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.