US1575723A - Wrapping machine and method of wrapping articles - Google Patents

Description

ET AL 1,575,723 OF WRAPPING ARTICLES ING MACHINE ept. 2s. 1921 '7 sheets-sheet 1 WRABPING MACHINE AND METHOD wRAPP Filed s INVENTOR A mma/ ma 7% ATTORNEYS L QQ I N m March 9,1926. E L smgDH ETAL f N 1,575,723

WRAPPING MACHINE'NDl METH 0F WRAPPING ARTICLE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 26. 1921- 7 Sheets-.Sheet 2y March 9 1926' E. L. sMn-H E-r AL 1575723 WRAPPING MACHINE AND METHOD OF WRAPPING ARTICLES WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 26, 1921i '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 n w# i HHIIH fr!" /WIJ A@ n n nh". n kmwwwww m@ x w. @A w Mw f f L@ March 9,1926. E L SM .ET 1,575,723

lTH WRAPPING MACHINE AND METHOD OF W PING ARTICLES l WRA NG MACHINE Filed pt. 2e. 1921 3 ATTORNEYS Mmh 9,1926.

wRAPPING MACHINE:l

E L. SMITH ETA METHOD OF WRAPPING ARTICLES PPING MACHI Filed Sept'. 26,.

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Lw A AR D Wm@ .Mmm Sl P L E March 9 1926.

- WRAPPING MACHINE AND WRAP Filed Sept MACHINE V.- 26. 1921 7 Sheesf-Sheet 6 Mam/EN ORS ATTORNEYS March 9,1926. l E L. SM, .ET A 1,575,723

WRAPPING'MACHINE ANI) METH OF WRA NG `ARTICLES WRAPPING MACHINE File# Sept. 26. 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATTORN EYS.v

Paie-med Mae. e, 192e.

1 UNITED STATES i aijEiwlV OFFICE.

'u EL'MER -IJOVELL' SMITH AND FREDERIC B. FULLER, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHU- SETTS,'ASSIG NORS TO PACKAGE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSA- CHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F vMASSACHUSET'IS.v

WEAPPING MACHINE AND METHOD or WEAPPING AE'rIcLEs.

Application ledfSeptember 26, 1921. Serial No. 503,262.

To all 'whom t may concer/n.:

Be lit known that we, ELMER LovELL SMITH and FREDERIC B. FULLER, citizens of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of ltfassachusetts,y have invented new and useful improvements in Wrapping Machines and Methods of 1Wrapping Articles, of which the following .is a specification.

TheI present invention relates to wrapping machines and to -methods of wrapping articles. More particularly, the invention re-4 lates to an improved method of applying wrappers of paper or like material to rectangular packages or other rectangular articles, vand to a machine for practicing'said method.

In wrapping rectangular packages or cartons it is often desirable to apply labels or seals to the opposite ends of the package, after the Wrapper has been placed thereon, these labels being useful for various purposes such as displaying advertising in atter, trade-marks or the like, or for trimming the package so as to addto the general attractiveness thereof. In addition, such labels perform the function of sealing the wrapper and maintaining or assisting in maintaining it in place upon the package. n

One object of the present invention is to devise an improved metliodof applying Wrappers and labels to articles, the practice of which willeffect a substantial saving in the amount of wrapping material used without permitting any portion of the article to be exposed or causing the wrapper to be any less effectively scaled.

To this end one feature of the invention consists in partially enclosinor an article by a piece of wrapping materia. and then c overing the iinenclosed portion of said article by a separate piece of material acting as a seal. y

In carrying-out this method, the wrappers are `preliminarily .cut to a size large enough to cover the sides of the article to be wrappedl and to provide narrow extensions adapted to be folded over the end faces of the article in the form of iaps which are not Widev enough to cover more than themarginal portions-of said'end faces. Labels HEISSU or seals, approximatel the shape and size ofthe end faces of t e package, arethen affixedy to the ends of the `article, .overlapping .the end flaps of the wrapper stiutmg the sole covering, other than said end flaps, for the endsof the article. By this method wrappers ma be employed which are considerably smal er than heretoand confore considered practical to use and thus a oo substantial saving ofwrapping material is effected, While the labels serve to cover the ends of the package and to| seal the wrapper 1n as effectual a manner as would lloe-the case if a wrapper of the usual size were emes ployed.

Another object ofthe invention is to reorganize wrapping machines of the general character above indicated and to provide certain new and useful4 improvements in 7o their construction and mode of operation for the purpose of prducing a machine of simplified and thoroughly practical construction which is capable of running smoothly at high speed, and which, in many other respects, is adapted to operate more efficiently and reliably than those heretofore produced.

To the accomplishment of this object and such others as may hereinafter a pear, the

invention resides in the features o construction andthe combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended apparent to those skilled in the art.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating what is now considered to be the preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings,-

Fig.4 l is a view, in side elevation, of the improved machine, certainl parts being omitted and others broken away or shown claims, the advantages of which will be in section to facilitate the illustration of @6 the more' important features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a'detail plan view of one of the wrapper-folding members and certain devices associated therewith;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a por- -tion of the delivery end of the machine, this view together with Fig. 1 forming a side elevation, partly broken -away, of the entire machine;

Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, are perspective views of one end of an article illustrating various steps in the wrapping process;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 9 9 of Fig. 1 and showing the mechanism for feeding and positioning the Wrappers and also the transporters for advancing the articles during certain stages of the wrapping operation; Fig. 9 is a view illustrating a detail of the wrapper feeding mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the wrapper-feeding mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a detail View of a portion of the means for actuating the wrapper-feeding mechanism, the parts being viewed from the receiving end of the machine;

Fi 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating t e inovements'of the transporters;

Fig. 13 is a detail plan view of a portion of the mechanism for feedingthe articles through-the machine; f

Fig. 14 is a view, partly in side elevation, of a portion of the opposite side of the machine from that shown in Fig. 1, this view illustrating particularl the mechanism for actuating the label-app ying mechanismand the delivery COnveyer;

Fig. 15 is a topA plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fi 13 .and illus-A trates particularly one of t e label-applyin devices;

Fig. 16 is a detail view, in horizontal. section, taken on a planel which is below the label-applying drum shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on a lane extending horizontally through the abel-applying rum and the supply magazine;

Fig. 18 is a perspective View, partly broken away, of one of the suction tu es of the label-applying mechanisms;

Fig. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view of' the greater part o the machine, the view being taken in ay vertical Plane midway between the side frames o the machine -and being on a somewhat smaller scale than Filgl. 1;

ig. 2O is a detail view, partially in end elevation and artially in section of the parts shown in ig. 2;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view taken substantially onthe line 21-21 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22-22 of Fig. 19; and

Fig. 23 is a detail sectional view on the line 23-23 of Fig. 21.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the articles to be wrapped, in the present instance rectangular cartons, are received at one end of the machine upon a conveyor 20 (Fig. 1) consisting of one or.

more endless belts which advance the articles transversely to an elevator 22 as the latter periodically reaches its lowermost position. 'Prior to each upward movement of the elevator 22, a flat paper wrapper is `within the field of operations of a trans-- porter 30. During the rise of the article in the elevator, the upper face of the article engages the wrapper, lifting it with Athe artic e and drawing it over guiding faces hereinafter to be described which lay it smoothly against the opposite sides of the article. When the. elevator has reached its uppermost position it immediately starts to descendleaving the article momentarily supported in the position of the article I. The wrapper then extends below the article, at both sides thereof, and a suitable device is actuated to fold the extension at the side adjacent the 'receiving end of the machine beneath the package and against the bottom face thereof. The transporter 30 then operates to advance the article, step-by-step and in a sidewise direction along' a horizontal feed table 32, As the article is fed across the edge at the receiving end of the feed table 32, the unfolded downward extension of the wrapper is folded over the bottoni face of the article and during the'continued passage of the article across the feed table various devices operate tofold the end extensions of the wrapper against the end faces of the article. As the article approaches the delivery end of the feed table 32;.the

. Wrapping operation is completed by the application of labelsto the oppositeends of .the article. This is accomplished by means of two label-applying mechanisms which are arranged to cooperate with the oppoSite ends of the article, one of these mechanisms being indicated generally at 34 in Figs. 14 and 15. The wrapped and labeled articles are then introduced between a pair of belts 36 (Fig.

3) constituting a delivery conveyer and also 'means for ap lying endwi'se pressure to the articles to maintain the labels firmly in place during the-settin of the glue or paste by means of which t ey are secured to the articles. The lbelts 36 are intermittently i driven to slowly advance the packages so as to insure ample time for the lue to become set befo're the articles are charged. To render the machine capable of operating smoothly and efficiently at high speed,

ally dis- Ama - very little noise-or vibration.

the use of cams, except in the label-applying mechanism, has been eliminated and continuous rota-ry. motion has been, -to a large extent, substituted .for reciprocating or intermittent movements. In practice, the ma chine has been found to operate satisfactorily at an unusually high rate of speed with The number of articles which have been wrapped per minute in the present machine is considerably greater than that wrapped by any machine of this'character heretofore produced so f ar as the inventors are aware.

The variouscomponent -mechanisms of the machine are Supported by a frame comprising vertical side members 40 which are rigidly connected by suitable tie-rods. 'Ex

tending transversely of the frame of the machine and mounted in suitable bearings ycarried thereby, is a horizontal drive-shaft 42 that is provided, at one end, with the Ausual fast and loose pulleys (not shown) whereby it is adapted for connection withl any suitable source of power. A hand Wheel may be provided at the opposite end of the drive-shaft 42 to facilitate the manual -turning over of the mechanism in making adjustments or repairs. The drive-shaft 42 is connected .through intermeshing spur gears 44 with a counter shaft 46 and the latter shaft is, in turn, connected through intermeshing s ur gears 48 with' a. parallel shaft 50, the s afts 46 and 50 being suitably journaled adjacent their opposite ends in the side frame members 40. rlhe gears 44 and 48`are proportioned to effect a substantial reduction' of the speed of the driven shaft 50 belowT that of the driving shaft 42. The various operative parts of the machine derive their motion from the shaft 50 through the medium of power transmittinsr mechanism hereinafter to* be described. The articles to be wrapped are supplied to the receiving conveyer 20. As shown,v

the conveyer 2O consistsof two endless belts (Figs. 1, 13 and 22) arranged ed e to edge end a bracket A66 supporting the bearings 58 for the pulley 56.

The articles operated upon, which in the present instance are packages or cartons of the usual slightly elongated rectangular form, are deposited transversely upon the upper stretch -of the conveyer 20 and are toward the elevator 22. rlhe elevator 22 comprises a pair of rectangular platforms 66 (Figs. 1 and 13) which are vertically movable in unison within the walls of an elevator ywell 68 and are adapted to simultaneously engage the opposite ends of the article to be raised thereby. From an examination of Fig. 13 it will be observed that the two elevatorplatformsi66 are arranged closely adjacent VtheA opposite longitudinal edges of the conveyer belt 20 and that said belt is narrowerthan the length of the articles which are arranged crosswise between the guiding walls 64. It willv consequently be apparent that the opposite ends of the articles will project beyond the edges of the conveyer belts and willoverlie the elevator platforms 68 when introduced into the elevator well. Y Y

The elevator Well 68 consists of a foursided rectangular tube-like structure that is rigidly supported by means of one or more uprights 70, the latter being secured at their lower extremities t0 a cross-bar 72 which is, in turn, rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the frame of the machine and serves to limit the downward movement of the elevator platforms 66. The elevator well 68 is constructed and arranged with its side walls closely adjacent the sides of the article uponthe elevator platforms 66 so as to prevent' displacement of the article as it is raised by the elevator. The lower portion of the wall at the forward side ofthe elevator well is turned outwardly and upwardly to form a guiding lip 74 and to produce advanced thereby, in a sidewise direction an opening 7 6 below said lip through which the 'elevator well. in spaced apart relationshi and oth pass- The articles or packages are supplied at a sullicient rate to the continuously operating conveyer 2O` and the latter is driven at such a speed as to continuously maintain a horizontal row of articles adjacent the elevator well 68. This row of articles is constantly urged, by the action of the co-nveyer,'in a direction to advance the foremost article of the row through the openling 76 in the forward wall of the elevator After the article has been deliveredl yupon thev elevator platforms and the latter have risenY above the :horizontal plane of the row of articles onfthe' conveyer20, the

" vancing so as to well.

rowis prevented fr ad feed an article intaglithe well beneath the elevator platforms by; means of buffers -7 8 consisting of vertical strips depending from the elevator platforms and movable vertical-l y forlner to grip the forward edges of the.

AIl

to the machine in the form of flat sheets of paper. A vertical stackof such sheets may be suitably supported adjacent the farther side of the machine (Fig. 1) and any suitable form of sheet feeding means may be employed to feed the sheets edgewise from the stack and to introduce them, one at a time', to the wrapper feeding and positioning mechanism 24 which embodies certain important features of the present invention. An example of a sheet feeding mechanism suitable for thus supplying wrappersto the present machine is disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,298,685, granted April 1, 1919, to H. O. Fischer and assigned to the Package Machinery Company.

Associated with the wrapper feeding and positioning mechanism 24 of the present machine is a pair of channel-shaped gui'dinr and supporting members (Figs. 1 and 9 lare rigidly secured to the under side f the feed table 32. These guiding and supporting members 80 extend transversely of the machine and are arranged with their channels opposed to receive and support the opposite edges of the wrapper sheets. The guidin members 80 extend outwardly beyond t e wrapper feeding and positioning mechanism 24, as shown in Fig. 9, and the opposite edges of the sheets are introduced therein by the sheet feeding means which is employed to supply the sheets to the machine. The wrapper feeding and positioning mechanism 24 comprises a pair of gripper devices 82 each consisting of a fixed gripper jaw 84 and a movable gripper jaw `86, the latter adapted to cooperate with the wrapper sheets. The two pairs of gripper. jaws, only one of which is shown are sevorally mounted upon carriages 88 which are adapted to reciprocate upon horizontal guide-bars 90 to advance the wrapper sheets into position above the packages to which they are supplied. The guide-bars 90 are rigidly secured in any suitable manner to 'the frame of the machine and, as shown,

each bar is of rectangular cross-section to prevent the res ectlve -carriage 88 from turning as it reciprocates thereon.

'To reciprocate the gripper. devices 82, the

carriages 88 are severally connected with the upper stretches of a pair of sprocket chains 94, each chain 94 passing over a pair of sprocket wheels 96-and 98. The sprocket wheel 96 is secured to a. horizontal shaft 100 which extends longitudinally of the machine the rockshaft 134, forwardly of the jaw, is

and is suitably journaled in bearings on one of the side frame members 40. The sprocket Wheel 98 is mounted to turn upon an axle 102', the latter being supported at its opposite ends by bearing brackets 104 that 'are rigidly secured to the adjacent frame member 40. The ends of the brackets 104 are provided with slots 106, said slots being arranged to permit adjustment of the axle .102 towards and from the sprocket wheel .and pinion mechanism, best shown in Fig.

11. This mechanism comprises a pinion 114 fast on the forward end of the shaft and a rack 116 meshing with said pinion. The rack 116 is secured to the side of an upright lever 118 which is provided with a longitudinal slot 120 through which the forward end ofthe shaft 100 extends. At its lower end, the lever 118 is connected by a-crank-pm 122 with a crank-arm 124, the latter being carried at the forward end of a horizontal shaft 126 that is journaled in bearings on the frame of the machine. The shaft 126 extends longitudinally of the machlne and, as shown in Figs. 1 and 14, the rear extremity of said shaft carries a bevel gear 128 which meshes with a bevel gear 130. As the shaft 126 and crank-arm 124 rotate, the lever 118 and the rack 116 carriedthereby are reciprocated and shaft 100 and sprocket wheel 96 are oscillated alternately 1n opposite vdirections so that the sprocket chain 94 is caused to travel back-l and forth across the machine. The gripper carriages 88 are therefore reciprocated upon the guide-bars 90.

The ymovable gripper jaws 86 are actuated to cooperate with the fixed gripper jaws 84. to seize the wrappers prior to each feed movement of the gripper carriages 88 and the jaws 86 are actuated to release the wrappers just before theA completion of the feed' movements of the gripper carriages. The construction and mode of operation of each of the movable gripper jaws 86 is identical and these jaws are actuated by separate devices which are also the same in construction and mode ofV operation. Accordingly it will be necessary to describe in detail only one of said jaws together with its respective actuating means.

Referring to Fig. 9, the gripper jaw 86 therein shown is secured to a horizontal rockshaft 134 which is mounted to turn an arm 136 connected vby a spring 138 with l the carriage 88, the tension ci the spring tending to rock the shaft 134 in a direction to hold the gripper jaw 86 in cooperative engagement with the fixed gripper jaw 84 so as to firmly grip a wrapper., The gripper jaw 86 is automatically swung downwardly away vfrom the fixed jaw 84 to release the wrapper, and said jaw 86 is caused to swing upwardly to cooperate with the fixed jaw to grip the wrappers by means of mechanism which lwill now be described. The gripper actuating mechanism comprises a horizontal slide-rod 142 frictionally .mounted in a longitudinal recess of said carriage 88 and extending from each side thereof so as to be carried back and forth with said carriage and yet be capable of sliding movement relative thereto. The slide-rod 142 is square in cross-section, as. shown in Fig. 10, so that it cannot twist in the gripper carriage and the upper face of the slide-rod is provided with a notch 144 having a curved wall to be engaged by a roller 146 that is carried at the free end ot the arm 136. The slide-rod 142 is adapted to be shifted longitudinally in the carriage 88 in one direction when the carriage reaches one end of its travel and in the opposite direction when the carriage reaches the opposite end of the travel to bring the notch 144 .into position to be entered by the roller 146 so as to effect the closing of the gripper jaws and to cause the roller-146 to ride out of said notch into engagement with the upper face of the slide-rod and thereby 'to open the gripper jaws. For the purpose, one projecting end ot the slide-rod 142 is adapted' to be engaged by a stop 1.48 carried by one of the guide bars 90 at the side of the machine at which the wrappers are supplied., while the other projecting end of the slide-rod 142 is adapted to be engaged by a stop 150 carried by said guide bar at the opposite side ot the machine. Both of the stops 148 and 150 are preferably constructed as indicated in Fig. 9a. As therein shown, the stop 150 is in the form of a plunger which protrudes from a suitable pocket containing a stift spring 152 which 'backs up the plunger and permits it to yield slightly when engaged by theslide rod thus absorbing the shock and deadening the noise resulting `from the impact of the rod against the stop.

"lhe spring 152 is backed up by a bolt 153 which may be adjusted to vary the compression of the spring.

As the gri per carriage 88 moves toward the side of t e machine to which the wrappers are supplied,the gripper jaws are open,

ready to receive the edge of a wrapper be? tween them, the jaws being held open by the engagement of the roller 146 with the fiat `top tace of the slide-rod 142, the notch 144 then being positioned to the left of the roller viewing Figy 9) and the .left @ad 0f the the slide-rod is arrested. The carriage continues a short distance however, 'so that when the limit of its movement in this di rection'is reached, the roller 146 is moved into t-he notch 144 by the action of the spring 138 and the lgripper 'aws are yieldingly closed upon the edge og the wrapper which is positioned in the channel-guides 82.

The-gripper carriage then starts its wrapper feeding movement (toward the right in Fig. 9) and lthe gripper jaws are maintained closed upon the wrapper so as to advance it into position above the article upon t-he elevator. As the gripper carriage approaches the limit of its wrapper feeding movement, the right end of the slide-rod 142 strikes thev stop 150, whereby the movement of the sliderod is arrested while the continued movement of the gripper carriage causes the roller 146 to ride out of the notch 144 onto they upper face of the slide-rod so that the gripper jaws are positively opened, against the action of the spring 138, to release the wrap- In order that the wrapper shall be positioned in proper relation to the article to be wrapped it is necessary that the feed movement of each wrapper shall be stopped with accuracy when the wrapper reaches acertain denite position. It is found desirable to arrest the feed movement of the wrapper by bringing its advance edge into engagement with one or more .stops which may be adjustably positioned in the line of feed of the wrapper sheets. To this end the gripper jaws are arranged to open somewhat be fore the gripper carriage completes its feed stroke and a pair ot stops 156 one at each side of the feed mechanism, are located at proper points in the plane of the wrapper los vreleased by the gripper jaws, and to arrest.

the advance of the `wrapper when it has reached the desired position. .These stops 156 may be supported in any suitable manner with .provision for adiustment in the direction of feed oit the wrappers. Inasmuch as the machine is designed to operate at 4high speed the gripper carriages reciprocate rapidly so that the wrapper is under consi erable momentum as it is'released by the gripper jaws. To prevent the wrapper from rebounding after lstriking the stops 156 a controldevice 158 ,is associated Awith each stop 156.

Each control device 158 consists of strip of thin spring steel which is bent into the curved shape killustrated. in Fi 9 to vvrovlde two opposed sprang fingers iavmg t "ei-r liti ' opposite end portions in vertical aliinement,v

wrapperenters between the fingers of the n control dev-ice 158 said lingers operate, by

adapted to engage t prongs 164 well adapte virtue of'th'eir frictional contact with the upper and lower sides of the wrapper, lfirst to reduce somewhat the momentum of the wrapper, and then, after the wrapper has engaged the stops 156, to prevent the wrapper from rebounding so that it will be brought to rest with accuracy in the desired position. .The stops 156 may be adjusted relatively to the control devices 158 so'as to vary the distance traveled by the wrapper after it has encountered the frictional resistance of' said control device and thereby to regulate the rate' of movement of the wrapper when it actually engages the stops.

As the wrapper is advanced by thel feed movement of the gripper devices 82 into position for application vto the article to be wrapped, the opposite edges of the wrapper, which lie in the channel guides 80, are supported and guided bythe latter while a part of the intermediate portion of the wrapper is supported by the upper edges of thewalls of the elevator Well.

While the .wrapper is being fed, a lineof paste is applied, by any suitable means (not shown), to the under side 'of' the wrapper,

' adljacent the edge which extends toward the de ivery end of the machine. As the elevator 22 rises and the article thereon en gages the wra per, the wrapper is raised thereby from its horizontal plane and lts edges are withdrawn from the .channel guides 80. As the edge of the wra p er at the right side of the article (viewing 4ig. 1)

is pulled lout of its respective channel guide this paste bearing portion of the wrapper tends to fall against various parts of the mechanism below it, and if .this is not prevented, said parts will become coated with paste. To prevent this condition from occurring, two wrapper supporting and guid ing bars 162 (Fig. 1) extend transversely across the machine in advance of the article and'just below the plane occupied by the wrapper asit is being fed. These bars 162 su poit thev portion of the wrapper at the si e of the article and hold it away from other parts of the machine. In yorder that the line of paste shall not be' rubbed ott' from the wrapper-as the latter is drawn across the bars 162,- the bars are-formed with a. series of upwardly.,projectinprongs164. that are e wrapper.l These rovide point bearings which arc. (Pi tov properly supportthe wrapper-but which do not-have any tendency :to

rempve the @este theatrale, 'AS about inA Fig. 9, the prongs 164 are advantageously beveled somewhat vtoward the front and to the delivery end of the machine to minimize the area of contact between the prongs and the paste carrying portion of the wrapper so that the wrapper will ride easily over the prongs during its feeding movement.

To facilitate the rapid operation of the machine it is desirable that there shall be no appreciable dwell of the gripper devices 82 after they have gripped a new wrapper and are about to reverse their directio'n of movement preparatory to feeding the wrapper into the machine. It is further desirable that a comparatively greater interval of time shall elapse after each of the gripper devices 82 have reached that portion of their feed stroke where the gripper jaws are releasedfrom the wrapper, and before the gripper devices, upon their return strokes, have again reached said point. By -referring again to Fig. 1'1 it will be seen that the mechanism for actuating the lsprocket chains 94 which reciprocate the gripper carriage 88 is designed to accomplish the'above stated desirable. results in the following manner: lVhen the crank arm 124 is passing over dead center in the uppermost portion of its path of movement, substantially as shown in Fig. 11, the gripper carriages 88 are approximately at the limit of their idle or return strokes, e., in .the position in which one of said carriages appears in Fig. 9. At this time a rapid revers l in the direction of movement of the gr pper carriages is effccted by reason of the fact that almost the entire amount of movement of the crankpin 122 is then effective to impart endwise movement tothe rack 116. Thus there is no unnecessary loss of time at this point in the wrapper feeding operation. When, however, the crankin 122is approaching and passing beyond cad center in the lower portion of its orbit, a considerable portion of its travel then operates to swing the rack 116 about the. shaft 100 substantially without endwisemovement of the rack. -As a result. the vreversal in the direction of movement of the gripper carriages 88 `is then much slower than at the op site end ofthe stroke of the carriage an ample time is allowed for the wrapper to be withdrawnl from the path of the gripper jaws before the gripper carriages get under way on their return movement., By thus varying the speed of reversal 'of the gripper carriages at opposite ends of the travel it is possible to shorten the overthrowo'r idle travel of thegripper carriages after releasing the wrapper and thus shorten vthe widthvof the machine.

After va wra perl has been positioned, as above describe for application vto 'thearticle upon thefelevator'22, thejelevatoris lraised to enlglage the wrapper'and forcethe article, toget er with the portion of the wrapper enllO V wrapper and the article.

gaged thereby, upwardly through aspace 170 adjacent the receiving end of the feed table 32. To this end, the elevator platforms 66 are raised and lowered in unison by the oscillation of a pair of arms 172 (Fig. 1) which are severally secured at one end,

to a horizontal rockshaft 174, While the op posite ends of said arms have pin and slot connections 176 wit-lrthe lower ends of a pair of vertical rods 178 upon the upper ends of which the elevator platforms 66 are severally carried. The elevator platforms 66 are guided, in their up and down movements, by means of guideways 180 that are the conveyer 20. The rockshaft 174 extends transversely of the machine and is journaled in bearings in the opposite side frames 40. The rockshaft 174 projects beyond the side frame 40, on the side of the machine to which the wrappers are supplied, and to this projecting end of the rockshaft is secured an upwardly extending arm 184, as shown in Fig. 14. The upper portion of the arm 184 is' provided with a longitudinal groove 186 to receive a rectangular slide-block 188 that is pivotally mountedv upon a crank-pin 190, the latter being carried by a crank-arm 192 that is secured to one end of the shaft 50. )Vith this construction, the arm 172 is continuously oscillated in such a Way as to cause no jar or vibration of the machine. rlhe arrangement of the parts is such that the crank-pin 190 passes dead center when the elevator is in its highest and lowest positions and as a result the reversal in the direction of movement of the elevator is slow enough to permit proper loading and unloading of thearticles, thus avoiding the necessity of intermittently actuated elevator operating mechanism.

As the article and its wrapper are carried upwardly by the elevator 22, the portion of the wrapper lying upon the top face of the article is pressed firmlv against said face by a pressersfoot 200 (Figs. 1 and 19) which prevents relative movement between the The presserfoot 200 is carried at the lower end 'of a vertical stem" 202 that is suitably supported and guided in a tubular guideway 204 which is formed in a fixed longitudinal beam 238 whi-l h latter extends longitudinally and centrally between the side frames 40 and is'supported on the cross rods 240. The cross rods 240 connect o posite side frames40 of the machine. A 'xed abutment is provided for the packages moving up on the elevator 22 which comprises a pair of stop plates 205 (Fig. 1) one at each side of the yielding presser-foot 200. The stop plates 205 are carried on fixed longitudinal bars 304, supported from cross rods 305. extending from the central beam 238 (see Fig. 9). The stop plate 205 assists in positioning the article vertiially preparatory to its delivery to the feed table 32.

During the rise of the article uponthe eleva-tor, a portion of the wrapper is-engaged by a fixed folding member 206 consistingof a transverse bar hung from a fixed portion 239 depending lfrom the beam 238. One

end of the bar 206 is be-ntat right angles as shownin Fig. 2, and is secured to the frame of the machine. The folding member'206 serves to press the wrapper against the side of the article as the latter rises past said member. The wrapper at the op osite side of the article is engaged by a fol ing -member lin the form of a gate 208 which is pivoted at 210 to the receiving end of the feed table 32. The gate 208 functions in a manner similar to that vof the member 206 to press the wrapper against the respective side of the article asthe wrapper is fed upwardly past the gate b v the rise of the article on the elevator. Thus, the Wrapper is folded close-- ly and smoothly against the sides of the article and is drawn tightly. over the top face thereof.

At this stage of the wrapping operation the article is located in the position indicated by the numeral I in Fig. 1, with the opposite end portions of the wrapper hanging -looselybelow the article.` One of said end portions is comparatively short and is indicated by a dott-ed line at a, while thc opposite end portion of the wrapper is substantially as long as the width of the bottom face of lthe article which it isl to cover and is indi-.fated by a dotted line at 2'). As the elevator starts to descend the article is supported in position l, by a horizontal folding blade 214 which is normally located at" the side of the article facing the receiving end of the machine and which is adapted to ad# Vance beneath the article, said elevator platform being constructed with a step 215 at the forward edge; (see Fig. 10) to permit said folding blade to advance a short vdistance beneath the article while the elevator 238. The folding blade 214 is notched as indicated at 214 to permit the passage therethrough of the presser foot 200 as the latter drops by gravity after an article has been advanced from the elevators to the feed table. The means for actuating the folding blade 214 includes various elements of the mechanism for actuating the transporters 3U and accordingly a. description of said fold- `and mounted as best shown in Fig. 1. As

therein shown, the followers 220 are arranged in parallelism and are connected at their rear ends by a cross web 221. A coiled spring 222 connects the cross web 221 with the folding plate 214,- and the followers 220 are arranged to slide'liorizontally between the slide members 217 to whichthe folding blade 214 is secured. Normally the followers 220 are held by the springs 222 'substantially flush with the front edge of the folding As the folding blade 214 advances, the leading edges of the followers 220 enga e the adjacent wrapped side .of the artic e along a narrow area immediately adjacent the lower edge 'of the article. The followers then are held against forward movej ment by the article and the spring 222 is stretched so that the wrapper 1s firmly rcssed against the article when it is engaged iiy the edge of the folding blade, As the article subsequently starts to advance across the feed table, as will shortly be described, its bottom face slides over the folding blade 214 and there is a tendency for the portion .a of the wrapper to be dis laced'rearwardlyas it rides over the folding lade. However, `the .spring-pressedv followers. 220. then move relatively to the foldin blade to follow u .the article and offset t e tendency of sai ortion of thewrapper to become, displaced. `lhis arrangementinsures that thewrapper ivill'be smoothly andclosel folded over the above 'mentioneded'ge of .te-article.'

The' succeeding `stages of the wrapping operation are performed as' the 'artially wra ped article is advanced, in the lrectlon of t e arrow 224' in Fig. 1', across' the feed ytable 32. The articles are advanced-across zthe" feedtable32jb mean'sof the transporter' V30 which,A althouglif tive, is movedinto andout of engagement with the articles at sash cycle of, lts @Pew itis continuously operaarticles which are spaced apart along the feed table, to simultaneously advance each article of the series through step movements of equal length. As the articles of the series are thus simultaneously advanced, or.`

while they remain at rest during the periods between successive movements` thereof,

various folding devices'operate to effect the folding of different portions of the wrapper.

rlhe transporter 30, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 19, comprises a pair of bars 230 each having a series of fingers extending per endicularly from one of their longitudinal edges, the fingers of one of these bars being indicated at A, B, C, D, E, and F, respectively, in Fig. 1. Asshown, the transporter bars are supported horizontally in the machine with the fingers dependino' vertically therefrom. These transporter fingers project successively at spaced intervals, from the trans orter bars 230 and are adaptedl to engage tie rear sides of the articles. The transporter bars 230 are .spaced laterally a artk and so arranged relatively to said articles that said fingers will engage adjacent the opposite ends of the articles.

The transporter bars 230 are severally lpivotally mounted upon the opposite ends of two parallel horizontal rods 232 which eX- tendtransversely of the machine just above the trans orters. The'V pivot-rods 232 are supporte by two links 234, said links having ears depending therefrom, intermediate their ends through which the central portions of the rods 232 severally extend and in which said rods are adapted to turn freely. The supporting links 234 are severally pivotally connected, at one end, to the upper extremities of two arms 236, the latter, 1n turn, having their lower ends pivoted at 236 to the fixed beam 238. The opposite ends of the links 234 are ivoted upon crankpins carried by two cran -arms 242 severally secured to horizontal crank-shafts 244 and 246 that-are disposed in the same horizontal pla-ne and are journaled in bearings formedv upon the .inner faces of one of the side frames 40.' The crankshafts-244 and 246'are.

connected to rotate in unison by means of a link 248 pivoted at one en d to a stud 249 car-4 ried by a disk 250 that is `fast upon the shaft 244, and at'its opposite end toastud 249 on disk 252 that is secured to the shaft 246.

The crank-shafts 244fand 246 are n. ,tated b driving'connections with the conrotating sha-ftj50-. To this end, z

tinuous the cra shaft 254 'which ,is connec 25.6 with asimilar-.sp l l y riedb a transverse` 'shaft' 260, the latter sprocket wheel tw eel 258 carl being iinmasia a@ 'am o; si mais 'ya s rocket chain-1" roc e below the shaft 246. The shaft 260 is connected to be driven by the shaft 50 by intervmeshing spur gears 262.

The rotation of the disk 250 is also utilized to actuate the folder blades 214. To this end, a link 262 is ivoted at one end upon the stud 249 carried by said disk while I the opposite end of said link is connected to the upper end of an arm 263 that is fixed to a shaft264 Ajournaled inthe side frames 40. The shaft 264 also has secured thereto an arm 266 and the lower end of this arm is connected by a link 268 (with theslide block members 217 that carry the folder plate 214. A f

It will be seen from an examination of Fig. 1 that the crank 242, the link 234 and the arm 236 associated with one end of each transporter bar are respectively equal in length' and disposed in parallel relation to the corresponding parts associated with the opposite ends of the transporter bars land consequently said parallel relations will be maintained irrespective of the radial posi` tions of the cranks 242. `Consequently,al though the distance between the crankshafts 244 and the corresponding pivot rod 232 continually varies, the distance between the crank-shaft 246 and the other pivot 232 varies concurrently to the same extent so that at any particular time in a cycle of operations, said distances are equal to each Fig. 12. In this figure, the path of one of the pivot rods 232 is indicated by dotted lines at 270. Since the other pivot rod 232 travels through asimilar path, the path indicated isA illustrative of the path of the transporter bars themselves and, as shown, the portion of that path traveled by; the transporter during the advancing portion of its movement is substantiallyy horizontal,

as above mentioned.

The above-described horizontal movement of the transporter is an important feature of the invention inasmuch as it practically eliminates relative movement between the transporter fingers and the articles while the latter are being advanced by the former and thus causes the transporterto feed the articles more elfeotively than would `be possible `if the transporter lingers were permitted to move vertically as` they advanced.

The practical elimination of relative movenient between the transporter linger and the and then articles fed thereby obviates any tendency of the lingers to displace or wrinkle the wrappers, as the articles are being fed.

By referring -again to the diagrammatic representation of 'the orbit traveled by the transporters it will be seen that during the return movement of the transporters, after they have been effective to advance an article, they are lifted considerably above the plane which they occupied during the feed movement thereof. This movement of the transporters permits the transporter fingers to pass rearwardly over the tops of the series of articles upon the feed table 32 so that they may be lowered into feeding position Awith the finger A behind the article just raised by the elevator and each of the other transporter lingers engaging an article which is one step ahead of the article engaged thereby at the proceeding cycle of operations. j

The article raised by the elevator is first engaged and advanced by thelingers A of the transporter bars in order that it may be moved from position ,L jto. position II. During this movement, the spring-pressed followers 220 follow up the rear side of the article, as already described, to insure a smoothly wrapped lower corner by preventing the portion a of the wrapper which was folded against the bottom face of the article from being displaced byits movement across Also, during this the yfolding plate 214. movement, the pivoted gate 208 is swung into a recess 272 in the feed table 32 and out sov of the path of the advancing article. The

advance of the article onto the feed table causes the downwardly hanging extension b of the wrapper to be drawn over upper edge at the receiving end of the feed table ressed thereby smoothly across the lower ace of the article. This portion Z7 of the wrapper is of such width that theA l edge thereof last brought into-contact with the article will overlap the portion a of the wrapper previously folded against the bottom of the article and inasmuch as the applied to the portion b of the wrapper adjacent said edge, said portion b will now be pasted to the portion a which it overlaps.

The wrapper `has now ybeen wrapped around the article so as to completely cover four sides thereof, the two ends alone remaining exposed, and the wrapper extends beyond the opposite ends of the article at all four sides thereof. The area of each end extension or flap of the wrapper is considerably less than the area of the corresponding end of thefarticle so that the wrapper extensions if folded over the L ends of the articles wouldv fail to enclose more than the marginal portions ofsaid ends. During the 'succeeding ste s inthe progress of the The next step movement of the article car-v ries it from position III to position IV.

This movement is effected by the finger C also be curved outwardly from a vertical.

and as this finger moves into position 'to initiate said movement, the portions of the wrapper extending beyond the rear sides of the article are folded over against the ends of the article. The portion of the wrapper extension which is to be thusfolded at one end of the article is indicated ate in Fig. 4.

To fold the rear side extensions of the wrapper, the finger C of each transporter carries folder plates 276 which are secured to the outer sides of said finger and are adapted to overlap the ends of the articles as the transporters are advanced. As the transporter fingers are swung into position at the rear of an article in position III, eachfolder plate 276 moves through a path indicated by the descending arrowheads in the dotted line path 270 of Fig. 12. As the folder plates 276 move in this path, the advancing curved edges thereof engage the outwardly extending end flaps e at opposite -ends of the article and fold them as indicated in Fig. 5. The portions adjacent the curved edges of the folder plates 276 may plane so as to avoid injuring the wrapper `by coming too abruptly into contact therewith. The inner faces of the folder plates 276 are arranged to closely embrace the ends of the article so that the end aps will be folded smoothly and drawn tightly across the corners of the article past which they advance.

The bottom extensions of the wrapper, which severally consist of the extensions of the portions a and b that were previously folded over the bottom face of the article, are next folded over the opposite ends of the article. This folding operation occurs while the article remains at rest on the feed table in position III and while the transporters are rising and returning preparatory to performing their next feed movement. The foldin of the bottom end extensions is effecte by means of a pair of vertically movable folding plates 278 one at each side of the machine and severally carried by slide blocks 280, the latter being guided by means of suitable vertical guide-rods 282 depending from the feed table. The slide blocks 280 are adapted to be reciprocated upon the guide-rods 282 to cause the folder plates 278 to move to and from -operative positions. When operatively positioned, the folder vtransporters Swing into position for folding plates 278 closely overlap lthe opposite ends of the article and ini-moving into this position they fold the bottomjend. iiaps of the wrapper upwardly against the ends of the article, the -folded extensions then having the appearance of the extension g in Fig. 5. The rising and falling movements of the folder plates 278 are timed to take pla-:e before the folder blades 276 carried by the the end' extensions e in order; to avoid any confiict between said folder members. To effect the reciprocation of the slide blocks 280, carrying the folder plates 278, said blocks are connected by links 284 with the oscillatory arms 172 already described. The oscillation of thearms 172, therefore raises Aand lowers the folder plates 278 simultaneously with the up and down movements of the elevators 22.

After the'- folding operation, just' described, 'has been completed, the article is next moved to position IV by the fingers I) of the transporter. In moving from position III to position IV, the forward end extensions of the wrapper at the advancing side of the article, one of which is indicated at h in Fig. 5, are folded. The folding of the extensionsh is effected by the advance of the article between stationary ,folder plates 288 which rise at opposite sides of the feed table 32 and are rigidly supported in any suitable manner.' yAs the article is advanced between. the stationary folder plates 288 the end extensions h are folded closely against the ends of the article until they appear as represented in Fig. 6.

In addition to the folding operation just described, the horizontally projecting u per end extensions of the wrapper, one of w ich is shown at j in Fig. 5, are first bent upwardly, as indicated in Fig. 6, and later are folded downwardly against the ends of the article, as indicated in Fig. 7. The preliminary upward folding of the upper end lextensions j is effected by the inclined edges 290011 the folding plates 288. These edges 290 engage the outwardly directed end extensions j as the article advances and cause the extensions j to be bent up sharply until theyy assume the positions illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein one of the folding plates 288 and its. inclined edge. 290 is shown by dotted downwardly inclined folding vface 295 on its underside. The forward extremity of the fol-ding member 292 is connected with the forward portion-of the folding plate 288 by a vertical stud 296 (Fig. 14) which extends through said member and is threaded at its lower end into the plate 288. A spring 298 is arranged around the stud 296 so as normally to forcethe rear end of the folding member 292 downwardly against ythe adjacent portion of the plate 288. As the upstanding end extensions j of the wrapper advance beyond the inclined folding edges 290 they reach cut away portions 299 of the folder plates 288. Thereupon thel wrapper extensions j tend to return to their original horizontal positions and in so doing they project across the vertical planes of the mclined folding edges 295. These wrapper extensions aret-hen engaged from behind by the inclined folding edges 295 and are folded down byv said edges until the extensions finally wipe across the inner side faces at the rear ends of the folding members 292 and are pressed thereby against the ends of the article.`

Each folding member 292 is also provided f with a horizontal lip 300 which projects from its inner side and is adapted to overlie the upper face of the article adjacent its opposite ends (see Fig. 15). The springs 298 permit the lips 300 to be liftedl slightly as `the article is forced beneath the latter. The end portions of the lips 300 which are first engaged by the article, are bevelled as shown at 302 in Fig. 14, to permit the article to force its way beneath said lips. lt will be obvious that the resiliency of the springs 296 will permit the lips to yield upwardly as the article is forced beneath them, the members 292 tilting about the pivot studs 294 as the lips rise. As the ends of thearticle pass beneath the lips 300 the latter are pressed downwardly against the ends of the article and prevent any possible wri-nkling or displacement of the upper end extensions due to the wiping of said extension' across the faces of the members 292 while said ex`4 tensions are being pressed thereby against the ends of the article. Thus the lips 300 insure that the wrapper will it closely at the opposite edges of the .upper faces of the article. To avoid conflict between the lips 300 and the ngers E of the transporters as said lingers advance past the folding'members 292 said fingers may be grooved as indicated by dotted lines at'293 in Fig. 21.

As an article advances from position I until it reaches position V where it engages the lips 300, the upper faceof the article rides beneath a series of pressure plates 303 (Figs. 1 and 22) which are mounted adjacent the under sides of the pair of longitudinal bars 304 which are arranged at opposite sides of the beam 238. The pressure plates 303 are supported by vertical studs 306 which pass freely through apertures in the-.-

beams 304 and are threaded at their upper 'asA ends to receive nuts 307 which bear againstv the upper faces of said beam to limit the downward movement of the pressure plates. f

The pressure plates are pressed downwardly by springs 308 which are coiled around the supporting studs 306between the plates and Ithe beams 304 and permitthe pressure plate/s to yield upwardly as the articles pass beneath them. 'Each transporter bar also carries three presser plates 309 which are urged downwardly by suitable springs against the upper faces of the articles as the end extensions of the Wrappers are being` folded. The pressure plates 303 and 309 serve to prevent upward displacement of the articles so that the several` wrapper extensions ofV all `the articles operated upon will be presented in the same relative positions to the action of the various folding devices. In this waythe table from position V to position Vl. (see Fig. `15). 'This feed movement is effected by the fingers F of the transporters. The labels are applied simultaneously to the op-y posite ends of the article lduring this feed movement, by the label-applying mechanisms 34.

ice

lll@

The label-applying mechanisms, indicated generally as 34 are arranged in duplicate, one at each side of the machine.V Both labelapplying mechanisms are identical in construction and mode of operation and accordingly only one of them-will be hereinafter described specifically. I lEach label-applying, mechanism 34, comprises a magazine SIO-'for'holding a supplyI of labels, and a .label-'aflixing device 312, in the general form 'of a drum, whichis-rotatable about a vertical axis between the magazine and the feed table 32. The device or drum 312 is provided with nippers for each revolution of the drum. This cam is seizing a label in the magazine and causing fixed to the drum 312 as shown at 322 in Fig. it to be withdrawn therefrom, and the-dirimere15 and is cooperatively engaged by a cam is rotated in such a manner that the label will be drawn over a portion of the cylindrical shell of the drum and later rolled against the end of an article by the rotation of the drum as the article is advanced into engagement therewith. The label-atlixing drum is provided with three label-seizing nippers and is intermittently rotated through steps of one hundred and twenty de ees and the nippers are successively cause to seize the end of a label at each stopping position of the drum. A label is removed from the magazine 310 in one partial rotation ofthe drum and anxed to an article at the next partial rotation of the drum.

The labels are supported on the edge in the magazine 310 between a front plate 314 (Fig. 16) and a follower 316, the latter being constantly urged in a forward direction by any suitable means to advance the stack in the magazine as the labels are successively removed vfrom the forward end thereof. The front plate 314 is cut away at one edge to provide a space 318 through which the foremost label may be removed from the magazine, (see Fig. 17). The labels are acted upon, one at a time, by means of a vertically disposed suction tube or plate 320 which is mounted adjacent the opening 318 and which is operative to move the forward edge of the margin of the foremost label into the field of operations of the nippers of the label-aixing drum 312. The

drum 312 comprises three segmental plates 326 which are concentrically mounted on a ve-rtical rotary shaft 328. Each late 326 terminates at one of its vertical e ges in a fixed jaw 330'that` ismadapted to cooperate with a movable nipper 332 so thatthe edges of the labels may be seized thereby.

The suction tube 320`is illustrated in de tail in Figs. 17 and 18 and maybe ofany Well known construction, having a iattened perforated face against which the labels are to be drawn. The suction tube is adapted to be rocked about its vertical axis and is nor'- mally disposed in the angular position illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 17 When in this position, the air is exhausted therefrom and the marginal portion of the foremost label in the magazine 310 will be drawn against the perforatedy face of the suction tube. The suction tube is thenvrotated into the angular position shown by full lines in Fig. 17, swinging said marginal portion of the label outwardly into position to be grasped by one of the gripper fingers or nippers 332 carried by the label-aiiiXing devices 312. Inasmuch as the device 312'carries three nippers, the cam by which the suction tube is oscillated is desi ed to swing the suction tube forwardly t ree times at roli"-323 carriedby an arm 324 from the`"'sution tube.

The two label-afixing mechanisms'34 are adjustable toward and from the feed table 32 in order that they may be adapted to approjecting 'ply labels to the opposite ends of articles tions 333 and 334 is provided with a transverse guideway 335 (Figs. 14, 15, and 21) adapted to be slidably or adjustably mounted on a transverse supporting bar 336 the opposite ends of which are rigidly secured to the side frames 40, while the opposite endsl of 'said frame sections are supported by anrl adapted to slide lon itudinally 'of a tie-rod 337 which connects t e side frames 40. To adapt other parts of the machine to operate upon articles of different lengths various adjustments of operating parts may be secured merely by the removal of certain ofthe supporting rods or other supporting members and the substitution therefor of rods or members of the required lengths or sizes. Each nipper 332 is carried by a vertical rockshaft 338 and is constantly urged into cooperative relation with its respective Xed jaw 33,0 by a spring 339 acting upon an arm 340 fixed to the rockshaft 338. At its lower extremity each rock-shaft 338 has affixed thereto a lateral projection 341 (Fig. 16) adapted to ride against the periphery of a stationary cam 342. With'this construction, the nippers 332 will be opened by the action of the cam 342 before they are moved by the rotation of t-he drum into the position to seize alabel and thereafter, as the projections 341 pass beyond the influence of. the cam 342, the nippers are suddenly closed by their spring 339 to seize the label presented thereto by the suction tube 320. This last mentloned operation occurs just prior to the completion; of each rotary step movement of the label-afixing drum' which almost immediately thereafter comes to a complete stop. The nippers are thus enabled to securely grip the labels and inasmuch as the' by the force of the springs 339. To this vend,

a rigid finger 345 is secured to each rock shaft 338 and this finger carries a stop screw 347 which is adapted to cooperate with a stop shoulder 349 on the drum to takel the shock ofthe closing movement of the nipper. The screw 347 is adapted for adjustment so that when the nipper has closed, it Will yield sufficiently to firmly grip the label but not enough to blend itself to any appreciable extent and consequently there is no tendency for it to become weakened from continued use. y

rlhe means for exhausting air from the suction tubes 320 consists of a pump 343 (Fig. 3) comprising a cylinder pivoted at 344 to a rigid portion of the machine. The pump cylinder 343 is'provided with a piston (not shown) adapted to reciprocate therein. The pump piston is provided with a piston rod 345 which is connected directly with the nearer of the two links 236 of the transporter mechanism. The pump is connected by a flexible hose 346 with one end of each of the suction tubes 320. The arrangement is such that the suction stroke of the piston occurs during the advancing stroke of the transporters so that the suction tubes may be rendered operative during the partial rotations of the label-afiixing drums which take place concurrently with the advance of the trans orters. A fiapper valve 346 is provided 1n the pump cylinder 343 to break the suction when the machine is running andit is not desired to apply labels to the articles.

A coating of glue is applied to the outer faces of the labels as they arebeing rotated by means of thelabel-afiixing drum from the magazine 310 into engagement with the ends of the articles on the feed table'. To this end, a glue pot 347 is suitably supported adjacent the label-aflixing device3l2 and a vertically disposed glue roll 348 is located in an opening in one of the side walls of the glue pot, the arrangement being such that when a label is fed by 'one' of the'segmental plates 326 toward the ar-` ticle on the feed table, the label will ride over the surface of said glue roll.

To insure the proper application of glue to the face of the label, the glue roll 348 is positively driven yduring the rotation of the label-afiixing drum',byvmeans of intermeshing gearing comprising a pinion 350 (Fi 16), secured to the lower trunnion o-f t e glue roll, and a gear 352, secured to the intermittently rotatable shaft 328. Pref' erably, the glue roll 348 is mounted with provision for a slight amount of adjustment toward and from the label-aixing drum, as,`-"ffor example, by being carried upon ra pivoted arm 354 adapted to turn on a pivot stud 356 and to be rigidly secured in adjusted position upon the pivot stud, as by shaft 260.

the tightening of the head of the stud against the arm 354. It is intended to adjust the roll 3'48v so vthat it will be engaged by the outer face ofl a label fed past the roll by the rotation of the label-aflixing drum but will not be engaged by the segmental 328 of each of the label-applying mecha-- nisms. Meshing with each bevel gear 360 is a bevel gear 362 that is secured to a transverse shaft 364, said shaft being journaled in bearings inthe side frame members 40 and the gears 362 being located on the shaft adjacent the inner sides of said frame members. At one end of the shaft 364, near the outer side 'of the adjacent frame member 40 is secured a ratchet-wheel 366 havin three notches equally spaced apart in its perlphery. The ratchet wheel 366 is actuated by a pawl 368 which is pivotally mounted upon a pawl carrier 370 that is mounted to oscillate freely upon the shaft '364. The hub o-f-the oscillatory pawl-carrier arm 370 has formed thereon a rack segment 372 and meshing with this rack segment is a rack 374 carried by a link 376. The link 376 is piv-. otally mounted at one end, upon a crankpin 378 carried by a disk380 which is fast upon one end of the shaft 260. The other end of the link 376 is provided with a longitudinal slot 382 through which the shaft 364 extends. The slotted endof the link 376 is'conined between the ratchet-wheel 366 and a collar 377 that is secured to the end of the shaft 364. With the above-.described construction, one third of a revolution will be' imparted to the shaft 364 at each rotation of the continuously operating It will be apparent that one half of the rotation of the shaft 260 will be efl'ectiverto advance the pawl 368 in a direction'n to effect partial rotation of the ratchet-wheel 372 andv shaft 364, while during the suceeding half turn of the shaft 260 the pawll 368 will be retracted idly over the r .the label-aflixing drums will start gradually from their positions of rest and reach a maximum rate of rotation at the middle of their` feed movements. By reason of the slow start of rotation of the drums there is`

Images