AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR GUMMING LABELS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Williams Clinch, of Douglas, in the Isle of
Man, Brewer and Wholesale Bottler, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED MACHINE FOR GUMMING LABELS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES,”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Williams Clinch
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 5th June 1873.
I, JOHN WILLIAMS CLINCH, of Douglas, in the Isle of Man, Brewer
and Wholesale Bottler, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR GUMMING LABELS AND OTHER SIMILAR
ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of
mechanism for gumming labels and other such like articles with great
rapidity.
A wheel, the periphery of which is of the same breadth as that of the
labels, is arranged in suitable bearings, and is caused to revolve by

page_text: means of a ratchet wheel and pawl, actuated as well understood, the
length of the teeth being so arranged that the circumference of the
wheel moves the length of a label at each stroke of the lever by which
the pawl is actuated. The lower part of the wheel is immersed in a
receptacle which contains a solution of gum. The labels, which are
previously cut and prepared, are contained in an upright box or recep-
tacle, the back of which is supported by a ledge at the back of the
wheel, whilst the part in which the pile of labels is contained, and which
is without a bottom, is immediately above the top of the wheel. A
portion of one of the sides of the box or receptacle is hinged, and rests
on the face of the wheel, being pressed down by a spring, which is
suitably arranged for that purpose.
The lever by which the ratchet and pawl are actuated is also con-
nected by means of a jointed lever with a small weight, which falls a
certain distance at each stroke of the lever on the top of the pile of
labels, and so fixes the bottom label to the wheel, which then is caused
to move forward, and takes the last-mentioned label from under the
others, the remainder of the labels being prevented from coming out of
the box or receptacle by the pressure of the hinged side of the latter.
The process above described may be continued as rapidly as may be
desired, as will be well understood.
The labels are removed off from the face of the wheel by means of
threads, which run in fine grooves therein, and which deliver the labels
gummed and in a convenient position for fixing on the articles to which
it is desired they should be attached.
The machine in enturated he and suitable motive namer

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Williams Clinch, Her special
license that I, the said John Williams Clinch, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Williams
Clinch, executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an In-
vention for "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR GUMMING LABELS AND OTHER SIMILAR
ARTICLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Williams Clinch, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my or their hands, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Williams Clinch, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My said Invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements
of mechanism for gumming labels and other such like articles with great
rapidity.
A wheel, the periphery of which is of the same breadth as that of the
labels, is arranged in suitable bearings, and is caused to revolve by
means of a ratchet wheel and pawl, actuated by means of a treadle or
other contrivance, as well understood, the length of the teeth being so
proportioned that the circumference of the wheel moves the length of a
label at each stroke of the lever by which the pawl is actuated. The
lower part of the wheel dips during its rotation into a receptacle, which
contains a solution of gum. The labels, which are previously cut and
prepared, are contained in an upright box or receptacle, which is sup-
ported by two pillars, one on each side of the wheel, whilst the part in

page_text: which the pile of labels is placed, and which is without a bottom, is
immediately above the top of the wheel. The front edge of the pile of
labels rests on the wheel, the back edge being supported by a small
pressure plate held up by a spring.
The lever by which the ratchet and pawl are actuated is also con-
nected by means of a jointed lever with a small weight attached thereto,
which falls a certain distance at each stroke of the lever on the top of
the pile of labels, and so temporarily fixes the bottom label to the wheel,
which latter is then caused to move forward, and takes the last-men-
tioned label from under the others, the remainder of the labels being
prevented from coming out of the box or receptacle by the lifting of the
before-mentioned plate.
Instead of the last described arrangement a rack and a pawl fixed in
a sleeve which slides up and down the rack may be employed for the
purpose of regulating the motion of the weight.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The operator actuates the
wheel, which moves forward, and by the means aforesaid lifts and lets
fall the weight. The blow on the labels sticks the front part of the
bottom label firmly to the gummed wheel, depressing at the same time
the plate by which the pile of labels is supported. The actuating power
is then removed, and upon being again applied the wheel moves forward,
carrying with it the label, while at the same time the weight is removed
from the pile by the mechanism before mentioned. The spring causes
the small pressure plate to rise, thereby slightly lifting the back part
of the label, which adheres to the wheel, and with it all the rest of the
pile, thus preventing more than one label from coming out at a time.
The labels are removed from the face of the wheel by means of
threads, which run in fine grooves formed therein, and over pulleys pro-
vided for that purpose, the labels being separately delivered, gummed,
and in a convenient position for fixing on the articles to which it is
desired they should be attached, or the labels may be deposited in a
pile.
It is obvious that this machine may be readily adapted for damping
paper and delivering the same for printing purposes.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would

page_text: observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to me by the said
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the combination and
arrangement of parts and mechanism for gumming labels and other
similar articles, substantially as herein-before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Williams Clinch, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this First day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
JOHN WILLIAMS CLINCH. (L.S.)