Improvements relating to the Labelling of Bottles, Cans, or other Packages, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Labelling of Bottles, Cans, or other
Packages, and in Apparatus therefor.
We, GEORGE REHFUSS, JOHN GEORGE REHFUSS, and MARTIN OSCAR
REHFUSS, Mechanical Engineers, all of 1313 Tiernan Street, Philadelphia, State
of Pennsylvania, 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in the method of automatically labelling
bottles, cans, or other packages, and consists in feeding a label from a holder or
other suitable device towards a paste receptacle, supplying the label with paste,
and finally causing the same to adhere to the bottle can or other package which
has been placed in the machine.
Our invention also consists of a novel apparatus whereby the above method
may be effected, the bottles cans or other packages being labelled entirely by
machinery, the work being done much more rapidly and correctly than heretofore
by hand, the labels being fed one by one over suitable mechanism, which supplies
the paste thereto, and being then carried to the bottles, cans or similar articles,
and caused to adhere thereto by suitable devices, all as will be hereinafter set
forth.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Figure represents a side elevation of a machine for automatically labelling
bottles, cans or other packages embodying our invention.
Figure 2 represents a plan view of the same.
Figure 3 represents a vertical longitudinal section through the centre of the
machine.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
A designates a bed which supports the operative parts of the machine.
B designates posts or standards located near one end of said bed, to the top of
which is suitably secured one end of a receptacle or holder C, in which the labels D
are placed, said labels being superimposed therein as shown in Figure 3, the other
end of the holder C being supported on the standard N by the ears U2, which are
suitably fastened thereto. The end E of the holder is preferably open, while the
outer end F is closed.
G designates an angle shaped piece having a foot S', which is adapted to press
upon the labels D, while another portion T' overhangs the end piece F, and has a
bolt or stud H passing through the same, the upper end of said bolt being threaded
and having a thumb nut J.
K designates a spring held between the thumb nut J.and the piece G, whereby
the pressure upon the labels D can be regulated and kept constant, as may be
desired.
The bottom of the holder is cut away at L, near the end piece F, so that the
ends of the labels may be pressed into contact with the feed roll M, which may be
of rubber or other suitable material, and is suitably mounted in the standards N.
One end of the journal S which carries the roll M is extended beyond its
bearing, and has attached thereto the arm Q, which is provided with the handle R.
The other end of the said journal S, carries the gear T, which is adapted to mesh
with the gear U, which is suitably attached to a shaft V, said shaft being journalled
in the arms W, which are in the present instance loosely supported on the shaft or
journal S.

page_text: The shaft V also carries the gear P, which is suitably secured thereto, and is
adapted to mesh with the pinion X, which is carried on the shaft Y, Figure 1 the
latter carrying also the paste roll Z, which is revolved in the paste B' contained in
the receptacle A', by means of the engagement of the pinion X, with the gear P.
The shaft or journal Y revolves in bearings C, and is held in place by the split
pin D', whereby the paste roll Z can be readily removed when desired.
The gear Umeshes with another gear E, and the latter meshes with the
pinion F, whose journal G¹ carries a roll H', which in combination with the idle
roll K both revolving in suitable bearings, is adapted to support the bottle or other
article L', and to cause the same to revolve while the label is being pasted thereon,
as will be hereinafter explained, all the rolls, pinions, and the like being suitably
supported from the bed A.
The paste cup or receptacle A', is supported on the base M', said cup and base
having the tongue and groove device N₁, and the flat portion P¹, so that when the
flat side Q of the screw R¹ is turned so as to coincide with the straight surface P¹,
of the base M¹, the cup A', holding the paste can be readily withdrawn see
Figure 1.
The stop M Figure 3 on the side of the machine, opposite to the screw R¹ in
conjunction with the said screw prevents the paste receptacle from being moved
in either direction when the parts are in the position shown in Figures 1 and 3.
S designates arms which are suitably pivoted to the arms W at T', said arms S¹
having journalled therein the roll U₁, and joined together at their ends by the
cross bar V', which serves both as a weight to assist in keeping the roll U¹ in
contact with the bottle L', and as a handle for lifting the said roll, when it is
desired to place a bottle in position. The arms W have extensions W' Figures 1
and 3 which extend beyond the shaft or journal S which supports them, said
extensions being connected by a cross bar X³.
Y designates a pin tightly fitted to the stand Z' said pin passing loosely through
the cross bar X', and having its end B' screw-threaded so as to engage the check
nuts A².
C, designates a spring held between the stand Z' and the cross bar X', which
serves to cushion any movement of the arms W, which may arise from any cause,
and by means of the nuts A2, which bear on the cross bar X', the position of the
shaft V, and of the roll D2 carried thereon relative to the paste roll Z can be
varied at will, the paste roll Z being slightly in advance of the roll D', which is
provided with the grooves E Figure 2.
F designates a lug on the paste receptacle A', to which is pivotally secured the
arm G, which has the overhanging portion H, which has suitably attached to it
the scraper K, which is adapted to be in contact with the paste roll Z for the
whole of its longitudinal surface and a portion of its ends, said scraper being
provided with fingers Q which enter the grooves P' of the said paste roll, thereby
removing from the same any surplus paste which may adhere thereto, so that a
uniform quantity will always be applied to the surface of the label.
N2 designates the head of a screw, which has a flange P3, Figure 1 said screw
being secured in the overhanging piece H, the head N2 and the flange P³ serving
to regulate the movement of the scraper K².
Qdesignates fingers which are suitably supported in the arm G², and which lay
in the grooves P³, as shown in Figure 2.
R³ designates a plate which has the end adjacent the end piece F suitably
supported, said plate being cut out preferably as shown in Figure 2, so that the
position of the label passing thereunder relative to the bottle, can be at all times
observed.
The operation will now be apparent. Assume the parts to be in the position
shown in Figure 3, the labels having been placed in the holder C, and the foot S
properly adjusted, and a bottle, can package or the like resting on the rolls H¹
and K'.
As the feed roll M is revolved, its top will enter the recess L of the holder, C,

page_text: and the bottom label will be drawn forward, thence on to the fingers Q², and the
roll D', whose axis is slightly to one side of the axis of the said paste roll Z will
press the label on to said paste roll, and assist the forward movement of the same,
which is always between the plate R' and the fingers Q³, the under side of said
label being in contact with the paste roll Z at its greater diameters, the fingers Q2
supporting the same, and the plate R² preventing the label from curling up. The
paste having been applied to the label, it passes on and is pressed by the roll U₁ on
to the bottle, can or other article, which is revolved by and is supported on the
rolls K and H', the proper rotary movement being imparted to the rolls M, D2, Z,
and H by means of the train of gearing operated by the gear T, as has already
been described, the rolls K', and U¹ being idlers, and inoved only by the contact of
the bottle L', or other article which is being labelled.
When it is desired to label the bottle at some particular point, the exact position
of the label with reference to the bottle can be observed through the openings in
the plate R2, and the revolution of the rolls can be stopped or the bottle adjusted
so that the label will be caused to adhere thereto at the desired point. If it is
immaterial where the label is to be placed, it is only necessary to place the bottle
on the rolls K' and H' and turn the crank continuously. The paste receptacle and
the roll Z can be removed, as has been already explained, and the arms W and the
arm G2, which carries the scraper K3 and the fingers Q² can be raised from the
positions shown in Figures 1 and 3, as is evident.
The arm G2 is held in an upright position, as in Figures 1 and 3, in any suitable
manner.
The roll D2 can be adjusted by means of the nuts A² on the pin Y². It is
obvious that our method and apparatus can be employed for labelling many
articles other than bottles, or cans, and we do not therefore desire to be limited
thereto, or to be confined to the exact constructions which we have herein shown
and described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1st. The method of automatically labelling bottles or other packages, which
consists in feeding a single label from a supply holder, supplying said label
with paste, and then fastening the same to said bottle or other package, substantially
as described.
2nd. The method of labelling bottles and other articles which consists first in
passing a label over a paste roll or its equivalent, whereby paste is applied thereto,
and second passing said label between a bottle, can or similar article, and a suitable
roller or equivalent device, whereby the label is caused to adhere thereto, substan-
tially as described.
3rd. The method of labelling bottles, cans, or other packages which consists first
in feeding a label between plates or fingers or their equivalents, and second applying
paste thereto, and third passing said label between a revolving bottle or similar
article and an adjacent roller, substantially as described.
4th. In a labelling machine, a holder for the labels, feed rolls, a paste roll
adapted to revolve in a paste receptacle over which a label is adapted to be passed,
and means for guiding said label on to a bottle or similar article, said parts being
combined substantially as described.
5th. In a labelling machine, a holder for the labels, feed rolls, a paste roll adapted
to revolve in a paste receptacle, a scraper for the same, means for guiding the
labels over said paste roll, and means for causing the same to adhere to a bottle or
similar article, substantially as described.
6th. In a labelling machine, a holder for the labels, a feed roll adjacent to said
holder, a grooved paste roll, a scraper therefor, a grooved roll adjacent to said
paste roll, guiding devices for the labels adapted to rest in the grooves of the above
rolls, supporting devices for a bottle or similar article, and means for causing a

page_text: label to adhere to said bottle, said parts being combined substantially as
described.
7th. In a labelling machine, a bolder for the labels, a feed roll adjacent to said
holder, a grooved paste roll, a scraper therefor, a grooved roll adjacent to said paste
roll, the axis of said rolls being in different vertical planes, guiding devices for the
labels adapted to rest in the grooves of the above rolls, supporting devices for
a bottle or similar article, and means for causing a label to adhere to said bottle,
or similar article, said parts being combined substantially as described.
8th. In a labelling machine, a holder for the labels, having its bottom recessed
near the front end, and a feed roll whose top is adapted to enter said recess,
guiding devices for the labels, means for applying paste to the latter, and means
for causing the same to adhere to a bottle or similar article, said parts being
combined substantially as described.
9th. In a labelling machine, a holder for the labels, having its bottom recessed
near the front end, and a feed roll whose top is adapted to enter said recess a
grooved paste roll, fingers for supporting the labels adapted to rest in said grooves,
a grooved feed roll D³ adjacent to said paste roll, and a recessed plate R² located
between the feed roll D2 and the paste roll, means for supporting a bottle or other
article, and means for causing a label to adhere thereto, said parts being combined
substantially as described.
10th. In a labelling machine, a holder for the labels, having its bottom recessed
near the front end, and a feed roll whose top is adapted to enter said recess, a
grooved paste roll, fingers for supporting the labels adapted to rest in said grooves,
a grooved feed roll D3 adjacent to said paste roll, the axes of said rolls being in
different vertical planes, and a recessed plate R2 located between the feed roll D²
and the paste roll, means for supporting a bottle or other article, and means
for causing a label to adhere thereto, said parts being combined substantially as
described.
11th. In a labelling machine, a holder for the labels, a feed roll, a grooved paste
roll, a paste receptacle, fingers for supporting the labels pivotally secured to the
paste receptacle, a feed roll adjacent said paste roll, rolls for supporting a bottle or
similar article, and means for causing a label to adhere to the latter, said paste
roll, paste receptacle and fingers being movable, the above parts being combined
substantially as described.
12th. In a labelling machine, a holder for the labels, a feed roll, a grooved paste
roll, a paste receptacle, fingers for supporting the labels pivotally secured to the
paste receptacle, a feed roll adjacent said paste roll, rolls for supporting a bottle
or similar article, and causing the same to revolve, and means for causing a label to
adhere to the latter, said paste roll, paste receptacle and fingers being removable,
the above parts being combined substantially as described.
13th. In a labelling machine, a holder for the labels, a feed roll, a grooved
paste roll, a scraper therefor, a paste receptacle, fingers for supporting the labels
movably secured to the paste receptacle, a feed roll adjacent to said paste roll,
rolls for supporting a bottle or similar article, and means for causing a label to
adhere to the latter, said paste roll, scraper, paste receptacle and fingers being
removable, the above parts being combined substantially as described.
14th. In a labelling machine, a holder for the labels, means for feeding the same
to and over a paste roll, means for removing surplus paste therefrom, meaus for
pressing the labels on to the paste roll, an adjusting device for the same, a roller U¹
pivotally secured to a suitable point, and adapted to bear on the article which is
being labelled, said article being suitably supported on rolls K' and H' or their
equivalents, substantially as described.
15th. In a labelling machine, the holder, C the spring-pressed piece G, having
the foot S2, feed roll M adjacent to said holder, the grooved rolls Z and D², the
latter being supported in the arms W, meaus for adjusting said arms, arms S
attached to said arms W, and forming bearings for the roll U₁, and rolls K' and H¹
adapted to support the article which is being labelled, a plate R2, fingers Q2, a

page_text: scraper, a paste receptacle, and a system of gearing for actuating the above rolls,
said parts being combined substantially as described.
16th. In a labelling machine, a holder for the labels, feed rolls, means for
applying paste to a label, and means for guiding the same on to a bottle or similar
5 article, and causing it to adhere thereto, said parts being combined substantially
as described.
Deted this 24th dex of July 1804
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.