US2586835A - Strip material dispensing and applying device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 26, 1952 E. J. LEGER 2,586,835

STRIP MATERIAL DISPENSING AND APPLYING DEVICE Filed April 26, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR kn 5J7 Jams: [Ear/e g Ila/WW ATTO EY E. J. LEGER STRIP MATERIAL DISPENSING AND APPLYING DEVICE Feb. 26, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1949 Q Q m INVENTOR [nu 57- Jvvi: [5 52, BY W ATTOR Y Feb. 26, 1952 E. J. LEGER STRIP MATERIAL DISPENSING AND APPLYING DEVICE 5 Sheefcs-Sheet 3 faves?- 05D Filed April 26, 1949 TORNEY Feb. 26, 1952 E. J. LEGER 2,586,835

STRIP MATERIAL DISPENSING AND APPLYING DEVICE Filed April 26, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR [JP/v43;- JZME: A754 Feb. 26, 1952 V E. J. LEGER 2,586,835

STRIP MATERIAL DISPENSING AND APPLYING DEVICE Filed April 26, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR tie/v55?- am/5.: [56519.

A TORNEY Patented Feb. 26, 1952 STRIP MATERIAL DISPENSING AND APPLYING DEVICE Ernest James Leger, Metuchen, N. J assignor to Johnson ,& Johnson, a corporation of New Application April 26, 1949, Serial N 0. 89,622

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a portable manually operated dispenser for applying adhesive strip material to a surface merely by moving the dise penser, in which a supply of the adhesive strip material is contained, into engagement with the surface to attach the leading end of the strip material thereto and then pressing the strip material into contact with the surface, as it is fed from the dispenser, until the desired length thereof is adhesively attached to the surface.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrate ed, the adhesive strip material is in the form of gummed labels whose individual lengths are defined by transverse lines of perforations located at spaced intervals along a continuous strip of the material and whose gummed adhesive requires activation by a moistening liquid.

According to the invention there is provided in such a dispenser means for accommodating a supply of labels or other units to be dispensed, preferably fanfolded to present the labels one above the other in a stack. The transverse lines of perforations are located conveniently at the folds to facilitate tearing the individual labels apart.

The label strip is also perforated at equal intervals along its marginal edges. It is fed through the dispenser over a pair of laterally spaced sprocket wheels whose teeth engage in the marginal perforations, then beneath a sever ing device and over a moistening roll with its gummed surface in contact therewith. From the moistening roll, which activates the gummed adhesive, the'label strip passes beneath a squeegee or applying roll whose function is to press the activated gummed strip into contact with the surface to be labeled.

As the dispenser is moved toward the surface to be labeled, a pivoted actuating plate or shoe depending from the underside .of the dispenser, first engages the surface to be labeled and, as this movement of the dispenser continues, the actuating shoe turns the sprocket wheels positively to advance the iabel over the moistening roll and into a position where its leading end immediately underlies the squeegee roll. The leading end of the label strip can then be pressed into contact with the underlying surface and the entire label stuck firmly thereto by drawing the squeegee roll over the label with the application .of surficient pressure for the purpose,

Th a of d aw he d e s r alo the el to r s i rmly in cont ct wi h the u der ying urf e ves t ad an e the abel strip further through the dispenser. This in turn pulls K Fig. 1, illustrating the initiation of a labeling opthe sprocket wheels around to their initial position where, for the time being, they are locked against further movement. This locking of the sprocket wheels anchors the label strip against further advance movement through the dispenser, but in the meantime the transverse line of perforations defining the trailing end of the first label in the strip has arrived into registry with the severing device which causes the strip to tear along the perforated line as the operator completes squeegeeing down the label being applied.

AS the dispenser is moved away from the applied label, the sprocket wheel actuating shoe returns to its normal position by spring action, thereby releasing the sprocket wheels and readying the dispenser for the next labeling operation.

The dispenser is equipped with an enclosed reservoir for liquid which is metered to the moistening roll, the reservoir and roll being assembled as a unit for convenient removal and replacement when the supply of moistening liquid needs replenishing.

The entire dispensing unit is simple and rugged in construction, has a minimum number of parts and is sufiiciently light in weight to enable its use throughout a normal working period withwhich follows and to the accompanying drawings 'of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a group of stacked packages in the act of being labeled using a dispenser embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the dispenser shown in eration by pressing the dispenser against the surface to which the label is to be applied;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the dispenser after the sprocket wheel actuating shoe has operated to project the leading end of the label beneath the squeegee roll;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating, in solid lines, the dispenser ready to begin vthe label applying stroke and, in phantom lines, the dispenser after the label applying stroke has section of the dispenser, showing some of the operating parts;

Fig.- 8 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view showing the details of a device for locking the sprocket wheel actuating shoe in a fixed position when the dispenser is not in use;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view through the center of the front portion of the dispenser;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the parts at a different phase of the machine cycle;

Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the centerline of the sprocket wheel shaft;

Fig 13 is a partial sectional view on line |3-l3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the liquid reservoir and moistening roll assembly;

Figs. 15 to 18, inclusive, illustrate the sprocket wheel unit and its actuating mechanism at different phases of the machine cycle.

As shown in Figs. and 6, the dispenser presents a compartment l0 at the rear, in which there is stored a continuous strip ll of labels fanfolded to form a convenient stack from which the labels may be drawn from the top. The compartment is defined by side walls l2 and I3, a front wall It, and a bottom IE, on which the stack of labels rests. At the top of the compartment. and extending rearwardl from its front wall I4. there is a shelf 1 6 spanning the distance between the side walls but which terminates short of the rear end of the compartment to enable the continuous strip of labels H to pass from the compartment up over the top surface of the shelf. A cover I! pivoted near the front of the dispenser "and having a top member l8 and a rear wall member l9, serves to close the compartment at the back and also at that part of the top not spanned by the shelf member it. A spring latch 20, fastened exteriorly on the rear wall member i9 of the cover, holds the latter in position by engaging in a recess 2| formed in a vertical flange 22 extending upwardly from the bottom member of the dispenser. A window 23 in the cover permits the labels to be observed as they pass through the dispenser during use.

As it leaves the compartment ill, the label strip I! passes first over a wobble roller 24 and then on to*the shelf or platform 16 at the top of the compartment, alone which it is guided by the top cover member l8 when the latter is in its normal closed position. The wobble roller 24 consists merely of a piece of cylindrical tubing loosely mounted on an undersized shaft 25 extending transversely of the dispenser and which is fixed at its ends in the side walls thereof just to the rear of the shelf H5. The wobble roller acts to prevent the rear edge of the shelf l6 from en gaging the sharp folds of the label strip and thereby interfering with the even passage of the strip through the dispenser.

The label strip H is formed in its marginal edges with a series of perforations 26 having the same spacing as the teeth 21 on a pair of same sprocket wheels 28, 29, located one adjacent each side wall of the dispenser just ahead of the front wall M of the compartment 10. The wheels are fixed on a rotatable shaft 39, extending transversely across the dispenser and which is journaled at its ends in the side walls I2 and [3 thereof (Figs. 5, 11 and 12).

During the rotation of the sprocket llbfii i i 29, the teeth 21 thereon travel somewhat above the level of the shelf 55 which is slotted in the vicinity of the wheels for clearance. Otherwise the shelf l6 continues forwardly beyond the front wall of the compartment iii to a position just above the sprocket wheel shaft 30 where it starts to curve downwardly following the contour of the wheels to about the level of the sprocket wheel shaft where it again curves forwardly and slightly upwardly, forming, in eifect, a trough 3! which underlies a severing element 32 whose function and operation is described later on. Suffice it to say here, the severing element 32 is in the form of a roller having its greatest diam eter at the center from whence it tapers gradually and evenly toward its ends, and which is rotatably mounted on a cross bar 33 whose ends are fixed in the side walls of the dispenser.

When it is desired to thread the label strip I! through the dispenser in preparation for its use, the cover plate IT, which, in its normal closed position, presents a pair of guards 3 overlying and protecting the sprocket wheels, is swung to its open position thereby exposing the teeth at the top of the sprocket wheels. The label strip is drawn out of the compartment Hi, over the wobble roller 24 and the shelf i6, and located with its marginal perforations fitted on the eX- posed teeth of the sprocket wheels, and in a position such that the leading end of the strip is just beneath the severing element 32 and above the underlying trough 3 Upon closing the cov er plate, the dispenser then is ready for use.

The first operation performed in the act of dispensing a label involves a rotation of the sprocket wheels 28, 29 in a clockwise direction positively to advance the label strip over a moistening roll 35' and then down under a squeegee roll t which may be of rubber and which is mounted for ro-' tation on opposed inwardly extending bearing pins 31 fixed in the side walls of the dispenser near the front thereof (Fig. 11). In the advance movement just described, the label strip is guided in its passage through the machine by a guide plate 38 supported at its rear on the bar 33 which bears the severing element 32. This may be done conveniently by recessing the plate 38 in its rear edge to accommodate the severing element but leaving rearwardly extending lugs 39 thereon which may be bent around the cross bar 33 at the ends of the severing element, thereby centralizing; the latter. The guide plate curves downwardly to direct the label strip over the moistening roll 35, and terminates at its front edge in a slight reverse bend or lip 40 which underlies a cross bar 4|. A clip 42 fastened to the guide plate at the top and which, at its front end engages over the bar 4|, serves to suport the guide plate at the front. The label strip is also guide in its travel toward the squeegee roll 35 by a surface 43 underlying the label strip just beneath the lip on the guide plate 38. The surface 43 is presented by a member of the moistening unit which is; described in detail later on.

Reverting to the operation of the sprocketwheels which advances the label strip through.

the machine, it should be noted that this is.

effected automatically as the dispenser is moved to engage the surface on which the label is to be applied (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). this purpose includes a pivoted plate or shoe 44 located beneath the sprocket wheels 28, 29, and which for the main portion of its length is substantially as wide as the distance between the side walls of the dispenser (Fig. 11). Near its.

The mechanism forfront end, however, it narrows down in width. terminating in a portion which curves upwardly to form a bearing surface or toe 45 adapted to slide readily along the surface to be labeled. The

shoe 44 is pivotally mounted in the dispenser on short opposed studs or bolts 46, 4'! which pass inwardly through the side walls of the dispenser near the bottom thereof just in front of the compartment Wall 14, and which also pass through vertical flanges 48, 49 extending upwardly from the lateral edges of the plate 44. The flanges 48, 49 at their pivot points are enlarged in a radial direction for strength. The shoe 45 is urged to its normal position (shown in solid lines in Fig. 1.1), which is determined by the engagement of an arm 50 extending radially from the right hand flange 49 on the shoe 44, with an enlarged hub 51 on the sprocket wheel 25, by a torsion spring 52 encircling the left hand pivot stud 45 (Fig. 12), and whose ends react one against the front wall 14 of the label compartment and the other against the top surface of the shoe.

On the radially enlarged portion of the flange 46 at the left edge of the shoe 44 there is mounted a segmental rack 53 arranged to mesh with a pinion gear 54 fixed on the hub of a substantially circular disc 55 which is mounted at the left of the sprocket wheel 28 on the shaft 30. The disc 55 and the pinion gear 54 are free to rotate independently of the sprocket wheels on the sprocket wheel shaft. However, when the dispenser is brought into contact with the surface to be labeled, the actuating shoe 44 moves from the solid line to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 11, which is determined by the engagement of the upper edge of its right hand flange as with a pin 55 fixed in the adjacent side wall of the dispenser. During this movement of the actuating shoe 44, the segmental rack 53 rotates the pinion gear '54 and the disc 55 in a clockwise direction, the disc in turn driving the sprocket wheels along with it through the medium of a pawl 51 piyotally mounted on the sprocket wheel 28 and which is engaged by a shoulder 58 formed in the periphery of the disc 55. A spring 59 likewise mounted on the sprocket wheel 28 acts at all times to press the pawl 57 into edgewise contact with the disc 55.

The relative positions of the sprocket wheels 2B, 29 and the parts forming its actuating mechanism before and after the inward movement of the actuating shoe 44 are shown respectively in 15 and in Figs. 8 and 16. As previously stated, when the actuating shoe is moved to its innermost position to initiate the labeling operation, the label strip I l is advanced through the machine to a position where its leading end lies directly beneath the squeegee roll 35. Continuing the operation, the label strip at its leading and end is pressed by the squeegee roll 3.6 onto the underlying surface to which it sticks, its gummed surface having been activated by passing over the moistening roll 35 (Fig. 3). The dispenser is then moved to draw the squeegee roll along the surface of the label strip (Fig. 4). Throughout the operation the dispenser is caused to exert pressure on the label and is held in a position to retain the actuating shoe 44 in its innermost position as is shown in Fig. 16. Since the label, at its leading end, is anchored to the underlying surface, this movement of the dispenser feeds a further portion of the label strip through the dispenser. As the marginal perforations in the label strip engage continuously with the sprocket wheel teeth 21, this feeding movement of the strip new acts to rotate the sprocket wheels in the same direction as before and their rotation continues until arrested by the banking of a pin '60 projecting laterally from the right hand sprocket wheel 29 near its periphery, against a stop 6| located on the adjacent flange 48 of the actuating shoe, the stop 6! having been interposed in the path of the pin t5 when the actuating shoe was moved to its innermost position (Fig. 13). During the rotation of the sprocket wheels 28 and 29 as just described, the pawl 51 on the sprocket wheel 28 drags along the periphery of the drive disc 55 which, during this phase of the cycle, is held stationary by the actuating shoe 44 (Fig. 17).

When the rotation of the sprocket wheels is arrested in the manner previously described, the transverse line of perforations, defining the end of the label which is in the act of being applied, will have arrived directly beneath the severing element 32. The increased tension now exerted on the label strip, due to the continued pull exerted by the label being applied and the arrest in the movement of the next following label, causes first, the enlarged center section of the severing element 32 and then the tapered portions thereof to force their way through the transverse line of perforations in the underlying strip, thereby evenly to sever it.

It should be understood, of course, that the label strip could be made sufficiently weak at the transverse lines of perforation as to render a severing element unnecessary, but since it may be diincult to obtain a correct balance between the strength required to pull the strip through the machine and the weakness required to insure severing, a severing element is preferred. On the other hand, the severing element could be in the form of a sharp edged or a perforated edged cutting tool in which case previously perforating the label strip could be dispensed with.

After the label strip has been severed, the labeling operation is completed by continuing to draw the squeegee roll 36 over the severed label until the trailing end thereof has been pressed down firmly against the underlying surface. The dispenser then is moved away from the surface that has been labeled, thereby releasing the actuating shoe 44, and permitting it to return to its normal or outermost position under the influence of its torsion spring 52 In returning to normal position, the actuating shoe 44, through its associated rack 53 and pinion 54, reversely rotates the sprocket Wheel drive disc 55 -back to its normal position where the pawl 51 drops into place behind the shoulder 58 (Fig. 18'). Also during the return movement :of the actuating shoe to normal posi tion, the stop '61 thereon moves out of the path of the pin on the sprocket wheel 29 (Fig. 13).

The parts are then ready for the next labeling operation.

At this point, it may be stated that the back lash of the sprocket wheel element may be prevented in any suitable way. In the present embodiment the means for this purpose includes leaf spring 52 anchored to the compartment wall I4 and which is arranged to press against the sprocketwhee'l teeth so as to exert a drag on the sprocket wheel element as it rotates.

The moistening unit will now be described. As shown in "Figs. '7, 8, 10, 12, and 14, it consists es- 'sentially of a closed rectangular tank 53 of dimensions such as to enable it to fit just between the sprocket wheels 28 and '29, beneath the shaft 30 thereof and just abovethe actuating sho'e 44 when the latter is in its innermost position. A screw plug 64 threaded into the bottom of the tank will, upon removal, give access to the tank when the liquid needs replenishing. A fountain trough 65 is arranged immediately at the front of the tank and the integral therewith to accommodate the moistening roll 35 which preferably has a liquid absorbent covering. The trough has end walls 66 in which there is journaled a pair of opposed hub pins 61 on which the roll 35 rotates, and a base member 68 substantially concentric with the rolls surface so that a relatively large portion of the latter may rotate in close proximity to the base of the trough.

The trough has a rear wall 69 and is partially closed at the top except for a space which is substantially utilized by a portion of the roll extending above the trough to engage the gummed side of the label strip. The top partial closure of the trough is accomplished by a flange 10 extending forwardly from the rear wall 69 of the trough, and by another flange H extending upwardly and rearwardly from the front edge of the upwardly sloping base 68 of the trough. The flanges T and H terminate respectively in front and rear edges which are in close proximity to the surface of the moistening roll 35. Incidentally, it is the flange H which presents the guide surface 43 previously referred to.

Liquid is supplied to the trough 65 through a small aperture '52 in the base of the trough which communicates with the tank 63. The aperture :2 normally is below the level of the liquid in the tank, thereby creating an air lock which serves to prevent the free flow of the liquid to the trough. However, the normal movement of the dispenser during a labeling operation serves to agitate the liquid and meter it to the trough a drop at a time or in an amount sufficient to maintain the absorbent surface of the roll 35 moist at all times. Furthermore, the partial closing of the trough at the top by the flanges and H effectively prevent any spillage of liquid during use of the dispenser should an amount be metered to the trough in excess of that which can be quickly absorbed by the roller 35.

The moistening unit is mounted in the dispenser for ready removal when the tank 63 needs refilling. For this purpose the unit is supported at the rear by a pair of clips 13 fastened to the sides of the tank near the rear thereof. The clips are formed with spaced prongs offset laterally from the side walls of the tank and which straddle the bearing pins 46 and 41 at the opposite sides of the dispenser that support the actuating shoe 44. The moistening unit is supported at the front by a pair of aligned slide members I4 movable transversely of the dispenser inwardly and outwardly with reference to the side walls thereon-in guides 25 mounted on and underneath (Figs. 7, 14) the trough. The slides 14 have their inner ends 16 flanged downwardly to act as abutments for a compression spring 11 which reacts between them and serves to press the slides outwardly to a position determined by the engagement of their downwardly extending flanges 16 with the adjacent ends of their respective guides 15. Whenthe slides 14 are in their outmost positions, small protrusions 18 at the outer ends thereof engage in slots 19 in the side walls of the dispenser designed to accommodate them. The arrangement is such that when it is desired to remove the moistening unit from the dispenser it is necessary only to press the slides inwardly toward each other against the reaction of the spring 11 to withdraw the protrusions 18 clear of the slots 19. Thereupon the moistening unit may be removed merely by pulling it forward until the clips 13 at the rear clear their supporting pins. The unit is restored to position in the dispenser by a reversal of the operations just described.

The dispenser is designed for manual operation. For this purpose there is provided near the dispensing end thereof, a pair of finger hooks 88 arranged one on each side of the dispenser and adapted to engage one over the thumb and the other over, say, the fourth finger of the same hand. When thus supported by the hooks, the dispenser will be in a convenient position for use. A finger plate 8| fastened to the dispenser at the top just above the squeegee roll 36 provides a convenient means for exerting pressure on the label.

When the dispenser is not in use it will be found convenient to lock the actuating shoe 44 in one or another of its terminal positions in order to guard against inadvertent operation which might result in wasting a label. In the embodiment illustrated the locking device which, in this case, holds the actuating shoe in its innermost position, comprises a leaf spring 82 fastened at one of its ends to the wall of the dispenser at the outside thereof and provided at its other end with a pin 83 registering with a pair of holes 84 in the dispenser wall and in the adjacent flange of the actuating shoe 44 when the latter is in its innermost position. The leaf spring 82, which is bent to provide some clearance between it and the dispenser wall near the end of the spring which is anchored to the wall, normally tends to press the pin 83 through the holes 84 in the dispenser wall and in the actuating shoe 44 when the latter is in its innermost position, thereby to lock the latter in place. To use the dispenser, the actuating shoe is released by withdrawing the pin 83 from the holes 84. For this purpose there is provided a pin 85 having a head which rides beneath the leaf spring 82 but whose shank extends outwardly through an elongated longitudinal slot 86 in the leaf spring. When the pin 85 is in one end of the slot, the clearance beneath the leaf spring, to which reference has been made heretofore, is such as to allow the locking pin 83 to assume its active position. However, when the pin 85 is moved to the other end of the slot 86 where no such clearance is provided, the head thereof forces the spring 82 outwardly to withdraw the locking pin 83 out of the holes in the actuating shoe, thereby releasing it for normal operation.

The "invention has been described above in connection with one embodiment thereof, but many others are included within its spirit. The invention is to be limited, therefore, only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A dispenser and applier for material in continuous strip form as, for instance, labels and the like, and which comprises in combination,

' means for accommodating a quantity of the strip material, means operable to feed said strip material through the dispenser, an applying device operable as the dispenser is drawn along an underlying surface to which the strip material is to be applied, to press said strip material against said surface and withdraw it from the dispenser, mechanism connected with the feed means and operable by pressing against the underlying surface to actuate the feeding means partially to advance said material through the dispenser into iristl ument'alitis' for arresting the withdrawal of the material whereby a determine the length thereof to be applied to the surface, and severing means for automatically rupturing the strip material in the region of increasedtension created therein by operation of the withdrawal arresting instrumentalities and the continued operationof the applying device.

2. A dispenser and applier for gummed adhesive material in continuous strip form" as; for in stance, gummed labels or the like, and which comprises in combination, means for accommodating a quantity of the gummed adhesive strip material, means co-operating with the strip material and operable to feed said material through the dispenser, moistening means for activating the gummed adhesive on said materiaLan applying device operable a the dispenser is drawn along an underlying surface to which the strip material is to be applied to press the strip ma! terial against said surface and to withdraw the strip material from the dispenser, mechanism connected with the feed means and operable by pressing against the underlying surface as the applying device is moved toward said surface to actuate said feeding means partially to advance the strip material through the dispensing device in contact with the moistening means and into a position to be acted upon by the applying device and withdrawn thereby from the dispenser, instrumentalities including the feeding means for arresting the withdrawal of the strip material whereby to determine the length thereof to be applied to the surface, and severing means cated between the feed means and the applying device for automatically rupturing the strip material in the region of increased tension created therein by the'operation of the withdrawal arresting instrumentalities and the continued operation of the applying device.

3. A dispenser and applier for material in continuous strip form as, for instance, labels and the like, and which comprises in combination, means for accommodating a quantity of the strip material, means cooperating with the strip material and operable to feed said material through the dispenser, an applying device operable as the dispenser is drawn along an underlying surface to which the strip material is to be applied to press the strip material against said surface-and to withdraw the strip material from the dispenser, a shoe mounted adjacent the-bottom of the dispenser and connected to actuate the feed means upon being pressed against saidsurface partially to advance the strip material through the dispenser into a position to be acted upon by the applying device and withdrawn thereby from the dispenser, instrumentalities including the feed means for arresting the withdrawal of the strip material whereby to determine the length thereof to be applied to said surface, and severing means located between the feed means and the applying device for automatically rupturing the strip material in the region of increased tension created therein by the operation of the withdrawal arresting instrumentalities and the continued operation of the applying device.

4. A dispenser and applier for material in continuous strip form as, for instance, labels and the like having spaced perforations along their marginal edges, and transverse lines of perforations at longitudinally spaced intervals to determine strip portions of a given length, and which comprises in combination, means for accommodating a quantity of the strip material, a

rotatable sprocket wheel element having teeth for co-operating with the perforations in the marginal edges of said material, an applying device operable as the dispenser is drawn along an underlying surface to which the strip material is to be applied to press the strip material against said surface and to withdraw the strip material from the dispenser, a shoe mounted adjacent the bottom of the dispenser and arranged to rotate the sprocket wheel element, upon being pressed against'said surface, partially to advance the strip material through the dispenser into a position to be actedupon by the applying device and withdrawn'thereby' from the dispenser, means for arresting the sprocket wheel element after predetermined rotation thereof corresponding to a strip per-homer said given length, and a transversely disposed" crowned element located between the sprocket wheel element and the applying device for automatically rupturing the strip material along a transverse line of perforations as the tension in the strip material is" increased by the arrest of the sprocket Wheel element and the continued operation of the applying device.

5. A dispenser and applier for gummed adhesive material in continuous strip form as, for instance, labels and the like, having spaced perforations along their marginal edges, and transverse lines of perforations at longitudinally spaced intervals to' determine strip portions of given length, said device comprising in combination, means for accommodating a' quantity of the gummed adhesive strip material, a rotatable sprocket wheel element having teeth for cooperating with the perforations in the marginal edges of the stripmaterial, moistening means for activating' the gummed adhesive on the strip material, anapplying device operable as the dispenser is drawn along an underlying surface to which the strip material is to be applied to press the stripmaterial against said surface and to withdraw the strip material from the dispenser, a shoe'mounted adjacent the bottom of the dispenser and arranged to rotate the sprocket wheel elemenn upon beingpressed against said surface, partially to advance the strip material through the dispenser in contact with the moistening means and into a'position to beacted upon by the applying device and withdrawn thereby from the dispenser, means for arresting the sprocket wheel element after predetermined rotation thereof corresponding to a strip portion of said given length, and a transversely disposed crowned element located between the'sprocket wheel elementand the applying" device for automatically rupturing'the-strip material along a transverse line of perforations as the tension in the strip material is increased by the arrest of the sprocket wheel element and the continued operation of the applying device.

6. A dispenser and applier for material in continuous strip form as, for instance, labels and the like having spaced perforations along their marginal edges, said device comprising in combination, means for accommodating a quantity of the strip material, a rotatable sprocket wheel element having teeth for co-operating with the perforations in the marginal edges of the strip material, an applying device operable as the dispenser is drawn along an underlying surface to which the strip material is to be applied to press the strip material against said surface and to withdraw the strip material from the dispenser, a shoe mounted adjacent the bottom of the dispenser and arranged, when moved from one terminal position to another, to rotate the sprocket wheel element through a portion of a revolution to advance said material into a position to be acted upon by the applying device and withdrawn thereby from the dispenser and arranged also to render active means for arresting the sprocket wheel element when said revolution has been completed by withdrawal of the strip material whereby to interrupt such withdrawal, severing means located between the sprocket wheel element and the applying device for automatically rupturing the strip material as the tension therein is increased by the arrest of the sprocket wheel element and the continued operation of the applying device, and a spring for returning the shoe back to its initial position, said return movement of the shoe acting to release the sprocket wheel element and render the dispenser ready for another dispensing operation.

7. A dispensing and applying device according to claim 6 wherein there is provided means for locking the shoe which rotates the sprocket wheel element in one of its terminal positions.

8. A dispenser and applier for labels in continuous strip form having spaced perforations along their marginal edges and having transverse lines of perforations at equal intervals along the strip defining individual 1abels, said device comprising in combination, means for accommodating a quantity of the labels, a rotatable sprocket wheel element having teeth for co-operating with the perforations in the marginal edges of the labels, means for severing the labels, an applying device operable as the dispenser is drawn along an underlying surface to which a label is to be applied to press said label against said surface and to withdraw the label from the dispenser, a shoe mounted adjacent the bottom of the dispenser and arranged, when moved from one terminal position to another, to rotate the sprocket wheel element through a portion of a revolution to advance the leading end of the first label in the strip past the severing means and into a position to be acted upon by the applying device and withdrawn from the dispenser, and arranged also to render active means for arresting the sprocket wheel element when the transverse line of perforations defining the trailing end of said label has advanced into registry with the severing means, and a spring for returning the shoe to its initial position, said severing device, as the tension in the strip material is increased by the arrest of the sprocket wheel element and the continued operation of the applying device acting automatically to rupture the strip material at the transverse line of perforations in registry 12 therewith and said return movement of the shoe acting to release the sprocket wheel element and render the dispenser ready for dispensing the next label.

9. A dispenser and applier for gummed adhesive labels in continuous strip form having spaced perforations along their marginal edges and having transverse lines of perforations at equal intervals along the strip defining individual labels, said device comprising in combination, means for accommodating a quantity of the labels, a rotatable sprocket wheel element having teeth for co-operating with the perforations in the marginal edges of the labels, means for severing the labels, moistening means for activating the gum adhesive on the labels, an applying device operable as the dispenser is drawn along an underlying surface to which a label is to be applied to press said label against said surface and to withdraw the label from the dispenser, a shoe mounted adjacent the bottom of the dispenser and arranged, when moved from one terminal position to another, to rotate the sprocket wheel element to advance the labels past the severing means and over the moistening means to bring the leading end of the first label in the strip into a position to be acted upon by the applying device, and to render active means for arresting the sprocket wheel element when the transverse line of perforations defining the trailing end of said label has advanced into registry with the severing means, and a spring for returning the shoe back to its initial position, said severing device, as the tension in the strip material is increased by the arrest of the sprocket wheel element and the continued operation of the applying device acting automatically to rupture the strip material at the transverse line of perforations in registry therewith and said return movement of the shoe acting to release the sprocket wheel element and render the dispensing device ready for dispensing the next label.

ERNEST JAMES LEGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 895,528 Wing Aug. 11, 1908 971,133 Maynes Sept. 2'7, 1910 1,019,719 Maynes Mar. 5, 1912 1,026,446 Kennedy et al May 14, 1912 1,433,187 Daniels Oct. 24, 1922 2,235,704 Gorbatenko et a1. Mar. 18, 1941

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