserted into the magazine, and a plunger for forcing cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders from the magazine into the box.

12. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of a magazine for holding cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders, feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders having the mouthpieces of the tips or holders pointing one way, feeding devices for feeding forward another row of cigarette tips or holders from the opposite direction, having their mouthpieces pointing the other Way, mechanism for driving said feed ing devices, grippers for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing and carrying the proper number of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the magazine, mechanism for actuating the grippers, a clamp for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing and holding the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row, mechanism for operating and releasing the clamps, and a plunger for forcing the cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders from the magazine into the box, whereby two rows of cigarette tips or holders with their mouthpieces pointing in opposite Ways will be placed in the box along with the cigarettes.

13. In a machine forfilling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders, mechanism operated by the driving mechanism ofthe machine for driving said feeding devices, grippers for seizing and carrying the proper number of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the box, mechanism operated by the driving mechanism of the machine for actuating the grippers, a clamp for seizing and holding the remaining cigarette tips or holders' in the row, and mechanism operated by the driving mechanism of the machine for operating and releasing the clamp, whereby the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row will be prevented from being carried for- Ward by the grippers and the proper number of cigarette tips or holders will be fed into the box.

14. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders, having the mouthpieces of the tips or holders pointing one way, feeding devices for feeding forward another row of cigarette tips or holders from the opposite direction having their mouthpieces pointing the other way, mechanism operated by the driving mechanism of the machine for driving said feeding devices so as to feed forward the two rows of cigarette tips or holders in opposite directions, grippers for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing and carrying the proper number of cigarette tips or holders from each row for insertion into the box, mechanism operated by the driving mechanism of the machine for actuating the grippers to cause them to seize the propernumber of cigarette tips or holders from each row and to carry them in opposite directions for insertion into the box, a clamp for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing and holding the remaining cigarette tips or holders in each row, and mechanism operated by the driving mechanism of the machine for operating and releasing the clamps, it hereby the remaining cigarette tips or holders in each row will be prevented from being carried forward by the grippers and the proper number of cigarette tips or holders from each row will be deposited in the box with their mouthpieces pointing in opposite ways.

15. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of a magazine for holding cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders, feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders, having the mouthpieces of the tips or holders pointing one way, feeding devices for feeding forward another row of cigarette tips or holders from the opposite direction having their mouthpieces pointing the other way, mechanism operated by the driving mechanism of the machine for driving said feeding devices so as to feed forward two rows of nested cigarette tips or holders in opposite directions, grippers for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing and carrying the proper number of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the magazine, mechanism operated by the driving mechanism of the machine for actuating the grippers to cause them to seize the proper number of cigarette tips or holders from each row and carry them inopposite directions for insertion into the magazine, a clamp for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing and holding the remaining cigarette tips or holders in each row, mechanism operated by the driving mechanism of the machine for operating and releasing the clamps, whereby the remaining cigarette tips or holders in each row will be prevented from being carried forward by the grippers and the proper number of cigarette tips or holders from each row will be inserted into the magazine, with their mouthpieces pointing in different directions, a plunger for forcing cigarettes and cigarette tips orholders from the magazine into the box, whereby the box will be filled with cigarettes and with a double row of cigarette tips or holders with the mouthpieces of the tips in one row pointing the opposite way from the mouthpieces in the other row, and mechanism operated by the driving mechanism of the machine for a ctuating the plunger.

16. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of a magazine for holding cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders, an inclined table for holding rows of nested cigarette tips, or holders, feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders, mechanism for driving said feeding devices operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, grlppers for seizing and carrying the proper number of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the magazine, mechanism for actuating the grippers operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, a clamp for seizing and holding the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row, mechanism for operating and releasing the clamp, whereby the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row will be prevented from being carried forward by the grippers, and the proper-number of cigarette tips or holders will be inserted into the magazine, a plunger for forcing cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders into the box, and mechanism operated by the driving mechanism of the machine for actuating the plunger.

17. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of a magazine for holding cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders, an inclined table for holding rows of nested cigarette tips or holders, feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips orholders, having the mouthpieces of the tips or holders pointing one way, feeding devices for feeding forward another row of cigarette tips or holders from the opposite direction having their mouthpieces pointing the other Way, mechanism operated by the driving mechanism of the machine for driving said feeding devices so as to feed forward two rows of nested cigarette tips or holders in opposite directions, grippers for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing and carrying the proper number of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the magazine, mechanism operated by the driving mechanism of the machine for actuating the grippers to cause them to seize the proper number of cigarette tips or holders from each row and carry them in opposite di rections for insertion into the magazine, a clamp for each row of cigarette tips or'holders for seizing and holding the remaining cigarette tips or holders in each row, mechanism operated by the driving mechanism of the machine for operating and releasing the clamps, whereby the remaining cigarette tips or holders in each row will be prevented from being carried forward by the grippers and the proper number of cigarette tips or holders from each row will be inserted into the magazine, a plunger for forcing cigarettes and cigarette tips or holders from the magazine into the box, whereby the box will be filled with cigarettes and with a double row of cigarette tips or holders with the mouthpieces of the tips or holders in one row pointing the opposite way from the mouthpieces inthe other row, and mechanism operated by the driving mechanismof the machine for actuating the plunger.

18. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders having the mouthpieces of the tips or holders pointing one way, feeding devices for feeding forward another row of tips orholders fronrthe opposite direction havin g their mouthpieces pointing the other Way, mechanism operated by the driving mechanism of the machine for driving said feeding devices,',grippers for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing an carrying the proper number. of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the box, mechanism operated by the driving mechanism of the machine for actuating the grippers, a clamp for each row of cigarette tips or holders composed of a fixed piece and a movable piece, the latter adapted, when moved toward the fixed piece, to seize and hold the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row to prevent them from being carried forward by the grippers, a device for holding the movable piece away from the fixed piece of the clamp and devices, actuated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for momentarilymoving the movable piece toward the fixed piece of the clamp to seize and hold the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row, whereby the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row will be prevented from being carried forward by the grippers, and whereby two rows of cigarette tips or holders with their mouthpieces pointing in opposite ways will be inserted into the box.

19. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes or similar articles, the combination of feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders, mechanism, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for driving said feeding devices, grip: pers for seizing and carrying the proper number of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the box, mechanism, operated by the driving mechanism of the 1nachine,for actuating the grippers, a clamp composed of a fixed piece and a movable piece, the latter adapted, when moved toward the fixed piece, to seize and hold the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row to prevent them from being carried forward by the grippers, a device for holding the movable piece away from the fixed piece of the clamp and devices, actuated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for moving the movable piece toward the fixed piece of the clamp to seize and hold the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row, whereby the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row will be prevented from being carried forward by the grippers, and whereby a row of cigarette tips or holders will be inserted into the box.

20. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of two wheels with concave rims adapted to seize between them and to feed forward a rowof IIO IIS

nested cigarette tips or holders, mechanism,

operated by the driving mechanism "of the machine, for positively driving one of said wheels, grippers for seizing and carrying the proper number of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the magazine, mechanism, op-

21. In a machine for filling boxeswith ciga-v rettes or similar articles, the combination of two wheels with concave rims, adapted to seize between them and to feed forward 'a row of nested cigarette tips or holders having the mouthpieces of the tips or holders pointing one way, 4 mechanism, operated by the driving mechanism ofthe machine, for positively driving one of said wheels, two other wheels with concave rims adapted to seize between them and to feed forward from the opposite direction another row of cigarette tips or holders having their mouthpieces pointing the other way, mechanism, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for positively driving one ofsaid last-mentioned wheels, grippers for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing and carrying the proper number of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the box, mechanism, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for aotuatingthe grippers, a clamp for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing and holding the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row and mechanism, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for operating the clamp, whereby the remaining cigarette tips or holders in each row will be prevented from being carried forward by the grippers, and

whereby two rows of cigarette tips orholders with their mouthpieces pointing in opposite Ways will be inserted into the magazine.

22. In a machine for filling boxes with ciga' rettes or similar articles, the combination of a feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders having the mouthpieces of the tips or holders pointing one way, feeding devices for feeding forward another row from the opposite direction having their mouthpieces pointing the other way, mechanism, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for driving the said feeding devices, grippers for each row of cigarette '-tips or holders for seizing and carrying a predetermined number of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the magazine, and a reciprocating carriage forsupporting and actuating both sets of grippers, and for causing the two sets of grippers to alternately seize and carry forward cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the magazine, mechanism,

I operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for actuating the reciprocating carriage, to cause the grippers to alternately carry forward a predetermined number of cigarette tips or holders in each row, a clamp for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing and holding the remaining cigarette tips or holders in'the row to prevent them from being carried forward by the grippers, and mechanism for operating the clamps operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, whereby the remaining cigarette tips or holders in each row will be prevented from being carried forward by the grippers and whereby two rows of cigarette tips or holders with their mouthpieces pointing in opposite ways will be inserted into the magazine.

23. In a machine for filling boxes with cigarettes, or similar articles, the combination of feeding devices for feeding forward a row of nested cigarette tips or holders having the mouthpieces of the tips or holders pointing one way, feeding devices for feeding forward another row from the opposite direction having their mouthpieces pointing the other Way, one set of said feeding devices being slightly lower than the other set, mechanism, operated by the driving mechanism of the, machine, for driving said feeding devices, grippers for each row of cigarette tips or holders for seizing and carrying a predetermined number of cigarette tips or holders for insertion into the magazine, one set of grippers being slightly lower than the other, each set of grippers being placed opposite to its corresponding set of feeding devices, a reciprocating carriage, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, having an arm at each end, one arm being slightly lower thanthe other and each arm carrying one set of the grippers, mechanism, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for actuating the reciprocating carriage to cause the grippers to alternately carry forward a predetermined number of cigarette tips or holders in each row, a clamp for each row of cigarette tips or holders forseizing and holding the remaining cigarette tips or holders in the row to prevent them from being carried forward by the grippers, and mechanism for operating the clamps operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, whereby the remaining cigarette tips or holders in each row will be prevented from being carried forward by the grippers and whereby two rows of cigarette tips or holders w'ith'their mouthpieces pointing in opposite ways will be fed forward to ward the magazine forinsertion therein, with one row slightly above the other, whereby collisions between the two rows will be prevented.

adapted to form the outer covers for boxes, a r

IIO

wedge-shaped device for entering and squaring the shells, means for forcing a shell from the magazine into contact with the wedgeshaped device, whereby the shell will be opened and squared, and means for inserting a box into the open shell.

. 26. The combination in a machine for covering boxes of a magazine for flattened shells adapted to form the outer covers for boxes, a Wedge-shaped device for entering and squaring the shells, means for forcing a shell from the magazine into contact with the Wedgeshaped device, devices for exerting a pressure on the sides of the flattened shell to cause it to partially open to permit the wedge-shaped device to enter the interior of the shell, whereby the flattened shell will be opened and Squared, and means for inserting'a box into the open shell.

' 27. The combination in a machine for covering boxes of a inagazine for flattened shells adapted to form the outer covers for boxes, a wedge-shaped device for entering and squaring the shells, means for forcing a shell from the magazine into contact with the wedgeshaped device, cams for exerting a pressure on the sides of the flattened shell to cause it to partially open to permit the entrance of the wedge-shaped device into the interior of the shell and to aid the wedge-shaped device in squaring the shell, whereby the flattened shell will be opened and squared, and means for inserting a box into the open shell.

28. The combination in a machine for covering boxes of a magazine for flattened shells adapted to form the outer covers for boxes, a Wedge-shaped device for entering and squaring the shells, composed of separate, independently-movable sides pivoted at their ends farthest removed from the magazine, means for forcing a shell from the magazine into contact with the wedge-shaped device, devices for exerting a pressure on the sides of the flattened shell to cause it to open to permit the wedge-shaped device to enter the interior of the shell and to aid the wedge-shaped device in squaring the shell, whereby the flattened shell will be opened and squared, and means for forcing a box between the sides of the wedge-shaped device into the open shell.

29. The combination in a machine for covering boxes of a magazine for flattened shells adapted to form the outer covers for boxes, a wedge-shaped device for entering the interior of the shells and for opening and squaring the same and means for inserting boxes into the shells operated by the driving mechanism of the machine.

30. The combination in a machine for covering boxes of a magazine for flattened shells adapted to form the outer covers for boxes, a wedge shaped device for entering and squaring the shells, means, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for forcing a shell from the magazine into contact with the wedge-shaped device, whereby the shell will shell from the magazine into contact with the wedge-shaped device, devices, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for

exerting a pressure on the sides of the flattened shells to cause them to partially open to permit the wedge-shaped device to enter the interior of the shell, whereby the flattened shell will be opened and squared, and means for inserting a box into the open shell, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine.

32. The combination in a machine for covering boxes of a magazine for flattened shells adapted to form the outer covers for boxes, a wedge-shaped device for entering and squaring the shells, means, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for forcing a shell from the magazine into contact with the wedge-shaped device, cams, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for exerting a pressure on the sides of the flattened shell to cause it to partially open to permit the entrance of the Wedge-shaped deviceinto the interior of the shell and to aid the wedgeshaped device in squaring the shell, whereby the flattened shell will be opened and squared, and means for inserting the box into the open shell, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine.

The combination in a machine for covering boxes of a magazine for flattened shells adapted to form the outer covers for boxes, a Wedge-shaped device for entering and squaring the shells, composed of separate, independentlymovable sides pivoted at their ends farthest removed from the magazine, means, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for forcing a shell from the magazine into contact with the wedge-shaped device, devices, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for exerting a pressure on the sides of the flattened shell to cause it to open to permit the wedge-shaped device to enter the interior of the shell, and to aid the wedge-shaped device in squaring the shell, whereby the flattened shell Will be opened and squared, and means for forcing a box between the sides of the wedge-shaped device into the open shell, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine.

34. The combination in a machine for covering boxes of a magazine for flattened shells adapted to form the outer covers for boxes, a,

wedge-shaped device for entering and squaring the shells, means for forcinga shell from the magazine into contact with the wedge shaped device, whereby the shell will be opened and squared,means for insertinga box into the open shell, and a stop for holding the shell during such insertion.

35. The combination in a machine for covering boxes of a magazine for flattened shells adapted to form the outer covers for boxes, a

Wedge-shaped device for entering and squaring the shells, means, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for forcinga shell from the magazine into contact with the Wedge-shaped device, whereby the shell will be opened and squared, means for inserting a box into the open shell, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, and a stop for holding the shell during such insertion.

36. The combination in a machine for covering boxes of a magazine for flattened shells adapted to form the outer covers for boxes, a Wedge-shaped device forentering and squaring the shells, means for forcing a shell from the magazine into contact with the Wedgeshaped device, devices for exerting a pressure on the sides of the flattened shells to cause them to open to permit the Wedge-shaped device to enter the interior of the shell, whereby the flattened shell will be opened and squared,

means for inserting a box into the open shell, and a stop for holding the shell during such insertion.

37. The combination in a machine for covering boxes of a magazine for flattened shells adapted to form the outer covers for boxes, a wedge-shaped device for entering and squar ing the shells, means, operated by the driv 35 ing mechanism of the machine, for forcinga shell from the magazine into contact with the Wedge -shaped device, devices, operated by the driving mechanism of the machine, for exerting a pressure 011 the sides of the flat- 4o tened shells to cause them to open to permit the wedge-shaped device to .enter the interior of the shell, whereby the flattened shell will be opened and squared, means for inserting a box into the open shell, operated by the driv- 45 ing mechanism of the machine, and a stop for holding the shell during such insertion.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WM. H. BUTLER.

Witnesses: GEO. R. WARD,

EDWIN SEGER.

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