US1271989A - Labeling-machine. - Google Patents

Description

G. A. ANDERSON.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1911 Patented July 9, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. A. ANDERSON.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED FEB. 21. 1917.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Patented July 9, 1918.

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G. A. ANDERSON.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED ma. 2:. 191.7.

Patented July 9,1918

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

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G. A. ANDERSON.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. ,21. 1917. 1 ,2? 1,989. Patented July 9, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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GEORGE ARVID ANDERSON, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FOURTH T0 DAVID P. THOMAS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ,AND ONE- FOURTH TO ESKIL B. RENBLOM, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

LABELING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1918.

Application filed February 21, 1917. Serial No. 150,048.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE ARVID AN- nnnsomga citizen of the United States, residing at WVorcester, in the county of lVorcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Labeling-Machines, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings forming a part of the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a mechanism for automatically applying labels to receptacles of various kinds, such as bottles, cans, and the like, which is simple in construction and capable of rapidoperation. This object amongothers I accomplish by the mechanism hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which represents a machine adapted for applying labels to bottles.

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of any improved labeling machine.

Fig. 2 is a detached plan view of mechanism for imparting an intermittent rotary movement to the framework carrying the label applying blades.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the feeding mechanism by which the bottles are presented to the machine, represented upon a larger scale than that shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism for gumming the labels and applying the gummed label to the surface of a bottle, shown upon the same scale as Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the rear side of.

the machine.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the label holding rotating the framework carrying the gumming blades and the driving mechanism for the upper bottle carrying chains F g.- 2 is a deta hed P an VleW of the frame upon which the gumming blades are mounted.

Figs. 13 and let are detached views illustrating the cams employed for operating respectively a part of the feeding mechanism and a part of the label aflixing mechanism.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the different figures.

The machine of the present invention includes the following instrumentalities:A bottle feeding mechanism, constituted preferably by an endless traveling chain or belt, upon which the bottles are placed indiscriminately by an attendant, said feeding mechanism being adapted to advance the bottles in regular order, at predetermined intervals of time, to a conveying mechanism, whose operation is suitably coordinated with the label aflixing instrumentalities of the machine. Said conveying mechanism, which receives the bottles successively and at regular intervals from the feeding mechanism, is preferably constituted by a plurality of endless chains or belts, namely a lower conveying belt engaging the lower ends of the of the bottles, so that each bottle is forcibly moved into and out of operative position with respect to the label atfixing instrumentalities by simultaneous engagement at its top and bottom, thus preventing tipping or upsetting of the bottles. The upper conveying belts, which engage the tops of the bottles, are adjustable bodily to different heights, thus enabling bottles of different heights to be accommodated in the machine, as hereinafter described. The label affixing instrumentalities operate successively on each bottle during the continuous movement thereof by said conveying mechanism, to apply adhesive or gum to a label and to interpose such gummed label in the path of a moving bottle, so that the label is picked off by the bottle in its movement, means being provided to securely atfix and press said label into proper position on the surface of the bottle, as hereinafter described. Each successively labeled bottle is thereafter carried forward by the continuous operation of the conveying mechanism and is discharged, if desired, onto a suitable table or support.

Power is imparted to the machine through a belt pulley 1, which is carried on a main shaft 2 journaled in suitable bearings 0n the rear side of a supporting stand or framework 3. A countershaft 4, driven by beveled gears 5, 5 from the shaft 2, is employed for actuating the conveying mechanism above referred to, and also, indirectly, the bottle feeding mechanism, as hereinafter described. The countershaft 4, at an intermediate point, has a bevel gear connection 6, 6 with a shaft 7 at the bottle discharging end of the machine, said shaft 7 carrying the driving sprockets for chains 8, 8 which constitute the lower endless traveling belt of the conveying mechanism. At the bottle receiving end of the machine, said chains 8 pass around suitable sprockets on a shaft 9, which, through intermediate gearing 10, 11 and 12, Fig. 3, drives an adjacent shaft 13 carrying suitable sprockets for actuating endless chains 14, 14 which constitute, as hereinafter described, the traveling belt of the bottle feeding mechanism.

For positive engagement with the lower ends of the bottles, as fed thereto, the lower endless traveling chains 8 of the conveying mechanism have upstanding transverse lugs or bars 15 attached thereto at regular inter-,

vals, and these bars 15, when engaging the bottles, move in unison and in substantial. alinement With similar bars 16 attached to chains 17, 17 constituting the traveling endless upper belts of the conveying mechanism. Said upper belts of the conveying mechanism, here shown as two in number, one on each side of the label affixing mechanism, have their driving shafts and sprockets supported in suitable bearings of a framework 18, which is Vertically adjustable relative to the stationary supporting stand 3. To this end, the supporting stand 3 carries ways 19, Fig. 6, for the sliding movement of framework 1.8 therein, said framework having lugs 20, 20 in screw threaded engagement with vertically adjusting screws 21, 21 supported by stand 3. Each screw 21 has a bevel gear connection 22, 22 with a shaft 23, which is journaled at the top of'stand 3 and has a hand wheel 24 thereon, whereby the same may be rotated to revolve the screws 21, thus raising or lowering, through the threaded. lugs 20, the framework 18 which carries chains 17. In this way the height of the upper belts of the conveying mechanism above the lower belt of said mechanism may b varied at will, to allow the bars 16- of the upper belts to engage bottles of different heights.

For driving said upper belts of the conveying mechanism, the countershaft 4 has a brawl gear 25 thereon, whosehub has a key is movable longitudinally thereof so as to.

adjust itself to the various heights at which the upper traveling belts of the conveying mechanism operate, for bottles of different sizes. To this end, the gear 25 is attached to a bracket 27 projecting from the adjustable framework 18, said gear being movable up and down with said bracket and framework with respect to the rotating countershaft 4 with which it has a spline connec tion. The gear 25' is thus in constant mesh with a bevel gear 28, which is carried on the end of a shaft 29, the latter being journaled in the framework 18 and carrying the sprockets for the chains 17 of the upper conveying belt at the discharge end of the machine. At the other end of said belt the chains 17 pass around suitable sprockets on a shaft 30, which is journaled in the adjustabl framework. The upper conveying belt at the bottle receiving end of the machine, on the other side of the label allixing mechanism, has its chains 1.7, 17 driven from countershaft 4 through a shaft 31, which has a bevel gear 32 in constant mesh with gear 25 on countershaft 4. A bevel gear 33 transmits the rotation of shaft 31 to a shaft 34, which carries the driving sprockets for the chains 17, 17 of this upper conveying belt at the receiving end of the machine, said chains, at the other end of said belt passing around suitable sprockets on a shaft 35 which is journaled in the adjustable framework 18. Means are thus provided for moving the bottle engaging bars 16 of the upper conveying belts in unison and in approximate alinement with the corresponding bottle engaging bars 15 of the lower conveying belt,

so that the bottles, as received from the feedon a shaft 36 journaled in the framework 3.

The bottles are placed indiscriminately 'on the feeding belt and are carried forward thereby, toward the conveying mechanism, simply by their frictional contact with said belt, there being no engaging stops or bars on said feeding belt. the function of which is to feed bottles, one at a time at proper intervals, to the conveying mechanism, said intervals being determined by the conjoint arrival of engaging bars 15 and 16 of lower and upper conveying belts at the end of the conveying mechanism where the bottles are fed in. To this end, means are provided for permitting only one bottle of those being advanced on the feeding belt to arrive at the end of said belt in position for engagement by the bars 15 and 16, the remaining bottles on th feeding belt being arrested until the first bottle is carried forward by the conveying mechanism. after which the leading bottle of those remaining on the feeding belt is released and advanced into position to be engaged by the next succeeding pair of bars 15 and 16 of the conveying mechanism.

The details of such an arrangement are shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the bottles in their movement by the feeding belt being preferably guided through a channel constituted by side walls 37, 37 supported by the framework 3. Said side walls have openings .38 therein, Fig. 6, through which project, on each side, the latches 39, pivoted at 40, 40 and having springs 41, 41 adapted to maintain their free ends 42 yieldingly in the path of bottles being moved on the feeding belt. The tension of each spring 41 is such as to be overcome by the friction between a bottle and the traveling feeding belt, so that the movement of a bottle by said belt into contact with the ends 42 will force said ends apart, allowing the bottle to pass thereby, when the latches 39 are free to be swung outwardly about their pivots 40. Each latch, however, is provided with a notch 43, in osition to be engaged by the end of a loc ing lever 44, pivoted at 45 and having a pro- ]ecting lug 46 in engagement with an extension 47 of the corresponding spring 41. hen the levers 44 are rocked from the positions shown in Fig. 4 to the positions shown in Fig. 3, the notches 43 of latches 39 are engaged thereby, thus fixedly maintaining the ends 42 of said latches in the path of the bottles, so that a bottle brought into engagement with said latches has its advancing movement arrested, the feeding belt, however, continuing to move and simply slipping past and under the bottle so held.

The locking levers 44 are actuated by the extensions 47 of springs 41, said extensions acting normally against the lugs 46 of said levers to press them into engagement with the notches 43, as shown in Fig. 3. Each lever 44 carries at its .outer end a pin 48, in position to be engaged by a reciprocating member 49; the movement of said members 49 to the left, Figs. 3 and 4, rocks the levers 44 from the positions shown in Fig. 3 to the positions shown in Fig. 4, thereby releasing the latch 39, and permitting the friction between a bottle and the feeding belt to force back said latches against the tension of springs 41. Each member 49 carries at its inner end a finger 50, pivoted thereto at 51 and pro ecting through the corresponding opening 38, the inner ends of said fingers projecting into the path of the bottles on the feeding belt, and the outer end of each finger being engageable with a pin 52 carried by the corresponding member 49. In advance of the fingers 50, the side walls 37 carry latches 53, pivoted at 54, with their free ends 55 projecting through openings 33 and held yieldingly in the path of the bottles by s rings 56. The tension of springs 56 is, un llke that of the springs 41, sufiicient to arrest the movement of a bottle brought in contact with latches notwithstanding the friction between said bottle and the traveling feeding belt, so that unless an additional force is applied to move said bottle, it will be held by latches 53 indefinitely in the position indicated at 57 in Fig. 4.

The operation of the mechanism above described is as follows :The members 49 are reciprocated in unison by a cam 58, Figs. 6 and 13, on shaft 2, said cam cotiperating with a cam roll 59 on arm 60, held thereagainst by a spring 61 to oscillate and rock shaft 6:2, through pivoted links 63 and 64. Attached to rock shaft 62 is an arm 65, Figs. 1 and 3, having a suitable link connection 66 With the duplicate sliding members 49 on opposite sides of the feeding belt, said members being rigidly connected in any suitable way to operate as a single element. As shown in Fig. 4, the members 49 are atthe limit of their left hand move-ment, and as they move back toward the right, Fig. 4, the extensions 47 of springs 41 become effective to force levers 44-into notches 43, thus locking the latches 39 and holding the bottles 67 and 68 on the feeding belt, stationary. The continued movement of members 49 to the right, Fig. 4, brings the fingers 50 against the bottle 57, whose movement has been arrested by the ends 55 of latches 53. The movement of said bottle 57 by said fingers 50 pushes back the latches 53 against the tension of relatively strong springs 56, and the bottle 57 is thus carried forward to the conveying mechanism at just the right time to be engaged by a pair of bars 15, 16 of the conveying belts, it being understood that the reciprocating members 49 are suitably timed to operate in this manner. In pushing the bottle 57, Fig. 4, past the latches 53, the pivoted fingers 50 are held rigid by the engagement of their outer ends with the pins 52.

The members 49, after pushing the bottle onto the conveying mechanism, have their movement reversed, and at the end of their reversed movement engage the pins 48 to rock the levers 44 and thus unlock the latches 39. Immediately] the friction between bottle 67 and the feeding belt is sufficient to cause the retraction latches 39, and the bottle 67 passes forward to the position previously occupied by the bottle 57, its movement being arrested by the latches 53. In passing to this position the bottle 67 wipes past the fingers 50, as shown in Fig. 3, the pins 52 offering no resistance to the movement of said fingers in this direction. Meanwhile, the bottle 68 moves into the position formerly occupied by the bottle 67, and can move no farther since the start of the return right hand movement of members 49 effects the locking of latches 39, as previously described. Further movement of members 49 to the right, Fig. 4, carries the bottles 67 onto the conveying mechanism, as previously described with reference to bottle 57, it being clear that the bottles placed on the feeding'belt are thus advanced successively, at proper intervals, to the conveying mechanism, so as to be spaced thereon the requisite distance apart.

The mechanism for aflixing a label to each bottle as it is carried forward by the conveying mechanism includes a rotatable skeleton framework 69, shown in plan view in Fig.12 as having four pairs of projecting arms 70 arranged ninety degrees apart. Said arms are adapted to have detachably connected thereto four pairs of dependent curved members 71, Fig. 11, the space between each pair of members 71 corresponding substantially to the shape of a bottle or other article to be labeled. The members 71 may with advantage be supplied in sets of eight each, each set being of a different size or different curvature from every other set, so that the shape and size of the opening or space between apair of members 71 may be varied at will, to suit the bottles or other articles being labeled, it being understood that such articles, must pass between the members 71 of a pair in the act of having a label applied thereto. I have shown a construction of skeleton framework 69 adapted tov have pairs of members 71 of varying curvature applied thereto interchangeably so as to adapt the framework to the provision of spaces suitable for the passage of bottles or articles of various conformations. I also contemplate the employment with said pairs of members 71, of detachab-ly hinged wings 72, shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9, but not shown in Figs. 11 and 12. Said wings 72 are attached in pairs to the members '71 so as practically to extend across a part of the space provided between said members for the passage of an article to be labeled, yielding springs 73 being employed to maintain said wings normally flat against the outside edgesof members 71. The purposeof said hinged wings is to. supplement the action of members 71 in the operation of applying labels to the bottles, as hereinafter more particularly described, by way of increasing the range of usefulness of the machine and ren-,

dering it capable of operation with labels of practically any slze from the smallest to the line.

largest. However, it is to be understood that my invention is in no sense limited or confined to the use of such wings 72, or their equivalents, it being clear that the skeleton framework 69 with its attached members 71, will effect completely the application of labels whether or not the wings 72 are employed.

The skeleton framework 69 is subject to intermittent rotation by the mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the shaft 31 having a bevel gear connection 74 with a shaft 75 journaled above the same in an arched bracket 76. The shaft 77 attached to and projecting upwardly from the skeleton framework 69, has an intermittent drive connection with the rotating shaft 75, con- 7 ing disk 79 engages the star wheel 78 in the usual manner to hold the shaft 77 and skeleton framework 69 stationary after each intermittent movement thereof by the pin 80. When so held from rotation, after each quarter turn, the skeleton framework 69 presents a pair of its members 71 in osition to be acted upon by a gumming mec anism on the front side of the machine, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the remaining pairs of membars 71 being disposed as shown in said figures, that is, the opposite pair at the back side of the machine and the two other pairs straddling the path of the bottles through the conveying mechanism. The front side of the machine carries a gum box 82, Fig. 10, within whichis supported a rotating gumming cylinder 83, partially immersed in the liquid gum within said box and driven by a belt 84 connecting its pulley 85, Fig. 1, with a pulley 86, Fig. 6, on the main shaft 2.

The main shaft 2 also carries a cam 87, Fig. 10, which, acting through cam roll 88 on arm 89, held thereagainst by spring 90, effects the reciprocation of a yoke 91, by means of connecting link 92 and lever 93,

I said parts having suitable pin and slot pivthrough guiding sleeves 95 at the ends of gum box 82, and carry at their upper ends the journals of a gumming roll 96, whose surface becomes coated with gum at the end of each downward movement of the yoke, by rolling contact with the surface of gum carrying cylinder 83. With the upward'movement of roll 96, the gum thereon is transferred to the outer faces of a pair of members 71, held stationary in gum receiving position as above described, or to their piv- The arms of said yoke pass slidably oted wings 72, if the latter are used, as the case may be. Thereafter, when the roll 96 is lowered, the framework 69 moves through ninety degrees in a clockwise direction, Figs. 3 and 5, to carry the pair of members so gummed into the next position of dwell, that is, into the path of the bottles being moved by the conveying mechanism.

This position, shown at the left hand end of Fig. 5, requires that the wings 72, if used, must be distended to allow a bottle to pass between members 71, as shown, and to this end said wings 72 are formed with extensions 97 for cooperation with adjustable plates 98, Fig. 8, on the ends of posts 99 projecting upwardly through elongated openings 100 on each side of the traveling conveying belt. A cam 101, on shaft 2, operating through cam roll 102 or lever 103, which is held thereagainst by spring 101, is employed to oscillate a rock shaft 105 at desired intervals, through pivoted links 106 and 107. Rock shaft 105 has an arm 108 attached thereto and pivota'lly connected at its free end with a Substantially horizontal link 109, the latter having a pivotal connection 'at its other end with a transverse bar 110. The bar 110 is carried at its ends by slidable members 111 from which the posts 99 project upwardly, the openings 100 affording suitable guideways for the reciprocation of members 111. I

In the operation of the above described mechanism for distending the wings 72, the cam 101 maintains the plates 98 to the left, Fig. 5, until the pair of members 71 reach a position in the path of the bottles; thereupon the cam acts quickly to move the plates 98 to the right, said plates striking against the extensions 97 and thus swinging the wings 72 into the position shown in Fig. 5. lVith the wings in this position, the bottle passes therebetween and between the members 71, and thereafter the cam 101 moves the plates 98 to the left and thus allows the springs 73 to return the gummed wings 72 to normalposition, that is, extending across the space between members 71.

The next quarter turn of the skeleton framework 69 carries the above mentioned pair of members 71, gummed as described, into position to receive a label, either on the gummed faces of said members or on the gummed wings 72, provided the latter are used. To this end, the rear side of the machine provides a bracket 112, Fig.7, hav ing a slideway therein to receive a reciprocating member 113, which carries a label box 114, a supply of labels 115 being disposed horizontally therein. The member 113 has attached thereto a rack 116, the teeth of which are in mesh with a pinion 117 on rock shaft 118 journaled in bracket 112. An arm 119, fast on said .rock shaft, is pivotally connected to a rod 120, Fig. 6, the latter having a fork 121 at its lower end, which is held yieldingly by spring 122 in contact with a cam 123 on shaft 2. The oscillation of pinion 117, by means of cam 123, causes the label box 11-1 to move inwardly toward the gummed members 71, to carry the innermost label of the supply or stack 115 into contact with the gummed surfaces of said members 71 or their wings 72, as the case may be.

The adhesion of the innermost label to said gummed surfaces causes it to be separated from the remaining labels when the box 11-1 moves outwardly, suitable means, such as separators 124 of well known construction, being used to prevent the withdrawal of more than one label in this fashion from the box. The supply 115 of labels is pressed against said separators by a follower plate 125 acting against the outer end of the stack, said plate having attached thereto a rack 126 passing through the outer end of the box and in mesh with a pinion 127 on shaft 128, which is journaled in bear ings carried by said box. The shaft 128 carries a ratchet 129, the same being engaged by a pawl 130 on a swinging arm 131, attached at its free end to a spring 132. The inward movement of arm 131., with box 114 and shaft 128, carries said arm against a normally fixed adjustable stop 133, thus moving the pawl 130 backward over the teeth of ratchet 129 and causing its engagement with another tooth. The spring 132 thus exerts its force constantly to move the follower plate 125 inwardly; as soon as labels are removed from the front of the box, the spring acts, through pawl 130, ratchet 129, pinion 127 and rack 126 to move the plate 125 inwardly, and thus a constant pressure on the supply of labels 115 is always maintained, irrespective of the size of said supply.

I Each arrival of a pair of gummed members 71 in front of the reciprocating label box 114 is normally followed by the application of a single label to said gummed surfaces, in the manner above described, whereupon another quarter turn of the framework 69 carries said pair of members 71 into the fourth and last position, where the label thus held is wiped onto the surface of a traveling bottle, as hereinafter described. But it sometimes happens that during the operation of the machine, a failure by the attendant to place a suflicient supply of bottles on the feeding mechanism resultsin the absence of one or more bottles from the space surrounded by the framework 69, in which contingency it is desirable to prevent contact between the labels and the gummed surfaces of members 71; in other words, to

prevent a useless feeding of labels when there are no bottles to receive said 'labels. To this end, a sliding plate 134 is interposed between the framework 3 and the reciprocating member 113, Figs. 5 and 7, with a spring 135 exerting its force to hold said plate in the position shown in Fig. 5, where a lug 136 of said plate is in the path of movement of a projection 137 on the end of member 113. In the inward movement of label box 114, projection 137 would strike against lug 136 and would thus prevent contact between the innermost label and the gummed surfaces of members 71, unless a bottle were going through the conveying mechanism at the proper time to have this label afiixed thereto. If such a bottle is being carried forward, as shown in Fig. 5, it strikes against a curved arm 138 of a bell crank, pivoted at 139, and having its other arm 140 forked to embrace a pin 141 on plate 134. The movement of said bell crank, by the contact of a bottle therewith, slides the plate 134 forward, so that the lug 136 is carried out of alinement with projection 137, thus allowing the label box to complete its full stroke, and leave the innermost label upon the gummed surfaces of members 71, as previously described.

The last of the four positions successively assumed by each pair of members 71, finds them again in the path of the traveling bottles, but this time with a label extending across them, and held by the moist um on their outer surfaces, or on the surfaces of wings 72, as the case may be. In this position, the movement of a bottle, as shown in Fig. 5, presses the wings 72 apart and strips the label therefrom, said label adhering to the surface of the moving bottle. In the act of thus applying the label to the bottle, it is desirable to employ a pair of wipers 142, preferably made of some flexible material, such as rubber, so as to yield to the movement of the bottle and to hug its surface closely as it passes therebetween. Said wipers 142 may be attached to stationary posts on each side of the conveying mechanism, and if short labels are being used, the action above described will, in most cases, be sulficient to firmly affix the label to the bottle. But when longerlabelsare employed, adapted to extend much more than half way around the bottle, it is desirable to have the wipers 142 follow the contour of the bottle during its entire movement therebetween,.

and, to this end, the supports 143 of said wipers are made to move outwardly as the bottle advances, by the mechanism shown in detail in Fig. 9. In said figure said supports 143 are carried on slides 144 Which move in elongated transverse ways 145 of the framework, and said slides have depending portions extending below the framework and carrying cam rolls 146. The latter are acted upon by the raised portions of face cams 147 to retract the slides 144 as the bottle advances, the springs 148 serving to hold the cam rolls 146 against said cams so that the slides move inwardly, as shown in Fig. 9, when the low portions of said cams become operative. The cams 147 are mounted on a transverse shaft 149 which is driven by sprockets 150 thereon, engaging the chains 8 of the lower conveying mechanism. The wipers 142 may thus be made to follow the label completely around the surface of the bottle, irrespective of the length of said label, but it is to be understood that the provision of the above described mechanism is in no sense essential to the operation of my machine, since the wipers, if desired, can be fixed, and when so fixed, will ordinarily sufiice to press the label into complete con-i tact with the surface of the bottle.

For the purpose of supplementing the action of the label devices, as above described, I prefer to employ some means for insuring against slippage of the label on the surface of the bottle, during the act of moving the same between said wipers, and to this end I may employ a gripper 151, having one or more contacting portions 152, of cushion material such as felt or rubber, to press the center of the label against the surface of the bottle, and to hold said center in position while the bottle is being moved between the wipers 142, as shown in Fig. 5. Said gripper 151 is mounted 011 a bar 153, which is pivoted at 154 to a sliding member 155. A cam 156, Fig. 14, on shaft 2, is operative through cam roll 157, carried on lever 158 and held thereagainst by spring 159 to oscillate a rock shaft 160, by means of a pivoted link connection 161. The oscillation of rock shaft 160 is imparted to member 155 through links 162, thus moving the gripper into contact with the center of the label just as the advancing bottle wipes said label off of the members 71 or the wings 72, as the case may be. Thereafter, the gripper travels with the bottle, during the action thereon of the Wipers 142, thus holding the label firmly centered and preventing its slippage. The pivoted bar 153 of said gripper has rigid therewith an arm 163, Fig. 5, and a roller 164 on the end of said arm travels in contact with an irregular cam surface 165 'on a stationary plate 166 attached to the framework. WVhen the high portion 167 of cam 165 becomes effective, the gripper is caused to travel faster than the bottle, this action occurring after the wipers 142 have tions 153' and 151, Fig. 5, thus moving the parts out of the path of the bottle and allowing the latter to pass forward on the conveying mechanism. Thereafter, the gripper and its associated mechanism is returned to normal position, to operate on the next succeeding bottle.

In the operation of the machine, as above described, the bottles are moved continuously forward by the conveying mechanism, whose speed is so related to the periods of intermittent rotation of the label affixing mechanism that a bottle will enter the space inclosed by the skeleton framework 69 at every quarter turn thereof. Obviously also, the bottle immediately ahead of the entering bottle will have-its label affixed thereto as it passes out of said space simultaneously with the entrance of the nextsucceeding bottle to said space. At the same time, the gum applying mechanism will operate with respect to one pair of members 71, and the label box will be carried forward against the other pair of memhere 71, to deposit a label on the previously gummed surfaces thereof. The bottles, thus labeled at the rate of one per each quarter turn of the skeleton framework 69, are carried forward by the conveying mechanism and run out on a receiving table 168 at the end of supporting framework 3, whence they are moved by the operator, or any other suitable disposition made of them.

lVhile I have shown the gumming mechanism and the reciprocating label box on opposite sides of the machine, it is clear that my invention is not in any sense limited to this arrangement and disposition of parts.

Various changes and modifications in the mechanism as described above are clearly within the scope of those skilled in the art to which my invention pertains, and such changes do not affect in any way the broadly new principles with which the invention is concerned, the same being defined in the annexed claims.

I claim,

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with label affixing mechanism, of a conveying mechanism for the articles to be labeled, comprising upper and lower series of spaced traveling conveying devices to engage, respectively, the upper and lower ends of successive articles to be presented to said label affixing mechanism, and means for bodily adjusting the upper conveying devices to vary the distance between said upper and lower series, whereby to accommodate said conveying mechanism to articles of different heights.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with label affixing mechanism, of a conveying mechanism for the articles to be labeled, comprising'a series of spaced traveling engaging devices adapted for contact with the lower ends of the articles, and two series of spaced traveling conveying devices, one series on each side of said label affixing mechanism, adapted for contact with the upper ends of said articles.

3. In a machine ofthe class described, the combination with label aflixing mechanism, of a. conveying mechanism for the articles to be labeled, comprising a series of spaced traveling engaging devices adapted for confact with the lower ends'of the articles, and two series of spaced traveling conveying devices, one series on each side of said label affixing mechanism, adapted for contact with the upper ends of said articles, and means for moving both upper series simultaneously toward and from said lower series, to accommodate said conveying mechanism to articles of different heights.

4. In a labeling machine, the combination with label affixing mechanism, of a conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to be labeled in spaced relation thereto, means for feeding articles to said conveying mechanism, and means for retarding the movement of each article by said feeding means until the article previously fed to said conveying mechanism has been moved thereby a predetermined distance.

5. In a labeling machine, the combination with label affixing'mechanism, of a. conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to be labeled in spaced relation thereto, frictionally engaging feeding means for moving the articles toward said conveying mechanism, means arresting the movement of each article by said frictionally engaging means, and means for engaging each article, so arrested, to move it onto said conveying mechanism.

6. In a labeling machine, the combination with label aflixing mechanism. of a conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to be labeled in spaced relation therefor, frict-ionally engaging feeding means for moving the articles toward said conveying mechanism, yielding means adapted to arrest the nism, retarding means normally interposed in the path of the articles on said frictionally engaging feeding means and adapted to yield when engaged thereby, means for locking said retarding means in operative position, and reciprocating means for releasing said locking means at intervals to allow the passage of a single article past said retarding means.

8. In a labeling machine, the combination with label afiixing mechanism, of a conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to be labeled in spaced relation thereto, frictionally engaging feeding means for moving the articles toward said conveying mechanism, retarding means normally interposed in the path of articles on said frictionally engaging feeding means and adapted to yield when engaged thereby, means for locking said retarding means in operative position, and reciprocating means for releasing said locking means at intervals to allow the passage of a single article past said retarding means, said reciprocating means adapted, on its return movement, to positively engage a previously released article to carry it onto said conveying mechanism.

9. In a labeling machine, the combination with label aflixing mechanism, of a conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to be labeled in spaced relation thereto, frictionally engaging feeding means for moving the articles toward said conveying mechanism, retarding means normally interposed in the path of articles on said frictionally engaging feeding means and! adapted to yield when engaged thereby, means for locking said retarding means in operative position, reciprocating means for releasing said locking means at intervals to allow the passage of a single article past said retarding means, and yielding means adapted to arrest the movement of each released article by said frictionally engaging feeding. means, the return movement of said reciprocating means serving to force an article past said yielding arresting means, onto said conveying mechanism.

10. In a labeling machine, the combination with label afiixing mechanism, of a conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to be labeled in spaced relation thereto, frictionally engaging feeding means for moving the articles toward said conveying mechanism, retarding means normally interposed in the path of articles on said frictionally engaging feeding means and adapted to yield when engaged thereby, means for looking said retarding means in operative position, reciprocating means for releasing said locking means at intervals to allow the passage of a single article past said retarding means, yielding means adapted to arrest the movement of each released article by said frictionally engaging feeding means, and pivoted devices carried by saidreciprocating means for engaging and pushing an article past said yielding arresting means onto said conveying mechanism, said devices, on the reverse movement of said reciprocating means, being engaged and swung outwardly by the previously released article.

11. In a labeling machine, the combination with label afiixing mechanism, of a conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to be labeled in spaced relation to said affixing mechanism, means frictionally engaging the articles to feed them toward said conveying mechanism, retarding means interposed in the path of articles on said feeding means and normally locked to prevent the advancement of articles thereby, and means for unlocking said retarding means at predetermined intervals to permit the feeding of a single article by said feeding means to said conveying means.

12. In a labeling machine, the combination with label aflixing mechanism, of a conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to be labeled in spaced relation to said aflixing mechanism, means frictionally engaging the articles to feed them toward said conveying mechanism, retarding means interposed 1n the path of articles on said feedmg means and normally locked to prevent the advancement of articles thereby, means for unlocking said retarding means at predetermined intervals to permit the feeding of a single article by said feeding means toward said conveying means, yieldable means for arresting the advancement of each single article so fed by'said feeding means, and means carried by said unlocking means for pushing said article past said yieldable means onto said conveying mechanism.

, 13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with article conveying mechanism, for -moving the articlesto be labeled in a longitudinal path through the.

machine, of label carrying means adapted for rotation in the longitudinal path of articles on said conveying mechanism, means for feeding a label to said label carrying means, and means for preventing the operation of said feeding means unless an article is in position on said conveying mechanism to receive, ultimately, said label.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with article conveying mechanism, for moving the articles to be labeled in a. longitudinal path through the machine, of a rotating label carrying means adapted for rotation in the longitudinal path of articles on said conveying mechanism, and a label feeding mechanism adapted to transfer a label to said label carrying means only when an article is in osition on said conveying mechanism to ult1mately receive said label.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with article conveying mechanism, for moving the articles to be labeled in a longitudinal path through the machine, of a rotating label carrying means adapted for rotation in the longitudinal mally interposed in the path of said feeding means to render it inoperative, and means responsive to the movement of an article on said conveying mechanism for Withdrawing said stop.

17. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with means for moving successive articles to be labeled, of a rotating device having its axis intersecting the path of said articles, said device having an opening therethrough for the passage of said articles, means for applying gum to said device on opposite sides of said opening, and means for causing the temporary adhesion of successive labels with the gummed portions of said device.

18. In a machine of the class described, conveying means for an article to be labeled, a member having spaced surfaces for the passage of said article therebetween, said member adapted to rotate about a verticalaxis at right angles to the path of movement of said article, means for applying gum to said surfaces of said member, means for procuring the adhesion of a label to said surfaces, and means for interrupting the rotation of said member to dispose said label in the path of said traveling article.

19. In a machine of the class described, conveying means for an article to be labeled, a rotating member having spaced surfaces for the passage of said article therebetween, the axis of rotation of said member intersecting said conveying means, means for moving said member into position to receive gum on said surfaces, and to receive a label adhering to said gum, and means for thereafter moving said member into the path of a traveling article.

20. In a machine of the classdescribed, a rotating label carrying device resenting a pair of spaced surfaces adapted to slipport adhesivly a label extending across the space therebetween, said space being adjustable to permit the passage therethrough of articles of various sizes and shapes, and means for moving an article between said spaced surfaces and through the axis of rotation of said label carrying devices.

21. In a machine of the class described, a rotating label carrying device presenting a pair of spaced surfaces adapted to support adhesively a label extending across the space therebetween, said space being defined by members detachably connected to said device, whereby to vary its size and shape,

and means for moving an article between said spaced surfaces and through the axis of rotat-1on of said label carrylng devlces.

In a machine of the class described,

a rotating label carrying device presenting a pair of spaced surfaces adapted to support adhesively a label extending across the' space therebetween, said surfaces being detachably connected, to permit of varying the size of said space, and means for moving an article between said spaced surfaces and through the axis of rotation of said label carrying devices.

23. In a machine of the class described, a rotating framework having portions thereof spaced apart for the passage therebetween of a traveling article, label carrying wings carried by said portions and normally lying in the space therebetween, said wings yielding to the passage of an article through said space, and means for moving an article between said spaced portions and through the axis of rotation of said framework.

24. In a machine of the class described, a pair of members spaced apart for the passage therebetween of a traveling article, pivoted label carrying wings extending from said members and yieldingly held in the plane of said space, and means for moving said wings to permit the passage of an article through said space.

25. In a machine of the class described, a pair of members spaced apart for the passage therebetween of a traveling article, label carrying wings extending from said members into said space and yieldable in one direction to permit the passage, in one position of said members, of an article through said space, and means, operative in another position of said members, to move said Wings outwardly, to permit the passage of an article through said space.

26. In a machine of the class described, a label carrying member adapted for rotation about an axis intersecting the path of a traveling article, said member presenting spaced surfaces, means for applying gum to said surfaces for the adhesion thereto of a label extending across said space and means for thereafter rotating said member to dispose,the space between said surfaces in the path of a traveling article.

27. In a machine of the class described, a label carrying member adapted for rotation about an axis intersecting the path of a traveling article, said member presenting spaced surfaces, means for applying gum to said surfaces for the adhesion thereto of a label extending across said space, said means comprising a gum transferring element adapted to reciprocate on said surfaces, and means for thereafter rotating said member to dispose the space between said surfaces in the ath of a traveling article.

28. In a'mac ine of the class described, a rotating member presenting spaced surfaces for the passage of an article therebetween, means, comprising a reciprocating element, for applying gum to said surfaces, and means, reciprocating substantially at right angles to said element, for applying a label to the surfaces so gummed.

29. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a label carrying member adapted for rotation about an axis intersecting the path of a traveling article, said member providing spaced surfaces for the passage of an article therebetween, and adapted to receive, adhesively, a label extending across said space, of means for interrupting the rotation of said member to dispose said space in the longitudinal path of a traveling article, and means for moving an article through said space to cause the adhesion of said label thereto.

30. In-a machine of the class described, the combination with "a label carrying member adapted for rotation about an axis intersecting the path of a traveling article, said member providing spaced surfaces for the passage of an article therebetween, and adapted to receive, adhesively, a label extending across said space, of means for interrupting the rotation of said member to dispose said space in the longitudinal path of a traveling article, means for moving an article through said space to cause the adhesion of said'label thereto, and means engaging said label on its face to press it against said article during the latters movement through said space.

31. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a label carrying member adapted for rotation about an axis intersecting the path of a traveling article, said member providing spaced surfaces for the passage of an article therebetween, and adapted to receive, adhesively, a label exterrupting the rotation of said member to I dispose said space in the longitudinal path of a traveling article, means for moving an article through said space to cause the adhesion of said label thereto, and yielding means interposed in the path of an article emerging from said space, for wiping contact with the surface of the label.

32. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a labelcarrying member adapted for rotation about an axis intersecting the path of a traveling article, said member providing spaced surfaces for the passage of an article therebetween, and

adapted to receive, adhesively, a label extending across said space, of means for interrupting the rotation of said member to dispose said space in the longitudinal path of a traveling article, means for moving an article through said space to cause the adhesion of said label thereto, and means for wiping said label, on each side of its center, against the surface of the article, as the latter emerges from said space.

33. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a member providing spaced surfaces for the passage of an article therebetween, and adapted to receive, adhesively, a label extending across said space, of means for interrupting the rotation of said member to dispose said space in the longitudinal path of a traveling article, means for moving an article through said space to cause the adhesion of said label thereto, and means for wiping said label, on each side of its center, against the surface of the article, as the latter emerges from said space, said wiping means adapted to recede progressively as said article is moved thereby. V

34.. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a label carrying member adapted for rotation about an axis intersecting the path of a traveling article, said member providing spaced surfaces for the passage of an article therebetween, and adapted to receive, adhesively, a label extending across said space, of means for interrupting the rotation of said member to dispose said space in the lon itudinal path of a traveling article, means or moving an article through said space to cause the adhesion of said label thereto, means for wiping said label, on each side of itscenter', against the surface of the article, as the latter emerges from said space, and means for pressing the center of said label into contact with said article during the operation of said wiping meansfi 35. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a label carrying member adapted for rotation about an axis intersecting the path of a traveling article, said member roviding spaced surfaces for the passage of an article therebetween, and

adapted to receive, adhesively, a label extending across said space, of means for interrupting the rotation of said member to dispose said space in the longitudinal path of a traveling article, means for moving an article through said space to cause the ad hesion of said label thereto, means movable With said article after passage through said space, for pressing said label into contact therewith, and means for Withdrawing said 10 pressing means from the path of sald article.

Dated this 13th day of February, 1917.

GEORGE ARVID ANDERSON.

Witnesses NELLIE WHALEN, PENELOPE CoMBERBAo

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