Improvements in Machines for Making Tags and Counting and Separating the same into Piles or Parcels.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 28th July, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Tags and Counting and
Separating the same into Piles or Parcels.
I, CHARLES EDMUND SAWYER, residing at Number 6 Ellis Street, in the City
of Boston, County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, United States of
America, Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention has for its object to provide an organized machine for making
paper shipping-tags from a continuous length or web of tag-material, and counting
out and separating the finished tags into piles or parcels of any desired number;
and my invention consists in a machine embodying a washer-applying and hole-
punching mechanism, a printing mechanism, a feed mechanism arranged between
the washer-applying and punching mechanism and the printing mechanism and
adapted to feed the web to the printing mechanism, a cutting mechanism for
severing the tags from the web, feed rolls and rotary shears arranged longitudinally
in line with each other between the printing mechanism and the web-severing
mechanism, said rotary shears being adapted to divide the web longitudinally
through the center before reaching the web-severing cutters, and mechanism for
separating the finished tags into piles or parcels of any desired number, all
arranged to operate as hereinafter fully set forth.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figures 1 and 1^ are plans of my improved tag machine.
Figures 2 and 2 are side elevations of the same.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the machine.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine, showing the side
opposite to that shown in Fig. 2.
Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation on the line 5, 5, of Fig. 2, looking in
the direction of the arrow.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 6, 6, of Fig. 1.
Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section on the line 7, 7, of Fig. 2.
Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional plan of a portion of the machine taken
immediately above the plane of the web of paper showing the tag-separating
fingers and rocker-shaft to which they are attached.
Figure 9 is a transverse section on the line 9, 9, of Fig. 2, looking in the
direction of the arrow, the driving pulley not being shown.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the auxiliary feed-rolls and rotary cutters
which are located between the printing mechanism and the web-severing mechanism,
showing the manner in which the web is fed after being printed.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the rotary cutters and their shafts.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the main feed-rolls, their shafts and
bearings.
Figure 13 is an enlarged horizontal section through the patch or washer-applying
and hole-punching mechanism.
Figure 14 is a vertical section on the line 14, 14, of Fig. 13.
Figure 15 is a transverse vertical section on the. line 15, 15, of Fig. 13.
Figure 16 is a transverse vertical section on the line 16, 16, of Fig. 14.
Figure 17 is a plan view of the strip or web of paper as it would appear in the
machine from the time of the first operation thereon to the time that it is counted
into separate parcels of the desired number.
Figure 18 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 17, the tags being partly
detached to form "ganos" of three

page_text: Figure 19 is an enlarged detail of the driving gears which operate the upper
feed-roll shafts of the pair adjacent to the rotary cutters.
-
Figures 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 are details to be referred to.
In the said drawings, A represents the frame of the machine comprising the
bed a, end supports b, b, therefor, and uprights c, for supporting the main or
driving shaft B and other working parts of the machine; said shaft B being
provided with a heavy balance-wheel or pulley C adapted to be driven by a belt
not shown in the drawings.
The web d of thick paper, cardboard, or other suitable material, the width of
which is twice the length of a single tag as shown in Figs. 17 and 18, passes from
a roll, not shown, through the machine in the following order; First to the washer-
applying and hole-punching mechanism D, which is located at the front end
of the bed a, and by means of which the reinforcing patches are applied to the
opposite surfaces of the tag, and the eyes or holes punched therethrough to
form washers, and through the tag, and also diamond shaped holes punched through
the web of tag-material to form the bevelled upper corners of the finished tag;
secondly, to the printing mechanism E by which the web is printed; thirdly, to
the cutting mechanism G which severs the tags from the web either singly or in
gangs," the web being divided longitudinally through its center, before reaching
the severing cutters, by rotary shears or cutters f,f, to be hereafter described,
located between the printing mechanism E and web-severing mechanism G, the
web passing lastly to the counting and separating mechanism H by which the tags
when severed singly from the web by the cutting mechanism G, are separated into
piles of any desired number.
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I, J, are the main feed-rolls which are mounted on shafts g, h, and are located
between the washer-applying and hole-punching mechanism D and the printing
mechanism E, and serve to draw the web d through the said mechanism D and
push it forward through the printing mechanism E. This arrangement of the
feed-rolls whereby the web d is acted upon by said feed-rolls before it reaches the
printing mechanism, I consider of great importance as it enables me if desired to
cover the surface of the tag with printing without any liability of blurring or
defacing the same, which could not be accomplished if the feed-rolls were placed
beyond the printing mechanism; furthermore as the feed-rolls do not come into
contact with the printed surface of the web, I am enabled to use rolls of
considerable width and thereby secure a good frictional hold or grip upon the web
and avoid any liability of slip. I am also by this construction enabled to have the
feed-rolls bear upon the body of the web and not at the edges thereof, and
consequently a perfectly even feed is at all times insured which cannot be
accomplished when the feed-rolls bear on the extreme edges of the web, owing to
the variations in the thickness of the said edges when one of them is an outside or
selvage edge of a wide web from which the tag material is cut.
The two pairs of feed-rolls 1, J, are driven from the main shaft in the following
manner is a bevel-gear fast on the shaft B, and meshing with a smaller bevel-
gear on a transverse shaft / having its bearings in the framework and carrying
at one end a crank-disk 50, having an adjustable crank-pin 51 to which is pivoted
a rod 52, the lower end of which is connected with a ratchet-and-pawl mechanism K
adapted to intermittingly rotate the lover feed-roll shaft h. The shaft g of the
upper feed-rolls is forced downward toward the shaft h of the lower feed-rolls by
means of suitable springs which exert a pressure upon the vertically sliding boxes
of said upper feed-roll shaft, whereby the necessary friction upon the web or strip
of paper d is produced to insure a positive intermittent feed; each movement of
the feed-rolls carrying the web forward a distance equal to the width of a single
tag. The feed-roll shafts g, h, are connected at one end so as to revolve together
by means of gears 53, 54, Fig. 12, the lower shaft h being provided with a hand-
wheel 55, whereby it may be turned by hand when it is desired to enter a fresh
web or strip of tag-material between the feed-rolls.

page_text: The washer-applying and hole-punching mechanism may be of any suitable or
approved construction. The mechanism D here shown will now be described.
This mechanism D comprises a frame L bolted to the bed a, and provided with
vertical guideways in which are fitted two slides m, n, to which are secured two
upper punches p and two lower punches, q, which co-operate with corresponding
dies formed in blocks r secured to the frame L, one immediately above and the
other immediately below the web d of tag-material as shown in Fig. 6. In each
of these blocks is formed at an angle of about forty-five degrees to a line
extending longitudinally through the machine, a narrow horizontal slot or passage s
through which passes a web or strip t of patch-material glued on one side, said
web being unwound from a roll, not shown. The two strips t after being passed
through the slots s are brought together and passed between a pair of inter-
mittingly actuated feed rolls u, v, by which the said webs are drawn through the
slots where they are acted upon by the punches p, q, which punch out four disks
or patches, Figs. 17 and 18, which are then carried by said punches into contact
with and firmly pressed against the opposite surfaces of the web d of tag-material
to which they are caused to adhere by the moistened glue on the side of the patch
next to the web d.
By thus causing the webs t of patch-material to pass across the web d of tag-
material diagonally as shown, I am enabled to punch out the patches at a minimum
distance apart and very much closer together than could be effected if the webs t
passed across the web d at a right angle, a great saving of material being thereby
effected.
Each of the blocks is provided with a removable punch-clearer or "pull off "
plate w, Figs. 6 and 14, which forms one side of the diagonal slots through which
the web of patch-material passes. The slide m of the upper punches is connected
by a rod a' with the strap of an eccentric b¹ on the shaft by means of which it is
reciprocated as desired, and to the lower slide n is secured a cross-head c' shown
in Fig. 3, having pivoted to its opposite ends two pitmen d', d', the upper ends of
which are connected with the straps e, e, of two eccentrics el, e¹, also secured to
the shaft l, whereby the lower slide n is actuated as required.
The feed-rolls u, v, which are set diagonally as shown to receive the strips t of
patch-material, are mounted on short shafts connected by gears, one of said shafts
being operated by a ratchet-and-pawl mechanism 40 which is actuated inter-
mittingly by a lever fi fulcrummed at g' and operated against the resistance of a
spring 41, Fig. 4, by a cam h' on the shaft l.
M is a vertical slide moving in a guideway formed in the frame L, on the side
opposite to the slide m, and being connected by a rod i to a lever k¹ fulcrummed
to one of the uprights c at 42, said lever k¹ being pivoted to the upper slide m,
whereby the two slides are actuated simultaneously by the eccentric .
To this slide M are secured two punches m² m², shown in Figure 16, which
co-operate with corresponding dies in a block 58 shown in Figures 8 and 16, and
as the web d is fed along after having had the patches u* applied thereto by the
punches as described, act to punch the eyes or holes v², Figures 17 and 18, through
the patches to form the washers and also through the web d itself, thus forming
eyes at the upper ends of the tags.
To this same slide M is also secured a diamond-shaped punch p' which co-operates
with a corresponding die in the block 58, and serves to punch out the diamond-
shaped holes 59 at the proper intervals along the centre of the web d, as shown
in Figures 17 and 18 in order that after the tags are cut from the web they may
have the upper corners bevelled as required. These punches m' and p¹ are
provided as usual with suitable clearer or "pull-off" plates through which they
pass.
The printing mechanism may be of any suitable or approved construction which
can be connected with the driving power of the machine and caused to print upon
the web as it passes from the washer-applying and hole-punching mechanism D
next adjacent thereto.

page_text: The printing machine shown in the drawings is of special construction forming
the subject matter of Application No. 23,423, dated December 5th 1893, and
therefore its general construction only will now be described. C' is a stationary
platen which is secured to the bed a by a central clamping-screw a³, and is made
adjustable in height by means of levelling screws located at its corners and
passing down through the bed, beneath which they are provided with hand-wheels c
by which they may be turned to effect the desired adjustment of the platen.
D¹ represents the vertically reciprocating form-bed which co-operates with the
platen C, said bed being provided on its upper side with a hollow actuating
plunger adapted to slide in a suitable guide E¹ bolted to the uprights c of the
framework, said plunger having pivoted to it at 60 a rod e connected to the strap
of an eccentric G₁ on the main or driving shaft B, by means of which the desired
vertical reciprocating movement is imparted to the form-bed D'.
The form-bed D extends out beyond the platen at the sides as shown in
Figs. 1, 3, 7, and 8, and is provided with horizontal grooves or guideways 56 in
which are fitted two reciprocating type-form carriers L', L', which are arranged
to slide horizontally in said ways in opposite directions away from and toward the
center of the form-bed D', whereby the type-forms 61 secured to the carriers L'
in any suitable manner, are caused to pass over and in contact with the form-inking-
rollers both on their outward and inward movement or traverse. Each of the
type-forms is inked by a series of form-inking-rollers w², the shafts of which are
supported in hangers p² adjustably secured to the sides of the form-bed D' by
means of slots and bolts b, c, and adjusting screws d³, as shown in Fig. 24; said
hangers being provided on the inner side with bosses 65, shown in Figs. 6, 8,
and 25, having vertical slots e, for the reception of the journals of the form-roller-
shafts, whereby as the form-bed descends to give the impression, the journals of
the form-rollers rise in the said slots and the form-rollers are thus permitted to
settle or adjust themselves around the curved or convex surface of the ink
cylinder M¹ to insure the proper supply of ink therefrom before the next outward
movement of the type-forms, while on the ascent of the form-bed the form-rollers
descend by their own gravity as far as permitted by said slots, which causes the
tops of said rollers to be brought to a uniform level, thus insuring perfect and
complete contact of the form-rollers with all parts of the type-forins as the latter
pass thereover, both on their outward and inward movement.
The type-form carriers L', L', are reciprocated in their guideways 56 to bring
them alternately into their printing and inking positions by means of rods q², ?,
pivoted thereto at 67 and having their outer ends pivoted at 68 to levers Ni
depending from long hubs or sleeves 69 secured to horizontal rock-shafts P¹ which
are supported in bearings in the framework and arranged on opposite sides of the
machine, said hubs or sleeves 69 being each provided with au inwardly curved
arm Q carrying at its upper end an anti-friction roll 70 which rests on the surface
of an actuating cam R' on the main or driving shaft B. The rolls 70 are kept
constantly in contact with the cams R' by means of stiff spiral springs 71, the
opposite ends of which are attached to arms 72 extending upward from the hubs 69
on the rock shafts P', whereby as the shaft B is rotated the cams R' acting on the
rolls 70 of the arms Q1 lift the same against the stress of the springs 71, and
through the connections described, cause the type-form carriers L' to be simulta-
neously moved inward to their printing positions as shown in Fig. 7, the outward
movement of the carriers L' with their type-forms to enable the latter to receive
their supply of ink as described, being effected by the springs 71 as the cams
revolve. The arrangement of the mechanism is such that as soon as the plunger d²
with the form-bed D has risen about one-eighth of an inch after producing the
impression, the type-forms commence to move outward to be inked and are returned
to their printing positions by the time the eccentric G' has completed its revolution,
and by attaching the form-rollers to the reciprocating form-bed as described, so
that they will move up and down therewith and thereby be caused to periodically
come into contact with the ink-cylinders M¹ arranged directly beneath them in

page_text: stationary bearings, I am enabled to ink the type-forms and feed the paper wnue
the form-bed is in motion, very short movements of the reciprocating mechanism
being consequently required.
The shafts of the inking-cylinders M¹ by which the form-rollers are supplied
with ink, are supported in stationary bearings in the framework and are each
provided with a grooved pulley 73 which is driven by a belt 74 from a grooved
pulley 75 on a shaft 76 having its bearings in the lower portion of the frame-
work and carrying a pulley 77 which is driven by a belt 78 from a pulley 79 on
the driving shaft B as shown in Fig. 7.
The ink cylinders M' are supplied with ink by distributor-rolls w¹ and vibrator-
rolls 80 of the usual construction, which are supplied by ductor-rolls 81 which are
adapted to be periodically brought into contact with the fountain-rolls 82 in the
ink-fountains 83 in the following manner: The shaft of each of the ductor-
rolls 81 is supported in bearings at the outer end of a frame 84 pivoted to lugs on
the ink-fountain; said frame being pressed upward to lift the ductor-roll away
from the fountain-roll and bring it into contact with the vibrator-roll by a pin 85,
Fig. 3, projecting up from a rocker which is oscillated on the shaft of the
fountain-roll by a connecting-rod 86 pivoted at its opposite end to a crank-pin 87,
Figs. 8 and 24, on the end of the shaft of the ink-cylinder M', the frame 84 with
the ductor-roll dropping by its own gravity to bring the ductor-roll down upon the
fountain-roll as the pin 85 descends on the downward oscillation of the rocker r'.
To this rocker is pivoted a pawl ql, which engages with a ratchet-wheel 88
on the shaft of the fountain-roll which is thus rotated as the rocker r¹ is
oscillated.
The "throw-off" device by means of which the working surface of the platen
is lowered or "thrown off" to prevent the taking of an impression, is constructed
as follows: The platen C is composed of two principal portions or halves a³, b³,
the upper portion or half a³, having a false or removable plate 92 which forms the
upper or working face of the platen and to which is secured the tympan-frame 93
by which the blanket and tympan-sheet, Fig. 7, are held in place upon the platen
in the usual manner. The removable top-plate 92 is steadied and held in place
by steady pins a, shown in Fig. 23, projecting from the upper portion a³ into the
holes in the under side of the plate 92, which permit of the latter being easily
removed with the tympan-frame whenever it may be found necessary to gain access
to the tympan-sheet or blanket to adjust the same, thereby avoiding the necessity
of removing the entire portion a³, which would be inconvenient.
The upper surface of the lower portion 63 of the platen is provided 'with a series
of half-round grooves 94 which form sockets or bearings for a corresponding
number of rock-shafts d³, each of which is provided with a longitudinal rib or
projection 95, Figs. 6 and 7, which fits into a rectangular groove 96 formed in the
under side of the upper portion a' of the platen, the height of these projections 95
being such that when turned up by rocking the shafts d³ a quarter revolution into
the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7, they will act upon the portion a³ and raise it
clear of the portion 63 to its proper printing level, the corners of the projections 95
being rounded off to facilitate this movement. When, however, it is desired to
"throw off" the platen so as not to print as the web passes beneath the type-forms,
the projections 95 are turned down flatwise, when they will lie snugly within the
grooves 96, this movement causing the portion a³ to descend and rest upon the
surface of the portion 3, in which position the working or top surface of the platen
will be below its printing level, and no impression will be taken on the descent of
the form-bed D'. The rock-shafts d³ are each provided at one end with a slotted
crank e, Fig. 6, with which engages a pin on a horizontal slide bar gå moving
in a groove 97 in the portion 6, as shown in Fig. 6, said bar g³ being actuated by
a slotted lever w² projecting from a stud 3, to which is secured a long lever k³,
provided with a handle at each end, whereby it may be operated from each side of
the machine to simultaneously oscillate the rock-shafts d and thus raise or lower
the working surface of the platen as may be, required, suitable guides 99 secured
3

page_text: to the portion a³ and fitting snugly against the front and rear sides of the portion 63
and sliding in ways attached thereto as shown in Fig. 7, being employed to keep
the portion a in position while being raised and lowered as described.
After the web is printed, the tags are severed therefrom by the cutting
mechanism G, between which and the printing mechanism E are arranged a pair
of narrow auxiliary feed-rolls N mounted on shafts supported in suitable bearings
on the bed of the machine, said feed rolls serving to keep the web d drawn tightly
over the platen of the printing-machine and to feed the said web forward to the
web-severing mechanism G.
The shafts m³, n³, of the rotary shears f,f, are supported in suitable bearings and
are connected so as to revolve together by gears p³, 93, as shown in Fig. 11, the
lower shaft n³ extending out beyond the bed a, and carrying a pulley r³, driven by
a helt from a pulley 3 on the shaft 76, as shown in Figs. 4, 7, and 11. To the
upper shaft m³ is secured a gear 90, which meshes with an intermediate gear 91,
Figs. 6 and 19, mounted on a stud projecting from a bell-crank-lever 89 which is
fulcrummed on the shaft m³, said gear 91 meshing with a gear 57 on the upper feed-
roll-shaft and being kept in contact therewith by a spring n secured to one arm
of the bell-crank-lever 89, as shown in Fig. 6, the motion of the cutter-shaft m³
being thus communicated to the upper feed-roll N which is rotated with a
surface velocity greater than that of the web d, whereby the latter is kept
tightly stretched over the tympan-sheet of the printing-machine as required and
pulled off the type-form after being printed. The lower feed-roll N is merely
rotated by the friction of the web d of paper as the latter passes in contact
therewith.
The feed-rolls N bear upon the web d at the center of its width where there is no
printing, thus avoiding the blurring or defacing of the same.
The rotary shears which divide the web longitudinally into two equal parts have
a peripheral velocity greater than the movement of the web, thereby assisting the
feed-rolls N in carrying the paper forward to the tag-severing mechanism. These
rotary shears would in themselves feed the web by their draft thereon were it not
for the diamond-shaped holes 59, Figs. 17 and 18, previously punched therein,
which would prevent the rotary cutters from drawing forward the paper as soon as
they reached one of the said diamond-shaped holes. For this reason I employ the
narrow auxiliary feed-rolls N in connection with the rotary shears and arrange said
feed-rolls and shears at such distance apart that when the shears are in one of the
diamond-shaped holes as seen in Fig. 10, the feed-rolls will be acting upon the
solid portion of the web midway between two consecutive diamond-shaped holes,
while when the feed-rolls cease to draw or feed the paper by reason of being in one
of the said holes, the rotary shears will be acting with full force upon the web at a
point midway between two of said holes, whereby the web is kept constantly
:stretched and fed forward as required.
Cutting mechanism of any suitable or approved construction may be employed
for severing the printed tags from the web, said mechanism being driven from the
.main shaft B. The web-cutting mechanism here shown is adapted to sever the
tags from the web either singly or in sheets containing a series or "gang" of tags
partly severed from each other. The said web-severing mechanism Ġ will now be
.described.
"
H³, H2, are two adjustable bed-cutters formed in a single piece extending
transversely across the machine, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, each having a
straight horizontal edge; and 12, 12, are two swinging cutters arranged above the
cutters H' and adapted to co-operate therewith, said cutters I, 12, being adjustably
secured to cutter-levers K, K³, pivoted at 1, between two vertical pieces or
plates J, J³, rising from and forming part of a carriage L2, to which is also
adjustably secured the two bed-cutters H2, H2, said carriage L' being adapted to
.slide horizontally on dovetail ways on the bed of the machine and having secured
to it a rod 25 which is provided at its outer end with a screw-thread and is moved
in the direction of its length to vary the position of the carriage by means of a

page_text: small bevel-gear 26 threaded to fit the rod 25 which passes therethrough, said
gear 26 meshing with a bevel-gear 27 on a shaft 28 provided with a crank-handle 29,.
by which means the carriage L² may be moved forward and back on its ways to
vary the distance between the feed-rolls N and the cutters H2, H2, in order-
that the latter may make a cut exactly on the division line between two contiguous
tags, a nice adjustment being necessary to produce accurate work where a change
is made in the width of the tag, or a new web is inserted between the feed--
rolls N.
After the carriage has been adjusted it is clamped immovably in place by means-
of a clamping screw a', provided with a hand-wheel a³.
To the driving shaft B is secured a heavy cam W, which acts upon an anti-friction.
roll 30 mounted in a lever N2, pivoted at 31 to the upper end of a post m* secured
to and rising from the side-plates J, J³, of the carriage L, said lever being drawn.
upward to keep the roll 30 constantly in contact with the cam W by means of a spiral
spring m2, one end of which is secured to the lever at 32 while the opposite end is
hooked over the upper end of a post p* secured to and rising from the plates J³, J³,.
opposite to the post m. The width of the cam W is such that the roll 30 of the
lever N2 will remain in full contact therewith as the carriage L² is adjusted on its
ways toward and from the feed-rolls N and rotary shears f
To the lever N are pivoted at 33, 33, two connecting rods 9,9, the lower ends
of which are pivoted at 34, 34, to the two cutter-levers K³, K2, whereby as the
shaft B is rotated, the cam W acting on the roll 30 of the lever N2, depresses the
latter against the stress of the spring m2, and through the connections described,.
causes the cutters I2, 12, to be swung downward to cut the web as required, the
upward movement of the cutters being effected by the spring m², which draws up.
the lever N as the cam revolves, a single revolution of said cam producing in con-
nection with the spring m², two downward and two upward movements of the
cutters I³, 12. The lower edge of each cutter 12, 12, is bevelled longitudinally in
opposite directions to produce a shearing cut and also to cause the lowermost point
or angle of its cutting edge to first enter the web and cut gradually in opposite
directions as it descends, this construction enabling the cutter to be adjusted to cut
the strip either partially or wholly across its width according as it is forced down,
more or less.
The cutter levers K2, K2, are each pivoted to the side-pieces J, J³, of the
carriage L by means of two screws s*, s, provided with check-nuts whereby the
said levers can be adjusted laterally to compensate for the wear of the upper or
lower cutters which can thus be readily kept in proper lateral adjustment with
relation to each other. To prevent lateral movement or spring of the free ends of
the cutter-levers K2, K2, away from the stationary bed-cutters H², I provide a
backing-plate t', shown in Figs. 5 and 6, which is secured to the plate J³ of the
carriage L2 by means of screws provided with check-nuts, said plate being pressed
up against the sides of the free ends of the levers K³, K2, which move in contact.
therewith as they are swung up and down by the connecting rods g*, g. The
plate is adjusted for wear and kept closely in contact at all times with the
levers K. K', by means of suitable adjusting screws.
Immediately above the bed-cutters H2 is secured a guide-plate w, Figs. 5 and 6,.
the front edge of which is curved upward to facilitate the entrance of the web d..
which passes through the throat that is formed between the plate w and the bed
cutters H2, said plate serving as a clearer to prevent the upper cutters 12, 12, as
they rise, from lifting the web d up from the bed-cutters H².
I will now describe the manner in which the movable cutters I³, 13, are
automatically held out of action or prevented from cutting entirely through the
web until after it has been fed forward a predetermined number of times, whereby
pieces or sheets of the web d, each of sufficient length to form a series or gang
of tags of the required number, as shown in Fig. 18, are caused to be cut off
without care or attention on the part of the operator.
66
"
Each of the connecting rods 9, 9, is constructed to yield in the direction of its

page_text: length against the resistance of a spring and is composed of a tubular portion or
sleeve 44, which is pivoted to the cutter-lever K at 34. and a plunger 36 pivoted
at its upper end to the lever N2 at 33 and adapted to slide within the tubular
portion 44 as shown in Fig. 5, where it rests upon a spiral-spring 38 of sufficient
rigidity to transmit the pressure of the plunger 36 to the tubular portion 44 and
thence to the cutter-lever K2 and cutter 12 to cause the latter to cut the web on
the descent of the lever N2, the vertical movement of the plunger 36 within the
tubular portion 44 being limited by a pin 39 and slot 45. The tubular portion 44
is provided on one side with a lug or projection through which passes vertically
an adjusting screw t¹, the lower end of which is adapted to strike against the
end of a horizontal slide v', which thus forms a stop for arresting the descent of
the portion 44 and cutter lever K2 connected therewith, thereby preventing the
cutter 12 from passing through the web to sever the same on the division line
between two consecutive tags.
As soon
as the screw t¹ strikes the stop u', the plunger 36 of the rod or
connection slides within the portion 44, compressing the spring 38 which thus
takes up the remainder of the downward movement of the lever N2 as the latter is
actuated by the cam W. By adjusting the screws to cause them to project more
or less below the lugs s', the positions of the cutters I³, 13, when their downward
movement is interrupted may be varied if desired to cause them to partially cut
through the web d on the division line between two consecutive tags, so that they
will be prevented from coming into contact at all with the web until after the
withdrawal of the stop u¹.
66
As before stated the web d is fed forward a distance equal to the width of a
single tag at each intermittent movement of the main feed-rolls I, J, which
movement is followed by the descent of the cutters I*, 12, and after a piece of the
web d containing the desired number of tags has been fed forward, the slides v¹,
(one for each cutter) are each moved horizontally by a disk or wheel Q provided
with projections n' against the resistance of a light spring 46, Fig. 5, to bring an
aperture 24 in said slide immediately beneath the end of the screw t', thus pushing
out of the way or withdrawing the stop u¹ and permitting the portion 44 of the
connecting-rod g to be forced down by the lever N2 to the full extent of its
movement, which causes the cutter connected therewith to pass entirely through
the web, thus cutting off therefrom a series or gang" of connected tags, after
which the slide v is released as the disk Q revolves, when the slide is moved by
the spring 46 to again bring the stop u¹ beneath the screw t' which causes the
action of the cutters to be again interrupted until another portion of the web d
of the desired length has been fed forward, when the operation is repeated. The
construction of the stop-operating disk Q may be somewhat varied as it may be
provided with notches or subdivisions or otherwise constructed to periodically
withdraw or move a stop out of the way of the screw t¹ to allow the cutters to
sever the web as above described. Each disk Q has secured to it a ratchet-
wheel R, as shown in Fig. 22, both being supported by and free to revolve on a
horizontal stud or pin secured to the plate Js of the carriage L², said ratchet-
wheels being each actuated by a pawl 47 pivoted to the end of a lever 48
fulcrummed on a post 49 rising from the plate J³. These levers 48 are both
pivoted to a link 23 which fits within the enlarged bifurcated end of a rod 1, the
the upper end of which is pivoted to the end of the lever N2 at 66, whereby as the
lever N2 is moved up and down by the cam W and spring m³, sufficient motion
will be communicated to the levers 48 to cause the pawls 47 to move the ratchet-
wheels R one notch at each upward movement of the lever N2, the difference
between the amount of motion of the lever N2 and that required for the levers 48
being compensated for by a slot in the rod which takes up the lost motion. On
the descent of the lever N' the link 23 and with it the levers 48 are drawn down
by a spring 62 shown in Fig. 6, an adjustable stop 63 serving to limit the downward'
movement of the said levers 48.
Each of the disks Q is provided with eight projections n', while the ratchet-

page_text: wheel R secured thereto has twenty-four teeth, consequently each of the stops u²
is withdrawn or moved out of the way of the screw t¹ thereover as soon as the
main feed-rolls I, J, have fed forward a length of the web d containing three tags
as seen in Fig. 18, and it will be obvious that by varying the relative proportion
between the number of projections or divisions of the disk Q and the number of
teeth of the ratchet-wheel, making one the multiple of the other, a
series of any desired number of tags can be cut from the web, and if it should be
desired to cut the tags one by one or singly from the web, it is merely necessary
to adjust the screws t' so that they will not come into contact with the stops u³,
when the cutters will descend and sever a single tag from the web after each
forward movement of the main feed rolls I, J.
gang" or
When the tags are severed one by one or singly from the web d, they are counted
and separated into piles or parcels of any desired number by a counting and
separating mechanism which may be of any suitable or approved construction.
The counting and separating mechanism H shown in the drawings is of special
construction forming the subject matter of a separate application No. 137 dated
January 2nd 1894 and will now be generally described. S is a table over and in
contact with which passes an endless travelling belt or carrier T, which is stretched
over two rollers U, V the latter placed immediately beneath the web-severing
mechanism in order that the belt T may be in a position to receive the tags as
they fall from the web-severing mechanism G, said tags dropping on to the belt in
such manner as to lie partly over each other as shown in Figure 17, with their
longest dimension in the direction of the width of the belt. The belt T also
passes over a roll 98 and is kept tight by means of a tightening roll 99 shown in
Figure 2. The shaft of the roller U by which the belt T is driven, is provided
with a sprocket-wheel which is in turn driven by a chain eo passing over a sprocket
wheel on a shaft 2 which is provided with a worm-wheel g², which is engaged by a
worm on the horizontal shaft 76 which extends beneath the table S. is a hori-
zontal rock-shaft having its bearings in one of the uprights of the framework and
extending transversely across the belt T a short distance above the same, said shaft
being provided with a series of lugs or collars i made adjustable on said shaft in the
direction of its length, and held in place by set screws h².
is
From a
Within an aperture 12 in the lower portion of each of the lugs or collars
loosely pivoted by means of a pin 2, shown in Fig. 20, or in any other preferred
manner, a finger s², the opposite end of which consists of a small plate or scraper-
blade u², of the form shown in Fig. 9, said blade being arranged substantially at
right angles with the belt T so that when permitted to drop upon the line of tags
passing thereunder, it will catch the edge of the first one which is brought up to
it by the movement of the belt in the direction of the arrow v2, Fig. 2.
lug u secured to the rock-shaft h³ at or near its center projects an arm v³ which
rests against the surface of a cam-wheel 64, supported by and free to revolve on a
stud or pine mounted on a bracket projecting from the framework, said cam-
wheel having secured to it a ratchet-wheel d', which is actuated by a pawl e
pivoted to the lower end of a vertically reciprocating slide-bar f, moving in
guides and actuated in one direction by a cam it on the driving shaft B and in
the opposite direction by a spring k, whereby the cam-wheel is intermittingly
rotated, and as soon as the point, (shown in Fig. 21) of the cam-wheel 6 is
carried past the end of the arm v³, the latter is released, thus permitting the
fingers s to drop by their own gravity onto the two lines or rows of tags upon the
belt T, when the lower edges of the scraper-blades u² of said fingers will intercept
the edges of the next tags brought into contact therewith, thus holding back the
two advancing lines of tags being carried forward, and producing a separation
between the same and those in front of the fingers which are being carried forward
by the belt T. As soon as a sufficient separation has been effected, say two or
three inches, the cam-wheel 6' commences to depress the arm v³, rocking the shaft /³
and raising the fingers clear of the tags, which then advance with the belt until
the fingers are again dropped, which takes place when a predetermined number of
R

page_text: tags, (in this case twenty-five in each row or line) have passed beneath the fingers
which on their descent intercept the twenty-sixth tag, holding back the line as
before, and in this manner the tags are scraped together by the fingers and
separated on the upper surface of the belt into piles or parcels of the required
number, which as they are carried along by said belt, are removed by the attendant
and packed away or otherwise disposed of, the necessity of counting them out by
hand being thus avoided and a considerable saving in time and labour thereby
effected.
By pivoting the fingers 2 loosely to the rock-shaft 3 so that they can rise and
fall independently thereof, they are enabled to accommodate themselves to the
inequalities of the surface of the belt T to insure catching the edges of the tags at
the exact time required at different portions of the width of the belt, which would
not always be the case if they were rigidly attached to the shaft h³, and conse-
quently the liability of failure of any one of the fingers to catch a tag at the proper
time, which would result in a miscount, is entirely avoided.
When short tags are being fed onto the carrier belt T, a single separating
finger, s2, for each row or line of tags will answer well, but where the tags are of
considerable length I prefer to employ two fingers for each line or row of tags, as
shown in Fig. 9, in order to keep them squarely and evenly in place upon the belt as
they are scraped into piles, and I regard two fingers, each having a narrow scraping-
blade as preferable to a single finger with a wider scraping-blade for the reason
that two separate fingers loosely connected to the rock-shaft will accommodate
themselves better to the inequalities of the surface of the belt.
The adjustment of the collars on the shaft 3 in the direction of its length
enables the fingers s² to be arranged at proper distances apart to adapt them for
tags of different widths and cause them to be scraped together in piles or parcels
squarely and evenly as required.
By the employment of a cam-wheel having more than one projection, or by
varying the number of teeth on the ratchet-wheel ', the descent of the fingers $³
may be timed for separating the tags into parcels of any desired number.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what, manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a machine for manufacturing tags from a continuous web, the combination
of a washer-applying and hole-punching mechanism, a printing mechanism next
adjacent thereto, intermittingly actuated feed-rolls arranged between the said
washer-applying and hole-punching mechanism and the printing mechanism and
behind the latter, a cutting mechanism for severing the tags from the web either
singly or in "gangs," said cutting mechanism being arranged next in succession to
the printing mechanism, narrow auxiliary feed-rolls arranged to bear upon the web
of tag-material along the center of its width, and rotary shears or cutters adapted
to divide the web longitudinally beyond the said feed-rolls, said rotary cutters and
feed-rolls being arranged in line with each other between the printing mechanism
and the tag-severing mechanism, substantially as set forth.
2. In a machine for manufacturing tags from a continuous web, the combination
of a washer-applying and hole-punching mechanism, a printing mechanism next
adjacent thereto, intermittingly actuated feed-rolls arranged between the said
washer-applying and hole-punching mechanism and the printing mechanism and
behind the latter, a cutting mechanism for severing the tags from the web either
singly or in "gangs," said cutting mechanism arranged next in succession to the
printing mechanism, narrow auxiliary feed-rolls arranged to bear upon the web of
tag-material along the center of its width, said web being of a width equal to twice
the length of a single tag and having holes punched at intervals along the center
of its width, and rotary shears or cutters adapted to divide the web longitudinally
beyond said feed-rolls, said rotary cutters and feed-rolls being arranged in line
with each other between the printing mechanism and the tag-severing mechanism.

page_text: and placed at such distance from each other that the rotary shears will feed the
web when the feed-rolls are in one of its central holes and rice versa, substantially
as described.
3. In a machine for manufacturing tags from a continuous web, the combination
of a washer-applying and hole-punching mechanism, a printing mechanism next
adjacent thereto, intermittingly actuated feed-rolls arranged between said washer-
applying and hole-punching mechanism and the printing mechanism and behind the
latter, a cutting mechanism for severing the tags from the web, said cutting
mechanism arranged next in succession to the printing mechanism, narrow
auxiliary feed-rolls arranged to bear upon the web of tag-material along the center
of its width, said web being of a width equal to twice the length of a single tag,
and having boles punched at intervals along the center of its width, rotary shears
or cutters adapted to divide the web longitudinally beyoud the said feed-rolls, said
rotary shears and feed-rolls being arranged in line with each other between the
printing mechanism and the tag-severing mechanism, and placed at such distance
from each other that the rotary shears will exert a forward draft upon the web
when the feed-rolls are in one of its central holes, and vice versa, and mechanism for
separating the finished tags into piles or parcels of any desired number, said
separating mechanism being arranged next in succession to the mechanism for
severing the tags from the web, all combined and arranged to operate substantially
as set forth.
4. In a machine for manufacturing from a continuous web, the combination, with
the printing mechanism and the mechanism for severing the tags from the web, of
the rotary cutters f, f, having their shafts m³, n³, connected by gears, the shaft m³
being provided with a gear 90, the feed-rolls N arranged in line with said rotary
shears, and the shaft of the upper feed-roll being provided with a gear 57 meshing
with an intermediate gear 91 mounted on the bell-crank-lever 89, said gear 91
meshing with the gear 90 on the shaft m³, whereby the motion of the rotary cutters
is communicated to the upper feed-roll N, all operating substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of January 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.