Apparatus for Use in Labelling the Stoppers and Necks of Bottles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1896
A
Onerifection Last
45th Do 1908 Accented
16th lan 1807
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Use in Labelling the Stoppers and Necks of Bottles.
I WILFRID BROWNE, c/o Messrs. Youell & Elkin, Albert Brewery, Horley,
Surrey, a Brewer's Pupil, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists of apparatus for use in labelling the stoppers and necks
of bottles and has reference to the application of labels of the kind which comprise
a middle piece to go upon the top of the stopper and two side pieces or wings to go
against the neck; and the object of the invention is to enable the labels to be
applied in a shorter time than hitherto.
My apparatus for this purpose consists of two parts one of which is a receptacle
for adhesive material containing brushes arranged in a circle at the mouth of the
receptacle so that when a stoppered bottle neck is dipped into the adhesive
material and is being withdrawn from the receptacle the brushes will spread the
material evenly over the neck and stopper of the bottle. The other portion of the
apparatus consists of a sort of box containing a spring block and movable flaps so
arranged that they will evenly spread a label over the portions of the bottle
already prepared to receive it. The movable flaps are hinged to opposite sides of
the spring block. In using this part of my apparatus a number of superposed
labels are placed at the top of the box their middle portion resting upon the block
and their two side wings resting respectively upon the two movable hinged flaps.
A bottle which has already been prepared to receive a label by having adhesive
material applied to its stopper and neck by the first part of my apparatus is placed
with its stopper against the middle part of the topmost label. The bottle is then
pushed inwards so as to push in the block, the power of the spring being thus
temporarily overcome. As the block is pushed inwards the hinged flaps move on
their hinges to positions approximately at right angles to the block and therefore
spread the side wings of the label over the bottle neck whilst the middle portion of
the label adheres to the stopper which is pressed against it. On removing the
labelled bottle from the apparatus the spring returns the parts to their normal
position ready to apply a label to the stopper and neck of another bottle.
Dated this 15th day of March 1896.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
Apparatus for Use in Labelling the Stoppers and Necks of Bottles.
I, WILFRID BROWNE c/o Messrs. Youell & Elkin of Albert Brewery, Horley,
Surrey, a Brewer's Pupil, 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 consists of apparatus for use in labelling the stoppers and necks
of bottles and has reference to the application of labels of the kind which comprise
a middle piece to go upon the top of the stopper and two side pieces or wings to go

page_text: against the neck; and the object of the invention is to enable the labels to be
applied in a shorter time than hitherto.
My apparatus for this purpose consists of two parts one of which is a receptacle
for adhesive material containing brushes arranged in a circle at the mouth of the
receptacle so that when a stoppered bottle neck is dipped into the adhesive
material and is being withdrawn from the receptacle the brushes will spread the
material evenly over the neck and stopper of the bottle. The other portion of the
apparatus consists of a sort of frame or box containing a spring block and movable
flaps so arranged that they will evenly spread a label over the portions of the
bottle already prepared to receive it. The movable flaps are hinged to opposite
sides of the spring block. In using this part of my apparatus a number of
superposed labels are placed at the top of the frame their middle portion resting
upon the block and their two side wings resting respectively upon the two movable
hinged flaps. A bottle which has already been prepared to receive a label by
having adhesive material applied to its stopper and neck by the first part of my
apparatus is placed with its stopper against the middle part of the topmost label.
The bottle is then pushed inwards so as to push in the block, the power of the
spring being thus temporarily overcome. As the block is pushed inwards the
hinged flaps move on their hinges to positions approximately at right angles to
the block and therefore spread the side wings of the label over the bottle neck
whilst the middle portion of the label adheres to the stopper which is pressed
against it. On removing the labelled bottle from the apparatus the spring returns
the parts to their normal position ready to apply a label to the stopper and neck of
another bottle.
I will now proceed to describe my improved apparatus with reference to the
accompanying illustrative drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, of that part of the apparatus
which is employed to apply the adhesive material to a stoppered bottle neck.
Figure 2 is a plan of part of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of that part of the apparatus which is employed to
attach a label to a stoppered bottle neck to which adhesive material has been applied.
Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an elevation taken at right angles to the plane of section in
Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a part elevation taken parallel to the plane of section in Figure 3
but showing the parts in the positions they respectively occupy when the bottle
neck is pushed home in the apparatus.
Figure 7 is a plan of a label before being applied to the bottle.
In these figures, the same letters of reference are employed to indicate the same
parts.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, A is the receptacle preferably of circular
form, having on its inner surface circular rows of tufts of bristles B to a suitable
depth below its upper edge or month. These tufts of bristles project inwardly and
preferably radially as shown towards the common centre of the receptacle leaving a
central passage or opening which is smaller than the outside diameter of the bottle
neck and stopper by an extent which will be regulated according to the resiliency
of the bristle. In the lower part of the receptacle A there is screwed or otherwise
fitted a horizontal partition formed with a recess C for the reception of a pad. D
of suitable absorbent material. In the bottom of the recess C' are formed holes E
communicating with the space F contained between the base A' of the receptacle
and the aforesaid partition C. The said space F is connected by means of a
pipe G, G¹ with a funnel G2 into which adhesive material is run as required from
a vessel H situated at a suitable elevation, the adhesive material supplied to the
space F rises up through the holes E and is absorbed into the pad D.
That part of the apparatus which is illustrated by Figures 3 to 6, comprises a
frame of two uprights I, I connected together by means of a cross piece J.
Through a hole in the centre of this cross piece there passes a spindle K carrying

page_text: at its upper end a head or block K¹. A spring L coiled round the spindle K and
bearing with its lower end against the cross piece J and with its upper end against
the underside of the block K, has a constant tendency to keep the spindle K with
its block K' in its normal or highest position. A nut or shoulder K at the lower
end of the spindle serves to limit this upward movement.
By applying downwardly directed pressure to the upper side of the block K',
the block together with its spindle K may be forced down in opposition to the
spring L.
In their upward and downward movements, the spindle K is guided centrally by
sliding in the hole in the cross piece J, and the block K' is guided by means of
guiding ribs ii which are formed on the inner sides of the uprights I, I and which
take into corresponding slots formed in the block K'. Two flaps M, M are hinged
one to each side of the block K¹ at k, k. These hinged flaps M M are also pivoted
at m, m to the upper ends of two connecting rods N, N which are pivoted at their
lower ends to the opposite sides of the cross piece J, at j, j. Upon these hinged
flaps are fixed cushions M, M of rubber or other suitable material of suitable
concave form adapted to fit close up against those portions of the side of a bottle
neck and stopper to which a label is to be applied, and thus to spread the said
label evenly over the said portions. Fixed to or forming part of the block K¹ are
two side pieces K³, K³ of circular arc shape which serve to guide the bottle and
stopper in assuming central position when placed into the apparatus as
hereinafter described. A cushion P of rubber or the like is inserted between the
pieces K³ K³.
The manner of using my improved labelling apparatus is as follows:-
The labels O (Figure 7) are placed one on top of another so as to form a pile on
the top of the labelling apparatus with their middle portions O resting upon the
cushion P and with their two side wings 0 0' resting respectively upon the
2 cushions M M' on the two hinged flaps M, M as shown in Figures 3 and 4
the position of the labels being indicated in the latter figure by dash dotted lines.
The stoppered bottle to be labelled is pushed with the stopper downward between the
brushes B of the receptacle A (Figures 1 and 2) so that the surface of the head of
the stopper strikes upon the pad D. By this means the head of the stopper and the
bottle neck are coated with adhesive material.
The stoppered bottle thus prepared is withdrawn and is then placed with the
head of its stopper upon the middle part O of the topmost label, as shown in
Figure 3 in which the bottle neck and stopper are indicated by dash dotted lines.
The bottle is then pushed inwards, the hinged flaps M M move on their hinges k k
into positions approximately at right angles to the block K', and thus by means of
their cushions M M' act to spread the side wings 0' O' of the label over the sides
of the stopper and of the bottle neck whilst the middle portion O of the label
adheres to the top of the stopper which is pressed against it. The respective
positions of the several parts when the bottle neck is pushed home in the apparatus
are shown in Figure 6, in which the bottle neck and stopper are indicated by dash
dotted line.
On removing the labelled bottle from the apparatus, the spring L returns the
parts into their normal positions shown in Figure 3, ready to apply a fresh label to
the stopper and neck of another bottle.
The apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the apparatus shown in Figures 3
to 6 will preferably be arranged alongside or close to each other on the same stand
so that the operator may conveniently push the bottle neck first into the apparatus
for applying the adhesive material and then into the apparatus for applying
the label.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The annaratus constructed substantially as hereinbefore described and shown

page_text: in Figures 1 and 2 for applying adhesive material to the stoppers and necks of
bottles to enable them to have labels attached thereto, substantially in the manner
set forth.
2. In apparatus for use in labelling the stoppers and necks of bottles, an
outwardly spring-pressed movable head or block to receive inward pressure from
the top of the bottle stopper in combination with hinged side flaps adapted to close
upon the bottle neck when the block is forced inwards by pressure applied to the
bottle substantially as herein before described and for the purpose specified.
3. The apparatus constructed, arranged and operating substantially as herein-
before described and shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings
for attaching labels to the stoppers and necks of bottles to which adhesive material
has been applied.
4. For use in labelling the stoppers and necks of bottles, the combination of the
herein described apparatus for applying adhesive material to the stoppers and necks
and the herein described apparatus for attaching the labels to the stoppers and
necks after they have received the adhesive material substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of December 1896.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.