Improvements in Bottle Labelling Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottle Labelling Machines.
--
We, VICTOR BEAUREGARD, Mechanic, of 36, Brookford Street, and FRED
HAUSMANN, Merchant, of 28, Arch Street, both of Boston, in the County of Suffolk,
and CHARLES SUMNER GOODING, Draftsman, of Brookline, in the County of Nor-
folk, all in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to bo particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has relation to machines for pasting labels upon bottles, cans,
boxes, or other articles, and has for its object to provide certain improvements in
the same, whereby the labels may be more expeditiously and firmly affixed to
articles of different sizes and shapes, and whereby the machines themselves may be
rendered more simple in construction and more highly efficient in operation than
.heretofore.
To this end, the invention consists of a machine possessing certain features of
construction and arrangements of parts, which may be employed in combination or
separately, all as illustrated upon the drawings, and now to be described in detail
and pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon forming a part of this specification, the same letters desig-
nating the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.
Of the drawings:
Figure 1 represents in front elevation a machine embodying our improvements.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the same on the line 2--2
of Fig. 1.
Figure 3 represents a partial plan view of the machine with the mechanism for
compressing the labels upon the bottles omitted.
Figure 4 represents in detail the swinging label carrier, the paste roll, and the
movable label box.
Figure 5 shows in vertical section the label box detached.
Figure 6 represents in detail the mechanism co-operating with the paste distri-
buting roll for insuring the proper distribution of the paste upon the label carrying
shoes.
Figure 7 represents. in longitudinal section the paste distributing roll and the
parts connected therewith.
Figuro 8 represents another form of roll by means of which a single line of
paste may be placed upon each end of a label.
Figure 9 represents an end view of the roll spindle.
'
Figure 10 represents in front elevation the rotatory carrier upon which are secured
flexible bands for compressing the labels on the bottles, and the parts co-acting
therewith.
Figure 11 represents a section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.
Thi
10 cation camaishat similar to the lower portion of Fin 11

page_text: showing in addition the lever for imparting a step-by-step movement to the rota-
tory carrier.
Figure 13 represents a section on the line 13--13 of Fig. 10.
Figure 14 represents diagramatically the stationary cam which accomplishes the
releasing of the bottles from the band and also the lever which actuates the
carrier.
Referring to the drawings, we have illustrated the machine which we have
selected as best showing one embodiment of the invention, and although we shall
now proceed to describe the same more or less minutely, it will be understood that
wo do not wish to be construed as limiting ourselves to the particular combina-
tion of parts or to the employment of the said parts in combination, as different
portions of the machine may be used separately, and many changes may be made
in the same without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The machine is best adapted for affixing labels to cans, as well as glass bottles,
of various sizes and shapes, but it may be changed to adapt it for many other
uses and purposes when desired. It is constructed with a frame having side
standards a a connected by cross braces a¹ a', as shown in Fig. 1.
The frame may be formed in any shape consistent with lightness and strength
and adapted to receive and support the various movable parts which are required
for gumming a label and affixing it smoothly to a bottle or other receptacle. In
the upper part of the frame, a power shaft is journaled in suitable bearings a¹ aª³
formed on the side standard a, power being applied to the shaft by means of a
pulley or by any other desired means. From this shaft, power is transmitted to
the movable parts of the machine.
Pivoted upon the stud shaft c, mounted in the upper portion of the machine and
secured to the standards a, is a cam actuated lever chaving on its inner end a ·
roller extending into a cam path in a disk cam e¹ rigidly secured to the power
shaft b. Pivoted to and depending from the outer end of the lever c¹ is a label
carrier which as shown consists of the slotted bar formed at its lower end with
studs to receive the bearings of two oppositely movable arms c
The said arms hang loosely from the bar c³, being connected by a spring clo, and
are provided with extensions or stops 5 to abut against adjustable screws which
limit the inward movement of their lower ends, the said screws being threaded
through lugs e as shown in Fig. 1 on the lower end of the bar c. Upon the lower
ends of the arms c⋆ are scoured label carrying shoes which may be of any material
suitable for the purpose. By means of the lever c and its cam, the label carrier is
raised and lowered and through the medium of the devices which I shall now
desoribe, it is swung bodily about its pivot to receive a label and deposit it upon
a bottle.
To the bar is connected a slide d having its slotted or forked end extending
past the power shaft b, as shown in Fig. 2, and having a roller d' projecting into
a cam slot in a cam disk secured to the power shaft b.
In the path of the label carrier is placed the tank or receptacle e for the gum or
paste which is used for sticking the label to the bottle or other receptacle. The
tonk rests upon adjusting screws threaded through lugs a³ as projecting inwardly
from the standards a of the frame, there being lock nuts on the scrows e¹ to lock
them after they have been once adjusted.
There is also a screw e projecting into a boss on the tank through one of the lugs
or brackets a³ and equipped on its end with a milled hond to securely lock the
tank in place after it has been adjusted.
The tank is filled with any desirable paste or gumming material and partially
submerged therein is the paste distributing roller or rollers. As shown in Fig 7,
we may employ a single roll f equal in length to the label to be employed, or else
we may use two separated rollers fo for applying a thin strip of pasto at each end
of the label as illustrated in Fig. 8.
A shaft supports the roller or rollers, and is formed at one end with an enlarge-

page_text: ment f having a cross slot and socket to receive a rib and a pin projecting out from
the end of a shaft f journaled in bearings f1 f1, one on a bracket f and the other
on the wall of the tank. At its other end the shaft is formed with a socket to
receive the conical end of a screw fl which holds it removably in place.
Upon the shaft f¹s is rigidly secured a pulley or wheel placed between the end
wall of the tank e, and the standard f, as shown in Fig. 7. This wheel or pulley
is coincident in diameter with the roll and performs two functions; first, it oper-
ates to rotate the roll, and second, operates to regulate the pressure of the label
carrying shoes against the roll, whereby the paste is distributed evenly and in
the proper amount upon the operative surfaces of the shoes. The label carrier is
provided with a downwardly projecting arm g in the shape of an inverted T, that
is to say, the lower end of the arm is extended forwardly and rearwardly and its
operative edge is longer than the operative faces of the label carrying shoes. The
arm may be adjusted by means of the adjusting screws h³ ³, and may be clamped
in place by a set screw A³. The operative lower edge of the arm lies in the plane
of the operative faces of the shoes, and when the label carrier swings to the rear,
the arm or guide comes in contact with the periphery of the wheel fi, and not only
rotates the paste roll, but also prevents any portion of the label carrying shoe from
pressing against the roll with a greater degree of force than any part thereof.
The cam groove in which the roller on the end of the lever projects is wide
enough to permit of a certain amount of lost motion of the roller and allow the
label carrier to yield slightly when the rear edge of the said arm or guide g strikes
against the periphery of the roll f¹. This construction and arrangement insures
that the paste will be distributed evenly on the surface of the label carrying shoe.
In the rear of the tank is placed the label box. This consists of a flat plate i
provided with vertical standards to guide the Jabels which are placed between
them. Each standard is formed with an inwardly projecting web and with
brushes or bristles at their upper ends, the ends of the bristles projecting very
slightly over the edge of the web to prevent more than one label being removed
at a time. The plate i is mounted upon the end of a lever j fulcrumed at j' in the
standards of the frame, and having at its upper end a roller bearing against a
cam rigidly secured to the power shaft b. Projecting downwardly from the end
of the lever is the cylindrical guide in which is placed a hollow piston fitted
at its upper end with a disk and a plate 10 upon which the labels are placed.
The lower end of the piston k¹ is closed by a plug from which a pin projects
into a slot in the cylindrical guide to prevent the piston from rotating.
A cord or wire is secured to the plug and extending through a slot 26 in the
pistou and through the slot in the guide over a pulley and is provided on its
end with a weight which is heavy enough to elevate the piston and the labels
which are placed thereon.
The plate i projects rearwardly and is formed with a cylindrical guide from
which a rod passes loosely and rests upon a locking lever pivoted at 2 in
ears projecting out from the tubular guide k.
The shorter end of the lever projects through a slot 10 in the tubular guide k,
and rests against the piston k¹, there being a spring 8 secured to the plate and to
the lever which is of sufficient strength to cause the locking lever to lock the
piston against the action of the weight 1.
The arm or bracket of the label carrier before referred to is provided with a
projection in the shape of a screw g³ which, after the label carrier has reached its
rearward limit, engages the pin and depresses it sufficiently to unlock the
piston and allow the weight 18 to force it and the labels up against the gummed
shoes of the label carrier. When the pin is disengaged from the projection g³,
the locking lever immediately engages the piston to lock it against further move-
ment. The label boxes and the pin are normally out of the plune of the shoes on
the label carrier so that when the label carrier has reached its rearnost position,
in alinement with the label box, the cum operates the lever j to elevate the said
label box and bring the pin into engagement with the projection g³ of the label

page_text: carrier, and before the label carrier begins its forward movement, the label box is
depressed.
Now it will be seen that during one oscillation of the label carrier, the shoes
therein will be covered with gum, or paste, the label box will be moved vertically
to bring a lubel into contact with the paste or gum on the shoes so as to cause it to
stick thereto, and the label will be carried forward ready to be placed upon the
bottle.
Mounted to slide in a guide a projecting outward from the top of the cross bar a
and in the end of an arm a projecting outward from one of the standards a is
a plunger 7. It is reciprocated by a lever fulcrumed at 1, and operated by a
cam slide embracing the power shaft b, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The cam slide
has a roller projecting into a cam slot in the cam 7. The forward end of the
lever is forked to form a slideway in which to receive a block pivoted to the
plunger so that when the lever is oscillated the plunger will be raised and
lowered. Located below the plunger is a rotary holder or receiver for the bottles
which operates to bind the labels tightly against them and maintain them thus for
a predetermined time, or until the adhesion is perfect, and there is no danger or
liability of the edges of the labels curling up and away from the bottles.
Journaled on a stud shaft m projecting outward from a standard m', rising from
the cross bar or support a³ is a spider or skeleton frame having a series of radial
cylinders m³, connected at their upper ends by ribs or webs m³, which are extended
radially outward as at m m on either side of each cylinder to form supports for
parts to be described.
The spider is held in place by a nut m and a series of washers m6, as clearly
shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, and is given an intermittent or step by step rotary
movement by means which shall be hereinaftor explained.
In each of the cylinders is a plunger n having at its upper end a rest n' for the
bottle, and held frictionally against movement by a block or shoe n³ and a spring n³,
both located in a socket formed in the oylinder wall. The tension of the spring
may be varied by a set screw abutting thereagainst.
Pivoted in the end of each of tho extensions m, on either side of each plunger,
are two band carriers o, each having an upwardly projecting arm o' extended
laterally at its end, and an outwardly projecting finger o³. Stretched across the
ends of each pair of arms o' is a flexible extensible band p of rubber, or of any other
suitable flexible material, having its ends connected to the fingers by springs pl
and preferably passing through eyes o' on the ends of the said arms o'. The band
carriers are shown as provided with cam lugs or stops o', against which the fingers
or atops 10 10 on the plunger may engage, when the plunger is depressed to
operate the said carriers and lock them against movement.
Upon a bottle being depressed by the plunger 7, it first strikes against the band p
which yields until it is forced against the rest n' and the plunger is depressed.
As the plungern descends, it swings the band carriers on their pivots, and the band
is wrapped around the bottle as shown in Figs. 1 and 10, so as to hold the label
tightly thereagainst.
The plunger n is held from rising, when the upper plunger ascends by the
engagement of the fingers n with the cam lugs o', in Fig. 2, and hence the label
is bound firmly about the bottle until the paste dries and there is no chance for the
edges of the label to uncurl.
As soon as the bottle is clasped by the band and the band carriers, and the upper
plunger has moved upwards to some extent by the power transmitting devices
actuated from the power shaft b, as before described, the holder or spider is rotated
one step, to present another plunger and band to receive the next bottle, by the
following devices.
On the hub g of a cam g stationarily mounted on the stud shaft m, is a rocking
lever connected by a rod to the upper plunger, and having a spring held
pawl adapted to enter notches m10 in the spider m, there being one notch for each
plunger. A spring held bolt or pawl m" is mounted in the end of the standard m'

page_text: and enters the notches mo to hold the spider stationary intermittently and properly
position the plungers an successively below the upper plunger /.
The cam before referred to is of the shape shown in Fig. 14, and it co-acts
with rolls s mounted on pins s projecting outward from the plungers », in raising
each plunger when it has reached a certain position, by the rotation of the spider,
to permit the bottle being withdrawn by the operator from the band and band car-
riers, (see Fig. 14.)
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
The pulley b¹ being clutched to the shaft & through the medium of any desirable
clutch mechanism operated by the rod t (shown in Fig. 1) a rotation of the shaft
causes the following results: The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 2,
with the label carrier in its lower position, the latter is moved to the rear and the
shoes thereof are covered with paste from the paste roller.
When the label carrier reaches its rearmost position the label box is elevated,
the piston or follower therein is released and a label attached itself to the shoe. Then
the label box is depressed again, the label carrier is bodily raised, and a label is
carried forward in position to be attached to a bottle, the plunger being now raised
and in position. A bottle is now placed below the latter with its bottom pressing
against the gage plate go and the said plunger is lowered to force the bottle between
the label shoes.
As the plunger descends, the arms or levers separate and the bottle is pressed
against the label, and the label and bottle against the flexible band, the latter
yielding as the bottle descends, and embracing it. At this time, the band carriers
are held stationary by the stops carried by the plunger n, but when at last said
plungern is depressed by the pressure of the bottle, the said carriers are forced
towards each other by the arms a bearing on the cams of and closely embrace the
bottle so as to clamp the label thereon. The carriers are likewise locked in the
position they have now assumed as the plunger n is held from rising by the fric-
tion devices before described.
As the plunger 7 descended, it rocked the lever r downward (being connected
thereto by the rod ) until the pawl caught in one of the notches mo, so that
when the said plunger is now raised, the said lever is rocked upward, rotating
the spider around far enough to bring another plunger n in line with the plunger 1.
The parts are of such proportions and move through such distances that the upward
movement of the plunger 1, imparts the proper amount of movement to the spider,
and the bolt or pawl m yields when the pawl a enters a notch and begins to draw
upon the spider.
The bottle which was forced against the band, and is now locked in the embrace
thereof, has the label clamped against it during the next four entire cycles of opera-
tions of the machine, equipped with this attachment, and during this time, the label
becomes set upon the bottle. Each time the machine completes one cycle of opera-
tions the holder is advanced one step and this step-by-step movement progresses
until the plungern is thrust outward by the roller s riding upon the cam 7 (as
shown in Fig. 14) and the carriers are forced into their normal inoperative positions.
An operator catches the bottles as they are successively released, and places an un-
labeled one upon the uppermost plunger n.
Thus from the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a machine which is
highly efficient in operation, and which may be employed for attaching labels to
bottles of any size or shape. When the bottle is depressed by the upper plunger,
the label shoes separate and the label is pressed by the band tightly against the
bottle with a spring pressure for a predetermined time, or until the adhesion of the
label to the bottle is perfect. It will be understood that we do not limit ourselves
to the peculiar arrangement of plungers or band carriers, nor to any of the details
of construction above described as the invention may be expressed or embodied i
many other ways and forms; nor do we limit the application of the rotary holder
and the band carriers to the particular machine which we have described, as it may
be employed in connection with a labeling machine of any other style or kind.
l

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said iuven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A labeling machine, comprising a label carrier, a label box, means for moving
the label carrier into alinement with the label box, and means for regularly aud
automatically moving the label box bodily towards the label carrier to supply a
label thereto, and then away therefrom.
2. A labeling machine, comprising a label carrier swinging on a pivot which is
stationary longitudinally of the machine, a label box out of the path of the label
carrier, means for swinging the label carrier into alinement with the label box, and
means for intermittently reciprocating the label box towards and from the label
carrier for the purpose of supplying a label thereto.
3. A labeling machine, comprising a label carrier, a label box, a paste box having
paste distributing means, means for moving the label carrier into contact with the
paste distributing means, and into aliuement with the label box, means for bodily
reciprocating the label box at each movement of the said carrier to supply a label
to the carrier, and means for swinging the label carrier to its inoperative position
out of contact with the paste distributing means.
4. In a labeling machine, in combination, a label box, a label carrier movable
into alinement with the label box, a follower in the label box, a friction lock for
holding the follower against movement, means actuated by the label carrier for
operating the lock to release the follower when the label carrier is in alinement
therewith, and means for reciprocating the label box once for each reciprocation of
the said label carrier.
5. In a labeling machine, in combination, a label box, a label carrier movable
into alinement with the label box, a follower in the label box, a friction lock for
holding the follower against movement, and means for reciprocating the label box
towards and from the label carrier whereby the engagement of the lock with the
carrier releases the follower.
6. In a labeling machine, in combination, a movable label carrier, a paste tank,
a pasto distributing roll in the path of the label carrier, and means operating
independently of the engagement of the carrier with the roll, for revolving the roll
to distribute the paste evenly on the carrier.
7. In a labeling machine, in combination, a movable label carrier having shoes, a
paste distributing roll in the path of the shoes, and means operated by a projection on
the carrier independently of the engagement of the shoes with the roll for revolving
the roll to distribute the paste evenly on the shoes.
8. In a labeling machine, in combination, a paste distributing roll, a pulley
rigidly connected to the roll a label carrier having shoes, and means on the label
carrier for rotating said pulley independently of the engagement of the shoes with
the roll to distribute the paste evenly on the said shoes.
9. In a labeling machine, in combination, a label carrier having one or more
label carrying shoes with flat faces, and a paste distributing roll in the path of
the shoes, in combination with means supported by the label carrier and engaging
the roll for causing the flat faces of the shoes to press against or engage the roll
with an unvarying pressure.
10. In a labeling machine, in combination, a label carrier having one or more
label carrying shoes with flat faces, a paste distributing roll in the path of the shoes,
a wheel mounted on the axis of the roll, and a supplemental shoe having a flat face
and mounted on the carrier and adapted to engage and pass over the said wheel
so as to regulate the pressure of the label carrying shoes upon the roll.
11. In a labeling machine, in combination, a swinging label carrier having label
carrying shoes and fulcrumed on a pivot stationary in lines longitudinal of the
machine, a paste distributing device for gumming the label carrying shoes, a label
box arranged radially of the pivot on which the label carrier swings, and means for
reciprocating the label box inwards and from the said carrier.
12. In a labeling machine, in combination, a pivoted label carrier having label

page_text: carrying shoes, a label box, means for wiping a label on the bottle, upper and lower
plungers for holding the bottle when it is wiped, and a single power shaft provided
with cams for operating the label carrier and the plungers.
13. In a labeling machine, in combination, a paste distributing roll, a label box,
a pivoted label carrier movable past the said roll and into alinement with the label
box, a cam and lever for swinging the carrier transversely, and a cam and lever for
moving it longitudinally, and a single shaft on which said cams are both mounted.
14. In a labeling machine, in combination, a paste distributing roll, a pivoted
label carrier movable past the roll, a label box, a pivoted lever supporting said box,
means for operating said lever, and a power shaft having means for swinging the
label carrier into aliuement with the label box, to bring a label in contact with the
carrier.
15. In a labeling machine, in combination, a label holder, a label carrier having
separable shoes, means for placing a line of paste on only the extreme ends of the
label leaving the body unpasted prior to its being placed on the bottle, oppositely
acting plungers for clamping the label against the bottle, and mechanism for
wiping the edges of the label against tho bottle.
16. A bottle labeling machine, having mechanism for affixing a label upon a
bottle, said mechanism comprising a non-traveling flexible band, with provisions
for embracing each bottle with the band, means for positively thrusting each bottle
against the band, and means for automatically releasing the bottle.
17. A bottle labeling machine having mechanism for affixing a label upon a
bottle, said mechanism comprising a rotary holder, and a series of flexible bands
mounted upon the holder, and arranged to successively receive bottles and press
labels thereagainst.
18. A bottle labeling machine having mechanism for affixing a label upon a
bottle, said mechanism consisting of a non-traveling flexible extensible band, con-
structed and arranged to receive a bottle and constantly compress a label there-
against during two or more entire cycles of operation of the machine.
19. In combination with the organized parts of a bottle labeling machine, means
for receiving and affixing a label on a bottle comprising a band having its operative
portion flexible throughout, said band being arranged to embrace the bottle with
the label thereon, and means for automatically releasing the bottle after a prede-
termined time.
20. In combination with the organized parts of a bottle labeling machine, a
holder having a series of bands flexible throughout their operative portions,
arranged to successively receive a bottle and affix the label thereto, and means for
bringing said bands successively into position to receive a bottle.
21. In combination with the organized parts of a bottle labeling machine, a
rotary holder having band carriers, and a non-traveling flexible band stretched
between said carriers for receiving a bottle and affixing a label thereto, and means
for automatically effecting the release of the bottle from the band.
22. In a bottle labeling machine, a top plunger, a spider having a series of lower
plungers each adapted to co-act with the top plunger in receiving a bottle, a flexible
band above each lower plunger to receive and embrace the bottle, and means for
receiving the ouds of the bands.
23. In a bottle labeling machine, a top plunger, a spider having a series of bands,
a pair of carriers for each band, and means actuated by said plunger for operating
said carriers to embrace the bottles with the bands.
24. In a bottle labeling machine, a top plunger, a spider having a series of bands,
a pair of carriers for each band, means actuated by said plunger for operating said
carriers to embrace the bottles with the bands, and means for bringing the bands
successively below said plunger.
26. In combination with the organized parts of a bottle labeling machine includ-
ing a top plunger, pivoted arms provided with a band for receiving a bottle and
holding a label thereagainst, and positively locking means to hold said arms from
releasing said bottle.

page_text: 26. An attachment for a bottle labeling machine, comprising a plunger, pivoted
band carriers located on the side of the plunger, and a band stretched between said
band carriers, said band carriers and said plunger being formed with co-acting
stops, which lock the carriers in their operative positions.
27. A bottle labeling machine having mechanism for affixing a label upon a
bottle, said mechanism comprising a flexible band supported at its ends, and
mechanism for positively forcing and holding a bottle in a fold of the band.
Dated this 15th day of November 1897.
VICTOR BEAUREGARD,
CHARLES SUMNER GOODING,
FRED HAUSMANN,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.