US710867A - Label-affixer. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. 7, I902.v

G. E. HOWARD.

LABEL AFFIXER.

:Applivntion file-:1 June 13, 1902A No Model) WITNESSES OZ 5 444M iUNrTEn STATES PATENT OFFIc GEORGE E. IIOIVARD, OF \VASIIING'ION, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LABEL-AFFIXER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 71 dated October 1902- Application filed June 13, 1902. Serial No. 111,517. (No model.)

To fl/ZZ whom [it lit/by concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the cityof Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Label-Affixers,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in label-aflixers, and has for its object, first, to afford means for holding a supply of labels and causing them to feed forwardly with uniform pressure from first to last and permit one to be applied at a time to the object to be labeled due to the adhesive action of the label upon the surface, which is greater than the friction of the various parts of the affixer which holds the labels in the box or receptacle.

Still another object is to provide convenient means for reloading the affixer with a new supply of labels.

Another object is to prevent the affixer from slipping upon the surface to be labeled as a label is applied thereto.

Still another object is to provide a device in which all of the parts have a permanent connection together, so as to prevent any of them from being misplaced or lost and in order to afford facility in opening and reloading the affixer; and, finally, it is an object to provide a device for carrying and applying labels with a long handle, so that the operator may reach with ease an object hanging at some distance beyond his reach.

\Vith these several objectsin view my present invention has relation to meat labeling, more particularly upon which I alreadyhave certain patents and applications pending; and it consists in features of novelty hereinafter to be described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View in perspective of my improved labelaffixer, a portion of the handle being shown broken away. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 is afront elevation.

A represents the box or receptacle in which a package of labels as I usually put them up is placed. This box is provided on the bottom with a screw-threaded nipple 1, to which the handle 2 is removably screwed. The nipple is set at such an angle to the box that the latter inclines downward slightly at its forward end when the handle is in an upright position,as this facilitates applying the labels evenly upon the surface to be labeled.

The box is open at the forward end, where it is provided with inwardly-projecting fingers 3 8, of wire or other material, the function of which is to retain the labels in the box and yet allow them to be withdrawn one at a time as the outermost label strikes the surface of the object to be labeled and the atfixer is removed therefrom.

The remaining portion of the box, including the sides and rear end, are closed, except that a door at is hinged to one of the sides, preferably the top, which door when open-affords access to the interior of the box when it is necessary to replenish the latter with a new supply of labels. In the particular construction shown two of the fingers 3 3 are carried by the outer edge of this door. The door is held closed by spring-catches 5 5, which lie alongside the vertical sides of the box, they being provided with heads 6 6, the inner edges of which are beveled or inclined, as at 7 7, so as to be readily forced aside by the edges of the door when the latter is closed, after which by their spring action they immediately resume a position over the edges of the door, retaining the latter in a closed position until the springs are again forced aside when the door is to be opened. These springs are forced aside by merely placing the thumbs, for instance, upon their upper ends and pushing them outward; otherwise they might have thumb-pieces upon them, if desired, to facilitate pushing them aside.

Inside of the box a spiral spring 10 is secured. This spring is of large coil prefer ably and of moderately-yielding wire, so as to have the proper resiliency. On its outer end a follower 8 is secured, and the follower presses against the labels and with the expansive action of the spiral spring forces them forward. The action of the spring is such that its pressure upon the labels is uniform from start to finish, causing them to be held with a pressure slightly less than the adhesive action of a label upon the surface to which it is applied, and this is insured not only by the expansive action of the spring, but also by the comparatively slight hold and ICC limited surface of the outermost label engaged by the inwardly-projecting fingers 3 3.

In addition to the parts described pins or lugs 9 9 project outwardly from opposite sides of the box or receptacle for a short distance, their purpose being to prevent the box from sliding with respect to the surface to be labeled, they being blunt at their outer'ends,

as it is only intended that they should temporarily indent the soft surface of the meat without piercing or tearing it. Of course, if desired, they could be sharpened or made sharp in the beginning.

The device may be provided'with a sponge, which when used is fastened in any approved manner on its rear end.

In using the afiixer the box is swunglike ahammer or mallet, the operator grasping the handle in one hand. The outermost label attachesitself instantly, and upon swinging the box backward its edges are easily removed from the fingers by the fact that the adhesive action of the label upon the surface is in ex cess'of the frictional contact of the fingers, due to the pressure of the spring within. After applying a label the box is swung around and the label is rubbed once or more, if necessary, by the sponge. When the meat is dry, it is sometimes necessary to apply the sponge first before attaching the label, and when desired this may of course be done.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A label-affixer comprising a box adapted to receive labels, a spring-actuated follower therein for pressing the labels outward, inwardly-projecting fingers located at the outer open end of the box for retaining the labels between them and the follower until the adhesion upon the outermost label is in excess of the frictional contact of the fingers upon the label, and outwardly-projecting pins or lugs to prevent the box from slipping upon the surface to be labeled. 1

2. The combination with a box, a springactuated follower therein, and devices at the outer edge of the box for retaining labels between them and the follower, of pins or lugs projecting outwardly from the open end of of the box to prevent the latter from slipping upon the surface to be labeled.

3. The combination with a box, open at one end and adapted to receive labels therein, and a door hinged to the box, and comprising the outer portion of one of its sides, of a pair of spring-catches having heads adapted to be forced aside and to spring over opposite edges of the door, said heads having their inner surfaces beveled or inclined whereupon when struck by the edges of the door they are forced aside until the door is closed, after which they fasten the door in its closed position.

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

GEO. E. HOWARD.

Witnesses:

FRANK E. NEWTON, J. T. ELLETT.

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