Apparatus for fabricating and assembling multi-cell partitions

Apparatus for successively fabricating and assembling multi-cell partitions having a plurality of intermeshing slotted transverse and longitudinal strips for use in cartons, crates and the like, said apparatus being characterized by an improved construction providing for fabrication and assembly of varying sizes and types of partitions at desired speeds for commercial operation, said apparatus comprising:

• separate means for fabricating the transverse and longitudinal partition strips each of which includes means for supplying a length of material of a width desirable for the length of the partition strips, means for successively cutting longitudinally spaced-apart rows of slots extending transversely across the length of the material, means for successively transversely cutting the length of material into individual partition strips of desired height along and through the slots cut therein so that the slots extend inwardly a desired distance from the leading cut edge of the partition strips, means for feeding the material through said slot cutting means and said strip cutting means, adjustable means operatively associated with said slot cutting means, said strip cutting means and said material feeding means for being adjusted to vary the height of the partition strips cut by said strip cutting means while insuring proper placement of the slots cut by said slot cutting means, and means for feeding the respective cut and slotted strips in a generally horizontal, linear path of travel;
• said respective fabricating means for the transverse and longitudinal partition strips being positioned for fabricating and feeding the supply of material and respective cut and slotted strips in generally opposing, horizontal, linear paths of travel;
• and
• partition assembly means including an elongate horizontally-extending guide means defining a plurality of longitudinally and horizontally-extending spaced parallel grooved trackways in respective opposite sides thereof for respectively receiving the leading slotted edges of the transverse and longitudinal partition strips therein at a receiving end thereof, said trackways corresponding in number and position to the desired intermeshing relationship of the longitudinal and transverse partition strips when assembled into a partition in collapsed intermeshing relationship, elongate cam means movably positioned interiorly within certain of said trackways of said guide means so that the grooves in said trackways extend inwardly from the opposite outer edges of said guide means at a converging intermeshing predetermined angle from the end of said guide means receiving the partition strips to the other end thereof, means for continuously feeding the tranverse and longitudinal strips along said cam means and within said trackways from the receiving end to the remote end of said guide means for converging and intermeshing the slotted partition strips for assembling partitions in collapsed condition, and adjustment means for said cam means for longitudinally moving said cam means within said guide means for varying the longitudinal position thereof and thus the depth of said trackways along said guide means for assembling various sizes and types of partitions.