Improvements in Labelling Machines for Bottles, Jars, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 6th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Labelling Machines for Bottles, Jars, and
the like.
We HENRY SILAS GRACE, and ARTHUR DALE REYNOLDS both of 143 Beale
Street, in the City of San Francisco, County of San Francisco, State of
California, United States of America, Machinists do hereby declare the nature of
our said 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 an apparatus or machine for placing labels upon bottles,
jars, or other round receptacles. Heretofore machines have been made for placing
labels upon cans.
These can labels encircle the cylindrical body of the can aud
are pasted or secured by a line of paste at the point where they are caused to
overlap. This enables the labels to be easily stripped off the can, which is then
ready to receive a new label.
In labelling hottles, jars, etc., of the kind above mentioned a different procedure
is required. Here the labels are not intended to be stripped off, but are pasted
firmly to the bottle by paste applied to the entire meeting surfaces of glass and
paper. Moreover there are usually several labels to be applied. In some beer
bottles for instance, four or more separate labels must be applied to the front, to
the back, and to the neck. These labels are customarily applied by hand labor,
which is slow and expensive.
The object of our invention is to provide an automatic machine for affixing labels
to bottles, in such numbers and in such positions as may be required.
To assist the intelligent comprehension of the detailed description which follows,
it may be stated at this point that the bottles travel, or rather, are propelled by
a rolling motion through the machine. A paste pot is provided which by means of
proper apparatus, supplies to the bottle on certain parts of its surface deposits of
paste from this the bottle travels to and over a label bed or holder which is so
arranged that the bottle picks up its own labels which are thus affixed accurately
to the surfaces of paste previously supplied.
Thus, if a thousand bottles are to be labeled in a particular way, the parts of
our apparatus cau be arranged so as to receive the bottles successively, apply paste
to them in the proper places upon the surfaces, cause them to pick up labels
adapted to each surface of paste, and then discharge them dry, aud with every
label in place, at an immense saving from the cost of hand pasting. In addition,
the work of labelling is done better, more accurately and far more quickly.
For a full comprehension of our invention, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings in connection with the following detailed description.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the machine;
Fig. 2, is a plan view of the means for driving the propelling chain and of the
upper tracks for guiding it;
Fig. 3, is a general plan view of the whole machine;
Fig. 4, is an end elevation from the left side of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5, is a cross-section on the line 2-2 (Fig. 1) showing a bottle in position on
the paste stencil;
Fig. 6, is a cross-section on the line x-x (Fig. 1) showing a bottle in position
upon the label holders;
Fig. 7, is a side elevation of a link of the propelling chain;
tan lan of the com

page_text: These
A represents a frame and support which sustains the operative parts of our
machine. B, B is a guideway composed of two rails of angle iron secured to the
frame and forming together an inclined track as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6.
guides form the continuous path upon which the bottles are carried, from their
entrance to their discharge from the machine. Their inclined shape causes the
bottles, which fit them at the base and near the neck, to centre or adjust them-
selves, so as to roll steadily as they are propelled forward. The angular or
inclined faces of the guides are lined with some flexible or yielding material 1,
such as cork, felt, rubber, cloth, or leather, which has sufficient frictional hold upon
the surface of the bottles to prevent them from slipping, and to ensure their
progress by a rolling movement.
The bottles are fed to the machine by an incline C, (Fig. 1) which carries them
directly to the guides B, B. It is here necessary to refer to the left hand end of
Fig. 1, which shows an automatic mechanism by which one bottle opens the way
for its successor. First, however, it must be noticed that five bottles D, D, E, F, G,
are in the machine at the same time, as shown in the figure last referred to. The
bottle D, has been completely labeled and is ready to be discharged. The bottle D₁
is taking its labels. The bottle E is receiving its supply of paste. The bottle F
is just at the point where it is seized by the propelling rollers to be hereafter
described. The bottle G has just come down the incline C, where it has been
stopped by the arms 2, 2, (Figs. 1 and 4). These arms upon each side of the run-
way are bell cranks, which by links 3, are connected to another bell-crank 4, the
forward end 5 of which projects up in front of the bottle F, at the point where the
propelling rollers seize the latter. At this point, the runway is depressed as at 6, to
make a rest for the bottle just before the bevelled rollers 7 seize it. These rollers
are carried by endless chains H, running parallel and at the same speed and driven
by a suitable shaft I having a belt pulley I. When the four rollers (two on each
side of the chain) come in contact with the bottle F they cause it to roll forward
upon the guides at the same time pressing it firmly against the guides the inclined
or trough-like form of which, and the bevelled shape of the rollers above, keep it
in proper position. As soon however as this' bottle commences to move it passes
over the pivoted bell-cranks 4, and thus depresses the bell-cranks 2, which allows
the bottle G to roll into the dépression 6, in the guide-way. A spring 8 restores
the holding arms to their original position, in readiness to receive another bottle
from the main incline or feed chute. It should here be noted that since the
accurate operation of the machine requires that the bottles shall roll upon the
guideway without slipping, the rollers' 7 are, like the guides B, provided with
frictional peripheral surfaces of the kind before mentioned.
Still'assuming that the bottles are carried along the guideway by the chain and
rollers, it will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 5, that the bottle E has been
carried forward to a'position above the pasting stencil, and has passed over the
arms 9. A permanent paste pot J is secured to the frame, within which are paste
rollers 10, 11, and 12; which carry paste belts 13, and 14, (see Fig. 3). These
rollers are moved intermittently by the passage of successive bottles over the
arms 9, the depression of which operates a ratchet wheel 15, fixed' upon the shaft
of one of the rollers, by' means of a system of levers 16, connected to the arms 9.
This ensures a fresh surface of paste as each bottle is presented. The paste
'rollers are mounted in a frame 17, which by means of clips or projections 18, is
hung upon the edges of the paste pot, and is therefore independent of the latter.
The frame 17, and rollers, can thus be removed bodily from the paste pot for
purposes of cleaning or repairing. The paste rollers may be corrugated on their
peripheries or provided with sharp points to give a good hold to the paste belt and
prevent it from slipping. A rigid table M, keeps the paste ribbon in horizontal
position beneath the bottle and ensures a proper contact of the ribbon with the
surface of the bottle to be covered.
The paste is supplied to each bottle in turn, in the proper quantities and in the
proper places through stencil plates K, L, having openings .arranged so as to

page_text: admit paste for the proper combination of labels. In the drawings (Fig. 3) it is
proposed to apply three body labels and one neck label; and hence the stencil K,
bas three openings 19, 20, 21, and the stencil L, one opening 22. The stencils are of
thin sheet metal, and are secured to the paste pot by slots and hooks 23, 24, (Figs. 1,
and 5). It will be understood that the stencils shown are easily removable and are
interchangeable with others, thereby producing any desired combination of pasted
surface ready to receive labels.
Now as the bottle is propelled along the guide way and passes over the stencil,
it receives upon its body and neck deposits of paste according to the relative
situation of the holes in the particular stencils in use; and it is now ready to receive
its labels, which correspond in their positions with those of the paste surfaces. It
must be understood by this statement, that each bottle having received through
the stencil sufficient supplies of paste for one, two, or more labels, as the case may
be, is propelled forward by the chain and rollers to an apparatus consisting of a
label bed having label holders, and that these holders are so placed that the bottle,
as it passes over them, picks up the appropriate label or labels which are pressed
against the particular parts of the surface of the bottle, where the paste has been
previously applied. In this connection special reference is made to Figs. 1, and 6,
and also to the top plan, Fig. 3. Before however, describing the label bed and
holders, it should be stated that the stencil is supposed to stand a shade higher than
the paste belt, so as to allow the belt to travel freely underneath. The object of
this is, to prevent the stencil from scraping the paste off the paste belt, as it would
do if the stencil rested directly upon the belt. The pressure of the bottle passing
over the stencil will, however, depress it sufficiently to enable the paste to be
applied directly to the bottle, while the latter is passing over the stencil.
The label bed is a table M', secured to the main frame and carrying label holders
or boxes N, which are slightly conical or tapering in shape, and are open at top and
bottom. In the drawing (Fig. 3) four of such boxes are shown corresponding to
the positions of the openings in the stencil; and each one forms a magazine for
labels which are taken one by one as the bottle is moved across their open tops.
These label boxes are adjustable in guides 25 (Fig. 3) in the label bed so that
they can be made to correspond with the pattern of the pasting stencils. They
are made of slightly tapering form in order to enable them to be filled more
easily from the bottom, and also, so that as each label comes to the top it shall
be held at its edges and have barely space to leave the box. This ensures the
correct placing of each label upon its appropriate deposit of paste, and makes a
better and more accurate fit than would be possible if the labels were loose in
boxes having open discharge ends of such size as to allow them any side or end
motion.
The pile of labels in all the boxes is forced upward by plungers O, one of which
enters each box. These plungers are all adjustably dovetailed in a plate P,
(Fig. 6) so that they move upward simultaneously against the piles of labels in the
boxes. In preference to using springs or weights to accomplish the upward move-
ment of the plungers, we have adopted the water tank Q, and submerged float R,
(Fig. 1) which gives a constant upward pressure whether the label boxes be full
or partly empty. The float is attached to a stem 26, which moves in stationary
guides 27 and is secured at its upper end to the plate P. The label boxes which
slide in the guides 25, are held in place by springs 28 having pins 128 which register
with holes in the table and in the bases of the label boxes. "This construction
is best shown in Fig. 6. These pins prevent the withdrawal of the label boxes,
until the springs are depressed so far as to release the pins from the holes just
mentioned. Similar springs 28, having pins 129, are used to hold the plungers in
their dovetailed guides in the same manner.
The upward feed of the piles of labels is regulated by a brake-shoe' 29, released
by the movement of the bottle as it passes over the label bed, but normally bearing
against the stem 26. As each bottle passes over the bed, the plungers must be
permitted to rise by the thickness of one label and no higher, so as to be in readiness

page_text: to supply labels to the next bottle. While the bottle is upon the label bed, that
is, before it is driven off the bed, it depresses an arm 30, and a connecting rod 31,
which releases the brake and permits the table and plungers to be moved upward
by the float the thickness of one label. As the bottle commences to depress the
arm 30 and so gradually to release the brake, the float commences to rise, pushing
up the plungers and the piles of labels, and pressing the topmost label gradually
against the rolling bottle with a strong pressure, which at the same time, places it
neatly and truly in position upon the pasted surface. As the bottle rolls along it
continues to depress the arm 30, until it has passed over its end, at which time
it has taken a label from the other box or boxes. Before the bottle has rolled
off from the last label hoxes, and while the last label is being pressel against it, it
releases the arm 30, and the upward movement of the stem causes the brake to be
immediately applied. The motions are so timed that up to the time when the
bottle leaves the last label box, it has been under pressure; and as it rolls off,
the plungers have only been allowed to rise by the thickness of one label viz. the
thickness of those labels taken off the piles by the particular bottle. The
plungers cannot move now until the succeeding bottle commences to depress
the arm 30.
By reference to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the brake shoe is pivoted to a
lever 129, which is fulcrumed to a bracket 130, secured to the main frame, and is
also connected to the rod 31. As the rod 31 is depressed by the bottle, it depresses
the inner end of the lever 129 which moving on the arc of a circle cases the brake
from the stem 26. The bottle however, holds the float down until it (the bottle)
has entirely left the label boxes. When it has absolutely cleared the label boxes,
the brake shoe immediately returns to its position against the stem 26, and is
locked there by the slight upward movement permitted the float, before locking
the brake. The bottle itself thus becomes a part of the mechanism for controlling
the feeding of the labels; and we are able to dispense with special adjustments,
or feed regulating devices. The label feeding devices require no adjustment or
regulation, being entirely automatic; and this, no matter what the thickness of
labels may be.
The advantage of using a float instead of springs or weights to carry the labels
upward, are obvious and definite in a machine of this character. When the label
boxes are full they have a certain weight; and in using a spring or weight it must
be strong enough and exert enough pressure to push the loaded boxes upward. As
the labels are taken off, the weight in the boxes decreases, while the spring or
weight still exerts the original pressure. The contents of the partly emptied box
are thus forced upwards by an excessive pressure, and the labels are pressed so
strongly against the bottle, that the latter instead of taking up the label, has a
tendency to push it ahead off the pile. The result is that the label does not
exactly fit the opposite pasted surface of the bottle, and the labeling is therefore
defective. The pressure exerted by a float is not constant, but is regulated by the
displacement of the float and the label boxes whether full, empty, or partly empty;
and this being the case, there can never be an excess of pressure, nor can the
pressure be decreased below that required to properly apply each label.
It may also be mentioned that where weights, springs or other mechanism have
been used to raise the labels, it has been necessary to provide special mechanical
means to prevent the labels from being forced above the runway. Such devices
are objectionable, and we have overcome these objections by the use of our float
and brake, as will be readily understood from the description of the latter and
from the drawings.
The bottle has now received its labels in their proper positions upon its surfaces
of paste. Still propelled by the chain and rollers it passes from the labelling bed
over a flexible surface S, which we prefer to make a rubber air cushion capable of
yielding in all directions. This cushion is covered with a piece of any kind of
cloth 32, secured by hooks 33, so as to be easily removed and replaced. Over this
flexible surface the labelled bottle is rolled, and given a gentle pressure, which sets

page_text: all its labels firmly. The guides B, terminate in a chute or incline T, through
which the completed labelled bottle is discharged.
Heretofore we have assumed the forward movement of the bottles upon the
guideway, by means of an endless chain belt carrying rollers which propel the
bottles. We now describe these special means of propulsion.
At each end of the main frame and mounted, one upon the driving shaft I, and
the other upon a transverse shaft 34, are two sprocket wheels 35, (Fig. 4), over
which extends the endless chain belt H, the main links of which are formed with
transverse rods 36 (Fig. 5), to ensure their parallel motion and uniform speed, so
that they move as a single chain belt or carrier. Figs. 7 and 8, represent in detail
the main links U of these chains, each of which is connected longitudinally to its
neighbour by two straight links 37, pivoted together and also to the main links so
as to make the chain flexible. To each link used is secured two hangers 38, in
which are journaled the cone-shaped and friction-surfaced rollers 7, before
mentioned, which bear upon and propel the bottles as before described. Each
main link used also carries a guide roller 39, which travels upon upper and lower
tracks or guide rails 40 and 41 (Figs. 1 and 5), extending throughout the length
of the machine. The upper of these guide tracks which is composed of two simple
angle rails is secured rigidly to the main frame & the lower one by springs 43, so as
to have a yielding motion upward. Upon this yielding track, the chains run while
the rollers are propelling the bottles; and hence, if a bottle should not be perfectly
round, or should have a mold seam, so as to resist the propelling action of the chain
the tracks 42 will allow the flexible chain to yield upward, thereby removing
the resistance, while the rollers still hold and propel the bottle along the
guideway.
When we state that this machine will secure any number of labels to a bottle, in
all positions desired, automatically and with accuracy and speed, we have summed
up its advantages, and no detailed recital of them could add to the force of this
statement.
We bave shown in Fig. 1, connected to the discharge chute, a belt 44, supposed
to be endless, which receives the bottles as they are discharged. This belt is
provided with cups 45, which are preferably lined with some soft material such as
flannel, or felt, cork or rubber. The delivery of the bottles separately into these
cups prevents them from colliding with one another by gravity discharge, and
reduces to a minimum all chance of breakage to which they might be subjected in
their discharge, by rolling against one another forcibly. This enables the delivery
of the bottles, completely labelled, from the machine, and prevents all
chance of the bottles coming in contact with one another while they are being
discharged.
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 :-
1. A machine for labelling bottles comprising a continuous guideway having
inclined sides and along which the bottles are propelled, a series of bevelled rollers
for propelling said bottles, paste supplying mechanism and label holders, substan-
tially as described.
2. In a machine for labelling bottles, the combination with a guideway for
bottles, of a paste belt, removable and interchangeable stencils through which the
paste belt is applied to different parts of the bottles, and removable and inter-
changeable label holders arranged in the same relative positions as the said stencils,
substantially as described.
3. In a machine for labelling bottles, a continuous guideway, means for rolling a
bottle along the guideway, a device for applying paste to different parts of the
bottle through a stencil, and label holders arranged in the same relation as the
openings in the stencil, substantially as set forth.
4. In a machine for affixing labels to bottles, a guideway, mechanism for rolling

page_text: the bottles along the guideway, a paste belt, and removable and interchangeable
stencils for admitting paste to the surface of the bottles, substantially as set
.forth.
5. In a machine for labelling bottles a guideway, means for propelling the bottle
along the guideway, a paste belt, mechanism connected to said belt and operated
by the bottle, for moving said belt, and a stencil plate having openings and located
just above the paste belt, substantially as set forth.
6. In a labelling machine, a guideway, a label holder, a float below the label
holder for automatically raising said labels, a locking device or brake for
locking said float, and means operated by the passage of the bottle over the label
holder for releasing said brake to allow the float to move upward, substantially as
.described.
7. In a machine for labelling bottles, and in combination, a guideway for the
bottles extending through the machine, in combination with a flexible chain belt or
carrier for propelling the bottle along the guideway, a paste pot, a paste belt.
working in said pot, a removable stencil above said paste belt, and means for
driving the chain belt and propelling the bottles, substantially as set forth.
8. In a machine for labelling bottles, a guide way along which the bottles are
propelled, removable and interchangeable label holders, plungers for entering
said holders, and a float for pressing said plungers upward, substantially as set
forth.
9. In a machine for labelling bottles, label boxes having open tops, a float
connected to said plungers, and an automatic brake adapted to be released by the
movement of each bottle over the label bed, and to be set against the float by the
upward movement of the float, substantially as set forth.
10. In a machine for labelling bottles, and in combination, a pasting device and
a labeling device, inclined guideways for the bottles above said devices, and a
propelling chain belt running upon a yielding track above said. guideway,
said belt having beveled rollers, and adapted to propel the bottle substantially as
.set forth.
11. In a machine for labelling bottles, and in combination with pasting devices
and labeling devices, a propelling chain having rollers adapted to bear upon the
bottles, and a guideway having inclined sides provided with a frictional surface,
substantially as set forth.
12. In a bottle labelling machine, and in combination, a continuous guideway
having inclined sides provided with frictional surfaces, and a propelling chain above
said guideway, having bevelled rollers also provided with frictional surfaces, said
guideway and rollers forming in combination a guide track for the bottles,
substantially as 'set forth.
Dated this 13th day of April 1806
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.