Improvements in Bottle Labelling Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1899-Accepted, 12th Aug.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottle Labelling Machines.
I, FRANK CHARLES HERRMAN STRASBURGER, Manufacturer, of 110, East
Indiana Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
My invention relates to improvements in bottle labelling machines and particu-
larly to that class in which the machine is set in operation when the bottle is
placed in position to receive the label, although I do not limit myself in the use
of all the devices and mechanisms hereinafter described to a machine of this
special type.
The primary object of the invention is to provide a strong and substantial
machine of this character, positive in its action and capable of being operated by
anyone who is able to insert a bottle in the right position.
Further objects of the invention are to provide a machine which can be easily
and quickly adapted to operate with labels of any size or shape, is rapid in its
action and whose capacity for affixing labels is governed only by the rapidity
with which bottles can be arranged in position to receive them; to affix one
label to the bottle and carry another label into position to be affixed to the next
bottle at each complete operation of the machine; to regularly transfer the
labels from a pile to the affixing position regardless of the number of labels
in the pile; to stamp a date &c. on the back of the label before it is affixed;
to apply paste to portions of the label at and during the transferring or feeding
operation; to press and hold the label against the bottle so that it will be pro-
perly affixed thereto in the predetermined position; to ink the stamp device at
each operation of the machine, and to do many other things and accomplish
numerous other results which all together provide a strong and simple, rapid
and accurate automatic machine, all of which will be fully and clearly pointed
out hereinafter.
With these and other ends in view I have illustrated my invention in the
accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front view of my improved machine,
showing the parts on their normal position and a bottle 16 in place on the rest.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the middle of the machine, the parts being at
rest. Fig. 3 is a similar view from the other side of the machine. Fig. 4, is
a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the parts after the bottle has tripped the
tripper, the holder has descended to press the label against the bottle and the
carrying device has swung into engagement with the paste device, the affixing
devices beginning their descent, the label supply having completed the move-
ment during which it has engaged the stamp device. Fig. 5, is a view similar
to Figs. 3 and 4, showing the parts at the completion of one-half a revolution
of the main shaft, the carrying devices engaging the label supply, the stamp
engaging the inking pad, the holder and affixing devices down, and all the
parts ready to resume their normal position. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the
lina G 6 of Fig. 2. showing the main shaft and clutch device. Figure 7 is a

page_text: plan view of the carrying device and holder with their shafts. Fig. 8 is a front
view, enlarged, of the affixing devices. Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views of the
carrying device and label holder, showing different forms of these parts. Fig. 11
is a detail view of the label supply actuating cam 69.
Referring to the drawings in which like numerals of reference denote corre-
sponding parts in all the figures, 1 designates a frame of any kind suitable for
supporting the different mechanisms of the machine, and 2 is the main shaft
provided with a belt wheel 3 to which power is communicated by any preferred
means and from any source. A rest 4 having an angular seat therein is provided
for the bottle at the front of the frame and it is mounted on a vertically
adjustable support 5 operating a part of the frame and held in place by an
adjusting screw 6. By this means bottles of any size can be accomodated, and
the angular rest insures that the bottle will be fixed in its proper position to
receive the label and held substantially stationary.
The label is affixed to the bottle by means of devices which descend and press
the label against the bottle, paste having been previously applied to the back
of the label. These devices comprise a pair of arms 7 pivotally mounted on a
support and each provided with a toe 9 projecting outwardly from its pivoted
end to bear upon a spring 10 located between the support and the toe. The
upper ends of the arms are provided with wipers 11 which engage and press
the label against the bottle, the wipers shown in the drawings consisting of
pieces of heavy flat rubber, but instead of this kind of wiper I may employ
rollers which will accomplish the same result. The springs 10 hold the wipers
normally separated (Fig. 1) but when the support 8 is lowered the shoulders 12
on the arms ride against the friction rollers 13 on the studs 14 and this brings
the arms together and the wipers into position to engage the label 15 and
bottle 16. The wipers press the label against the bottle (Fig. 8) and, being
elastic, they give sufficiently to permit the arms to continue their downward
movement past the bottle, the bottle being removed after the wipers have passed
it.
The support for the arms 7 is carried on a vertically movable bar 17 operat-
ing in bearings in the frame and actuated by means of a lever 18 pivoted on
the frame and having one end engaging with the support and its other end
provided with a roller operating in the grooved cam 19 (Fig. 3).
The machine is set in motion by means of a trip device which is actuated by
the placing of a bottle in position in the machine. This trip device comprises
a plate 20 mounted on a screw 21 and supported in front of the bottle on a trip
lever 22 pivoted on the frame. The screw is adjusted in the end of the trip
lever according to the size of the bottles to be labeled and secured by a thumb
nut 23, thereby providing for bottles of different size and also to enable the
machine to affix the label to the bottle at any part thereof. By simply adjusting
the trip plate 20, longer or shorter bottles can be provided for and the label can
be put on any part of the body, shoulder or neck of the bottle.
The lower end of the trip lever is connected to a bar 24 which operates the
clutch device to throw the machine into and out of action. One member 25
of the clutch is rigid with the belt wheel 3 and the other member 26 is fixed
on the main shaft (Fig. 6). A spring actuated clutch bolt 27 is carried by the
shaft member 26 and it is adapted to be forced forward by its spring 28 to engage
one of a series of holes 29 in the face of the belt wheel member 25. The clutch
bolt is provided with a pin 30 carrying a roller 31 which engages a cam 32
(Figs. 1 and 7) on the end of the bar 24 when the machine is at rest, but when
this clutch bar is drawn forward by the operation of the tripper device the
roller 31 is released from engagement with the cam 32 and the clutch bolt is
projected forward to enter a hole 29 in the member 25 and thereby effect an
engagement of the two clutch members and start the machine in motion. The
spring 33 returns the clutch bar and cam 32 into position to be engaged by
the roller 31, which causes the clutch bolt to be withdrawn, opens the clutch and
stops the machine.

page_text: Each label is carried from the pile into position above the bottle rest 4 by
a swinging device comprising a forked or bifurcated arm 34 rigidly mounted
on the rock shaft 35 (Figs. 2 and 7). A pinion 36 is fixed on this carrier rock
shaft and it meshes with a segmental rack 37 on the label carrier grooved
actuating cam 38 pivoted on the frame. A shaft 39 is journaled in bearings
in the frame and it carries an arm 40 having a roller which operates in the
groove of the cam 38, and also a gear wheel 41 (Figs. 1 and 3) which meshes
with another gear wheel 42 on the main shaft. The carrying arm device is
swung back to get a label (Fig. 5) and forward to carry it into position to be
affixed to the bottle (Figs. 2 and 3) by the cam 38, the rack 37 rocking the
shaft 35 through the pinion 36.
The swinging label carrying arm 34 is provided with a roughened or corru-
gated portion 43 which engages the paste.roller 44 when it is swung back (Fig. 4)
and pushes the paste roller and pot 45 backward (Fig. 5). A spring scraper 441
is fastened on the pot and bears against the paste roller to scape off the surplus
paste. The paste pot is supported on the arms 46 which are provided on their
ends with rollers 47 to travel horizontally in the ways 48 on the sides of the
frame. A feed roller 50 having a roughened surface is located below the paste
roller and it is held in contact therewith by the spring arm 51. The pot is
returned to its normal forward position by the levers 52 mounted on the rock
shaft 53, the upper ends of these levers being forked to receive the arms 54
on the paste pot. A cam 55 on the main shaft engages the lower end of the
lever 52 and actuates it to carry the paste pot from its rearward position
(Fig. 5) to its normal forward position (Fig. 3). A spring 34¹ is carried on
the shaft 35 which travels with the arm 34 and engages a stop 351 on the frame
to lessen the jar when the carrying arm reaches the limit of its rearward
movement.
The roughened portion of the arm 43 engages the paste roller first and as the
paste pot is forced rearward that part of the arm which takes up the label rides
over the paste roller and receives sufficient paste to cause the label to stick
thereto and take off enough to stick to the bottle when pressed thereon. The
parts are so timed that after the carrying arm has picked up a label it swings
back to its forward position and the paste pot is moved forward by the cam 55.
In order to hold the label against the bottle during the affixing operation and
also to release the label from the carrying device I provide a holder comprising
an arm 56 mounted on a holder rock shaft 57 which also carries a pinion 58.
This pinion meshes with a toothed segment 59 on one end of the lever 60 which
is pivoted to the frame and has its other end provided with a roller which
operates in the grooved cam 61 on the shaft 39 (Fig. 3). This holding arm
swings down when the machine is started and engages the label between the
forked end of the carrying arm and holds the label against the bottle and per-
mits the carrying arm to swing back without the label.
The labels are arranged in a pile 62 in the label holder 63 which is suitably
mounted on the vertically movable rod 64. This rod is moved downward and
held by an arm 65 on the rock shaft 67, the arm engaging a roller 66 carried
on the rod.
Another arm 68 is fixed on this shaft and it operates in contact
with a cam 69 on the main shaft. A spring 70 on the rod 64 moves the rod up-
ward when the pressure of the arm 65 is removed to carry the pile of labels
upward, first, against a stamping or printing device and second, against the
label carrying arm, the cam 69 being provided with two cavities 71, 72, to
accomplish this movement of the rod 64.
The labels are arranged in the pile bottom up and a printing or stamping
device 73 (Fig. 3) of any suitable kind is carried on the spring pressed rod 74
supported from the arm 75 on the paste pot, so that in the first upward move-
ment of the pile of labels the back of the top label in the pile will be brought
against the stamp to receive an impression of the date, or any other desired
information, therefrom. The pile of labels is then carried down sufficient to

page_text: permit the stamp to move with the paste pot rearward and when the pile of
labels next moves upward to bring the top label into contact with the carrying
arm (Fig. 5) the stamp engages an inking pad 76 supported on an arm 77
secured on the label supporting rod 64. The spring 70 always carries the
labels up far enough to engage the stamp and the carrying arm, regardless of the
number of labels in the pile, and also carries the inking pad up to engage the
stamp.
To hold the label carrying arm rigid when the pile of labels is brought up
against it I provide a locking device comprising a latch 78 (Fig. 2) pivoted on
the frame and normally drawn forward by a spring 79 so that it will engage
a lug 80 on the shaft 35 and temporarily lock the arm 34 in its rearward posi-
tion. The latch is released by the arm 40 which swings around and engages
the latch on its edge 81 forcing the latch backward until the lug 80 is dis-
engaged therefrom and permitting the arm 34 to swing forward with the label.
I provide a compensating device on the holder rock shaft 57 so that it may
always move in the same are regardless of the precise limit of downward move-
ment of the holder arm, which will vary in its movement with the size of the
bottle and its position on the rest. The holder arm (Fig. 7) is mounted on a
collar 82 which has a cut-out 83 at one side in which the pin 84 on the shaft 57
operates. A spring 85 fastened on the shaft forces the holder arm down when
the shaft rocks, and even though the arm does not move to the limit of its pos-
sible downward movement, as controlled by the movement of the shaft, the
latter may continue to complete its movement by reason of the cut-out 83. The
pin 84 engaging the collar carries the holder arm back to its upright position
when the shaft rocks backward.
.
The forked end of the label carrying arm applies sufficient paste to the label
to cause it to stick to the bottle, and this paste is applied to the side edges of
the label where the carrying arm contacts therewith (Fig. 7). It is obvious,
therefore, that the shape of the forked end of the arm will preferably be varied
to suit labels of different sizes and shapes, and to accomplish this a variety of
arms may be provided, although two or three will be sufficient for all ordinary
uses. If an angular label is used the arm would be shaped as indicated in
Figure 9, so that paste would be applied to the corners thereof. The same
result can be accomplished, of course, by simply changing the ends of the forked
part of the carrying arm. The label holder will also be preferably shaped to
correspond with the shape of the labels, and such a holder as is shown in Figure 10
would be used with labels of that angular character, and with the carrying arm
shown in Figure 9.
The operation of the machine is entirely automatic and the power is applied
to set the parts in motion by the insertion of the bottle in position to receive a
label. Assuming that the carrying arm is supporting a label 15 in its normal
position (Fig. 3) while the machine is at rest, the first operation is to place a
bottle on the rest 4 and against the tripper 20, the several parts of the machine
having been previously adjusted to accomodate the particular label and bottle
which are used. When the tripper is tripped, by being pushed back by the
bottle, the clutch bar 24 is withdrawn to release the cam 32 from the clutch
bolt 27, thereby permitting this bolt to move forward into one of the holes 29
and throw the clutch. The main shaft is then rotated and the holder arm is
swung down upon the label held by the carrying arm and presses it against the
bottle. At this time, also, the pile of labels is carried up against the stamp
and down again. The carrying arm then swings upward and back against the
paste roller (Fig. 4) and pushes the paste pot back until the arm has cleared the
paste roller and swung down into position to engage the label pile. The pile
of labels then moves up to engage the carrying arm and the stamp is inked at
the same time. The carrying arm is locked by the latch just as soon as it
reaches the position shown in Fig. 5. Meanwhile the affixing devices have been
carried down against the label and affixed it to the bottle. The bottle is then

page_text: 0
moved, the parts of the machine return to their normal position and the carry-
g arm supports another label in position for the next bottle. It will be
served that the operations of the several parts of the machine are positive and
tomatic and are set in action by the bottle. Therefore the machine can be
perated by anyone who is able to place a bottle in the machine and no particular
kill is required for this purpose. The machine also operates very rapidly and
ccurately, has no weak parts and does not easily get out of order.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
avention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
consider novel and desire to claim is:-
1. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a holder for a supply
of labels and means for affixing a label to a bottle, of a swinging device normally.
holding a label in position to be affixed and adapted to be set in action by the
nsertion of a bottle in the machine for discharging that label and carrying
another label from the supply into position to be affixed to the next bottle,
substantially as described.
2. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a holder for a supply
of labels and means for affixing a label to a bottle, of a device set in action
by the insertion of a bottle in the machine for engaging the top label of the pile
and supplying sufficient paste thereto to cause said label to stick to a bottle
when pressed thereon by the affixing means, and for carrying said label into
position to be affixed to the next bottle, substantially as described.
3. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a label supply holder
at the back of the machine and affixing means at the front of the machine, of a
swinging device adapted to carry a label from the supply. into position to be
affixed to a bottle, and a paste device arranged between the label supply and the
pivot of the swinging carrying device and in the path of the latter during its
rearward movement to get a label from the supply, substantially as described.
4. In a bottle labeling machine, a tripper device adapted to be operated on
the insertion of the bottle in the machine to apply the power and start the
machine, substantially as described.
5. In a bottle labeling machine, a device adapted to be operated by the inser-
tion of a bottle in the machine to apply the power thereto, and means for re-
setting the starting devices after each label has been affixed.
6. In a bottle labeling machine, a horizontally adjustable tripper device
adapted to be engaged by the bottom of the bottle, when it is inserted in the
machine, to apply the power and start the machine.
7. In a bottle labeling machine, a vertically adjustable rest for the bottle
and a horizontally adjustable tripper device located behind the rest and adapted
to be operated when the bottle is arranged in horizontal position on the rest to
be labeled.
8. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a label supply holder
and means for affixing a label to a bottle, of a label carrying device, and a trip
device adapted to be operated by the insertion of the bottle in the machine for
automatically setting the machine in action to remove the label from the carry-
ing device and affix it to the bottle, substantially as described.
9. In a bottle labeling machine, a tripper for automatically starting the
machine and adapted to be operated by the bottle, said tripper being adjustable
to accomodate bottles of different lengths.
10. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a main shaft, a holder
for a supply of labels and affixing means, of a clutch device on the main shaft,
and a trip device adapted to be operated by the insertion of a bottle in the
machine to throw the clutch and start the machine, substantially as described.
11. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a main shaft, a label
55 supply holder and affixing means, of a clutch device on the main shaft, a bottle
rest, a tripper, and connections between the clutch device and the tripper for

page_text: automatically throwing the clutch when a bottle is inserted in the machine to
set the machine in action, substantially as described.
12. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a main shaft, a label
supply holder and affixing means, of a clutch device on the main shaft, a tripper
adapted to be operated by the insertion of a bottle in the machine to throw the
clutch and set the machine, in action, and means for automatically opening the
clutcli to stop the machine after it has made one complete operation, substantially
as described.
13. In a bottle labeling machine, a swinging device for carrying a label from
the supply into position to be affixed to a bottle, and a device for locking the
carrying device temporarily in its rearward position, substantially as described.
14. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a label supply holder
and affixing means, of a forked device for carrying a label from the supply
into position to be affixed, and a holder device mounted intermediate of the pivot
of the carrying device and the bottle and operating automatically between the
forked ends of the carrying device to press and hold the label against the bottle
SO that the carrying device may return for another label, substantially as
described.
15. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a device for support-
ing a bottle therein, of a rock shaft traveling in a fixed arc, a holder mounted
on said shaft and adapted to be actuated thereby, and means for permitting the
rock shaft to complete its movement without carrying the holder to the full
limit of its downward movement, substantially as described.
16. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a bottle supporting
device, of a rock shaft traveling in a fixed arc, a holder loosely mounted on
said shaft, and connections between the shaft and holder whereby the latter is
carried down to press on the label and bottle, regardless of the precise size and
position of the bottle, and returned to its upright position by the rocking move-
ment of the shaft.
17. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a holder for a supply
of labels and affixing means, of a device for stamping or printing on the back
of the top label in the supply.
18. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a label supply holder
and affixing means, of a stamping device, and means for moving the label into
contact with said device before it is carried into position to be affixed to a
bottle, substantially as described.
19. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a label supply holder
and affixing means, of a device for carrying a label from the supply into posi-
tion to be affixed, an inking pad, and a stamp adapted to engage the top label
of the supply before it is picked up by the carrying device and to engage the
inking pad when the carrying device engages the label supply, substantially
as described.
20. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a label supply holder
and affixing means, of a label carrying device, a stamp, and means for moving
the supply of labels into contact first with the stamp and then with carrying
device, substantially as described.
21. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a label supply holder
and affixing means, of a label carrying device, a stamp and an inking pad, and
means for moving the supply of labels into contact with stamp and then moving
the supply of labels into contact with the carrying device and the inking pad
against the stamp, substantially as described.
22. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a label supply holder
and affixing means, of a device for carrying a label from the supply into posi-
tion to be affixed, and a horizontally reciprocating paste device arranged in the
path of the carrying device and adapted to be pushed back thereby into its rear-
ward position, substantially as described.
23. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a swinging device

page_text: carrying a label from a supply into position to be affixed to a bottle, of a paste
device arranged in the path of the carrying device on its rearward stroke and
adapted to be pushed back thereby into its rearward position, and means for
returning the paste device into its forward position after the carrying device
has carried a label forward, substantially as described.
24. A labeling machine, comprising pasting mechanism, a label holder, print-
ing mechanism, and means for causing said printing mechanism to engage the
labels in said holder.
25. In a bottle labeling machine, the combination with a label supply holder
and affixing means, of a label carrying device, a movable paste device arranged
in the path of the label carrier, a stamp carried by said paste device and adapted
to engage the top label in the supply before it is carried into position to be
affixed to a bottle, and an inking pad arranged behind the label supply to ink
the stamp after it has engaged the label, substantially as described.
26. A labeling machine, comprising a label supply holder and affixing means,
a label carrying device swinging in the arc of a circle between the holder and
affixing means, and a paste device reciprocating horizontally above the holder
and adapted to supply sufficient paste to the carrying device to cause a label to
adhere thereto.
27. A labeling machine, comprising a label supply holder and affixing means,
a device for carrying the labels from the holder into position to be affixed, a
paste pot reciprocating horizontally above the holder, a feed roller and a paste
roller carried in said pot so that the carrying device will engage the paste roller
on its rearward movement and push the pot rearward, substantially as described.
28. In a labeling machine, a device for carrying the labels from a supply into
position to be affixed, a horizontally movable paste device adapted to be pushed
rearward by the carrying device on its rearward movement, and lever devices
operated by the main shaft for returning the paste device to its forward position,
substantially as described.
29. A labeling machine, comprising vertically operating affixing devices, a
vertically movable label supply holder, a label carrying device swinging in the
arc of a circle from the supply to the affixing position, and a horizontally recipro-
cating pasting mechanism.
821
L
Tune 1800