Improvements in or relating to Bottle Labelling Machine.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Bottle Labelling Machine.
I, EDWARD ERMOLD, Manufacturer, of No. 652, Hudson Street, New York, in
the State of New York, U.S.A., 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 certain improvements in or relating to bottle-labelling
machines of that class which are provided with horizontally-reciprocating pickers
that are supplied with paste on their faces so as to take up a label, said label
being then transferred to the bottle and applied thereto by the joint action of
a downwardly descending plunger, laterally-yielding wipers and a stationary
table below the bottle; and the invention consists of a machine for labelling
bottles which comprises horizontally-reciprocating and laterally-yielding pickers,
guard-plates above said pickers, means for supplying paste to said pickers, means
for picking up one label after the other from a label-elevating device, and means
for applying the label to the bottle by the joint action of a vertically-reciprocating
plunger, laterally-oscillating and spring-actuated wipers, and a stationary
receiving-table below the wipers. The invention consists secondly in an improved
construction of the pickers by which the label is transmitted to the bottle,
laterally-reciprocating guard-plates above said pickers, and means for returning
the pickers to the normal position, during the backward motion of the picker-
carriage. The invention consists lastly in certain details of construction and
combinations of parts which will be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed
out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 represents a side-elevation of my improved machine for labelling
bottles,
Fig. 2 is a front-elevation of the same.
Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical longitudinal sections of the operative parts of the
machine, drawn on a larger scale, Fig. 3 representing the pickers in their rear-
most position, ready for taking up the paste, while Fig. 4 shows the pickers in
position for transferring the label to the bottle.
Fig. 5 is a plan-view of my improved machine partly in horizontal section on
line 5-5, Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 6-6, Fig. 1,
Fig. 7 is a detail front-elevation of a portion of the bottle labelling machine,
showing the guard-plates, pickers, laterally-oscillating wipers and the plunger
for forcing the bottle through between the guard-plates, pickers and wipers.
Fig. 8 is a detail vertical transverse section through the picker-supporting
carriage on line 8-8, Fig. 7.
Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively a detail plan view of the picker-mechanism and
a horizontal section of the same on line 10-10, Fig. 7.
Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively a detail plan view and a side elevation of the
paste-box.

page_text: Figs. 13 and 14 are respectively a detail side-elevation and a front-elevation of
the reciprocating picker-carriage, and
Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are respectively a detail vertical section, a horizontal
section on line 16-16, Fig. 15, and a detail top-view of the adjusting mechanism
for the label-guiding rods, drawn on a larger scale.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Referring to the drawings, A A¹ represents the supporting-frame of my
improved bottle-labelling machine. The lower part A carries the bearings for
the driving shaft S and the cam-shaft S' to which latter power is transmitted
from the driving shaft S by suitable gear-wheels, while the upper part A¹ of
the frame carries the guide-rods a a for the horizontally-reciprocating picker-
carriage B, and the guide-sleeves for the vertically-reciprocating plunger D.
The main parts of my improved bottle-labelling machine consist of the vertically-
reciprocating plunger D by which the bottle is moved in downward direction
so as to take up the pasted label; pickers P which are guided laterally in ways
of the horizontally-reciprocating picker-carriage B; laterally-oscillating and
spring-actuated wipers F below the plunger for applying the pasted label to
the bottle; and a stationary table or bottle-rest G below said wipers on which
the bottle is deposited after it has been moved by the plunger past the pickers
and wipers. The parts referred to are located approximately in a vertical plane
one below the other, when the label is applied to the bottle. Back of the wipers
18 arranged a label-feeding mechanism or so-called elevator E, while back of the
elevator is located the paste-box C. The horizontally-reciprocating picker-
carriage B is guided by means of sleeves b b on the guide-rods a a and operated
by suitable mechanism from the cam-shaft S¹. The pickers are arranged parallel
with each other at the front part of the picker-carriage in such a manner that
during the forward motion of the picker-carriage they take up the paste from
the paste-supply box and are then lowered so as to take up the uppermost label
from the label-elevator. As soon as the label is taken up, the picker-carriage
is raised again and the pickers are moved forward into line with the plunger
and bottle-rest, the label being in inverted position below the bottle. The
actuating mechanisms of the vertically-reciprocating plunger, horizontally-recipro-
cating picker-carriage, oscillating wipers, paste-box and the label-elevator are so
timed that as soon as the label is removed from the pickers by the downward
motion of the plunger and transferred to the bottle, the picker-carriage is moved
in backward direction to the end of its rear-stroke clear of the label-elevator and
paste-box, while during the forward stroke the pickers take up a new supply of
paste and a new label for the next bottle to be labelled.
THE PICKER-MECHANISM.
The picker-mechanism is shown in detail in Figs. 8, 13 and 14 and is composed
of a picker-carriage B which is provided at both sides with sleeves b. The
sleeves b are connected at each side of the carriage B by vertical brackets 62 which
carry a transverse plate 63 at their upper parts and a transverse bar 6 (see Fig. 14)
at their lower parts. On the plate 63 is guided by means of headed studs 65 a
transverse plate 66 having slots 67 for the studs 65. The plate 66 is provided at
its lower part with forwardly-extending brackets 68 the enlarged heads of which
are provided with three transverse holes for the guide-shanks 6 of laterally-
movable and spring-actuated guard-plates 69.
The picker-carriage B is reciprocated on the guide-rods a a by means of a
suitable mechanism actuated from the driving-shaft S. The pickers P. are
arranged parallel with each other at the front part of the picker-carriage, in such
a manner that during the forward motion of the picker-carriage their faces come
in contact with paste-supplying rollers so as to take up the paste, after which
they are lowered so as to pick up the uppermost label from the label-elevator.
As soon as the label is taken up by the pickers, the picker-carriage is raised again
and the pickers continue their forward motion until they arrive vertically in

page_text: line with the plunger D and the stationary bottle-rest G that is located below
the wipers. The actuating-mechanisms of the vertically-reciprocating plunger,
laterally-shiftable pickers and oscillating wipers are so timed that as soon as the
label is removed from the pickers by the downward motion of the plunger, and
transferred to the bottle by the wipers, the picker-carriage begins its backward
stroke, while during the forward stroke the pickers take up a new supply of paste
and a new label to be applied to the next bottle to be labelled.
The pickers are arranged below the guard-plates 69 which are curved in down-
ward direction so that the bottle passes readily between them, their shanks being
guided in brackets 68 of the picker-carriage B. The pickers P are guided by
means of shanks p in transverse ways p at the lower part of the brackets 68 of
the picker-carriage, the outer ends of said shanks being provided with antifriction
rollers r, which are placed in contact with stationary cam-rails r that are arranged
horizontally at each side of the supporting-frame of the bottle-labelling machine.
The cam-rails are supported in position by means of clamping-screws 73 on
brackets of the supporting-frame A, said rails being made narrower at their
front ends and wider at their rear ends, the narrower front ends and
wider rear ends being connected by inclined portions, as shown
in Fig. 10. The pickers P are provided at their under sides with horizontal faces
that take up the paste from the paste-rollers for transference to the opposite
rear-edges of the label. The distance of the pickers from each other corresponds
to the size of the bottle and the size of the label to be applied thereto, the pickers
being moved laterally in their guide-ways when the bottle is moved by the
descending plunger in downward direction past the guard-plates, pickers and
wipers to a distance corresponding exactly to the diameter of the bottle. The
cam-rails can be adjusted laterally in their supporting-brackets by means of
slots which are arranged in the cam-rails for this purpose. The guard-plates 69
are so adjusted as to be closer together than the pickers P, their distance from
each other being smaller than the diameter of the bottles while the distance
between the pickers corresponds to the size of the labels, so that their gummed
faces can freely take up the label and transfer the same to the bottle. The
distance of the guard-plates from each other is adjusted according to the size
of the bottle, while the position of the pickers is governed by the cam-rails, the
cam-rails being so adjusted that they return the pickers during the backward
stroke of the picker-carriage into their normal position towards each other, ready
to take up the next supply of paste and then pick up the next label. The shanks
of the pickers P slide freely in the transverse ways p¹ of the brackets 68 of the
picker-carriage 13, they being shifted sideways as far as required by the bottle
itself under the action of the descending plunger, and returned again to their
former position by the action of the cam-rails, no yielding or spring-actuated
motion being required, as the positive action of the stationary cam-rails on the
picker-shanks produces the return of the pickers into their normal position.
The guard-plates 69 are provided each with two shanks 61, which are guided
in transverse holes of the brackets 68, as shown in Fig. 9. Between the shanks 6"
each guard-plate 6º carries a stem 613 which extends into a third intermediate
hole of the bracket-head 68, into which is screwed a hollow socket 614 that supports
a strong helical spring 615 which is interposed between the guard-plate and the
socket 4, so that the guard-plates can yield in lateral direction when the bottle
is forced through between the same.
The picker-carriage B receives a horizontally-reciprocating motion on the
guide-rods a a by a suitable cam 16 on the cam-shaft S¹, a cam-groove on which
engages an antifriction-roller on a lever 67 that is pivoted at its upper end to an
oscillating lever 618 which is connected by a pivot-link 619 with central ears 620
on the cross-bar . In front of the cars 620 is arranged a gauge-plate 6, the
sleeve of which is adjusted in a socket hole below the cars 620 and firmly
held by a set-screw 22, said gauge-plate serving as a rest for the bottom of the
bottle when the same is placed below the plunger. The gauge-plate 21 is set

page_text: in forward or backward direction according to the smaller or larger size of the
bottles to be labelled, the gauge when once set, producing the exact position of
the label on every bottle.
During the backward motion of the picker-carriage, the pickers pass clear over
the label-elevator and paste-box, but during its forward motion, they receive
a downward motion against the tension of a wire-spring 62 which is applied at
its middle portion to a central pin 62 on the transverse plate 63 and at its ends
to pins 26 on the transverse plate 6º, by means of a fulcrummed heel 627 that acts
on a heel-plate 6 at the upper end of the transverse plate 66 and moves it with
the pickers in downward direction when the same arrive over the uppermost label
in the label-elevator E. This picker-operating heel 627 is operated by a pivot-
rod 628 which is connected at its lower end with an oscillating and spring-pressed
lever that is actuated by a cam 630 on the end of the cam-shaft S¹. The
downward motion of the heel 627 is so timed that it engages the licel plate of the
vertically-guided plate 66 during the forward stroke of the picker-carriage, when
it arrives over the label-elevator and lowers the plate be sufficiently so that the
pickers can take up the uppermost label of the label-elevator.
THE PASTE-Box.
During the backward motion of the picker-carriage, the paste-box C is lowered
so that the pickers can pass clear of the paste-supplying rollers of the same.
During the forward motion of the picker-carriage B however, the faces of the
pickers are placed in contact with the paste-supplying rollers of the paste-box C
which has been raised for this purpose. The oscillating motion imparted to the
paste-box C is produced by a cami C on the cam-shaft S¹, which cam operates
an oscillating lever Ca to which the connecting-rod C3 is applied which is pivoted
at its upper end to a crank-arm C, which turns loosely on a stationary shaft C³
supported by the frame A. To the crank C4 is applied a platform C6 to which
the paste-box C is attached by suitable screws, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.
paste-box C is supplied with paste from time to time and is provided at one end
with paste-supplying rollers C7 and a doctor-blade C which is fulcrummed to
the paste-box and adjusted to the paste-supplying rollers by means of a set-
screw C which passes through the rear-wall of the paste-box and engages an
inclined rear-lug Co of the doctor C as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.
The
The rollers C are rotated during the backward motion of the picker-carriage
by the contact of a ribbed surface C2 on the same with a roller C on the outer
end of the roller shaft so that different portions of the roller-surfaces are placed
in contact with the pickers and a fresh supply of paste transmitted thereto.
THE LABEL-ELEVATOR.
After the pickers have passed over the paste-supplying rollers and are supplied
at their faces with paste, they are moved forward until they are over the label-
elevator E, after which they are depressed by the heel so as to take up the
uppermost label in the elevator. The label-elevator E is clearly shown in Figs. 1
and 6 and in detail in Figs. 15, 16 and 17. It is supported by an upper trans-
verse bridge E and a lower transverse bridge E2 which are attached to the
side-standards of the supporting-frame A the upper bridge being provided with
an opening of sufficient size for permitting the free passage of the labels through
the same.
On the lower bridge is supported on suitable brackets E³, a station-
ary platform E which forms the lower part of the elevator. The platform E
and the upper bridge El support eight guide-rods E which form an open guide-
box for the labels, the lower ends of said rods being firmly attached to the plat-
form E, while the upper ends of the front and side guide-rods are adjusted in
slots of the upper bridge E¹. The adjustment of the upper ends of the guide-
rods is made by means of slotted lugs E and set-screws E7, as shown in
detail in Fig. 17, so that the upper ends can be adjusted closely to the labels to
be supplied. The rear guide-rods are not required to he adjusted at their upper

page_text: ends. To the front and rear of the opening in the upper bridge E¹ are applied
two pairs of separating fingers e which are attached to the bridge E¹ by means
of fastening-screws e¹, said fingers projecting over the label in such a manner
as to retain the same against the pressure of the feed-mechanism acting on the
lower end of the pile of labels but permitting the easy removal of one label after
the other by the pickers during the downward motion of the same when they
arrive above the label-elevator. The separating fingers e project slightly over
the labels and permit only one label at a time to be taken up by the pickers,
they retaining the remaining labels in position. As the pickers descend their
paste-covered faces engage the ends of the label when vertically over the label-
elevator. During the upward motion of the pickers, the uppermost label is
lifted by the pickers and carried past the separators as the paper of the label
gives sufficiently for this purpose. When the label is thus picked up, the forward
motion of the pickers is continued. The actuating cam of the picker-carriage is
so shaped that during the vertically-reciprocating motion imparted to the
pickers, a dwell in the forward motion of the picker-carriage takes place. If this
were not the case, the picking up of the label could not be reliably performed.
The labels which are gradually fed by the elevator E, are supported in a pile
on a vertically-movable follower E8 which is swivelled to the upper end of a
longitudinally-grooved screw-spindle E that extends downwardly through the
platform and a guide-sleeve 2 of the lower bridge E2. On the guide-sleeve e³
rests the hub of a bevel-gear 3 which is splined to the spindle E. The bevel-
wheel meshes with a bevel-wheel et on a horizontal shaft e5, which turns in
suitable bearings of the supporting-frame A and which is provided at its outer
end with a hand-wheel e by which the platform E8 can be adjusted by hand
when it should be necessary for setting the pile of labels for the separating-
fingers e. On the shaft 5 is placed a ratchet-wheel e' which is engaged by a
pawl that is applied to a lever that is placed loosely on the shaft and
the upper end of which is pivoted to a lever co, the forked rear-end of which
is guided along the cam-shaft S¹ and provided with an antifriction roller ell that
is acted upon by a cam e¹3 on the cam-shaft S¹. At each rotation of the cam-
shaft S1, the pawl and ratchet-mechanism is operated and the ratchet-wheel moved
for the distance of one tooth. The intermittent motion of the ratchet-wheel
shafte which is transmitted to the screw-spindle of the follower E8 is accomplished
in connection with a screw-nut E10 which forms part of a lever E¹¹ that is pivoted
at one end to the lower platform E, while its opposite end is acted upon by a
helical spring E2 that is attached at one end of the lever E" and its other end
to a pin on the platform F, as shown in Fig. 14. When the laterally-movable
screw-nut E10 is drawn by the spring E into mesh with the threads of the screw-
spindle E, the axial motion imparted to the spindle by the transmitting mechanism
is changed into a vertically-lifting motion so that the spindle. the follower
swivelled thereto, and the entire pile of labels supported on the follower is
gradually lifted in such manner that at each rotation of the cam-shaft S¹ a label
is supplied to the pickers. The follower E8 is provided with a suitable handle
at its underside by which it can be raised or lowered independently of the
actuating mechanism described whenever it is necessary to re-fill the elevator
with a new pile of labels. This is accomplished by taking hold of the lever En
of the screw-nut E10 with the right hand, while the left hand takes hold of the
handle of the follower, and then moving the screw-nut out of gear with the
screw-spindle E9 so that the follower can be returned in downward direction
into its lowermost position while the machine is at rest. The lever E" of the
screw-nut E10 is then released, so that the screw-nut re-engages the threads of
the screw-spindle. The labels are then inserted in small packages by hand
between the rear guide-rods of the elevator and placed one on top of the other
until the entire elevator is filled, the size of the elevator permitting the insertion
of about 4000 labels, more or less, according to the thickness of the paper used
for the labels. After the desired number of labels is introduced, it is necessary

page_text: to adjust the same to the separating fingers, so that the uppermost label forms
contact with the same. This is accomplished by the hand-wheel e at the end
of the shaft, until the uppermost label arrives at the fingers e e. After the
pile of labels is thus adjusted in the elevator, the latter is in condition for
supplying the labels to the pickers, and the machine is started again for work.
The general construction of the label-elevator is well-known and has been
practically employed for feeding the blanks in envelope-machines, the new feature
being mainly in the arrangement of the movable screw-nut, by which the label-
supporting platform can be returned with great facility into position for being
re-supplied with labels, and by which the label-feeding operation can be inter-
rupted at any time in case the elevator should not reliably and accurately supply
the labels to the pickers.
THE PLUNGER.
The plunger D is arranged at the front of the machine and its shank D¹ guided
in vertical keepers arranged at the upper part A¹ of the supporting-frame.
Reciprocating motion is imparted to the plunger 1) by means of a fulcrummed
lever D, the rear end of which is connected by a pivot-rod 13 with an oscillating
lever D which is provided at the front end with an antifriction roller D³ that
is engaged by a groove on the cain D on the cam-shaft S¹. The face of the
plunger is made concave, so as to press on the bottle held below the same. The
face of the plunger is covered with a layer of felt, rubber, or other suitable
elastic material so as to soften the impact of the plunger with the body of the
bottle.
THE WIPERS.
Below the plunger D and in the same vertical plane therewith, are arranged
two laterally-oscillating wipers F which are supported at the upper ends of curved
arms that are pivotted at their lower ends to a stationary lug f¹ on the sup-
porting-frame A. The wiper-arms F¹ are connected about midway by a helical
spring F. The wipers F are composed of elastic plates f made of rubber or other
suitable material, which are preferably provided with short slits extending
inwardly from their edges so as to increase the flexibility of the edges, and of
metallic plates 2 below the same, the inner edges of which are curved down-
wardly so as to permit the slitted edges of the elastic plates to bend down over
the same. Below the wipers, is arranged a stationary table or bottle-rest G, which
is formed of an elastic band g that is attached at the ends to a fork-shaped
support g, the shank of which is supported in a socket g² of a bracket g³ which
is attached to the supporting-frame A, as shown in Fig. 3. On the bracket g³
are arranged stops f³ for the arms FI of the wipers. The bottle-rest is located
vertically below the plunger and serves to receive the bottle after the same has
been forced by tlie plunger past the pickers and wipers.
OPERATION.
A foot-treadle T is arranged at the lower part of the supporting-frame, which
operates a clutch-mechanism T by which the cam-shaft S is thrown into gear
with the driving shaft S and thereby the machine started. During the forward
motion of the picker-carriage, the faces of the pickers are passed over the paste-
supplying rollers which are moved into contact with the same, after which the
pickers on arriving above the label-elevator are lowered so as to pick up by their
paste-covered faces the ends of the uppermost label in the same. By the upward
motion of the pickers the label is separated from the pile in the elevator, after
which the forward motion of the picker-carriage is resumed until the pickers
arrive below the plunger and practically in line therewith. The bottle is placed
in position below the plunger so that its bottom abuts against the gauge-plate
of the picker-carriage. The plunger then descends, and moves the bottle in
downward direction through between the yielding guard-plates and pickers, so

page_text: that the label is removed from the faces of the pickers and transferred to the
bottle. By continuing the downward motion under the influence of the plunger,
the wipers are spread sideways under the pressure of the bottle, so that they
pass over the pasted edges of the label and apply them to the bottle by the hugging
action of the wipers, said wipers imitating the action of the fingers of the hand
in applying the label to the bottle. When the bottle has passed the wipers
it is taken up by the stationary bottle-rest below the same, the neck of the bottle
being held during the downward motion by the attendant. It is then removed
from the bottle-rest and the next bottle placed below the plunger, and against
the gauge-plates of the picker-carriage, for the next action of the parts.
During the downward motion of the bottle the spring-actuated guard-plates
and the pickers yield sufficiently so that the label is transferred from the faces
of the pickers to the bottle, and applied thereto by the wipers. During the
backward motion of the picker-carriage the antifriction rollers at the outer ends
of the picker-shanks are moved along the cam-rails so that the pickers are shifted
and returned to their normal position, so as to take up during their forward
motion another supply of paste and another label. The laterally-shiftable pickers
have the advantage that any size of labels, whether large or small, can be applied
with equal facility to the bottle by the simple adjustment of the cam-rails away
from or towards each other on their supporting brackets, provided that the pickers
are placed at such a distance from each other that they take up the labels in a
reliable and effective manner and transfer them by the joint action of the
descending plunger and of the wipers to the bottle to be labelled.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a bottle-labelling machine, the combination of a vertically-reciprocating
plunger, a reciprocating picker-carriage provided with pickers, laterally-yielding
spring-actuated guard-plates above said pickers, laterally-oscillating and spring-
actuated wipers below said plunger, and a stationary bottle-rest below said wipers,
substantially as set forth.
2. In a bottle-labelling machine, the combination of a vertically-reciprocating
plunger, a reciprocating picker-carriage provided with pickers, a gauge-plate for
the bottle on said carriage, laterally-yielding spring-actuated guard-plates above
the pickers, oscillating and spring-actuated wipers below the plunger, and a
bottle-rest below said wipers substantially as set forth.
3. In a bottle-labelling machine, the combination of a vertically-reciprocating
plunger, a reciprocating picker-carriage provided with pickers, laterally-yielding
guard-plates above said pickers, a paste-box, means for oscillating the paste-box
so as to move it in contact with the faces of the pickers during the forward
motion of the same, a label-elevator located in front of the paste-box, means
for operating said elevator so as to supply one label at each forward stroke of
the pickers, oscillating wipers located in front of the label-elevator vertically
below the plunger, and a stationary bottle-rest located below the pickers and
plunger substantially as set forth.
4. In a bottle-labelling machine, the combination of a reciprocating picker-
carriage, laterally-yielding and spring-actuated guard-plates supported by said
carriage, laterally-shiftable pickers below said guard-plates, and means for return-
ing said pickers into their normal position during the backward motion of the
picker-carriage, substantially as set forth.
5. In a bottle-labelling machine, the combination of a reciprocating picker-
carriage, laterally-yielding and spring-actuated guard-plates supported by said
carriage, laterally-shiftable pickers below said guard-plates, means for laterally
guiding said pickers in brackets of the carriage, and parallel cam-rails engaging
the picker-shanks and returning the pickers into their normal position during
the backward stroke of the picker-carriage, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 6. In a bottle-labelling machine, the combination of a reciprocating picker-
carriage, laterally-yielding and spring-actuated guard-plates at the front portion
of the carriage, laterally-shiftable pickers below said guard-plates, means for
guiding the shanks of said pickers in brackets of the picker-carriage, parallel
cam-rails at each side of the supporting-frame, and means for adjusting said cam-
rails, said cam-rails serving to return the laterally-shiftable pickers into their
normal position during the backward stroke of the picker-carriage, substantially
as set forth.
7. In a bottle-labelling machine, the combination of a supporting-frame having
horizontal guide-rods, a picker-carriage sliding thereon, pickers on said carriage,
means for imparting reciprocating motion to the same, a paste-box located below
the pickers, and means for oscillating the paste-box so as to bring the paste-
supplying rollers in contact with the faces of the pickers, substantially as set
forth.
8. In a bottle-labelling machine, the combination of a supporting-frame having
horizontal guide-rods, a horizontally reciprocating picker-carriage provided with
pickers, an oscillating paste-box located at the rear-part of the frame, and adapted
to form contact with the pickers during their forward motion, a label-elevator
arranged in front of the paste-box, means for feeding a label at each stroke of
the pickers, and mechanism for reciprocating the pickers when arriving above
the label-elevator so as to take up a label during each forward motion of the
picker-carriage, substantially as set forth.
9. In a bottle-labelling machine, the combination of a horizontally-guided
picker-carriage having a rear-portion and a vertically-guided and spring-actuated
front portion, pickers supported at the lower end of said front portion, laterally-
yielding guard-plates above said pickers, a paste-box, means for oscillating said
paste-box, so as to permit the pickers to form contact with the paste-supplying
rollers of the same, a label-elevator in front of said paste-box, means for operating
said elevator so as to supply one label to the pickers at each forward motion of
the same, and means for vertically reciprocating the front portion of the picker-
carriage so as to pick up a label from the elevator when the pickers arrive above
the same, substantially as set forth.
10. In a bottle-labelling machine, the combination of a horizontally-recipro-
cating picker-carriage composed of a rear-portion and a vertically-guided front-
portion, pickers supported at the lower part of said front portion, spring-actuated
and laterally-yielding guard-plates above said pickers, means for lowering the
front portion of the picker-carriage when the pickers arrive above the label-
elevator, and a spring applied to the front and rear portions for returning the
front portion into normally-raised position after each depression, substantially
as set forth.
11. In a bottle-labelling machine, the combination of a picker-carriage, com-
posed of a rear portion and a vertically-guided and spring-actuated front portion,
pickers at the lower end of said front portion, a cam-shaft, means for imparting
reciprocating motion to said carriage, a label-elevator, mechanism operated from
said cam-shaft for feeding a label at each rotation of the same, and mechanism
for depressing the front portion of the picker-carriage when the same arrives
above the label-elevator so that the pickers take up the uppermost label, sub-
stantially as set forth.
12. In a bottle-labelling machine, oscillating wipers for applying the pasted
label to the bottle, consisting each of a curved lower arm, a plate attached to
the end of the arm and having a curved inner edge, and an elastic plate extending
over the curved inner edge of the plate, substantially as set forth.
13. In a bottle-labelling machine, a label-elevator, consisting of label-guiding-
rods, a follower for the pile of labels in the same, separating fingers for retaining
the uppermost label, a vertically-movable screw-spindle swivelled to the follower,
a laterally-movable screw-nut engaging said screw-spindle and. provided with a
pivoted and spring-actuated operating-lever, a cam-shaft, and mechanism between

page_text: the spindle and the cam-shaft for feeding a label at each rotation of the cam-
shaft, substantially as set forth.
14. In a bottle-labelling machine, the combination, with a label-elevator, con-
sisting of label-guiding-rods, a follower for the pile of labels in the same, and
means for imparting to said follower movement towards the upper ends of the
guide-rods, of a bridge at the upper ends of said guide-rods, said bridge being
provided with recesses for the guide-rods, and slotted lugs adjustable on said
bridge against said guide-rods, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1899
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
31, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.