Improvements in Can Labelling Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1894-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1894
COMPLETE DIMITICATION.
Improvements in Can Labelling Machines.
We, EVAN WILLIAM CORNELL, and FREDERICK HENRY KNAPP, of Adrian,
County of Lenawee, and State of Michigan, United States of America, Manu-
facturers, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in can labelling machines and consists in
producing a machine of this class that is adapted to be actuated by the gravity of
the filled can, and in which the label is applied to the can as it rolls from one end
of the machine to the other, as will hereinafter be more fully set forth, the essential
features of which being pointed out particularly in the claims.
The object of the invention is to provide a simple, cheap and effective machine
for labelling cans, and in which the arrangement is such that the machine is actuated
by the gravity of the cans, and the labels are applied thereto as said cans are
caused to roll from one end of said machine to the other.
This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which ;-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved machine.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same.
Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the label containing receptacle, showing a can
passing over said labels and causing one to adhere thereto.
Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the restraining knives of the label receptacle, which
are adapted to engage opposite edges of the labels, and so confine them in said
receptacle that but one will be detached at a time as the can passes over them.
Referring to the letters of reference, A designates the frame of the machine
having an inclined table. Upon said table is mounted the can run-way consisting
of a trough or chute having the vertical sides B. Located at the forward end of
the chute or run-way is an abruptly inclined and oscillative section C, which is
hinged at a to the main portion of the run-way and is adapted to swing downward
by the weight of the can when placed thereon. Said section being provided
with the opposite guides b between which the cans are placed and which serve
to bring said cans into proper position for starting on their course through the
machine.
t
Leading from the guides are the tracks which connect with the tracks c' on
the sides of the main chute upon which the cans are adapted to roll between the
guides d, which guides are made adjustable to accommodate the various lengths of
cans, by means of the movable stops d'.
E designates the paste pot which is located between the oscillative section C and
the label receptacle D. Within said pot, near the bottom thereof, is a roller F
which is mounted on a shaft passing through said pot and carrying a gear wheel G
which meshes with the gear G' on the shaft of the roller F', journalled in the pot
above the roller F and running in peripheral contact therewith. Crossing the
interior of the pot adjacent to the periphery of the roller F is a scraper F" which
prevents too great an accumulation of paste on the surface of said roller.
The roller supplies the paste to the roller F' which is provided with a
covering of felt, and extends between the track so as to apply paste to a portion of
the periphery of the can as it passes along said track.
To provide for rotating the paste rollers, the oscillative section of the run-way is
provided with an arm f, to the upper end of which is pivoted a pawlƒ³, which

page_text: The
engages the teeth of the gear G, whereby, when said section is depressed, said
pawl will actuate said gear and revolve the rollers F, F, thereby applying the
paste in proper proportion to the cans as they pass over the roller F.
section C is returned to its normal position after being depressed, by means of a
weight, which is attached to one end of a pivoted lever h, which is coupled at
its other end by means of the bar with the under side of said oscillative section,
as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
The label receptacle is provided with laterally adjustable sides h", so as to
accommodate various widths of labels, said sides being adjusted by means of the
hand screws i, that engage the angle-irons attached to said sides.
Forming the bottom of said receptacle, is a vertically movable follower H
upon which the labels are placed and which is adapted to be forced upward by
means of a weighted cam H' which engages the lower end of an arm H" depending
from said follower.
In applying glazed or stiff labels to the cans, it is found necessary to moisten the
lap ends thereof before they are placed in the receptacle, to render them soft and
pliable so as to enable the paste to hold said lap ends in perfect adhesion to the
This moistening of the labels causes the pack or bunch to become thicker at
can.
the moistened end.
It is necessary, therefore, in order to keep the bunch of labels level, that the
feed shall be greater at this end. To accomplish this the follower H is provided
with the curved arm H that passes through a closely fitting guide 2 secured to
the frame, causing said arm to travel in the arc of a circle, which gives the
follower a tilting motion and carries the lower end thereof, upon which the wet
ends of the labels rest, faster than the upper end.
To provide for lifting the bottom H of the label receptacle so that the surface of
the labels therein may be maintained on a level with the plane of the chute or
run-way, the arm H" is not attached directly to the bottom H, but to a bar k
hinged at one end to said bottom and having at the other end a thumb screw k¹
passing therethrough and bearing against the under face of the bottom, whereby,
by turning said screw, the bottom may be tilted as desired.
Projecting laterally into the label receptacle from each side thereof, are the
opposed V-shaped knives m which are formed on the end journals n, as clearly
shown in Fig. 5, the cutting edges of said knives terminating at or near the
circumferential center of Faid journals which are adapted to be slightly rotated by
1.eans of the arms o attached thereto and which are coupled by the connecting
bars o' to the arms f, whereby, by the oscillation of said section C, the journals n
will be rotated causing the knives to work upon the uppermost labels, which are
forced upward against said knives by the weighted cam H' and cut through the
edges thereot, the wedge shape of said knives preventing the cut labels from
crowding past them and retaining them in such position that they may be readily
picked up, one at a time, by the paste upon the cans, as said can rolls over
them. The resistance of the bevel of said knives being sufficient to prevent the
succeeding label from being drawn after the topmost label as it is detached by the
rolling can.
The can in passing over the paste roller F' has paste applied to a portion of its
periphery, and said roller is so adjusted with respect to the label receptacle, that
as the can rolls along, the center of its pasted portion will strike the forward end
of the uppermost label, so that said label will be picked up by the paste, and
rolled onto the can.
To provide for applying paste to the lap end of the label, the crank rod I is
employed which extends across the label receptacle and rests upon the labels
therein, its ends being journalled in brackets fastened to the sides of said
receptacle. One end of said crank rod extends through its bracket and is
environed by a coiled spring s, which is secured at one end to said rod, and the
other end to said bracket. The tension of said springs acting upon said rod,
normally throws the horizontal portion thereof forward of its points of pivot,

page_text: causing it to lie in one of the series of grooves a¹ in the upper edge of the label
receptacle so that as the can rolls over said rod with one end of the label attached
thereto, the rod is brought between the label and the can, as clearly shown in
Fig. 4, and as the cans roll, said crank rod is swung upward by the engagement of"
the label therewith, in which position it remains until the can shall have nearly
passed off of the lower end of the label, when the force of the spring s will return
said crank to its former position, which operation quickly withdraws the free or
lap end of the label from under the can, causing it to come in contact with the
pasted surface thereof, and applying paste thereto. Said crank rod may be
regulated to accommodate the various lengths of the laps of the labels, by adjusting
longitudinally the brackets in which the ends of said rod are journalled. The
provision for the adjustment being shown in Fig. 1.
After the can has passed from the label receptacle with the label attached.
thereto, it rolls onto the inclined apron J and the succeeding revolutions of the can
down said apron, cause the lap end of the label to firmly adhere. The operation of
attaching the label being complete when the can is arrested by the stop K at the
bottom of the chute.
This apron J is composed of a series of flexible strands that are stretched longi-
tudinally between the sides B, their lower ends passing over and secured to a drum L
journalled between said sides, the shaft of said drum carrying on its outer end a
rack M adapted to be engaged by a pawl t whereby the proper tension may be
applied to said strands. The upper ends of said strands pass over an inclined
brace 3 secured between the sides B, and are attached to a transverse rod +, below
the end of said brace. The elastic nature of these strands, because of the tension
placed thereon, causes them to vibrate and spring as the can rolls along, and being
independent of one another, they conform more perfectly to and act upon all uneven
surfaces thereby thoroughly pressing the label upon the cau.
The lower end of the run-way is supported upon a roller N journalled in
brackets P secured to the table so that the portion of said run-way below the label
receptacle may be drawn away therefrom to enable the labels to be placed in said
receptacle or removed therefrom. The upper end of the movable section being
supported upon a cross piece R which is secured to the chute or run-way and is
adapted to slide therewith, being secured by a bolt U passing through a slot v
therein and receiving a thumb nut 2. The brackets P are provided with vertical
extensions 5, which bear against rubbing plates 6 secured on each side of the chute
and guide it in its longitudinal movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we do declare that what we
claim is ;-
Claim 1. In a can labelling machine, the combination with the can run-way and
the paste applying rollers, of the oscillative section of said run-way, and the means
connecting said section with said rollers whereby they are rotated by the actuation
of said section.
Claim 2. In a can labelling machine, the combination of the can run-way, the
scillative section thereof, the label receptacle in said run-way, the rotative
detaining knives extending into said receptacle and adapted to engage opposite
edges of the labels therein and means for connecting said knives with said oscillative
section of the run-way.
Claim 3 Iu a can labelling machine, the combination of the can run-way, the
label receptacle located in said run-way, the knives projecting into said receptacle,
the movable follower therein, and means for raising said follower to cause the labels
to bear against said knives.
Claim 4. In a can labelling machine, the combination with the pasting mechanism,.
of the can run-way having a label receptacle therein, the spring restrained crank
rod crossing said receptacle and journalled at its ends to the sides thereof, said rod
lying adjacent to the face of the labels and adapted to be swung over by the label

page_text: winding onto the can, and to be returned by the action of its spring as the can rolls
from the label, so that the lap end of the label is brought into contact with the
paste on the can, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Claim 5. In a can labelling machine, the combination with the pasting mechanism,
of the can run-way having a label receptacle therein, the crank rod crossing said
receptacle and journalled in bearings on the sides thereof, the coiled spring upon
said rod, one end of said spring being secured to the rod and the other end to the
bearing supporting said rod whereby the crank portion of said rod is held normally
adjacent to the labels in said receptacle.
Claim 6. In a can labelling machine, the combination of the can run-way, the
label receptacle, and the transverse rod crossing said receptacle adjacent to the
upper face of the labels adapted to lie between the can and the label winding
thereon, and from under which the labels are drawn by the rolling can.
Claim 7. In a can labelling machine, the combination of the can run-way having
the label receptacle therein, the flexible apron in said run-way below said receptacle
onto which the cans roll by gravity, said apron composed of a series of independent
elastic strands.
Claim 8. In a can labelling machine, the combination with the paste applying
mechanism, of the can run-way, the flexible apron in said run-way onto which the
cans roll by gravity, said apron composed of a series of elastic strands and the means
for applying tension thereto, substantially as set forth.
Claim 9. In a can labelling machine, the combination of the run-way having a
label receptacle therein, the oscillative rod crossing said receptacle and lying
adjacent to the surface of the labels, said rod being adapted to be swung over by
the action of the label winding onto the can, and to swing back as the can rolls
from the label to draw the lap end of the label from the can.
Claim 10. In a can labelling machine, the combination of the label receptacle, a
movable device crossing said receptacle and adapted to lie adjacent to the labels
therein.
Claim 11. In a can labelling machine, the combination with the paste applying
mechanim, of the can run-way having an oscillative section connected with said
pasting mechanism and provided with a label receptacle therein, the knives
extending into said receptacle, the movable follower forming the bottom thereof,
the arm depending from said follower, and the weighted cam engaging said arm.
Claim 12. In a can labelling machine, the combination of the can run-way, having
the label receptacle therein, the movable follower forming the bottom of said
receptacle, the curved arm depending from said follower and means for guiding and
raising said arm.
Claim 13. In a can labelling machine, the combination of the can run-way, the
label receptacle therein, the oscillative journals provided with V-shaped knives that
extend into said receptacle and whose edges terminate on a line with the center of
oscillation.
Claim 14. In a can labelling machine, the combination of the can run-way, the
label receptacle therein, and the actuated knives extending into said receptacle to
engage said labels so that but one label at a time is picked up by the rolling can.
Claim 15. In a can labelling machine, the combination of the run-way, the pasting
mechanism adapted to apply paste to the cans as they roll along, the label receptacle
for supplying labels to the cans said labels being picked up by the paste upon the
cans and rolled thereon as said cans pass along said run-way, and means, as the
labels are rolling onto the cans, for drawing the lap end thereof across the paste on
the cans to apply paste to said lap-end of said labels.
Dated this 1st day of November 1894.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.