CORRUGATED PAPER PRODUCTS AND PAPER CANS
Another important branch of the paper box manufacturing industry
is that which is devoted to corrugated paper products. This is a
very large branch of the industry and it is constantly growing and
expanding. With the perfection of paper cans and big shipping boxes
made of paper, new fields of tremendous proportions have been opened
to the manufacturers, and the future for this business is glowing
with possibilities. The day may come when ordinary wooden shipping
boxes and tin cans will be “ghosts of the past.”
Today we see hundreds of different kinds of merchandise packed in
large-size corrugated paper boxes--the same kinds of merchandise
which in other times had been packed in wooden boxes. Today we see
many different kinds of food, powders, liquids, etc., packed in paper
cans--the same variety of goods which formerly had been packed in tin
cans. Every day brings new uses for corrugated paper boxes, and also
for paper cans. During the last year or two orders for these products
have been increasing so rapidly that some of the manufacturers have
been unable to keep up with the demand.
Corrugated paper boxes are now being used in place of wooden boxes
for such a great variety of merchandise that it would be impossible
to enumerate all the uses. For example, the standard slotted carton
is made in different sizes up to a size where the gross weight of the
box and contents amount to 90 pounds, and where the dimensions of the
box, with length, width and depth added, are 70 inches. A corrugated
box of this size will be accepted for freight shipment. Some of the
articles which a slotted carton may be used for are: books, boots
and shoes, butter, canned goods in glass or tin, cereals, cigars
and cigarettes, coffee and tea, collars and cuffs, confections, dry
goods and clothing, electric lamps, glassware, hardware, mattresses,
patent medicines, small furniture, shirts, toys, soap, etc. For
certain articles, like mattresses, for example, the dimensions of a
corrugated box may be as great as 100 inches for acceptable freight
shipment.
Some of the advantages of these large corrugated shipping containers
over ordinary wooden boxes are: light weight, the prevention of
breakage to contents, water and air-tight, easier to close and open
and easier to handle by all concerned. On account of the corrugated
container being firmly sealed with tape, the box is practically
safe from freight robbers who find it an easy matter to “lift” the
cover-boards of a wooden, nailed box. This is one of the many reasons
why corrugated containers are now being used extensively for export
shipments.
Paper cans are now being used in place of tin cans for cereals, tea
and coffee, spices, baking powder, cleansing powder, tobacco, snuff,
salt, gas mantles, drugs, etc. Paper cans are more economical than
tin cans; are more sanitary, lighter in weight, and are easier to
open by the consumer.
[Illustration: Paper Cans and Cores made on Langston equipment.]
THE MAKING OF PAPER CANS
The mechanical equipment necessary for a medium-size plant for making
all kinds of paper cans, mailing tubes, cores for toilet paper, etc.,
is as follows: One slitter and rewinder, one spiral tube winder,
one tube cutter, one moistener, one double-acting punch press with
automatic feeder.
For the manufacture of paper cans with tin tops and bottoms, the
following additional equipment would be essential: One single-acting
press, one crimping machine.
All of these machines, and also accessories, tools, and extra parts,
are manufactured by the Samuel M. Langston Company, of Camden, N.
J., and other well-known concerns who make a specialty of paper can
machinery. The Westchester Machine Sales Co., of New York City, is
manufacturing a paper can seamer, used for attaching tin tops or
bottoms to spiral or straight wound paper cans. The Max Ams Machine
Company, of Bridgeport, Conn., is specializing in machines used for
attaching ends to round, oval or oblong fibre containers.
THE SLITTER AND REWINDER
(Note: Every different diameter of a paper can requires a different
diameter mandrel for both the tube winder and the tube cutter, also a
different size die for the cover and bottom.)
The large paper manufacturers--those who specialize in coarse
papers--supply various kinds of paper in large rolls which is
suitable for the making of paper cans. The Langston slitter and
rewinder will handle a roll of paper any width up to 48 inches
(according to the width of the machine) and will cut this paper and
rewind it into small rolls from one and one-half inches to six inches
wide. These small rolls are then ready for the tube winder.
[Illustration: Langston Type “B” Slitter and Rewinder.]
THE SPIRAL TUBE WINDER
The Langston spiral tube winder will take two, three or more small
rolls of paper, from one and one-half inches to six inches wide
each, and will continuously wind and glue the rolls of paper into
long tubes, of any diameter (according to the mandrel used), from
three-fourths of an inch to six inches in diameter. This machine also
cuts the long tubes into any desired lengths from 11 to 40 inches.
[Illustration: Langston Spiral Tube Winding Machine.]
[Illustration: Langston Tube Cutter.]
THE TUBE CUTTER
The long tubes made on the tube winder, up to 39 inches long, are
placed on the tube cutter which cuts the tubes with a clean edge to
any lengths wanted.
THE MOISTENER
The paper which is to be used for tops and bottoms of paper cans,
must be moistened before going to the punch press. The Langston
moistener takes a roll of paper, cuts it to the proper width, treats
it with a solution of soap and water, and rewinds the paper ready for
the punch press.
[Illustration: Langston Double-Acting Punch Press.]
THE DOUBLE-ACTING PUNCH PRESS
Moistened rolls of paper are placed on the double-acting punch press
(Langston) and the machine automatically dies out and draws up the
paper in the form of lids and bottoms for the paper cans.
THE CRIMPING OR SEAMING MACHINE
This device is used for attaching tin bottoms, or sifter-tops, to
paper cans such as are made for holding scouring powders, etc. This
same machine may be used for bending over or shaping paper tops and
bottoms.
THE SINGLE-ACTING PUNCH PRESS
This is a simple construction machine made by the Langston Company,
and is used for making tin tops and bottoms of all kinds for paper
cans.
The operation of any of the machines mentioned here in connection
with the making of paper cans is very easy.
The spirally-wound tube, which forms the body of a paper can, may
also be used for mailing tubes, cores for toilet paper and cores for
ribbon and thread.
WATER-TIGHT PAPER CANS
To make an all-paper can water-tight, submerge it in molten
paraffine, or pour hot paraffine in and out of the can. Paper,
paraffined on one side, may be run on the inside or on the outside of
the can, or both, to produce a moisture-proof container which will
hold semi-liquids for an indefinite time.
Some paper cans have slip-on covers and bottoms, others have the
top and bottom crimped on; others still have a neck for the lid.
Expensive types of paper cans have spun-on ends, and many are made
with screw-on tin tops.
When printed or lithographed wrappers are carefully applied to the
paper cans, they cannot be told from regular tin cans. Many wrappers
for paper cans are done in beautiful colors.
HOW CORRUGATED PAPER BOXES ARE MADE
There are three different kinds of corrugated paper in general use,
and many of the larger manufacturers of corrugated paper boxes have
their own machines for making the three kinds of corrugated board
referred to.
Unlined corrugated paper is usually made of strawboard and is used
for lining, covering and padding. This paper is exceedingly useful
in packing glass, bottles, and other breakable goods, being used as
lining and padding in the shipping cases.
Single-face corrugated paper is made by gluing a liner, or sheet of
strong texture paper to one side of the corrugations. The corrugated
stock is made of strawboard, newsboard or chipboard, and the liner
may be of heavy manila, news or chip stock, or of other kinds of
coarse paper which are strong in texture. The standard length of
rolls is 250 feet, and the standard width is 36 inches, although this
paper is made as wide as 48 inches. Single-face corrugated paper is
used for making tubes for holding glass articles, partitions for
shipping containers, lining for barrels and wood boxes, etc.
[Illustration: Langston Corrugating Machine]
Double-faced corrugated paper consists of the corrugated stock
and two flat liners, one attached to each side of the stock. The
double-face board is stronger than any other board of the same
weight, and it also serves as a cushion whenever anything comes in
contact with it. This board is made of various kinds of stock,
including strawboard, news and chip, and the facing is also of
various kinds of strong paper. From double-face corrugated paper
a great variety of paper boxes, shipping containers, etc., are
constructed. It is also used for partitions, liners, padding, picture
backing, and as protecting boards for mailing printed matter,
photographs, etc.
The Samuel M. Langston Co., of Camden, N. J., is a large manufacturer
of all kinds of machinery for making the corrugated board and
its products. The Langston corrugating machine for single-faced
corrugated paper is designed to make the single-faced paper,
complete, in big rolls of 250 feet each. The corrugation is formed on
this machine under pressure. Adhesive sodium silicate is applied to
the tops of the corrugated paper while it is in the corrugating roll,
and the lining sheet, tempered over a steam-heated roll, is stuck to
the corrugated sheet under pressure. The machine is equipped with
a steam roll for moistening and heating the straw sheet before it
enters the corrugating roll.
The Langston combined corrugator and double-facing machine
takes three rolls of paper and produces in continuous operation
double-faced corrugated board, cut into sheets, trimmed, and scored
one way, if desired. It is equipped with a “Duplex” cutter, making it
possible to run two separate orders, each of a different width and
length, side by side.
Adhesive sodium silicate, such as that used in the construction of
corrugated paper, taping, etc., is supplied by the Central Commercial
Co., of Chicago, or the Grasselli Chemical Co., of Cleveland, O.
[Illustration: S. & S. Corrugated Paper Box Machine Co. 4-Bar Rotary
Creaser and Scorer.]
ROTARY CUTTING AND SCORING MACHINES
These machines are used for cutting and creasing corrugated board to
any size needed for the construction of corrugated boxes and shipping
containers, and the machines are made in various sizes, one large
enough to handle a sheet 122 inches wide. The Rotary cutting and
creasing machine is made by the Samuel M. Langston Co., of Camden,
N. J., and machines of the same style are also made by the Paper
Products Machinery Co., Inc., of Brooklyn, N. Y., and the S. & S.
Corrugated Paper Machinery Co., Inc., of Brooklyn, N. Y. The concerns
named also make all kinds of machinery for corrugated paper box
plants.
[Illustration: Langston Type “B” Cutter and Scorer.]
The operation of the rotary cutting and scoring machine is
comparatively simple, and the cutting wheels and scoring wheels are
easily adjusted to any position wanted.
THE LANGSTON CHOPPER
This machine, built by the Samuel M. Langston Co., of Camden, N. J.,
is a combined slitter, scorer, chopper and rewinder, and is designed
to handle single-faced corrugated paper from the roll.
THE LANGSTON CARTON MACHINE
This device produces round, square, or octagon shaped shells from
single-faced corrugated paper, such as are used as slip-ons over
bottles. Round shells, with the corrugation running lengthwise, are
made by feeding into the machine strips of corrugated single-faced
paper, which are folded and taped only, being cut to length
afterwards. Another style of Langston carton machine is used for
the production of square, rectangular or octagon shells, which are
folded, taped and cut to length automatically.
THE SLITTER AND RE-WINDING MACHINE
Many of the larger plants devoted to the manufacture of corrugated
paper boxes are equipped with a slitter and rewinding machine which
is used for transforming the large rolls of corrugated paper into
smaller rolls of required sizes. The Langston surface or drum
rewinder and slitter is one of the best machines of this class on the
market.
[Illustration: Regular Slotted Carton.]
REGULAR SLOTTED CARTONS
The regular slotted carton, made of double-face corrugated board, is
designed with two inner flaps which do not meet at the center when
folded, and also with two outer flaps which do meet at the center
when folded. This is one of the most popular cartons in general use.
For shipment, the regular slotted carton is sealed either by gluing
down the flaps, or by covering all outer joints, openings or seams
with paper sealing tape.
All kinds of staying material and paper sealing tape, as used for
sealing corrugated shipping containers, are supplied by the larger
manufacturers of paper box machinery. Many of the paper houses also
carry this line.
[Illustration: Center Special Slotted Carton.]
CENTER SPECIAL SLOTTED CARTON
This carton is much the same as the regular slotted carton, only the
two inner flaps and the two outer flaps all meet at the center when
folded, forming a more solid box, top and bottom, than the regular
slotted carton. The side special slotted carton is made on this same
plan, the flaps meeting at the side of the box.
[Illustration: Overflap Slotted Carton.]
OVERFLAP SLOTTED CARTONS
This container is made of double-face corrugated board, and has four
flaps at the top and bottom, the inner flaps not quite meeting at
the center and the outer flaps overlapping about two inches.
The special overlap slotted carton is practically the same design
with the exception of the inner flaps which meet at the center.
FULL FLAP SLOTTED CARTONS
To provide additional strength at the top and bottom, the full flap
slotted carton has two full-size flaps at the top and bottom which
cover over one another. The inner flaps do not altogether meet at the
center.
[Illustration: Full Flap Slotted Carton.]
The special full flap slotted carton is of this same plan, only the
inner flaps meet at the center, giving three thicknesses of board at
the top and bottom of the box.
HALF SLOTTED CARTON WITH SEPARATE COVER
Instead of having four flaps at the top and bottom, the half slotted
carton has only four flaps at the bottom, being covered by a separate
lid in the same manner as a set-up paper box. The cover is made of
the same kind of double-face corrugated board as the container, and
the corners of the cover are stayed. The flaps at the bottom are
sealed with sodium silicate, or the joints are sealed with tape. For
express shipment, the cover may be tied on. For freight shipment, the
cover should be glued on, and completely sealed at the edges with
tape.
[Illustration: Half Slotted Carton with Cover Attached.]
DOUBLE-WALL CARTON
When an extra-strong carton is needed, the double-wall box is
recommended, especially for articles in glass of the half-gallon
sizes. This box is of the same style as the regular slotted carton
with the exception that the sides and flaps are double thickness,
made of one sheet of double-face corrugated stock and one sheet of
single-face corrugated board, glued together. In addition to being
used for glass articles, the double-wall box is also used for large
and heavy goods like mattresses, canned goods, etc.
[Illustration: Double-Wall Carton.]
DOUBLE COVER BOX
[Illustration: Double Cover Box.]
The main advantage of the double cover box is that it may easily be
cut down to the level of the contents. The part of the body which has
been cut off may be used as a box for other goods. Separate covers
are bought by the user and applied as needed. The body of this type
of box is made of a single piece of double-face corrugated board,
stayed at one corner. The covers overlap, and are made the same as a
lid for a set-up paper box. The same kind of cover is used for both
the top and the bottom of the box, and after the goods have been
packed, the two covers are glued to the body of the box and tape is
wrapped around the edges of the covers. Or, the covers may be tied on
in addition to being sealed at the sides. The corners of the covers
are stayed on the outside with heavy cloth tape.
This style of box is popular for the shipment of millinery,
artificial flowers, men’s hats, etc.
TELESCOPE BOX
The telescope box is made in various heights, and consists merely of
two sections on the plan of box covers, one fitting down over the
other. The corners of the covers are stayed with cloth tape. Flat
telescope boxes of this class are often used for shipments of books,
pictures, lithographed paper cut-outs and similar articles.
[Illustration: Telescope Box.]
[Illustration: Double Lined Slide Box.]
DOUBLE LINED SLIDE BOX
This container was formerly known as the “Three-Piece Lambert Box,”
and is composed of three separate pieces. When put together, the
three pieces of this box provide a double wall of corrugated board
on every side. The inner slide is like one box fitting within the
other. This box is usually made in small sizes and is adapted to the
shipment of drugs, dolls, toys, novelties, etc.
SINGLE LINED SLIDE BOX
The single lined slide box is made of two pieces of corrugated board,
and it does not contain an inner slide. The folding cover extends
down over one side of the box. Used for drugs, toys, dolls, etc.
DOUBLE SLIDE BOX
This style of box is made much like the small slide box used by
druggists for pills, powders, etc. When put together the double slide
box has two thicknesses of board on only two sides.
[Illustration: Double Slide Box.]
ONE-PIECE FOLDER
The one-piece folder is made from a single piece of double-face
corrugated board, cut and creased in such a manner that when folded
up it forms a complete, flat “box,” of any size arranged for. These
folders are delivered in flat form to the customer who, after
packing the goods, glues and seals each folder according to freight
requirements.
TWO-PIECE FOLDER
The two-piece folder is made in many different sizes, and consists
of two straight-cut sheets of corrugated board which, when folded
together, form a closed box having four flaps at the top. The flat
pieces, which are scored, are sent to the customer who folds and
assembles them as needed.
[Illustration: Two-Piece Folder.]
CORRUGATED PAPER TUBES
Corrugated paper tubes are very simple in construction and are used
for holding bottles, glass jars, etc., protecting them from breakage
during shipment in cases. There are several different styles of tubes
as follows:
The single-face scored sheet is merely a square or oblong piece of
single-face corrugated board, scored in three places in such a way
that when folded and sealed at one corner a plain tube is formed.
The double-face scored sheet is made of double-face corrugated board,
scored and folded in the same manner as a single-face scored sheet.
The single-face tube is the same as a single-face scored sheet, with
the exception of being folded and stayed at one corner ready for the
customer’s use.
The double-face tube is a double-face scored sheet, usually made with
chipboard or strawboard liners; scored, folded and joined together,
ready for the customer’s use.
[Illustration: Double-Face Tube.]
Round tubes, and those of odd shape, are made in the same way, of
either single-face or double-face corrugated board. The round tubes
require no scoring.
All scored sheets and complete tubes are delivered flat to the
customer.
PARTITIONS
Partitions for re-shipping cases, and other kinds of corrugated boxes
used for holding medicine bottles, etc., are made of both single-face
and double-face corrugated board. A special “gang saw,” for slotting
containers, or for sawing slots for partitions, is made by Samuel M.
Langston Co., of Camden, N. J. The gang saws are also furnished by
other manufacturers of paper box machinery.
[Illustration: Re-Shipping Case.]
Cuts of corrugated boxes shown herewith were kindly furnished by the
National Association of Corrugated Fibre Box Manufacturers, Chicago.
PRINTING CARTONS
Printing fibre and corrugated paper boxes is a special branch of
the paper box industry, and there are several printing presses of
different makes designed particularly for this class of work. Many
large buyers of fibre and corrugated paper boxes have advertising
matter printed on the outside of the boxes, and in numerous
instances, the printing is done in two or more different colors.
The advantages of having advertising matter printed on the shipping
containers are recognized by large manufacturers. For example, many
of the corrugated containers used for holding tins and glass jars of
smoking tobacco have attractive advertising matter printed on all
four sides.
[Illustration: Langston Multi-color Printing Press for Shipping
Containers.]
Among the most efficient printing presses which are now in general
service for printing fibre and corrugated shipping containers are
the F. X. Hooper fibre printing press, made by the F. X. Hooper
Co., Inc., of Glenarm, Md., and the Langston multi-color printing
press, made by Samuel M. Langston Co., of Camden, N. J. Both of
these machines are rotary presses and are capable of producing
great quantities of work at high speed. The printing is done from
electrotype plates which are attached to the printing cylinder of the
press.
Any of the paper box machinery concerns mentioned in this series of
articles will send catalogues and detailed information covering their
machines upon request.
* * * * * *
Transcriber’s note:
The cover image was created by transcriber and placed in the public
domain.
Inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation such as
“box-maker”/“box maker” and “strawboard”/“straw-board” have been
maintained.
Minor punctuation and spelling errors have been silently corrected
and, except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the
text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.
Page 25: “Attached to the machine is a receptable” changed to
“Attached to the machine is a receptacle”.
Page 27: “The bettter class of set-up boxes” changed to “The better
class of set-up boxes”.
Page 41: “The stock used for the partititions” changed to “The
stock used for the partitions”.
Page 94: “the ends of the ribon” changed to “the ends of the
ribbon”.
Page 118: “and you’re just bound to succeeed” changed to “and
you’re just bound to succeed”.
Page 159: “keeping their plants in first class phyical” changed to
“keeping their plants in first class physical”.
Page 165: “It would be impossible to specifiy” changed to “It would
be impossible to specify”.
Page 169: “in additon to doing printing” changed to “in addition to
doing printing”.
Page 195: “resinous compound which adhers” changed to “resinous
compound which adheres”.
Page 201: “equipment necessary for a memium-size” changed to
“equipment necessary for a medium-size”.