US2303775A - Labeling machine - Google Patents

Description

-1 1942- G. w. VON HOPE ml. 2 303,775

LABELING MACHINE I Filed Nov. 9, 19:59 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE TORS' 66 01965 W vo/v 0142? B Bfk/V/MD 0.,D/7/VS Dec. 1, 1942. e. w. VON HYOFE m LABELING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 W W a a 5 m a 3 a a 0 w M i 6 E: ii 3% Ww wwww mw w m R m V0. m b r W0 4.

Patented Dec. 1, 1942 LABELING MACHINE George W. von Hofe, Bound Brook, N. J., and Bernard D. Dans, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to New Jersey Machine Corporation, Hoboken, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 9, 1939, Serial No. 303,564

26 Claims.

The invention relates to labeling machines and has for its object to provide a novel apparatus adapted to be embodied in such machines and constituting a simple means for efficiently and accurately applying labels to containers including those of minute dimensions as exemplied by conventional small ampules. Other more specific objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an example of the invention without defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a machine embodying the novel apparatus; Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the novel apparatus; Fig. 3 is a corresponding view of said apparatus with the parts in another position; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the novel apparatus; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 66 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation showing a different arrangement of the apparatus.

The labeling machine selected for the purpose of illustrating and describing the novel apparatus, includes an upright supporting frame 50 on which a suitable container or hopper H is mounted in position for proper co-operation with the associated elements of the machine; the container or hopper It contains a supply of labels in the form of an upright stack l2 from the upper end of which the labels are successively removed for application to the articles for which said labels are intended. Suitable provision is made, in any customary manner, for periodically restoring the upper end of the stack 2 to a predetermined level in proper operative relation'to the co-operating elements of the machine; as the elevating mechanism whereby this periodical adjustment is effected does not per se constitute a novel feature of the machine, and as such mechanism is well-known, it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate the same.

For the purpose of controlling the aforesaid elevating mechanism, the machine may include a feeler i3 arranged to rest upon the upper end of the stack l2 and vertically movable in an upright guide E4 on the frame 50. The feeler i3 is connected by means of a link It with a bell-crank lever l6 fixed upon a shaft l'l rotatably mounted on the frame l0, said lever l6 3 being provided with a roller l8 located in operative relation to a cam I9; the latter is carried by a shaft 29 journalled on the frame Hi, In the operation of the machine, the feeler I3 will follow the stack I2 as it diminishes in height and at a predetermined point will cause the elevating mechanism to be operated in a manner to restore the upper end of the stack l2 to its initial level; this is accomplished by the action of the bell-crank lever it and cam 19 in co-operation with mechanism not shown, it being understood that the shaft 20 is rocked on its axis when the machine is in operation.

In the machine as illustrated, the means whereby individual labels are successively removed from the stack l2 and transferred therefrom to the point of application to the elements to be labeled, is of the suction operated type, and per se may be of any suitable construct-ion. As shown, the label transferring means consists of a carriage 2i slidably mounted upon a horizontal guide rail 22 supported on the frame I0 in any convenient manner; the carriage 2i is slidably reciprocated on the rail 22, for instance, by means of an arm 23 fixed upon the shaft 20 and having its free end pivotally connected with a coupling rod 24 which in turn is yieldingly and pivotally connected at 25 with 2. lug 26 forming part of or fixed upon the carriage 2| as shown in Fig. 1.

In the operation of the machine, the carriage 21 is reciprocated on the rail 22 by rocking the shaft 29, which swings the lever 23 to alternately push and pull the carriage 2| lengthwise of the rail 22. The mechanism whereby said shaft 20 is rocked may comprise a gear segment 21 fixed upon the shaft 20 and meshing with a rack 23 vertically movable in a guideway 29 suitably located upon the frame It as illustrated in Fig. 1. The rack 28 is vertically reciprocatedto rock the segment 21 and shaft 211 in timed relationship with the other elements of the machine, in any conventional and well-known way.

The carriage 2i serves as a support for a member 38 which is vertically slidable on said carriage 2i and at its lower end carries the suction head 3i. The specific construction of the latter may be of any conventional type, the suction head Si in any case being connected with a source of suction, for instance, by means of a suitable tube 32. Throughout the major portion of the recip rocation of the carriage 2| the member 30 is held against downward vertical movement by means of a roller 33 which travels lengthwise of a fixed rail 3%; at predetermined pointsthe rail 34 is recessed to permit downward vertical movement of the member 30. This enables the suctionhead 3i to remove terminal labels from the upper end of the steel; l2 and. effect the initial application thereof to the articles for which said labels are intended. The aforesaid vertical movements of the member 35 and its associated elements on the carriage 2! may be effected by means of any suitable mechanism; as the latter per se forms no part of the novel apparatus, it has not been considered necessary to illustrate the same.

In the labeling machine illustrated in the drawings, the labels picked up successively by the suction-head 35 from the stack I2 are provided with a coating of adhesive on one surface during the transfer of said labels from the stack [2 to the point of application to the elements for which said labels are intended. For this purpose each label subsequent to its removal from the stack l2 by the suction-head 3| is carried into progressive tangential contact with the adhesive applying roll 35 of the adhesive applying means 36 suitably mounted in proper position in the machine as shown in Fig. 1; the adhesive applying means 35 may be of any suitable construction and needs no further description as per se it does not constitute a novel feature of the instant machine.

The novel apparatus in the form in which it is embodied in the illustrated machine, constitutes a mechanical unit which comprises a main guide member 31' secured in an upright position by means of bolts or the like 38, on a supporting bracket 39 suitably mounted upon or forming part of the machine frame Ill. Gib plates 46 and E! are located on the front of the main guide member 3'! and project inwardly beyond the side ribs of said member 3i so as to extend over the guide channel thereof for the purpose to be more fully set forth hereinafter. The gib plate 45 is fixed in place on the guide member 3? in any convenient manner as by means of screws 52, while the gib plate M is provided with slots 33 for the accommodation of screws 44. whereby said gib plate is adjustably mounted on said main guide member 31. The

latter in conjunction with the inwardly projecting portions of the gib plates Ail and 41 provides a vertical guideway in which a main slide 45 is slidably mounted for movement in vertical directions.

An auxiliary channeled guide member 46 is suitably fastened upon the face of the main slide 45 to move therewith and forms part of or is secured to a bracket W -which includes forked bearings G8 projecting at upward inclinations in opposite directions from the bracket fill as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The bearings '28 provide supports for wiping devices illustrated in the form of brush levers it which are pivotally connected therewith at 5B and at'their upper ends carry'rollers 5d the purpose of which will appear more fully hereinafter; at intermediate points the levers 49 are "provided with sockets 52 for the accommodation of coil springs 53 which bear with their outer ends against abutment members 55 which project downwardly from the bearings 68 preferably as integral parts thereof as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 6. At their lower ends the brush levers 49 are formed with transversely extending heads 55 on which holders 55 for label wipers or equivalent label applying means are adjustably mounted; as shown in the illustrated example, the holders 56 are located in surface engagement with the heads 55 and provided with slots .5! for the .ac-

'commodation of screws 53 whereby said holders 56 are fixed in adjusted positions on said heads 55.

In the illustrated example, the wipers or label applying means are shown in the form of brushes the backs 60 of which are adjustably mounted in grooved supports 6| forming part of or secured to the holders 55; set screws 62 are provided for clamping the brush backs 65 against movement in the supports 6 I. With the arrangement as shown and described, the brushes 59 ex tend transversely to the holders 56 and project toward each other in spaced parallel relation; the brushes 59 may be adjusted toward and away from each other by shifting the holders 56 relatively to the heads 55 and furthermore may be adjusted in directions at right angles to the aforesaid adjustment by shifting the brush backs 68 in the supports 6!. It is accordingly easily possible to adjust and set the brushes 59 or equivalent label applying means in any desired manner relatively to each other and to the articles being labeled.

The novel apparatus, in addition to the parts so far mentioned, includes control means whereby the wiping devices are controlled, or more specifically, whereby the brush levers 5-9 are rocked on the pivots 50 to shift the brushes 59 from operative positions to inoperative positions and vice versa during an operative cycle of the labeling machine. The aforesaid means is illustrated in the form of a control device comprising a rocking lever 53 pivotally mounted on a stud 64 carried by the auxiliary guide member 15. At its opposite outer ends the lever 53 is provided With recesses 65 and 65 for the reception of the rollers 5! of the brush levers 49; the arrangement is such that the recesses 65 are located at a somewhat greater distance from the pivot 54 of the lever 63 than the recesses 86 for the purpose to be more fully set forth hereinafter. The control device further comprises an arm 6! preferably constituting an integral part of the lever 63 and extending upwardly therefrom in an oblique direction as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3; at its upper end the arm 57 is provided with a roller 68. The latter is arranged to engage and co-operate with stationary cams 69 and i5 during the vertical movements of the main slide 45 in an operative cycle of the labeling machine as will appear more fully hereinafter; the cam 69 in the example shown is carried by and forms part of the gib plate 45 and the cam 15 projects from and comprises an integral part of the gib plate 4| and is selectively adjustable therewith to different set positions relatively to the cam 59. To definitely arrest the rocking movements of the control device, the rocking lever 53 may include depending stop lugs H and I2 suitably spaced apart and co-operating with a, stop pin 13 projecting outwardly from the auxiliary guide member 56 into the rocking paths of said lugs "H and 12 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In addition to the parts so far mentioned, the novel apparatus includespressure means whereby the labels are initially applied to the articles for which they are intended and held in place thereon while the application of the labels to'said articles is completed as will be clearly set forth hereinafter. In its illustrated form the pressure means consists of a pressure plunger Hi slidably guided in the auxiliary guide member 46 and deslide 45 into registry therewith and carrying an adjustable stop in the form of a screw 18 in threaded engagement with said lug TI and fixed in an adjusted position thereon by a lock nut 19; the screw 78 is provided at its lower end with a head 80, the free surface of which is preferably covered with a resilient stop pad 8| as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. At its lower end the pressure plunger I4 is recessed for the accommodation of a bracket 14 suitably fastened in place and including a horizontal member 14*. A pressure member 74 suitable for the particular type of labeling operation being performed is mounted on a carrier 14 detachably connected with said horizontal member M by screws M As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the pressure member 14 is of relatively narrow form and is specially designed for use in connection with receptacles A of small dimensions such as exemplified by conventional ampules. A lug 82 projects outwardly from the auxiliary pressure slide 75 at an intermediate point for the accommodation of an adjustable stop screw 83 in threaded engagement with said lug 82 and fixed against unintentional movement relatively thereto by a locknut 84; at its lower end the screw 83 carries a head 85 having a resilient stop pad86 secured on its free surface adapted to engage the upper .end of the gib plate 40 for the purpose to be described further on in the description. The auxiliary pressure slide 16 and the pressure plunger 14 with their associated parts are yieldingly connected with the main slide 45 by means of a coupling spring 8'! having its one end connected with a pin 83 projecting from the lug 82 and its other end attached to a pin 89 extending outwardly from the bracket 41.

For the purpose of operating the apparatus shown in detail in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive, the machine includes a lever 89 loosely mounted on the shaft 20 and provided with a rounded front end 90 projecting into a slot 9! located at the upper end of the main slide 25, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Any suitable mechanism may be provided in the machine for rocking the lever 89 on the shaft 29 to vertically reciprocate the main slide 45 and its associated elements in the intended manner. In the illustrated example, the aforesaid mechanism includes an operating member 92 having its one end pivotally connected at 93 with a bracket 94 forming part of or mounted upon the lever 89; in the preferred arrangement, the bracket 94 -is provided with a slot 95 in which the pivot 93 is adjustable and capable of being set, in order to selectively vary the operative movements of the lever 89 and the parts actuated thereby. At its lower end the operating member 92 is provided with a recess 96 for slidably accomodating a block 97 pivotally mounted on the frame IE! and serving to guide the member 92 in its operation; the latter may be effected by means of a roller 98 conventionally carried by said member 92 and acted on by a suitable cam 98 fixed upon a shaft 99 journalled in the frame ill in any convenient manner.

The machine furthermore includes means for holding the articles in position for the application of the labels thereto. The aforesaid means for supporting said articles may be of any suitable type and, as shown in Fig. 1, may consist of a support If! carried by an upright bar I9I mounted in the head I92 of a bracket I93 fastened to a suitable part of the frame III, for instance, by means of screws I94. The bar I! is adjustably fixed in the head I02 by means of a friction plate I09 secured in place by screwthreaded studs I96 provided with wing nuts I01 which constitute abutments for the one end of coil springs I08 the other ends of which engage the friction plate I05 and yieldingly force the latter into surface contact with the bar IUI.

With this arrangement the support I99 may be constructed and selectively adjusted to support articles of various shapes and dimensions in proper label receiving relation to the novel label applying means. At the same time the yielding holding force developed by the friction plate I on the bar It! will enable the support I99 to yield in order to prevent breakage of the articles if, for any reason, the labeling means developes abnormal pressures on said articles.

In describing the operation of the machine, and the novel apparatus included therein, it will be assumed that labels are being applied to relatively small articles such as ampules A; it is, of course, to be understood that this is in no sense intended to define the operative scope of the machine or the aforesaid novel apparatus.

In practice, the carriage 2i is reciprocated on the rail 22 by the associated operating mechanism and occupies temporary positions of rest at the right and left hand ends respectively of said rail 22 in Fig. 1 of the drawings. During the inactive period at the right hand end of the rail 22, the suction head Si is moved downwardly into contact with the terminal label at the top of the stack I2, it being understood that at this stage the feeler I3 occupies a raised position out of the way in order to enable the suction head 3I to reach the top of the stack I2 without interference. At the proper moment, suction is made effective in the suction head 3| to lift the terminal label from the top of the stack by the upward movement of the member 30 which remains in a raised position during the travel of the carriage 2! toward the left hand end of the rail 22 in Fig. 1; during this travel toward the left, the label B carried by the suction head 3I passes in progressive tangential contact with the adhesive applying roll 35 and thus receives a coating of adhesive on its one surface. During the period of rest at the left hand end of the rail 22 in! Fig. 1, the suction head 3I moves into contact with the ampule A which previously has been placed in position upon the support I09 and initially applies the label B carried by the suction head M at the time to the ampule A. When the aforesaid initial application of the label B to the ampule A has been effected, the suction in the suction head 3| is discontinued in the wellknown way and the suction head is lifted away from the ampule A to a position above the adhesive applying roll 35, and at the proper time the carriage 2| is again shifted toward the right on the rail 22 and the operative steps just described are repeated. After the initial application of the label B to the ampule A has been completed in the illustrated example of the operation of the machine, an intermediate portion of the label B will be in adhesive engagement with the ampule A while the two opposite end sections of the label will project in opposite directions beyond said ampule as shown in Fig. 2.

In proper synchronism with the other operative movements of the machine, the lever 89 is rocked about the axis of the shaft 29 in a downward direction to correspondingly move the main slide 45 in the guideway provided by the main guide member 37 and the inwardly projecting portions of the gib plates 49 and M. This downward movement of the main slide 45 is com municated through the medium of the coil spring 8? to the auxiliary pressure slide I and the auxiliary pressure plunger 14 and associated elements carried thereby.

At the same time the downward movement of the main slide i5 will carry with it the bracket 4?, the lever 83 and the brush levers 59 with the parts attached to and associated with these elements. At the start of the aforesaid operative movements the parts occupy the positions illustrated in Fig. 2, and as said movements proceed, the pressur member M will finally contact with that portion of the label B which is in adhesive engagement with the ampule A on the support 599. As the pressure member 74 comes into en agement with the label B on the ampule A, the resilient stop pad 86 of the stop screw 83 will coincidentally come into contact with the upper end of the gib plate 49 to thereby arrest the downward movement of the pressure member 79 and prevent the same from developing a pressure upon the ampule A or equivalent thin glass container or other article sufiicient to smash or otherwise injure said ampule A or equivalent article; in other words, the arrangement is such that the ampule A or its equivalent will be protected against any harmful strain at this stage. When the pressure member H finally contacts with that portion of the label B which is in adhesive engagement with the ampule A and the stop pad 86 coincidentally engages the gib plate 49, further downward movement of the pressure slide it and pressure plunger 14 will be prevented. At this stage the continued downward operation of the lever 89 will correspondingly move the main slide 45 independently of the pressure slide 15 and pressure plunger 74 and will thereby stretch the spring 8? and compress the resilient stop pad 86 of the stop screw 83 against the gib plate 59; the slight additional downward movement of the pressure slide 16 and pressure plunger 19 resulting from the aforesaid compression of the resilient stop pad 86 under the influence of the stretched spring 8? will cause the pressure member 19 to develop a slight pressure upon the label B whereby said label B is firmly held in place on the ampule A and an intermediate portion of said label B is adhesively attached thereto without any danger of fracture of or other injury to the ampule A or its equivalent.

As the aforesaid independent downward movement of the main slide 95 continues, the wiping devices or specifically the brushes 59 will engage the outwardly projecting portions of the label B and fold the same into contact with the ampule A whereby the adhesive application of the label B to said ampule A is completed; as the brushes 59 or their equivalent move downwardly as described, they will exert a wiping action whereby the aforesaid portions of the label B will be adhesively applied to the ampule A in a smooth and efiicient manner. As, the aforesaid operations progress, the roller 68 of the arm 9'! which, with the rocking lever 63 moves downwardly with the main slide 95, will engage the stationary cam 19 which previously has been adjusted to the proper set position; as the downward operations continue, the roller 58 will move along the cam 10 and will be forced thereby to the left in Fig. 3. The resulting corresponding movement of the arm 51 will rock the lever 63 on its pivot 69 whereby the rollers 5i of the brush levers 99 will be forced out of the recesses 65 of said lever 63 against the tension of the springs 53; as the rollers 5! pass out of said recesses 65, said rollers 68 will momentarily pass over the projections or high points between each pair of recesses 65 and 66 and accordingly will be forced outwardly in directions away from each other. This outward displacement of the rollers 68 will result in pivotal movements of the brush levers 49 whereby the brushes 59 or their equivalent are moved inwardly toward each other and toward the ampule A or other article being labeled. The arrangement is such that the last mentioned operations take place at the moment when the brushes 59 or their equivalent are acting upon the ends or end portions of the label B which is being applied to the ampule A or other article at the time; the aforesaid inward movements of the brushes 59 or their equivalent accordingly result in momentarily developing additional pressures upon the opposite end portions of the particular label A whereby the adhesive connection thereof with the ampule B or other article is positively and efiiciently effected. As the rollers 5! pass beyond said high points between each pair of recesses 65 and 66 the springs 53 will act on the brush levers 49 in a manner to finally snap the rollers 5| into the recesses 66 of said rocking lever 63. Because of the fact that the recesses 66 are nearer to the pivot 6d, the parts at this stage will occupy the positions shown in .Fig. 3 in which the brush levers 49 diverge in a downward direction, and the brushes 59 are moved away from each other sufiiciently to clear the ampule A.

When this point in the operative cycle has been reached, the lever 89 will be rocked in an upward direction and accordingly will shift the main slide 45 upwardly to thereby correspondingly raise the rocking lever 63 and its associated parts, and also the bracket 41 and the brush levers 49 with the brushes 59; in the initial stages of the last mentioned operations, the levers 49 and brushes 59 remain in the positions shown in Fig. 3. The aforesaid upward movements will progressively reduce the tension in the spring 81 and finally will bring the main slide 45 into engagement with the pad 8| of the stop screw '18; from this stage onward, continued upward movement of the main slide 45 and its associated elements will correspondingly move the auxiliary pressure slide 16 and the pressure plunger 14 with its pressure member 14 in an upward direction. As these operations progress, the roller 88 will engage the stationary cam 69 and will be forced thereby to the right in Fig. 3; this causes the arm 61 to be correspondingly actuated and accordingly rocks the lever 63 on its pivot 64 in a manner to shift the rollers 5| from the recesses 66 back into the recesses 55 of said lever 63. As a result the brush levers 19 are swung on their pivots 50 in directions to move the brushes 59 toward each other so that the parts eventually are restored to thepositions shown in Fig. 2, and the apparatus is ready to repeat the operative cycle set forth hereinbefore. At an appropriate point in the cycle of operations the labeled ampule A is removed either manually or automatically from the support I00 and replaced by another ampule to which a subsequent label B is applied in the manner described.

It will be understood that by properly setting the brushes 59 or by substituting a suitable pressure member and its carrier for the pressure member 14 and carrier hi the labeling machine and more particularly the novel apparatus, may be used with equal efficiency for labeling articles other than the ampules A.

For instance, as illustrated in Fig. '7, relatively larger cylindrical bottles A may have labels B adhesively applied thereto by adjusting the holders 56 on the heads 55 of the brush levers 49 to set the brushes 59 in position for proper Wiping co-operation with the particular bottle A or equivalent article; in addition, a carrier 14 provided with a pressure member 14 shaped and dimensioned to properly function with respect to the bottle A is substituted on the pressure plunger (4 for the carrier M and pressure member 74 illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. In all respects the apparatus of Fig. 7 may be the same and operate the same as the one shown in Figs, 1 to 6 inclusive.

The novel apparatus in all of its forms is of maximum efiiciency in operation and requires no skilled supervision, and at the same time constitutes a mechanical unit capable of being readily embodied in existing labeling machines of the type for which it is adapted. The apparatus is particularly efiective in applying labels to small articles such as ampules and at the same time may be efiiciently utilized for applying labels to articles other than those indicated hereinbefore. Furthermore, although the mechanical unit is designed primarily for incorporation in labeling machines to apply labels to articles, this does not define the limits of utility of said unit.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the clairns without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a labeling machine, means for supporting i an article to be labeled, an uprightmain guideway, a main slide movably mounted in said guideway, an auxiliary channeled guide member mounted upon said main slide to move therewith, a bracket including oppositely projecting bearings carried by said auxiliary guide, wiping levers pivotally mounted at intermediate points in said bearings, a wiper adjustably mounted on one end of each of said levers, a roller mounted on the opposite end of ach of said levers, springs acting on said levers and exerting a tension thereon normally tending to move said wipers away from each other, a rocking lever pivotally carried by said main slide and provided at its opposite ends with recesses arranged in cooperating pairs at different distances from the pivot of said rocking lever for receiving the rollers of said wiping levers, an arm projecting from said rocking lever, a roller carried by said arm, opposed cams located upon said main guideway in spaced relation in Pr the path of said last named roller, 9. pressure plunger slidably mounted in said auxiliary guide member, a pressure member carried by said pressure plunger, an auxiliary pressure slide carrying said pressure plunger, a coupling spring whereby said auxiliary pressure slide and said pressure plunger and pressure member are yieldingly connected with said main slide, means for delivering an adhesive coated label for initial application to said article, and means for operating said main slide to shift said pressure member into engage ment with a predetermined portion of said label and for subsequently operating said main slide independently of said pressure member whereby said coupling spring is placed under tension to cause said pressure member to press the predetermined portion of said label into adhesive connection with said article and to hold said label against shifting thereon, and whereby said wipers are operated to adhesively apply other portions of said label to said articles,-the roller on said the main slide engaging one of said cams whereby said rocking lever. is pivotally'rocked to shift the rollers of said wiping levers from one cooperating pair of said recesses to another co-opcrating pair of said recesses whereby said wiping levers are actuated by their associated springs to move said wipers to inoperative positions away from each other prior to the return movement of said main slide, said roller on said arm of'the rocking lever engaging the other cam during said return movement of the main slide'to rock said rocking lever in a return direction whereby the rollers of said wiping levers are shifted back to another co-operating pair of said recesses whereby said wiping levers are operated to restore said wipers to their operative positions.

2. In a labeling machine, means for supporting an article to be labeled, an upright main guideway, a main slide movably mounted in said guideway, movable wiping means carried by said main slide, pressure means slidably mounted on said main slide, a coupling spring whereby said pressure means is yieldingly connected with said main slide, control means carried by said main slide for controlling the djustment of said wiping means from an operative to an inoperative position and vice versa, means for delivering an adhesive coated label for initial application to said article, means for slidably actuating said main slide in an operative movement whereby said pressure means is concurrently shifted into engagement with a predetermined portion of said label and the actuation of said main slide is continued independently of said pressure means'to place said coupling spring under tension to cause said pressure means to press the predetermined portion of said label into adhesive connection with said article and to hold said label against shifting thereon, and whereby said wiping means guideway, an auxiliary guide member carried by said main slide, a bracket including oppositely projecting bearings carried by said auxiliary guide member, wiping levers pivotally mounted at intermediate points in said bearings, co-operating opposed wipers mounted on said wiping levers at one end thereof, rollers carried by said wiping levers at their other ends, springs acting on said wiping levers in a manner tending to move said wipers away from each other, a rocking lever pivotally carried by said main slide and provided at its opposite ends with recesses arranged in co-operating pairs at difierent dis- 'tances from the pivot of said rocking lever 'for receiving the rollers of said wiping levers, an

arm projecting from said rocking lever, a roller.

carried by said arm, a pressure plunger slidably mounted in said auxiliary guide member, a pressure member removably carried by said pressure plunger, an auxiliary pressure slide carryingsaid pressure plunger, a coupling spring whereby said auxiliary pressure slide and said pressure plunger with said main slide, and opposed cams located upon said main guideway in spaced relation in the path of the roller of said arm and arranged to respectively act on the latter at predetermined points in the reciprocal movements of the main slide whereby the rollers of the wiping levers are shifted to and from the respective co-operating pairs of recesses of said rocking lever to adjust the wipers from operative to inoperative positions and vice versa.

4. A mechanical unit comprising a main guideway adapted for mounting in a machine, a reciprocable main slide movably mounted in said main guideway, an auxiliary guide member carried. said main. slide, a bracket including oppositely projecting bearings carried by said auxiliary guide member, wiping levers pivotally mounted at intermediate points in said bearings, co-operating opposed wipers mounted on said wiping v levers at one end thereof, rollers carried by said wiping levers at their other ends, springs acting on said wiping levers in a manner tending to move said wipers away from each other, a rocking lever pivotally carried by said main slide and provided at its opposite ends with recesses arranged in co-operat pairs at diiTerent distances from the pivot f said rocking lever for receiving the rollers of said wiping levers, an arm projecting from said rocking lever, a roller carried by said arm, pressure means slidably mounted in said auxiliary guide member, a coupling spring whereby said pressure means is yieldingly connected with said main slide, and a plurality of cams located on said main guideway for individually acting on the roller of said arm at predetermined points in the reciprocal movements of said main slide whereby the rollers f the wiping levers are shifted to and from the recesses of said rocking lever to adjust the wipers from operative to inoperative positions and vice versa;

5. A mechanical unit comprising a main guideway adapted for mounting in a machine, a reciprocable main slide movably mounted in said main guideway, an auxiliary guide member carried by said main slide, a bracket including oppositely projecting bearings carried by said auxiliary guide member, wiping levers pivotally mounted at intermediate points in said bearings, co-operating opposed wipers mounted on said wiping levers at one end thereof, a rocking control device pivotally carried by said main slide in co-operative relation with said wiping levers, pressure means slidably mounted in said auxiliary guide member,

a coupling spring whereby said pressure means is yieldingly connected with said main slide, and a plurality of cams located on said main guideway for individually operating said control device at predetermined points in the reciprocal movements of said main slide to pivotally actuate said Wiping levers and thereby adjust the wipers from operative to inoperative positions and vice versa.

6. A mechanical unit comprising a main guideway adapted for mounting in a machine. a reciprocable main slide movably mounted in said main guideway, an auxiliary guide member carried by said main slide, pivoted wiping devices carried by said main slide in opposed co-operative relation with each other, a movable control device carried by said main slide in co-operative relation with said wiping devices, pressure means slidably mounted in said auxiliary guide member and yieldingly connected with said main slide, and

.means on said main guideway for operating said control device at predetermined points in the reciprocal movements of said main slide to adjust said wiping devices from operative to inoperative positions and vice versa.

7. 'A mechanical unit comprisin a main guideway adapted for mounting in a machine, a reciprocable main slide movably mounted in said main guideway, pivoted wiping devices carried by said main slide in opposed co-operative relation with each other, a movable control device carried by said main slide in co-operative relation with said wiping devices, pressure means slidably mounted on said main slide and yieldingly connected therewith, and means for operating said control device at predetermined points in the reciprocal movements of said main slide to adjust said wiping devices from operative to inoperative positions and vice versa.

8. A mechanical unit comprising guiding means adapted for mounting in a machine, a reciprocable main slide movable in said guiding means, wiping devices movably mounted on said main slide, reciprocable pressure means slidably mounted in surface engagement with said main slide, a yielding coupling connection between said main slide and pressure means whereby the main slide and pressure means are movable together throughout predetermined parts of the reciprocation thereof, and whereby said main slide is movable independently of said pressure means, and means whereby said wiping devices are adjusted at predetermined points in said reciprocation from operative to inoperative positions and vice versa.

9. A mechanical unit adapted for mounting in a machine comprising co-operating pressure means and wiping means movable over a given path in operative and return directions, control means for said wiping means, and cams co-operating with said control means to adjust said wiping means from operative to inoperative positions and vice versa at predetermined points in said path, at least one of said cams being ad- J'ustable to different set positions.

10. A mechanical unit comprising a channeled guide member adapted for mounting in a machine, gib plates carried by said guide member and projecting inwardly over the channel thereof to provide a guideway, co-operating pressure means and wiping means slidably mounted in said guideway for reciprocation therein, control means for said wiping means, and cams carried by said gib plates co-operating with said control means to adjust said wiping means from operative to inoperative positions and vice versa at predetermined points in said reciprocation, one of said gib plates being slotted for adjustment on said guide member whereby the cam carried by said slotted gib plate may be shifted to different set positions.

11. A mechanical unit comprising supporting means adapted for mounting in a labeling machine, pressure means movable relatively to said supporting means into engagement with an article being labeled to fix a deposited label against displacement thereon, applying means movably carried by said supporting means for applying said deposited label in its previously fixed position to said article, and means for arresting the movement of said pressure means independently of its engagement with said article to protect the latter against injury by said pressure means.

12. A mechanical unit comprising guiding means adapted for mounting in a labeling machine, associated pressure means and wiping means, means for operating said pressure means and wiping means concurrently to shift said pressure means into engagement with an article being labeled to fix a deposited label against displacement thereon and for independently operating said wiping means to apply said deposited label in its previously fixed position to said article, and co-operating means on said supporting means and pressure means respectively for arresting the operation of said pressure means independently of its engagement with said article whereby the latter is protected against injury by said pressure means.

13. A mechanical unit comprising supporting means adapted for mounting in a labeling machine, pressure means movable relatively to said supporting means into engagement with an article being labeled to fix a deposited label against displacement thereon, applying means movably carried by said supporting means for applying said deposited label in its previously fixed position to said article, and a stop adjustably mounted on said pressure means for engagement with said supporting means to arrest the movement of said pressure means independently of its engagement with said article whereby the latter I is protected against injury by said pressure means.

14. A mechanical unit comprising guiding means adapted for mounting in a labeling ma chine, applying means movable in said guiding means for exerting a progressive pressure on a label to apply the latter to an article, and means for operating said applying means to momentarily increase the applying pressure thereof on predetermined portions of said label.

15. A mechanical unit comprising guiding means adapted for mounting in a labeling machine, applying means movable in said guiding means for exerting a progressive pressure on a label to apply the latter to an article, and means for momentarily increasing the applying pressure of said applying means upon the opposite end portions of said label.

16. A mechanical unit comprising a guideway adapted for mounting in a labeling machine, a reciprocating slide movably mounted in said guideway, wiping means carried by said slide for exerting a progressive wiping pressure on a label to apply the latter to an'article, means for adjusting said wiping means from operative to inoperative positions, and means for momentarily increasing the wiping pressure of said wiping means upon the opposite end portions of said label during the adjustment of said wiping means from an operative to an inoperative position.

17. A mechanical unit comprising a guideway adapted for mounting in a labeling machine, a reciprocating slide movably mounted in said guideway, wiping means carried by said slide for exerting a progressive wiping pressure on a label to apply the latter to an article, a movable control device carried by said slide for adjusting said wiping means from operative to inoperative positions and vice versa, and means associated with said control device for increasing the wiping pressure of said wiping means upon the opposite end portions of said label.

18. A mechanical unit comprising a guideway adapted for mounting in a labeling machine, a reciprocable slide movably mounted in said guideway, a bracket carried by said slide and including oppositely projecting bearings, wiping levers pivotally mounted at intermediate points in said bearings, co-operating opposed wipers 'co-operative relation with the other ends of said wiping levers, a plurality of cams located on'said guideway for individually operating said control device at predetermined points in the reciprocal movements of said slide to pivotally actuate said wiping levers and thereby adjust the wipers from operative to inoperative positions and vice versa, and means associated with said control device for increasing the wiping pressure of said wipers upon the opposite end portions of said label during the adjustment of said wipers from an operative to an inoperative position.

19. A mechanical unit comprising a main guideway adapted for mounting in a labeling machine, a reciprocable main slide movably mounted in said main guideway, an auxiliary guide member carried by said main slide, a bracket including oppositely projecting bearings carried by said auxiliary guide member, wiping levers pivotally mounted at intermediate points in said bearings, co-operating opposed wipers mounted on said wiping levers at one end thereof for exerting a progressive wiping pressure on a label to apply the latter to an article, rollers carried by said wiping levers at their other ends, springs acting on said wiping levers in a manner tending to move said wipers away from each other, a rocking lever pivotally carried by said main slide and provided at its opposite ends with recesses arranged in e c-operating pairs at different distances from the pivot of said rocking lever for receiving the rollers of said wiping levers, an arm projecting from said rocking ever, a roller carried by said arm, pressure means slidably mounted in said auxiliary guide memher, a coupling spring whereby said pressure means is yieldingly connected with said main slide, a plurality of cams located on said main guideway for individually acting on the roller of said arm at predetermined points in the reciprocal movements of said main slide whereby the rollers of the wiping levers are shifted to and from the recesses of said rocking lever to adjust the wipers from. operative to inoperative positions and vice versa, and projections on said rocking lever between the recesses thereof and effective on said rollers during the shifting thereof from one co-operating pair of said recesses to the other co-operating pair of said recesses for momentarily increasing the wiping pressure of said wipers upon the opposite end portions of said label.

20. In a labeling machine, means for supporting an article to be labeled, an upright main guideway, a main slide movably mounted in said guideway, movable wiping means carried by said main slide, pressure means slidably mounted on said main slide, a coupling spring whereby said pressure means is yieldingly connected with said main slide, control means carried bysaid main slide for controlling the adjustment of said wiping means from an operative to an inoperative position and vice versa, means for delivering an adhesive coated label for initial application to said article, a rocking lever for slidably actuating said main slide in an operative movement whereby said pressure means is concurrently shifted into engagement with a predetermined portion of said label and the actuation of said main slide is continued independently of said pressure means to place said coupling spring under tension to cause said pressure means to press the predetermined portion of said label into adhesive connection with said article and to hold said label against shifting thereon, and whereby said wiping means is operated to adhesively apply other portions of said label to said article, operating means for rocking said lever adjustably connected therewith to vary the operative rocking movements of said rocking lever and to correspondingly vary the operative range of said wiping means, and means for actuating said control means during the operative movement of said main slide to adjust said wiping means to said inoperative position subsequent to the application of said label to the article, and for operating said control means during the return movement of said main slide to restore said wiping means to said operative position.

21. In a labeling machine, the combination of pressure means arranged to engage an article being labeled to fix a deposited label against displacement thereon for subsequent attachment to said article in the deposited position, and

means whereby said pressure means is prevented from developing an injurious pressure on said article.

22. In a labeling machine, the combination of supporting means for supporting articles to be labeled, pressure means, at least one of said means being movable to bring said pressure means into engagement with an article on said supporting means to fix a label deposited on said article against displacement thereon, means for arresting said movable means to prevent the member and removable as a whole therewith from said machine.

24. In a labeling machine, the combination of pressure means arranged to engage an article being labeled to fix a deposited label against displacement thereon for subsequent attachment to said article in the deposited position, and means for arresting the pressure developing action of said pressure means at a predetermined point to prevent injurious pressure thereby on said article.

25. A pressure unit comprising guiding means adapted for mounting in a labeling machine, pressure means movably mounted in relation to said guiding means for applying a predetermined portion of a label to an article in adhesive connection therewith and for maintaining said label against displacement thereon, label applying means movably mounted in relation to said guiding means for subsequently applying the remainder of said label to said article in ad-- hesive connection therewith, and means relatively stationary during the movement of said applying means to cause the latter to exert pressure on said label.

.26. A pressure unit comprising guiding means adapted for mounting in a labeling machine, pressure means movably mounted in relation to said guiding means for applying a predetermined portion of a label to an article in adhesive connection therewith and for maintaining said label against displacement thereon, label applying means comprising pivotal levers movably mounted in relation to said guiding means for subsequently applying the remainder of said label to said article in adhesive connection therewith, and relatively stationary means acting as an abutment causing said pivotal levers to rotate and exert an applying pressure on said label.

GEORGE W. VON HOFE. BERNARD D. DANS.

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