US2788150A

US2788150A - Machines for labelling bottles and the like

Info

Publication number: US2788150A
Application number: US406811A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred German Rose
Original assignee: Rose Brothers Gainsborough Ltd
Current assignee: Rose Brothers Gainsborough Ltd
Priority date: 1953-01-29
Filing date: 1954-01-28
Publication date: 1957-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1974-04-09
Also published as: DE1015739B; FR1095684A; CH315776A

Description

'i April 9, 1957 A. cs.l RosE MACHINES FOR LABELLING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 28, 1954 5 Sheets-.Sheet 1 Attorneys April 9, 1957 A. G. Rose MACHINES FOR LABELLING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 28. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor HM/@f 2W/WN P056 By M A. G. Rosa 2,788,150

MACHINES FOR LABELLING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 April 9, 1957 Filed Jan. 28. 1954 April 9, 1957 A. G. RosE 2,788,150

MACHINES FOR LABELLING BOTTLES AND THE IIKE Filed Jan. 28, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 9, 1957 A. G. RosE 2,788,150

' MACHINES Foa LABELLING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Inventor 1 z/Wf@ 2e/wmv P055 By Mt Mr@ Attornevs United States Patent() MACHINES FOR LABELLING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Alfred German Rose, Gainsborough, England, assignor to Rose Brothers (Gainsborough) Limited, Gainsborough, England, a British company Application January 2s, 1954, serial No. 406,811

Claims priority, application Great Britain January 29, 1953 This invention relates to machines for labelling cylindrical bottles and like articles (generally referred to herein as bottles) an-object of the invention being to provide a machine of simple construction and yet capable of applying labels to bottles at a high rate.

According to the present invention, a machine for labelling cylindrical bottles and like articles comprises a rotatable label carrier adapted to receive labels in succession, means for rendering the outer face of each label adhesive while it is held on the carrier, a presser member adapted to move into Contact with the non-adhesive side of each label in succession, while it is on the carrier, and means for rolling an article over the label in contact with the presser member to apply the label to the articles.

The label carrier is conveniently in the form of a narrow drum or wheel arranged for rotation about a horizontal axis and having a plurality of apertures spaced around its periphery, suction being applied to the apertures for the purpose of seizing the labels. One or more apertures may be used for each label. The labels may be fed to the wheel from a stack in a magazine arranged above the wheel with its base approximately tangential to the wheel, the labels being extracted from the magazine by a pivoted suction member arranged to operate in timed relationship with the movement of the suction apertures in the wheel to seize the leading portion of the lowermost label in the stack and deiiect it on to the surface of the wheel where it is seized by the adjacent suction aperture and withdrawn from the magazine. The Wheel is preferably of narrower width than the labels, and the pivoted suction member conveniently has two suction nozzles arranged to pass one on each side of the wheel as the label is deflected downwards, leaving the label overhanging on ,each side of the wheel.

`When using labels of the thermoplastic kind, they may be rendered adhesive by the application of heat by a heated member arranged in close proximity to the surface of the wheel.

With ordinary untreated labels, a layer of gum may be applied to the overhanging portions of the labels by a gumming roller arranged above the wheel and having a pair of axially spaced gumming surfaces corresponding in width and position to the overhanging portions of the labels, gum being applied to the roller by a transfer roller from a gum bath in usual manner.

With the labels gummed only on the overhanging portions in this manner, there remains an ungummed central portion of the same width as (or somewhat greater than) the wheel, the latter being, for example, about one third the width of the label in the case of a label for a beer bottle, though this dimension may vary considerably in accordance with particular labelling conditions.

. To avoid risk of the labels being lifted from the wheel by the gumming roller, there is preferably provided an endless belt ofv rubber or like material arranged to run "ice with one lap in contact with the wheel, the belt being somewhat narrower than the ungummed portion of the label. The belt preferably extends in contact with the wheel over a substantial arc from a point near the mouth of the magazine towards the presser member. As the labels are seized by the wheel, therefore, they pass into the nip formed between the belt and the wheel and are securely held during the gumming action.

With the labels thus positioned on the wheel and with their outer surfaces gummed, they are moved in succession towards the presser member which is conveniently arranged to move to present a vertical face adjacent a horizontal conveyor arranged to forward the bottles in spaced succession past the wheel. The presser member is conveniently in the form of a pair of spaced presser pads carried by a forked arm (or pair of arms) arranged for oscillation to move the pads into position adjacent the conveyor one on each side of the wheel at approximately the same level as the axis of the Wheel, in timed relationship with the movement of the labels on the wheel. The wheel may rotate continuously, and in such a case, the two pads are preferably provided with apertures to which suction is applied, and as each label on the wheel reaches the label-applying position, the two pads move into contact with the labels so as to seize it by suction and hold it in the label-applying position, the suction being cut otf from the particular aperture or apertures holding the label to the wheel as the pads make contact with the label. The presser member moves to a position just clear of the surface of the wheel to present the label to a bottle brought to the applying position by the conveyor in timed relationship with the movements of the wheel and presser member.

The means for rolling the bottle over the label on the presser member conveniently comprises a presser roller arranged to rotate about a vertical axis on the side of the conveyor opposite the presser member so as to form a nip between its periphery and the two pads. is preferably resiliently urged towards the pads so as resiliently to grip the bottle as it enters the nip. The roller may also be covered with rubber or like resilient material as may also the presser pads and the wheel. A belt (which is also preferably of resilient material) may pass around the roller and a supporting roller with a lap running parallel to the conveyor. It will be seen that, as the bottle enters the nip between the roller (or belt) and the two pads, it is caused to roll under resilient pressure over the gummed label on the two pads so as to cause it to be applied to the bottle, the roller being driven, of course, in the appropriate direction. The suction may be cut off from the two pads as soon as the leading edge of the label adheres to the bottle, and to facilitate the continued application of the label, air under pressure may be applied after cutting oli` the suction.

With the construction described above, it has been found that the labels can be positioned and applied with the wheel rotating continuously with appropriate timing of the suction cut off and application in the wheel and the presser member. For more precise positioning of the labels, however, the wheel may be driven intermittently so as to stop momentarily at the label-applying position. In such a case, the presser member again moves to carry the two pads into contact with the label, but with the central part of the label held to the wheel by suction, it may not be necessary to apply suction to the pads. With such construction and intermittent operation, the wheel may be provided on its periphery with a series of flats, the suction opening or openings then being formed in the dat surfaces. The wheel is then rotated to present each at in turn in a vertical plane adjacent the conveyor in readiness for the rolling of the label on to the bottle.

The roller The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a machine for labelling bottles,

Figure 2 is a view of the machine in the direction of the arrow A,

Figure 3 is a plan of the machine,

Figure 4 is a sectional view of part of the machine shown in Figure l, drawn to a somewhat larger scale,

Figure 5 is a plan of part of the apparatus shown in Figure 4, viewed in the direction of the arrow B,

Figure 6 is a part sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of the apparatus looking in the direction of the arrow C in Figure l,

Figure 8 is a detail of Figure 1 drawn to a larger scale, and

Figure 9 is a view of the apparatus shown in Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrow D.

Briefly describing the machine with reference to Figures l, 2, 3 and 4, a label carrier wheel 1 is formed with a series of flat label carrying surfaces 2 spaced around its periphery and each having a pair of suction openings 3 communicating with a central suction head 4. The wheel 1 is intermittently rotated to move each surface 2 firstly into register with the base of a label stack 6, carried in a magazine 7, from which a label 8 is extracted and fed to the surface 2 to which it is held by suction in the openings 3, the label overhanging the wheel 1 on each side; then by steps through a gumrning station at which gum is applied to the overhanging outer surface of the label; and finally to a labelling station at which a conveyor 9 is arranged to carry a succession of bottles 11, spaced by a worm 12, past the wheel 1, the worm 12 being driven by a chain 13 from a main shaft 14. At the labelling station, a pair of presser pads 16 are moved to present their faces behind the label 8 held by the surface 2 to form a support across which the foremost bottle 11 is rolled so as to cause the label 8 to be pressed on to the bottle, the rolling action being performed by a driven belt E7 resiliently urged towards the wheel 1. After the labelling operation, the bottles 11 are passed to a delivery station by the conveyor 9.

The various mechanisms constituting the machine will now he described in greater detail.

Label-carrier mechanism The wheel 1 is formed with strengthening flanges 21, one of which extends into an integral hub 22 in which is secured a supporting shaft 23 extending at one end through a bearing in a supporting bracket 24 and terminating in a bevel gear 26, while the other end is freely supported in a further bearing bracket 27. The gear 26 is connected by further bevel gearing and a vertical shaft 28 to a horizontal shaft 29 on which is secured a Geneva wheel 31 providing the intermittent motion of the wheel 1. The shaft 29 is mounted in bearing brackets 32 secured to the main framework 33 ofthe machine. The Geneva wheel 31 is driven by a three-throw crank member 34 secured to a further horizontal shaft 36, similarly mounted in brackets 37, and connected by bevel gearing and

shafts

38 and 39 to the main shaft 14.

The

brackets

24 and 27 are secured to a cantiliver base 41 slidably mounted for movement in a vertical direction on the main framework 33 and arranged to be adjusted by a screw jack 42 driven by worm and wheel gearing 43 by a shaft 44 to which a hand lever may be applied. The jack 42 thus provides for vertical adjustment or' the wheel 1 to suit different bottles or label positions.

The pairs of Suction openings 3 extend radially of the wheel 1 and each communicates with a port 46 extending laterally into a hardened and ground surface 47 formed on the adjacent flange 21, the surface making frictional contact with a similar surface on the suction head 4.

A bracket 48 extending from the bearing bracket 27 and secured to the head 4 serves to hold the head stationary, while a spring 49 arranged around the shaft 23 bears against the bracket 27 and the head 4 to maintain a seal between the two friction surfaces. The head 4 is formed with three suction ports 51, 52 and 53, the ports 51 and 53 being connected, respectively, through

suction conduits

54 and 56, to control

valves

57 and 58, suitably connected by a conduit 60 to a suction pump (not shown), while the port 52 is connected directly to the pump through a further conduit 59.

The valves 57 and S8 are of usual construction having a slidable barrel 61 adapted to open and close a suction port 62 connected to the suction conduit 60. The barrels 61 of the two valves are connected by links 63 to pivoted operating levers 64 carrying cam rollers 66 arranged to bear, respectively, against rotatable cams 67 and 68 secured to a cam shaft 69. The latter is driven by bevel gearing 71, 72, 73 and 74 and

shafts

76, 77 and 78 from the main shaft 14.

Label feed and gummz'ng mechanism The magazine 7 is mounted astride the wheel 1 on a platform 81 carried by a supporting bracket 82 mounted on the base 41 (the magazine thus being adjustable with the wheel 1), the platform 81 and bracket 82 being slotted for the passage of the wheel 1. The magazine 7 and associated mechanism is of generally known construction, having a suction extractor consisting of a pair of suction nozzles 83 extending one on each side of the wheel 1 from pivoted arms 84 each having an extending arm 86 connected by a link 87 to an operating arm 88 carrying a roller 89 bearing against a rotatable cam 91 secured to a cam shaft 92. The 'latter shaft is driven by a chain 93 from the shaft 69. Operating in association with the suction nozzles 83 is an oscillating arm 94 carrying a roller 96 arranged to trap each label on to the surface of the wheel 1 (by which it is seized by suction applied to a waiting surface 2) as the leading edge of the label is withdrawn from the stack by the nozzles 83. The arm 94 is oscillated by a link 97 connected to an arm 98 carrying a roller 99 bearing against a further cam 101 on the shaft 92.

ln order to prevent the feeding of a label in the event that a corresponding bottle 11 is not fed by the worm 12, a pivoted feeler 102 is arranged in the path of movement of the bottles and adapted to operate la switch 103 controlling a solenoid 104 movement of which is arranged to pivot a stop member 105 out of the path of movement of a valve-operating arm 106 controlling the action of a suction valve 107 (similar to the valves 57 and 58).

regulating the application of suction to the nozzles 83, the arm 106 having an extension carrying a roller 108 bearing against a cam 109 on the shaft 92. Thus, if the feeler 102 is not operated because of the absence of a bottle 11 from the sequence fed by the worm 12, the stop member 105 is not moved by the solenoid 104 out of the path of the arm 106 so that the valve 107 is not operated to apply the necessary suction to the nozzles 83.

Upon movement of the wheel 1 after the feeding of a label 8, the latter passes into the nip formed between the wheel periphery and a narrow rubber band 111 freely supported on a pair of pulleys 112, the label being thus nipped during the application of gum by the applying roller 113 of a gumming device (generally referred to by reference numeral 114) mounted on a platform 116 carried by a pair of of

pillars

117 and 118 extending from the base 41 (the gumming device thus being adjustable with the wheel 1). The pillar 117 also serving the purpose of accommodating a guide 119 for the base 41. The roller 113 is recessed to provide a pair of gumming surfaces for the overhanging portions of the label, as well as to allow passage of the return run of the band 111. Guides 121 are providedon each side of the wheel Bottle feed and label applying mechanism The presser pads 16 are carried by a pivoted arm 122 and the first pad is formed with apertures 123 connected by a conduit 124 to a valve 126 connected in turn to a pump (not shown). The erm 122 is oscillated by a link 127 connected to an arm 128 carrying a roller 129 bearing against a rotatable cam 131 secured to the shaft 14. In this example, air under pressure is supplied to the apertures 123 as the bottle starts to rol-l across the label'on the pads 16, the supply of air being controlled by a pivoted feeler 132 arranged to be actuated by each bottle 11 as it reaches the first pad 116. The feeler 132 operates a switch 133 controlling a solenoid 134 arranged to act directly on the stem of the valve 126 which is Isimilar in construction to the valve 107.

The bottles 11 are moved in succession to the labelling station by the conveyor 9, being spaced on the conveyor by the worm Y12. The conveyor 9 is of usual construction consisting of a series of slats mounted on a chain 136 supported on a channel 137. The worm 12 is rotatably mounted on a pair of arms 13S themselves pivotally mounted in a pair of supports 1,39 upstanding from a platform 141 slidably mounted in a subsidiary framework 142 and provided with a depending boss 143 internally threaded for the reception of an adjusting screw 144 rotatably mounted in the framework 142. The arms 138 are provided with arcuate slots 146 by which they are adjustably secured to the supports 139. lt will be seen, therefore, that the worm 12 may be adjusted laterally (for bottles of different diameter) by the screw 144, while the pivoted arms 138 provide for adjustment for bottles of different height.

The worm 12 may thus be used for a range of bottle diameters, and to provide for the possibility of jamming at the entrance to the worm when using bottles at the smaller end of the range, a guide 1.47 is arranged opposite the worm 12, and is mounted for pivotal movement away from the worm and adapted, upon such movement (against spring pressure) to operate a switch 148 controlling the movement of the machine as a whole. When jamming occurs, therefore, the guide is forced outwardly and the machine is stopped automatically and cannot be restarted until the jam has been cleared and the guide allowed to return to its normal position.

As each bottle 11 reaches the nip between the first pad 16 and the belt 17, it is caused to roll across the label 8 held by pads 16 to pick up the label, the belt causing further rolling of the bottle between itself and a guide 149 to consolidate the application of the label.

The belt 17 has a surface of rubber and is mounted on a pair of supporting

pulleys

151 and 152, the driving pulley 151 being mounted on a shaft 153 driven by bevel gearing 154 from the shaft 14, the shaft 153 being slidably mounted in a supporting pillar 156 for movement in a vertical direction.

The driven pulley 152 is freely mounted on arm 157 pivoted on a supporting platform 158 and spring-urged towards the conveyor 9, the platform itself being slidably mounted for movement towards and away from the conveyor 9 on a supporting bracket 159 and provided with rack-and-pinion adjustment by an adjusting shaft 161. A spring-urged jockey pulley 162 is also mounted on the platform 158 and provides a parallel run of the belt 17. The supporting bracket 159 is itself slidably mounted on the main framework 33 and provided with rack-and-pinion adjustment under the control of a shaft 163. Like the worm 12, therefore, the belt 17 can be adjusted laterally as well as vertically.

Operation The conveyor 9, worm 12, wheel 1,

cams

67, 68, 91, 101 and 131 Vare all driven'in timed relationship to pro- 6 vide for the delivery of a bottle 11 at the labelling sta-l tion for each movement of the wheel 1 and the simultaneous action of the label-feeding and presenting mechamsm.

Assuming the apparatus to be in continuous motion, the feeding and application of one label will be described, it being understood that, while one label is being withdrawn from the stack 6, another is being transferred from the wheel 1 to the bottle 11 for the time being passing through the labelling station, other labels being held to the wheel at intermediate stations.

As the wheel comes to rest with a surface 2 in register with the magazine 7, the cam 109 causes the valve 107 to open to apply suction to the nozzles 83, and at the same time, the cams 91 cause the nozzles 83 to pivot to withdrawn the leading portion of the lowermost label S from the stack and feed it to the surface 2, the trapping roller 96 being moved into operative position by the cam 101 in readiness for movement of the wheel 1. At this stage, the cams 67 has operated the valve 57 to cause suction to be applied to the openings 3 in the surface 2 through the ports 51 and 46 so that the label 8 is also seized by the wheel 1. The wheel 1 then moves (suction being cut olf from the nozzles 33 in the meantime) to carry the label 8 towards the gumming station, such action serving to withdraw the remainder of the label from the stack leaving it held to the wheel by the two openings 3 assisted later by the nipping action of the belt 111. Step by step movement of the wheel 1 now carries the label 8 into gumming contact with the gumming wheel 113 'and then presents it vertically gummed side out at the labelling station, suction being lcontinuously provided over this period by the port 52.

Upon arrival at the latter station, the presser pads 16 move into substantial alignment with the surface 2 to form with that surface a substantial continuous support for the label against the rolling action of the bottle. The label 8 is held to the wheel by suction until the bottle 11 has rolled at least on to the leading portion of the rst pad 16 to cause the leading portion of the label 8 to adhere to the bottle. Suction is then cut off from the openings 3 by the cam d and valve 58 (the port 46 having passed into register with the port 53), as the bottle 11 continues to roll over the two pads, the wheel 1 being arranged to rest at least until the bottle 11 has commenced rolling on to the second pad.

As soon as the bottle 11 has rolled on to the leading portion of the first pad 16, it contacts the feeler 132 which causes air under pressure to be fed to the apertures 123 in the pad to assist in removing the label 8 from the wheel 1. Further rolling of the bottle 11 then takes place between the belt 17 and the guide 149 to consolidate the application of the label.

1 claim:

l. A machine for labelling cylindrical bottles and like articles, comprising a rotatable label carrier adapted to receive labels in succession, means for rendering the outer face of each label adhesive while it is held on the carrier, a presser member adapted to move transversely of the periphery of the carrier towards the nonadhesive side of each label in succession to an operative position to present a pair of stationary supporting surfaces spaced one on each side of and substantially tangential to the periphery of the carrier and extending substantially parallel to the axis of the carrier against which surfaces the label may be pressed while it is held on the carrier, and means for rolling an article over the surfaces to cause such pressing and apply the label to the article.

2. A machine as in claim l, wherein the supporting surfaces are formed with suction openings to which suction is applied to seize the labels in succession from the carrier, and means are provided for cutting olf the suction from the surfaces as rolling commences.

3. A machine as in claim 2, comprising means for '7 applying air under pressure to at least the apertures in the second surface, after rolling has commenced, to facilitate the application of the label to the bottle.

4. A machine for labelling cylindrical bottles and like articles, comprising a rotatable label carrier adapted to receive labels in succession, means for rendering the outer face of each label adhesive while it is held on the carrier, a presser member adapted to move transversely of the periphery of the carrier towards the non-adhesive side of each label in succession to an operative position to present a pair of stationary supporting surfaces spaced one on each side of and substantially tangential to the periphery of the carrier and extending substantially parallel to the axis of the carrier against which surfaces the label may be pressed while it is held on the carrier, the supporting surfaces being formed with suction openings to which suction is applied to seize the labels in suc cession from the carrier, means for rolling the bottles in succession over the surfaces to press each label against the surfaces and apply it to the bottle, means for cutting off the suction from the surfaces as rolling commences, a feeler member adapted to be moved by each bottle in turn as it makes rolling contact with the first of the supporting surfaces, means for applying air under pressure to at least the apertures in the second surface, and means responsive to such movement of the feeler member for rendering operative the air-applying means.

5. A machine for labelling cylindrical bottles and like articles, comprising a rotatable label-carrying drum formed with a plurality of `suction apertures spaced around its periphery, said drum being of substantially narrower width than the bottles, means for applying suction to the apertures for seizing the labels in succession, a magazine for receiving a stack of labels, said magazine being ai ranged adjacent the drum with its base substantially tangential to the drum, a pivoted suction member formed with two suction nozzles arranged one on each side of the drum, the suction member being arranged to operate in timed relationship with the movement of the drum to seize the leading portion of the lowermost label in the stack and deflect it on to the surface of the drum for it to be seized by the adjacent suction aperture and, upon movement of the drum, to be withdrawn from the magazine, leaving the label overhanging on each side of the drum, means for rendering the outer face of each label adhesive while it is held on the carrier, a presser member adapted to move transversely of the periphery of the carrier towards the non-adhesive side of each label in succession to an operative position to present a pair of stationary supporting surfaces spaced one on each side of and substantially tangential to the periphery of the carrier and extending substantially parallel to the axis of the carrier against which surfaces the overhanging portions of the label may be pressed while it is held on the carrier, and means for rolling an article over the surfaces to cause such pressing and apply the label to the article.

6. A machine as in claim 5, wherein the means for rendering the labels adhesive comprises a gumming roller arranged above the drum and formed with a pair of ax-ially spaced gumming surfaces substantially corresponding in width and position to the overhanging portions of the labels, and further including an endless belt of resilient material having one lap extending in contact with a portion of the periphery of the drum adjacent the gumming roller to form a nip in which the labels are held during the gumming action.

7. A machine for labelling cylindrical bottles and like articles comprising a rotatable label-carrying drum formed with a plurality of suction apertures spaced around its periphery, said drum being of substantially narrower width than the bottles, means for applying suction to the apertures for seizing the labels in succession, a magazine for receiving a stack of labels, said magazine being arranged adjacent the drum with its base substantially tangential to the drum, a pivoted suction member formed with two suction nozzles arranged one on each side of thedrum, the suction member being arranged to operate in timed relationship with the movement of the drum to seize the leading portion of the lowermost label in the stack and deflect it on to the surface of the drum for it to be seized by the adjacent suction aperture and, upon movement of the drum, to be withdrawn from the magazine, leaving the label overhanging on each side of the drum, means for rendering the outer face of each label adhesive while it is held on the drum, a presser member adapted to move transversely of the periphery of the carrier towards the non-adhesive side of each label in succession to an operative position to present a stationary supporting surface substantially tangential to the periphery of the carrier and extending substantially parallel to the axis of the carrier against which surface an overhanging portion of the label may be pressed while it is held on the carrier, and means for rolling an article over the surface to cause such pressing and initiate the application of the label to the article.

8. A machine for labelling cylindrical bottles and like articles, comprising a rotatable label-carrying drum formed with a plurality of suction apertures spaced around its periphery, said drum being of substantially narrower width than the bottles, means for applying suction to the apertures for seizing the labels in succession, a magazine for receiving a stack of labels, said magazine being arranged adjacent the drum with its base substantially tangential to the drum, a pivoted suction member formed with two suction nozzles arranged one on each side of the drum, the suction member being arranged to operate in timed relationship with the movement of the drum to seize the leading portion of the lowermost label in the stack and deect it on to the surface of the drum for it to be seized by the adjacent suction aperture and, upon movement of the drum, to be withdrawn from the magazine, leaving the label overhanging on each side of the drum, a gumming roller arranged above the drum and formed with a pair of axially spaced gumming surfaces substantially corresponding in width and position to the overhanging portions of the labels, an endless belt of resilient material having one lap extending in contact with a portion of the periphery of the drum adjacent the gumming roller to form a nip in which the labels are held during the gumming action, a presser member adapted to move transversely of the periphery of the carrier towards the non-adhesive side of each label in succession to an' operative position to present a stationary supporting surface substantially tangential to the periphery of the carrier and extending substantially parallel to the axis of the carrier against which surface an overhanging portion of the label may be pressed while it is held on the carrier,v and means for rolling an article over the surface to cause such pressing and initiate the application of the label to the article.

9. A machine for labelling cylindrical bottles and like articles, comprising a rotatable label-carrying drum formed with a series of flat peripheral surfaces, at least one suction aperture in each flat surface, said drum being of substantially narrower width than the bottles, means for applying suction to the apertures for seizing the labels in succession, a magazine for receiving a stack of labels, said magazine being arranged adjacent the drum with its base substantially tangential to the drum, a pivoted suction member formed with two suction nozzles arranged one on each side of the drum, the suction member being arranged to operate in timed relationship with the movement of the drum to seize the leading portion of the lowermost label in the stack and deflect it on to the surface of the drum for it to be seized by the adjacent suction aperture and, upon movement of the drum, to be withdrawn from the magazine, leaving the label overhanging on each side of the drum, means for rendering the outer face of each label adhesive while it is held on the drum, means for rotating the drum intermittently to carry each at surface n turn Ito a label-applying station, a presser member adapted to References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Von Hofe Nov. 29, 1955 Mason Apr. 18, 1933 Everett Dec. 25, 1945 Carter Jan. 7, 1947 Magnusson Mar. 13, 1951 Lissimore Aug. 28, 1951 Von Hofe Oct. 7, 1952 Cook et al Apr. 21, 1953 Jackson Feb. 2, 1954 Zimpel Feb. 9, 1954