Читать книгу How Paper Boxes Are Made - Robert F. Salade - Страница 10

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In a large number of paper box making plants tables are placed near the covering machines, and the work of “turning-in” is done on these tables. Near the covering machines are the topping machines. The work is handled in such a manner, that one operator passes the boxes on to another, until finally the boxes and the lids are completed and assembled. The boxes are then packed in cases ready for immediate shipment. This system is the means of saving time, labor and expense, as it makes it unnecessary for the operators of the various machines to leave their seats. One operator does the covering of boxes, the second operator covers the sides of the lids; the third attends to the work of “turning-in”; the fourth is in charge of the topping machine. Girls or boys then assemble the boxes and lids, and pack them in the cases.

Many set-up paper boxes, in addition to being covered with white glazed, cheviot, or colored glazed paper, are finished with gold-paper edges. Some have a gold edge at the top of the lid, and a gold edge at the bottom of the box; others have four gold edges; still others are covered with colored glazed paper, and have four edges of white glazed paper. Paper boxes of this variety may properly be placed under the heading, “fancy,” but we want to mention them here on account of the edging-work being done on covering machines in about the same way as plain covering work.

Let us take the case of a gold-edged paper box for example: The narrow roll of gold paper is placed on the covering machine, along with the wider roll of glazed, or cheviot paper. Both the gold strip and the other strip are applied to the box, or lid, simultaneously, the gold strip being placed underneath the main strip. The main strip of paper is a size that when applied to the box, or lid, (over the gold strip) it allows the gold edging to show. Only the gold strip is “turned in,” either over the top or bottom of the box, or over the top and edge of the lid. With work of this character the operator must be careful to have the two strips of paper run straight and even as one is glued over the other.

The topping machine operates much on the same principle as the covering machine, and it is used for applying paper to the tops of box-lids, after the sides of the lids have been covered. The better class of set-up boxes are covered on the bottom in addition to having the tops of their lids covered, but ordinary, plain set-up boxes are not covered on the bottom. The writer has before him a set-up box which had been used for holding a dozen linen collars. The board for this box has been lined with newspaper, making it neat and clean on the inside. The lid is covered and topped with pale yellow glazed paper. The sides of the box are covered with glazed paper of the same color as the lid, but at the top the edges are trimmed with white glazed paper. The bottom of the box is covered with white book paper. This is that kind of box which should have the bottom covered, although the bottom piece of paper is not absolutely necessary. Writing paper boxes should also be covered on the bottom. The question of covering the bottoms of set-up boxes should be determined by considering the general qualities of the box, and the purpose for which it is to be used. There is no reason for covering the bottoms of common set-up boxes.

One of the smallest set-up paper boxes manufactured. Size 1⁷⁄₁₆ × ⁷⁄₁₆ in. Sides ³⁄₁₆ in. Used by the medical profession.

One of the best power topping machines on the market is that made by the Hobbs Manufacturing Company, of Worcester, Mass. This machine has an automatic cut-off device, and it is equipped, of course, with a work table, glue pan, gluing roller, etc. A roll of paper, nearly the same width of the lid, or box-bottom, which is to be covered, is placed on the machine. Glue is applied to one side of the paper as it is drawn over the surface of the gluing roller. When the strip of paper has been stretched across the top of the lid, or the bottom of the box, the operator depresses the adjustable lever at one side of the machine, and the paper is cut off to the required size. On top of the work-table is a locating projection which holds the box in place. A locating gauge is also provided so that the vertical adjustment of the table can easily be made.

It is only fair to state that there are other efficient topping machines in general use, some being operated by hand, others by power.

Many set-up paper boxes, which are made for heavy usage, such as for holding hardware, tools, toys, glassware, etc., are wire stapled at the corners instead of having the corners strengthened with Kraft paper, or stay paper. Some box manufacturers are making all of their set-up boxes with wire-stapled corners. There are several wire stitching machines now being made by well-known concerns which have been especially built for use in the paper box industry, and they have proved very satisfactory. The boxes and their lids, after having been fastened at the corners with copper, or wire devices, are covered and topped with paper in the usual manner. The wire stitching machine is operated in much the same way as the staying machine, each corner of the box, and of the lid, being “stitched” with wire in rapid succession. For an exceptionally strong paper box which is to have rough usage, the wire-staying will be found more practical than paper-staying.

Figure 3. Diagram shows shape of wrapper used on Stokes & Smith Wrapping Machine.

Perhaps the most remarkable machine ever invented for use in the paper box industry is the Stokes & Smith Wrapping Machine which automatically places glued paper on all kinds of paper boxes. One of the great advantages of this device is that it completely wraps the box, or its lid, with a single sheet of paper. In other words, it “covers” and “tops” at the one operation. Flat sheets of paper, cut out at the corners like the diagram shown on page 29 are necessary when using this machine.

Stokes and Smith Wrapping Machine.

For cutting the sheets of paper to this special shape, a Stokes & Smith Double Cornering Machine is essential. The sheets are first cut square, or oblong, to the size desired, and the odd-shaped corners are cut out afterwards. The Double Corner Cutter will cut two corners from a pile of the sheets simultaneously. In about an hour’s time a sufficient quantity of the wrappers can be cut to provide for a day’s run of work on the Stokes & Smith Wrapping Machine.

Extension bottom boxes, or to use the old term, boxes with “French edges,” may also be wrapped on the Stokes & Smith device, but for this class of work wrappers of still another shape than that shown by Figure 3 are necessary. Again, for work of this character, the machine must be equipped with an Extension Bottom Covering Attachment. The change in the shape of the wrappers is made by equipping the Double Corner Cutter with the proper sub-presses, knives, and dies.

Another advantage of the Stokes & Smith Wrapping Machine is that it will apply printed or lithographed wrappers to the paper boxes, therefore making it unnecessary to have printed labels pasted on the boxes after they have been covered. These facts are not presented for advertising the Stokes & Smith Company. In offering these facts we merely desire to acquaint the reader with all that is new in the way of paper box machinery, and were we to omit mention of the Stokes & Smith Wrapping machine, we would feel that this series of articles would not be complete.