US301843A

US301843A - -wiley

Info

Publication number: US301843A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1884-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 1901-07-08

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

P. W. WILEY.

MACHINE FOR ATTAGHING LABELS T0 PACKAGES.

Jnbanlr MMW' 64% Patented July 8, 1884.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2..

(No' Model.)

P. w. WILEY. MACHINE FOR ATTAGHINGLABELS T0 PACKAGES.

Patented Ju1y8, 1884.

( 26 mCX/66071/ n. PETERS mwumn hw. warmm. n c

(N0 Model.) 4 SheetS -Shee't 3. y

P. W. "WILEY. MACHINE FOR AATTAUHING LABELS TO PAGKAGES. No. 301,843.

Patented July 8, 1884.

N. PTERS- PMWL'rllwgrzphlh Washinllon. D. C.

(No Modl.)

' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 P. W. WILEY;

MACHINE FOR ATTAGHING LABELS To PACKAGES. No. 301,843. Patented July 8, 1834..

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UNITED STAT S PATENT Fmcni.

PHILIP W. WILEY, OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA.

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING LABELS TO PACKAGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 301,843, dated July 8, 1884.

Application filed January 9, 1884. (No model.)

is applicable in whole or in part to machines for attaching labels to other articles. These packages are squared in a mold, so that they are in the form of rectangular parallelopipe-' dons with an oblong base, and they have two labels applied to them, one in the form of a narrow strip encircling the package at its middle, and theother in the form of an oblong sheet affixed to the face of the package over the two ends of the strip-label.

The invention consists, first, in combining with holders for supporting the packages and means for introducing the latter into the holders, devices for pasting the strip-labels around the squared or irregular bodies of the same,the said devices being adapted to conform in their movements to. the irregular outline.

Heretofore machines have been made for pasting labels around cans; but these have not been adapted to the purposes of this invention, .because the rolling of the can is relied upon to efiect the pasting of the label to its periphery; or if this be not the case in some instances the cylindrical shape of the can is nevertheless necessary for the operation of the machine.

The invention consists, secondly, in the combination,with the means for pasting striplabels around the packages, of means for applying face-labels to them and mechanism connecting the said means, so that said labels are successively and automatically applied to each package.

This invention further comprises certain special constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts in the label-attaehing mechanism, claimed. I

The following is a description of what is as hereinafter set forth and v pack age.

considered the best mode of applyin g the principle of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which represent one of the improved machines.

Figure 1 is a plan View, partly in horizontal section; Fig. 2, a side elevation; Fig. 3, avertical longitudinal section; Fig. 4, a partial view showing the rotatory holders in connection with the upper fountain-brush; Figs. 5 to 10, detail views, and Figs. 11 and 12 views of a modification.

A is the machine-frame in which the several parts are supported; 13, an endless traveling apron G, a stationary table; D D, rotatory holders for supporting the bags or packages in applying the strip -labels; E, a fountain-brush; F, the box or receptacle for the striplabels; G, stationary ledges; H, a second fountain-brush I, the box or receptacle for the face-labels; K,

-a pressing-rollemL, an automatic stop, and

M N, pressing and delivery rollers. The apron B is supported at its inner end (righthand end in Figs. 1 and 3) on a roller, a, journaled in hearings in the machine-frame and revolved intermittently by. means of a belt on the pulley Z). The outer end of the apron may be supported by a similar roller; but, as shown,

the apron is broken off. It may extend to any desired distance. The bags or packages to be labeled are placed on the apron.

The table 0 is supported on the machineframe, with its upper surface on or nearly on a level with that of apron B, so that the bags or packages will pass-ontoit from said apron. There are upright walls 0 at the sides of the table, which converge slightly toward the inner (right-handlend, so as to place the bags or packages in the proper position to pass intothe first pair of holders, 1). These (and the holders D also) consist of. blocks mounted upon short shafts d, which are journaled in the machine-frame. The face of the blocks is grooved at a, so as to receive the ends of a The height of the grooves is about equal to the thickness of a package, and the length is a little less than its width. Each block or holder-is provided with a clamping jaw, f, which passes through anotch, g, in one side of the groove, so that it may bear upon the package within. It is hinged at h to the block, and is operated by means of a spring,

'17, which presses up the tail of the jaw and causes the opposite end to clamp the package in the groove. Between the holders D and D of each pair space is left, so that the middle of the packages will be exposed for the application to that portion of the strip-labels. During this application the holders, with the pack ages, are revolved by means of gears k at the ends of the short shafts d. The two gears k on each side mesh with each other, so that the holders D revolve in the opposite direction to the holders D, and one of the said gears 76 on each side meshes with an idler, Z, mounted on a journal pin or stud, m, fixed to "the machine-frame, and this idler in turn meshes with a mutilated gear, a. The mutilated gear has the same number of teeth as the gears 7;; but the teeth are arranged in a semi-circumference, so that the gears I: and the holders D D make one complete revolution in one halfturn of the gear a and remain at rest during the other half-turn. The mutilated gears n (for there are two such gearsone for each side of the machine) are fixed on the shaft 1;, which is the main shaft of the machine, and to which the power is or may be applied in any known or suitable way, so as to revolve it continuously. As the holders 1) l) finish their revolution the tail of each clamping-jawf passes under a fixed pin, g, which forces it down against the pressure of the spring z and raises the front or clamping end of the jaw f. \Vhen at rest the grooves in the holders are horizontal, and their bottoms form substantially a continuation of the apron l3 and table 0, so that the packages may readily be moved into the holders 1) from the table 0, or into the holders D from the holders D. The clamping-jaws, being withdrawn by the pin q, do not interfere with the movements of the packages. As soon as or shortly after the holders begin to tnrn,the tails of the clamping-jaws pass from under the pins q, and the springs i cause the jaws to clamp the packages in the holders. The feeding of the bags or packages is effected by the movement of the apron B,which begins as soon as the holders come to rest, and occupies a quarter of a revolution of the main shaft p. The movement is imparted from the segment or are r on the side of the mutilated gear a (shown in Fig. 2) through the pulley .9, turning on a fixed stud. The crossed belt t and the pulley b arethe shaft of roller (1. The segment or are 1' operates by friction. The re maining quarter of a revolution, during which the apron B, as well as the holders D I), remaln statlonary, is occupied in applying one end of the strip-label to the package in holders D, as will be hereinafter explained.

Above the open space between the holders I) is supported the fountain paste-brush E.

It is fastened to the lower end of a rod, a,

which is free to slide in a hole in the stationthe middle of the bar a: is broken away, and

in Fig. 4c the two ends. The upper parts of the uprights 50* are broken off in Fig. 4c. The weight of the brush and the rod 11, is or may be partly supported. by springs 15, Fig. 4, (shown as spiral tension-springs,) or by equivalent means. \lVhen there is a packagein the holders D, the brush is upheld by the wheels o,which rest upon the package. then in contact with the 'bag or wrapper of the package, and when the latter is revolved by the holders leaves a band of paste around it of the width of the strip-labels. The wheels resting upon the package raise and lower the brush, so thatit conforms in its movements to the irregular outline of the package. Vhen a package is not in the holders, the brush is held up by a pin, a, in the rod 10 at such height that the packages can easily be forced under it.

The pastebrush E may be of any ordinary or suitable construction. As shown, the fibrous part of the brush 1 is fastened to one side of the paste-holder or fountain z, and a gate, a, is provided for closing more or less the outlet of the holder or fountain. Itis adjustable, by means of a screw, 7), to vary the openingin the mouth of the holder or fountain, so as to allow more or less paste to flow onto the fibrous part, to be wiped oil on the bag or package.

Below the level of the holders D D is the box or receptacle Ffor the strip-labels. The bottom 0 rests upon the flat bar d, which is adapted to slide in a hole in the stationary cross-bar c. of the sides and ends, fits loosely over or around the bottom, and is held up by the spiral tension-springs f, each connected at thelower end with a pin, g, attached to the frame, and at the upper end with a pin, it, fixed in the bottom and projecting througha slot in the ends of the box. (See box I.) The frame of the box may therefore be depressed inde pendently of the bottom, which acts as a plunger to force the labels to the top, and when relieved the springs return the frame. The bar d passes down in close proximity to the shaft 2', which extends lengthwise of the machine, and is geared to the cross-shaft p by bevel eog-wheels k. A pin, Z, provided with a friction-roller, projects from the bar (1 under the edge of the disk-cam m, and the said roller is usually held in contact with the cam m by the weight a. This weight is fastened to one end of a cord, j), which passes over the fixed pulley q, and is fastened at the other end'to the pin Z. The weight is suflicient to overbalance the label-box and the bar d when the former is full of labels, and it therefore constantly tends to raise the bar and the labelbox. The cam m is a disk molded or cut away, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to leave two inclines, 1 and 2, the former, or number 1, being more nearly radial, and therefore more abrupt, than the other. In the revolution of the cam the roller 011 pin Zis first drawn over the more abrupt incline 1, so that the bar cl and The brush is The frame of the box, composed I package by the weight 16.

label-box F are lifted'rapidly by the weight a,

but are more slowly drawn down by the. ac-

tion of the incline 2. When the label -box rises, the top of the frame comes into contact with the bottom of the table 0, and also with i the bottoms of the packages in holders D D, and is held stationary, while the bottom or plunger 0 is farther advanced by the weight a, and the labels are lifted by it until the upper label is brought into contact with the package in the holders D. This package has had a ring of paste applied to it when supported .in the holders D, from which it has been transv, ferred to the holders D.

is or may be provided with a cover, r, extending over the top, so as to leave only the proper end exposed. After the endof the strip-label has been stuck to the package in holders they are revolved by the means before explained. As they revolve the roller Kpresses the strip label into contact with the paste on the package. This roller, which is preferably made of or surfaced with rubber or similar elastic material, is carried by a bar or rod, .9, that is free to slide in a hole in cross-bar t, and is forced up so as to-press the roller against the This weight is fastened to'the cord 1/, which passes over the pulley w, and is, at the other end fastened to.

a pin in the end of the bar or rod 8'. Being held by yielding pressure the roller can move in and out to conform to the irregular outline of the bag or package. In order to keep the roller out of the fresh paste on the package it is not allowed to come into contactwith the bag until the holders D have revolved a sufficient distance to bring the end of the label over the roller. To hold off the roller until the proper time, a cam, 05,, on the shaft t" is arranged to strike and bear down a roller, y, on a pin attached to the bar orrod s. The shape of the cam 00 is shown in Fig. 7. After the strip-label has been applied the package is passed from the holders D onto the ledges G. A roller, z, at the front of the ledges, causes the packages to run onto them moreeasily. Between the ledges is fastened a plate, a its upper surface slightly below the top of the ledges. This plate has an opening the size of the face-label. Below this plate is the fountain brush H, for applying paste through the opening to the face of the package. The plate a serves therefore as a'stencil. The fountain brush H consists of a well, I), and a cylindrical brush 0 'ournaled in bearin s attached 7 7 J b to the well, and provided with rollers d, fixed on the journals of the brush. These rollers the friction causes the brush to be turnedback and forth in the paste in the well. Wire scrapers f prevent the brush fromtaking up an excess'of paste. They are made adjustable by attaching them to the edge of the well by set-screws or by other suitable means, so that they can be set nearer to orfarther from the axis of the brush in order thus to regulate the amount of paste taken up. The wires f are fastened to the bars l14,which have at the ends depending lugs 112 and 113 (see Fig. 10) that fit over the edge of the well If. Set-screws 115, tapped through the lugs 112,press against the well and retain the scrapers in place.

The fountain H is reciprocated by pitmen or connecting-rods between crank-pins a on two of the gears 70, and pins on the ends of a long plate or wide bar, If, which passes through slots t in the machine-frame and under the pastewell b. It supports the latter. After the paste for the face-label has been applied, the package is pushed along the ledges until it is over the box or receptacle I for the facelabels. This box is substantially like the box F for the strip-labels, and the description need not be repeated. The same letters indicate corresponding parts. It rests upon and is fastened to the sliding bar lc-,which is pressed up by the weight Z to bring the upper label into contact with the pasted face of the pack age, and is drawn down afterward by the cam m on the horizontal shaft i, leaving the top label sticking to the package. The packages while on the ledges G are held down by the cover 11?. The stencil-plate a being set below the top of the ledges, is not liable to scrape off the fresh paste when the packages are moved past it. The movement of the packages through the machine is effected by the intermittent rotation of the apron B, the package behind pushing along those in front, and the whole moving the width of a package at each step. In order to prevent the row of packages from advancing too far the stop L is provided. It is supported as a slide in ways or grooves p and is raised or lowered as required by the cam '9 through the shoe 1 and supporting-rods s. The cam is so arranged that it allows the stop L to drop behind the package, which has just been labeled,and which is carried off by the rollers M-N. It thus stops the succeeding package in the proper position over the label-box I. The roller M is revolved continuously by' the belt t which conveys motion from the pulley 17 on shaft p to the pulley t on shaft of roller M. The operation of the whole machine is as follows: The packages are placed in order on the apron B, face down, and the months or stamped ends all point in one direction. The apron being rotated through the are or segment 9", pulley s, belt 1, pulley Z), and roller a, the packages thereon are advanced and push those in the machine forward the width of a package. The package previously on the table is pushed into the holders D, the one in holders D into holders D, the one previously in holders D onto the front or inner ends of the ledges G, the one on the front of the ledges over the stencil-plate a", the one previously over the stencil-plate into the space between the said plate and the label-box I, the one previously in this space into position over the label-box I, and the one over the labelbox between the delivery and pressing rollers M N, which immediately carry this last package out of the machine. The rollers M N feed the package somewhat faster than the line of packages is advanced by the apron B, so that the last package is not in the way of the stop L, which drops down immediately behind it. It thus stops the advance of the line of package until the are or segment 1, having passed from under the pulley s, the apron B comes to rest. The cam q thereupon raises the stop out of the way. At the same time the cams m and m allow the label-boxes F and I to be raised by the weights a and Z and the end of the strip-label is stuck on the package in holders D, which package has previously been pasted while in the holders D, and the facelabel is stuck on the face of the package to which paste had previously been applied by the fountain-brush H through the stencil-plate a. The cams m m afterward withdraw the label-boxes F. The cam m is so shaped that it withdraws the label-box F while the holders 1) are stationary; but so quick a movement is not required for the box I, and therefore the cam is shaped as shown in Fig. 8, to permit a slow movement. The movement of the labelbox I to apply the face-label takes place therefore partly,and might take place wholly,during the revolution of the holders D D. As soon as the label-box F is out of the way, the holders D D revolve, being made to do so by the engagement of the teeth of the mutilated gears a with the idlers Z, and the fountainbrush H is reciprocated by means of the pitmen or connecting rods g. The revolution of the holders D turns the package held therein under and in cont-act'with the brush E, which leaves a ring of paste around the package, and the revolution of the holders D turns the package held therein (together with the strip-label stuck on by one end) over the roller K, which presses the said label smoothly upon the package. \Vhen the holders D D have finished their revolution, the clamp of the jaws f is released, the apron B revolves, and the row of packages is advanced, when the operations are repeated in the order de scribed upon the succeeding packages.

The foregoing constitutes what is believed to be the best mode of applying the principle of the invention; but the invention is not strictly or wholly limited thereto, since it is obvious that modifications may be made in detail without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, i11- stead of using the intermittently-revolving apron-feed, the arrangement shown in Figs. 11 and 12 can be adopted and be used with or without the automatic stop L. The packages are placed in the hopper I, supported above a table, which, as it corresponds to the table 0 of Figs. 1 and 3, is designated by that letter. The hopper-mouth is distant from the table about the thickness of a package. Upon the table is a feed-block, Q, mounted upon rollers that travel on the table. It is connected by the lever to with a crank, I), on the shaft 11, the said lever being pivoted at c" to a stationary part of the machine. The wrist of the crank works in a slot, (1 in the lever. The upper end of the lever has, by a slot and pin, connection with the feed-block at c. The effeet of the crank-connection is to reciprocate the feed-block. As it moves back from under the hopper it allows a package to fall upon the table. As it moves forward again it pushes this package against the other and advances the whole line. The operator could place the packages one at a time in front of a feedblock, if it be desired to keep his attention fixed on the machine.

Other modifications could be made. Thus, instead of the label-boxes shown, other means of known or suitable construction for applying labels to pasted surfaces could be used. It should be observed, however, that the means shown are, it is believed, of new and improved construction, and are specially claimed.

It is evident that parts of the invention could be used separately.

I claim the new improvements herein described, all and several, to wit:

1. In a machine for attaching labels, mechanism for pasting strips or long labels around packages of a squared or irregular form, the same comprising rotatory holders constructed to hold such packages, combined with devices, substantially as described, for pasting the strips or labels around them, said devices being movable toward and away from the axis of the holders to conform to the irregular outline, as set forth.

2. A machine for automatically attaching to packages a strip or long label around each package, and a sheet-label 011 the face thereof, said machine comprising mechanism, substantially as described, for rotating the packages and pasting strip-labels around their middle, and mechanism, substantially as described, for supporting said packages without rotating them, and while thus held pasting asheetlabel on the faces of the same, in combination with devices for operating said mechanism, and a feeder for carrying the packages to and from the same, as set forth.

3. The combination, with rotatory holders, of a paste-brush, a movable carrier for the said brush, and means, substantially as described, for supporting it in contact with the package, and for moving the same toward and away from the axis of the holder in conformity to the shape of thepackage, as set forth.

4. The combination, with rotatory holders, of the box or receptacle for the strip-labels, having a bottom adapted to act as a plunger, and

the mechanism, as described, for raising and lowering the same to stick the top label against the package in said holders, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with rotatory holders,

of rotatory holders, the paste-brush, the box or receptacle for the strip-labels, the pressingroller, and the operating mechanism, substantially as described. I

7. The rotatory holders having grooved faces to receive the ends of the packages, and clampingjaws to hold them in the grooves, substantially asdescribed.

8. The combination, with grooved holders and mechanism for revolving the same intermittently, of a feeder, and mechanism, substantially as set forth, for operating ittto ad-.

vance the packages in the interval between the rotation of the holders, so as automatically to insert the packages in the grooves, substantially as described. 1

9. The combination of an intermittent feeder, intermittently rotated package-holders, a paste-brush, a label-box or receptacle, and a presser or pressing roller, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with a label-box for holding a number of'labels, of a cam and connected parts, substantially as described, for moving the same toward and away from the package, to attach'a label to it, as set forth.

11. The combination, with rotatory package-holders, of a brush and a movable sup"- port or carrier therefor, provided with wheels to rest upon the package, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with a label-box and a movable support or carrier therefor, of a cam for controlling the movements of the said box and its carrier, said cam having inclines tory holders, the brush, the wheeled brushcarrier, and the box for the strip-labels, substantially as described.

14. The combination of the rotatory holders, the paste-brush, the wheeled brush-carrier, the box for the strip-labels, the pressing roller, and the operating mechanism, substantially as described. g

15. The combination, with the rotatory holders, paste-brush, label-box, pressing roller,

and operating mechanism for pasting a striplabel around a package, of a paste-brush,

label-box, and operating machines for pasting a short label on the facegof the package, substantially as described.

16. In a machine for attaching labels, a stencil-plate, in combination with a paste-brush,

substantially as described.

17. The combination of the ledges by which the package is supported, the stencil-plate between the ledges, and the paste-brush below the said plate, substantially as described.

18. The combination, with the paste-brush for applying paste to, the face of the package, the box or receptacle "for the face-labels, and the mechanism, substantially as described, for operating said paste-brush and label-box, of

a feeder for moving the packages from the brush to the label-box, as set forth.

19. The combination, with mechanism, as explained, comprising the ledges G, cover n", fountaiirbrush H, and 1abel-box I, for pasting a label on the face of packages, of the delivery and pressing rollers arranged to receive between them the packages with the applied labels, substantially as described.

20. The combination, with the paste and label applying mechanism of a machine for attaching labels to packages, of an intermittent feeder for advancing the line of packages,

"and an automatic stop to arrest their advance,

substantially as described. v

, 21. The herein-described machine for attachinglabels, comprising, in combination,- thefollowing elements, to wit: an intermittent feeder, the rotatory holders, the two pastebrushes, the two label-boxes, the presser-roller, and the pressing and delivery rollers, and their'operating mechanism, substantially as set forth.

22. The grooved holders for the packages, provided with clamping-jaws, in combination with devices, as explained, for releasing the jaws when the holders come to-rest in the position for receiving the packages, substantially as described.

23. The fountain-brush for applying'paste to the packages, comprising a well and a rota- PHILIP WV. WILEY.

, WVitnesses: R. S. WYNNE, P. A. WILEY.

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