US560324A

US560324A - Can-labeling machine

Info

Publication number: US560324A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 1913-05-19

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet 1,,

(No Model.)

W. E. PETTEE. GAN LABELING MACHINE. No. 560,324, v Patented M 19, 1896.

ANDRDN B GRANAMJHUTOUTNO.WASMINGTD'LD C 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. W1 E I I GAN LABELING MACHINE.

N0.'5'60 324. Patented My 19, 1896. g?-

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W. E. PETTEE.

CAN LABELING MACHINE.

Pate ted May 19 1896.

NITED STATES PATENT Fries;

I \VILLIAM E. PETTEE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAN-Y-LABELING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,324, dated May 19, 1896.

Application filed June 18, 1894. $erial l o. 514,853. (No model.)

To all w/tom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. PETTEE, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Oan-Labelin g Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention has for its object toimprove the construction of can-labeling machines,bein g especially adapted for applying a label to a cylindrical can, such as ordinarily used for packing fruits and the like.

My invention comprehends a feeding mechanism for feeding the cans intermittingly, supporting devices for supporting the can in position to be engaged by the labeling devices, a pair of end clamps adapted to be moved into engagement with the cans so supported, means for applying a narrow line of paste or other adhesive material lengthwise of the canas, for instance, from end to end thereof-means for giving the can when so pasted a partial revolution to bring its pasted portion beneath one end of a pile of labels supported in such manner that they project over the can, means for holding the can at rest at such time, a presser for pressing the labels down onto the line of paste previously deposited on the can-body in order that the lowermost label of the pile may be firmly attached thereto, said presser also serving to hold the can against rotation, means for subsequently again engaging the can and giving it one or more complete revolutions, whereby the lowermost label of the pile is withdrawn and wound around the can-body, a wiper brought into action just as the can begins to turn to assist in laying the label flat upon the can-body, and means for thereafter disengaging the can and removing the supporting devices, that the labeled can may be discharged from the machine. One way of holding the labels consists in attaching them to or upon a pin, from which they may be torn one at a time, or in making the pile of labels as a block, they being secured together at one end only, and adjacent said connected ends of the labels transverse slits are cut extending inward toward each other from each side, so that the labels are really connected with an end piece at the middle for a short distance, so as to become easily detached. In either case the blockor pile of labels is placed in a box especially adapted to receive it, having supportii'ig-plates, which may be made spring-acting at one end, adapted to enter the transverse slits of the block, to thereby hold it, providing the block is formed with transverse slits, and having a pin if the block is formed as a pile of separate labels, and the opposite end of the box is closed, except for a short distance next the bottom, through which opening a small number of labels may project say twenty-five, for instance. This box is made so much shorter than the length of the block or pile of labels that when the labels are placed therein they will be crowded endwise in such a manner as to bulge up at a point between their ends, except those labels at the bottom of the block or pile, which project through the end opening of the box, and a cross-bar is provided above the block or pile of labels, against which the bulging portion thereof bears. The bulging portion of the block or pile of labels bearing against the cross-bar serves as a spring to press the labels down.

At the upper end of the box containing the block or pile of labels, and which I will refer to as the rear end, and occupying a position substantially flush with the bottom thereof, is arranged a pasting device adapted to apply a line of paste across the under side of the lowermost label .of the pile at the rear end thereof. The opposite ends of those labels which project through the opening at the front or opposite end of the box oocupya position adjacent to and j u st above the can when the latter is in engagement with the end clamps or other means employed for rotating it, so that when the pasted portion of the can is brought into position beneath the forwardlyprojecting end of these labels, as it will be by turning said can a partial revolution, the

lowermost label of the pile will be firmly attached thereto by pressing it into contact therewith. Subsequently as the can is rotated the lowermost label is disconnected or detached and withdrawn from the box and wrapped around the can, being laid flat thereon by means of the wiper, and as the can makes a complete revolution the rear pasted end of the label will overlap the opposite end thereof and will therefore be firmly secured in place. Hence the two ends of the label are secured, one to the can-bod y and the other to the opposite end of the label.

Figure 1 shows in side elevation a can-label ing machine embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a longitu dinal section of the machine shown in Fig. 2, taken on the dotted line a; m; Fig. 4, an under side "iew of the machine; Fig. 5, a front end elevation of the upper portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a plan and Fig. 7 a front end view of the label-receiver; Figs. 8 and 9, details of the spring-acting arms which prevent rebound of the can 5 Figs. 10 and 11, details of the paste-box at the rear end of the label-receiver; Fig. 12, a longitudinal section of the label-receiver, showing the labels contained therein; Fig. 13, a detail showing the end clamps which engage the can, together with the means for removing them; Fig. 1 L, a detail showing the support which holds the can in position to be labeled; Figs. 15, 16, and 17, details of the pasting device for applying paste to the can; Fig. 18, a detail showing the means for operating the wiper by means of which the label is laid upon the can; Figs. 19 and 20, details of the presser-block beneath the can; Figs. 21 and 22, a modified form of label-box and block.

The main framework of the machine consists of a declining bed A, supported by or upon legs B. Upon the bed A are arranged two pairs of longitudinal strips a a in line with each other, the strips of each pair being located a short distance apart to form between them a guideway of suitable width for the can and the two pairs being separated a short distance to receive between them the labeling devices. One of said pairs of strips serves to guide the can to the labeling devices and the other to direct the course of the can after leaving the labeling devices.

Near the upper end of the bed A a feedwheel is journaled, it being herein shown as consisting of two flat end pieces a a, secured to a shaft a and having several semicircular recesses cut in their peripheries to receive the cans, six such recesses beingherein shown. The shaft a has its bearings below the bed A, and the end pieces a project up through the bed, which is slotted, as at a, to accommodate them, so that the bottoms of the semicircular recesses in said end pieces successively occupy a position substantially flush with the surface of the bed A, so that the cans while resting upon said bed, as shown in Fig. 3, may roll down toward the labeling devices by gravity. A ratchet-wheel d is secured to the shaft a which is engaged by one end of a lever (H, (see Fig. 3,) pivoted at a to a lug a, depending from the under side of the bed A, the opposite end of said lever being acted upon by a cam a, secured to the main actuating or driving shaft C. The 10- ver a is held pressed into engagement with the ratchet-wheel a by means of a spring a secured to the under side of the bed.

At each revolution of the main shaft (1 the lever a" is raised for a short interval of time to permit the feed-wheel a a to turn one step, which it will do at such time by the weight of the cans upon it, so as to let off or release one can, which is the endmost can of the series. As the endmost can is released it rolls along the bed A between the guide-strips (t a until it strikes a stop or can-supportin g device I), (see Figs. 1. and 14,) herein shown as an upright curved arm, pivoted at b to a lug b on the under side of the bed A and adapted to be raised through a slot in the bed and held up in its vertical or elevated position, so as to stop the progress of the can, by means of a lever If, pivoted at Z)" and acted upon by a cam Z2 which is also secured to the main driving-shaft C.

The lever b has a projection b" thereon, which serves as a stop or abutment against which the lever b bears, and the cam b is arranged to hold said lever 11 in its elevated position for a certain period of time and to thereafter permit said lever to retreat or drop into the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 14, in order that the lever b may likewise drop into the dotted line position therein shown and leave the upper surface of the bed unobstructed for the free escape or discharge of the can.

\Vhen the can strikes the stop I), itis liable to rebound, and hence Ihave herein provided two spring-acting arms 0 0, arranged at each side of the path of progress of the can above the feed-wheel, (see Figs. (3, 8, and 0,) said arms converging toward each other. These arms are pivotally supported upon pins 0, rising from the bed A at points just outside of the guide-ribs a a, so that they are separated sufliciently at the rear end of the machine for the entrance between them of the can, and the opposite ends of said arms have right-angular portions 0 slotted as at c, to receive pins 0, likewise rising from the bed A like the pins 0, said pins 0 serving as guidepins for the arms. Springs 0 are placed in the slots of the arms bearing against the pins 0, the tendency of which is to throw the arms inward toward each other, as best shown in Fig. 6. As the can rolls along its guideway the arms 0 c are gradually spread until the can strikes the support Z1, at which time it passes by the ends of the arms, permitting them to be restored to their normal position, and at such time they will serve as back-stops to prevent rebounding of the can. Two end clamps are provided which are adapted to be brought into engagement with the ends of the can when it is so held by the stop or other supporting device I), said clamps each consisting of a circular recessed plate (Z to embrace the end of a large-sized can, having upon its rear side several pins (1, which pass loosely through holes in a plate (1 said pins being provided at their outer ends with nuts ITO (Z and a rubber pad or block or other form of spring is interposed between said plates d (:1 acting to press the plate cl inwardly or away from the plate d such movement being limited by the nuts (1 As the pins cl work freely in the plate (Z the spring (1 permits the plate cl to yield to compensate for any slight differences in the lengths of the cans.

For small-sized cans an auxiliary recessed plate d (see Fig. 5) will be secured to the interior of the plate (Z. I

Each end clamp, by its plate 61 is secured to a short shaft (1 having its bearings in suitable brackets d, secured to the bed A, said shaft being movable endwise in said brackets, and each shaft (1 has a pinion d fixed thereon, which is engaged and driven by a toothed gear (i secured to the ends of the main driving-shaft C. As the main shaft 0 is rotated the shafts d (Pare both rotated,

Secured to the inner face of each toothed gear (1 and extending for a part of the way around it, is a cam (Z which engages a hub '(Z secured to the shaft (1 said cams acting 25 upon said hubs to move the shafts d inwardly sufficiently for the clamping-plates to embrace and firmly engage the ends of the can, and thereafter permitting said shafts to retreat a short distance, that the can maybe released so as to be held against rotation, yet held in its proper position to receive correctly upon it the label, and permitting said clamping-plates to continuouslyrevolve, and thereafter again moving the shafts d inwardly, that the clamping-plates may again engage and rotate the cam. A spring (I encircles each shaft (1 the tendency of which is to throw it outwardly.

In order that the cams 61 may operate or act upon the shafts d in this manner, they are each made with two projecting flat faces with areduced or cut-away portion (1 between them, the foremost projecting face acting to throw the end-clamping plates into engagement with the ends of the can, the reduced portion (Z permitting the end-clamping plates to retreat sufficiently to release the can and continue to rotate without rotating the can, yet holding the can from moving endwise, or from moving out of its proper position, that it may receive upon it correctly the label, and the following projecting face again acting to throw the end-clamping plates intoengagement with and thereby rotating the can.

A pasting device is arranged beneath and just at the rear of the center of the can, (see Figs. 3, 15, 16, and 17,) it consisting of a rectangular receptacle 6 open at the top and containing felt e or other material, said receptacle being contained within or supported by a cross-piece e movable in vertical guideways formed in the sides of a recess formed in the'framework and resting upon the outer end a of a lever e, pivoted at e to a lug beneath the bed, said lever being acted upon by a cam e secured to the main drivingshaft C. A tube 6 connects with the receptacle e of the pasting device and a flexible pipe (not shown in the drawings)leads from a paste-reservoir, which is situated at any convenient place, and connects it with said tube 6 the paste being thus carried to the receptacle and absorbed by the felt strip 6.

The pasting device works vertically in or through an opening in the bed A, and as it must be moved quickly I have herein formed on the lever e a projection e, which is engaged by the cam or projection 6 moving said lever quickly as the cam 6 passes by or over said projection, thereby throwing the pasting device up against the can held by the end-clamping plates. This pasting device is designed to apply to or deposit upon the canbody, from end to end thereof, a narrow line of paste just after or as soon as the can has been engaged by the end-clampin g plates, and as the said clamping-plates are continuously rotated consequently the can, as soon as engaged thereby, will begin to rotate, so it is necessary for the pasting device to operate quickly to prevent applying the paste to too great a surface. Yet if deemed necessary the paste may be applied to the entire surface of the can. Just as soon as the end-clamping plates are thrown into engagement with the can, and the pasting device has operated to deposit upon the can-body a' line of paste, the can is given a partial revolution, so as to bring the line of paste so deposited upon the can-body at the upper side and beneath the pile of labels.

The labels are contained in a quadrangular box supported above the bed A, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6, said box being herein shown as composed of two parallel side walls f f, secured to cross-pieces f f, arranged to slide on bars f f*, or they may be rigidly secured to said bars, a bottom composed of slats f f", likewise supported upon said crosspieces f f, a pin f at the rear end, and an end wall f at the opposite end extending from at or near the top of the box to a'point near to but not touching the bottom, so that an opening f is presented at the front end of the box. (See Figs. 7 and 12.) The front end wall f is arranged slightly oblique, being extended in toward the center of the box, except at its lower end, which is extended outwardly. A rod f 13 extends transversely across the upper part of the label-holder and is secured to its side walls f. The cross-pieces f f are slotted, as at f to receive the bolts f", by means of which the label-box is secured thereto, such construction giving the box a transverse adjustment. The side bars f f upon which said cross-bars are mounted, are formed at each end with ears f having holes through them which receive the pins 0 c 0 c and the upper ends of all of said pins are screw-threaded and receive nuts f there being a nut above and below each ear f so.

that by turning said nuts said side bars may be adjusted vertically, to thereby vertically adjust the label-box.

At the bottom of the rear end of the label box or holder a narrow paste-box 7b is provided, extending from side to side of the box, it consisting of a flat perforated receptacle h, adapted to contain a piece of felt and placed upon or covering a thin paste-receiver 7L2, having an inlet 7& at one end for the paste, and the perforated felted receiver, becoming saturated with the paste, deposits a narrow line of the same upon the under side of the lowermost label of the pile contained within the holder and resting upon said perforated paste-box h.

The separate labels are placed in the box beneath the transverse bar f and upon the pin f from which they are detached one at a time, being taken from the bottom of the pile, and they are made longer than the boX,

so as to be crowded therein endwise, bulging up at the central portion, as shown in Fig. 12, the end of the pile being directed downward by said transverse bar f, so as to bear against the lower oblique or outwardly-extended portion of the end wall f, and the bulge thus given to the pile serves as a spring to thrust the labels forward endwise. As the bulged labels tend to straighten out the said oblique or outwardly-extended lower edge of the front end wall f directs their front edges down toward the opening 1, and the bottom label or labelsF will be thus caused to project ashort distance through said opening in position to be pasted. The lowermost labels of the pile project through the opening f at the bottom of the front end of the box just above the can and beneath a presser-block g, tobe described.

The label-box is adapted to be moved longitudinally on. the side bars f f by means of curved arms 0 0, attached to a verticallymoving part of the machine and acting upon friction rolls or pins 0' 0 upon the opposite sides of the label boX or holder. hen said vertically-moving part descends, the labelbox will be advanced a short distance against the tension of the springs 0 0 after which said box is restored to its normal position by said springs. This longitudinal movement is given to the label box for the purpose of preventing any strain upon the label which might occur incident to the action of the presser g, and it also assists in detaching the labels-as, for instance, when the presser g descends, were it not for the yielding action of the label-box great strain would be brought upon the labels, which would detach a number at a time from the pin f When the label has been attached to the can or to the line of paste deposited thereon, a sudden rearward movement of the label-box assists in detaching said label from the pin f. The presser-block g is secured to the under side of a cross-bar g, adapted to slide vertically between or upon vertical uprights 9 rising I for.

the uprights g g from the bed A, they serving as guides there- The cross-bar g has secured to its upper side two or more pins which pass up through a cross-bar g similar to g, said pins being screw-threaded at their upper ends and provided with nuts 9 .Springs g encircle the pins g between the cross-bars g g exerting their pressure upon or against said lower cross-bar. The lower cross-bar g is thus made to yield vertically. The upper cross-bar g is securedto the lower end of a screw-rod g", which passes up through a nut 9 secured to a movable cross'head g", and also loosely through a stationary cross-head g", the latter being secured to the upper ends of The cross-head g is made with holes at the end which receive the uprights g g in order that it may slide vertically 011 said uprights as guides, and when so moved the nut g and cooperating screw-rod g and other attached parts move with it.

At each end of the movable cross-head g" a depending rod is loosely connected,

which extends down at each side of the machine, (see Figs. 1 and 5,) the lower ends thereof being bent or formed with right-angular extensions 9 which are engaged by cams g secured to or upon themain driving-shaft 0. As the shaft 0 is rotated, the cams 9 act 1 to depress the cross-head g", and consequently ;the prcsser-block g is brought down upon or 1 against the can.

To elevate the cross-head 9* after the cams 9 have ceased to act, I have erected upon said cross-head two vertical pins 1 which extend up through holes in the stationary cross-head g having at their upper ends nuts g and spiral springs g encircle said pins, bearing at their lower ends against the cross-head and at their upper ends against the nuts. The parts are so timed that the cams 9 act to depress the presser-block g just as the reduced portions (Z of the cams d are brought into position to permit the end-clamping plates to release the can, so as to press the labels down upon the can-body at that part thereof whereon the line of paste has previously been deposited. Another presser-block or pad 1', having a yielding surface i, is located directly beneath the can, i (see Figs. 3, 19, and 20,) which is adapted to slide vertically in guideways provided on the interior of the opening beneath the can, and to raise said presser-block cams i 2' are secured to the main driving-shaft C, which are brought into position to raise the block just as the block g is depressed, so that the can will be firmly held between them. \Vhile the can is thus held the end clamps which have been disengaged therefrom continue to re- Volve. As the main driving-shaftC continues to advance the projecting portion of the cam .61 again acts to move the end clamps into engagement with the can, and thus the can becomes again engaged as the presser-blocks 1 g and 'i retreat. The label at such time will be firmly attached to the can-body at the point whereon the line of paste was deposited. As the main shaft C continues to revolve the can will be given one, or it may be more, revolutions, winding the label around the can-body, and its opposite end, which receives upon its under side a line of paste from the paste-box, will overlap the pasted end of the label and become firmly attached thereto.

A wiper m, made as a flexible plate as a piece of rubber, for instanceis secured to a cross-head m, adjustably secured to two upright rods m which extend down through an opening or openings inthe machine, the lower ends of said rods being formed with right-angular extensions m adapted to be engaged by hooks m formed on arms m pivoted at m to lugs m the outer ends of said arms being acted upon by cams m secured to the'main driving-shaft C. By means of these cams the wiper m is depressed or brought into contact with the can, so as to wipe or smooth the label thereon as the can is rotated. Spiral springs m encircle the rods m and act to raise the wiper when the cams cease to act.

The several groups of mechanism herein shown and described are or may be made adj ustable for different sizes of cans, and also may be somewhat differently constructed as to detail, without departing from this invention.

Instead of placing the labels in the labelbox on the pin f the pile of labels X may be slitted transversely from the opposite edges inward, almost meeting, as shown at X in Fig. 22, and the label-box may be provided with two inwardly-projecting spring-plates Z, (see Fig. 21,) adapted to enter the slits in the labels and thereby hold the pile of labels.

. ,The labels thus held may be easily detached.

I claim 1. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of can-feedin g mechanism, a label-holder, a pasting device for applying a line of paste across one end of a label, rotating devices for the can, a pasting device for applying a line of paste upon the can-body, a presser for pressing the unpasted end of the label upon the pasted portion of the can-body, said label being subsequently withdrawn from its holder, and wrapped around the can-body as the can is rotated, substantially as described.

2. In a can-labeling machine, the combina'--- tion of can-feeding mechanism, a pair of rotating end clamps for rotating the can, means for moving them into and out of engagement with a can, a pasting device for applying a line of paste upon the can-body, a labelholder, a pasting device for applying a line of paste across one end of the label, and a presser for pressing the unpasted end of the label upon the can-body at the point whereon the line of paste has been deposited, substantially as described.

3. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of feeding mechanism, a label-box from which one or more labels project, a pasting device for applying a line of paste across the opposite end of the label, a pair of rotating end clamps for rotating the can, means for moving them into engagement with the can, a pasting device for applying a line of paste upon the can-body, means for disengaging the end clamps after said line of paste has been deposited and the can turned to bring said line of paste beneath the projecting end of the label, a presser for pressing the unpasted end of the label onto the can-body, means for thereafter again moving the end clamps into engagement with the can, that the label may be wound around the can and secured as the can is rotated, substantially as described.

4. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of feeding mechanism, a label-box from which one or more labels project, a past-ing device for applying a line of paste across the opposite end of the label, a pair of rotating end clamps for rotating the can, means for moving them into engagement with the can, a pasting device for applying a line of paste upon the can-body, means for disengaging the end clamps after said line of paste has been deposited and the can turned to bring said line of paste beneath the projecting end of the label, a presser for pressing the unpasted end of the label onto the can-body, means for thereafter again moving the end clamps into engagement with the can, and a wiper for smoothly laying the label as it is wound around the can while the latter revolves, substantially as described.

5. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of can-feedin g mechanism, a label-holder for presenting one or more labels in position adjacent the can to be labeled, and labeling devices comprising a pasting device for applying a line of paste to the can, a pair of end clamps for engaging and rotating the can to bring said line of paste so deposited upon it into position adjacent the label so presented, and subsequently rotating the can to wind the label around it, and means for at taching the label to the can when the line of paste deposited thereon has been brought into position adjacent to the label, substantially as described.

6. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of can-feeding mechanism, a label-holder adapted to present one or more labels to the can to be labeled, a pasting device for applying a line of paste across one end of the label, a pasting device for applying a line of paste upon the body of the can, means for rotating the can to bring its pasted portion adjacent the label a presser acting upon the unpasted end of the label at such time to attach it to the can, and means for subsequently again rotating the can, winding thelabel around it,

and a wiper for assisting in laying the labelsmoothly, substantially as described.

7. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of a pasting device for applying a line of paste upon the can, a pair of rotating end clamps for the can, a support for holding the ITO can in position to be engaged by the end clamps and subsequently permitting the discharge of the can, and means for moving said end clamps into and out of engagement with the can, substantially as described.

8. In a can-labeling machine, the combina tion of a pasting device for applying a line of paste upon the can, means for rotating the can, a label-holder from which the labels project, means for moving it to bring the projecting labels over upon the can, and thereafter withdraw it, a presser for pressing the projecting labels down onto the can, before the label-holder retreats, firmly attaching one of the labels thereto, which is withdrawn from the label-holder as the latter retreats, substantially as described.

9. A label-holder having its front end wall f extended inwardly and then outwardly, as shown, and terminating above the bottom of the holder to leave an opening through which the bottom labels of the pile project, and a rod f extending transversely across the upper part of said label-holder, against which said labels are pressed when crowded endwise in the holder, substantially as described.

10. A label-holder having a bottom plate, and a front end wall, the lower end of which terminates above the bottom plate to leave an opening through which the bottom labels of the pile project, means for attaching the rear end of the pile of labels to the holder, which is located a less distance from the front wall than the length of the labels, thereby bulging them centrally between said front wall and said point of attachment, and the transverse rod f at the upper part of said holder against which said bulged labels are pressed, substantially as described.

11. I11 a can-labelin g machine, the combination with a pasting device for applying a line of paste to the can, a label-holder adapted to receive a pile of labels, means for holding them therein, and a pasting device at the bottom of said label-holder to apply a line of paste across the underside of the rear end of the lowermost label, means for turning the pasted can to bring its pasted portion uppermost, means for moving said label-holder to bring the lowermost label directly over the pasted portion of the can, a presser-block adapted to press the label onto the pasted portion of said can, and means for thereafter rotating said can to wrap the label about it, substantially as described.

12. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of a label-holder, means substantially as described for holding the labels therein, an opening at the front end of the holder through which one or more of thelabels project, means for advancing the label-holder to bring the projecting ends of the labels over the article to be labeled, means for aflixing the projecting end of the lowermost label to said article, means for returning the label-holder to its normal position, detaching the lowermost label and withdrawing it from the holder, and means for applying the withdrawn label to the article, substantially as described.

13. In a ean-labelin g machine, the combination with labeling devices, of a longitudinallymovabl'e label-holder having an opening at the bottom of its front end through which the labels project, guide-bars on which it slides, a curved arm secured to a moving part of the machine, for moving said label-holder into position to bring its projecting labels over upon the can, and a spring for restoring it to its normal position, and means for attaching the lowermost label to the can that it may be withdrawn as the label-holder resumes its normal position, substantially as described.

1a. In a can-labeling machine, the labelholder consisting of side pieces f, f, secured to cross-pieces, a pin f at the rear end thereof, front wall f having an opening f at its bottom, and a pasting device upon the bottom of the label-holder at the rear end, substantially as described.

1 5. In a can-labelin g machine, the combination with labeling devices, of can-feeding mechanism, a support for holding the can in position to be engaged by the labeling devices, and spring-actuated back-stops for the can, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\VIL'LIAH E. PE'WEE.

\Vitnesses:

B. J. Novas, O. B. CRocKEn.