An Improved Method of and Machine for Labelling and Wrapping Tins and other Vessels.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1898-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Machine for Labelling and Wrapping
Tins and other Vessels.
We, SAMUEL FYFE, of No. 46, Nott Street, Port Melbourne, in the Colony of
Victoria, Plumber and Gasfitter, and WALTER CHAMBERLAIN PEACOCK, of Equit-
able Buildings, Collins Street, Melbourne, in the said Colony, Merchant, 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 has been devised in order to provide a method of and machine
for automatically applying a label and folding a wrapper around a tin or other
similar vessel thereby decreasing the cost and increasing the rapidity with which
these operations can be effected, and, at the same time, performing said operations
more perfectly and in a cleaner manner than heretofore.
This invention is specially adapted for labelling and wrapping cylindrical tins,
such as jam and meat tins, but is also applicable for labelling and wrapping other
descriptions of vessels.
In order that the invention may be easily understood reference will be made to
the accompanying drawings, in which,-
Figure 1 is a plan, and,
Figure 2 a longitudinal central section of a labelling and wrapping machine
embodying this invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2" 2" Figure 1.
Figures 3 to 9 are various views of different details hereinafter described.
Figure 10 is a sectional diagram showing a modification which can be used
where light bins are to be labelled or wrapped.
The same letters of reference are used to indicate the same or similar parts
throughout the drawings.
b
According to this invention the tins or other vessels to be labelled are fed on to
an incline A at one end of the machine so that they will roll down either upon said
incline or upon rails a at the side and will pass over a roller B (see Figures 3
and 4) mounted over a shallow trough 6 containing some adhesive material. This
roller is carried on pivotted arms and is depressed as indicated by dotted lines
in Figure 3 on the passage of the tin or other vessel over it. It is also mounted
on said arms in such a way that it can partially rotate as each tin or other
vessel passes over it, the effect being to apply a certain quantity of adhesive
material to each tin, and at the same time ensure the partial rotation of the
roller B at each operation.
When a very thick adhesive material is used it is necessary to arrange three or
more fine wires 62 between the ends of the arms b₁ so that they will extend across
parallel to and a short distance away from the roller B in order to cut off any

page_text: superfluous material adhering to it. These wires are arranged a short distance
from each other and they effectually remove any superfluous material from the
roller without unduly hindering its rotation.
The labels C to be applied to the tins or other similar vessels are placed one
upon the other on a counterbalanced vertically adjustable holder or support D (see
Figures 2 and 5) set at such a distance in front of the roller B that the tin will
make one complete revolution before bringing the part of said tin to which the
adhesive composition has been applied, on to the end of the uppermost one of the
pile of labels. The opposite ends of these labels C are placed underneath a wire E
which is mounted in bearings at each end and extends across the machine and
from underneath which the ends of said labels are withdrawn one at a time by
the forward travel of the tin or other vessel. This wire is as small as possible
consistent with the required strength or stiffness so that it will in conjunction with
the support D bend the end of the label upwards or inwards as indicated at c² in
Figure 6 and so counteracts the tendency to curl in the opposite direction thus
effectually closing the seam of the label with cleanness and precision on the next
revolution of the tin. This result is of paramount importance especially with
heavy glazed labels and in order to make inore certain of obtaining it the upper
surface of the label carrying holder or support D is made with a double incline
one (d) being downwards and extending nearly to said wire and the other (d)
being upwards and extending under said wire so as to accentuate the bend im-
parted to the end of the label upon its withdrawal. The incline d¹ depends upon
the angle at which the labels are drawn from under the wire E it being necessary
(especially with heavy labels) to bend their ends back to an angle of about 900.
in order to impart the desired inward curve to them. By constructing the
support with the double inclines d d the label hangs slack whilst being
rolied around the tin and will be jerked from under the wire E when the rolling
tin or other vessel has passed the position indicated in Figure 5. At this stage the
front end of the label is gripped between the tin and the track. This portion of
the track (see Figure 5) may be covered with rubber or other suitable material to
assist in more securely gripping the front edge of the label which is therefore
prevented from being drawn off the tin by the strain.
It is necessary that a certain amount of slack is left in the label as it is being
rolled around the tin because the tins are larger at their ends than their bodies
the tendency being to overrun and so draw the label off the tin before it is drawn
from under the wire.
The forward end of the label carrying holder or support D bears against inclined
guides (see Figure 5) whilst its rear end is attached to and is drawn upwards
by a weighted cord d³ passing over a spindle or pulley d' as shown thus raising
the remainder of the pile of labels as each one is withdrawn. One or more small
spring catches d³ are mounted upon the main frame of the machine on each side
of the label holder D and are so constructed and arranged that their front edges
bear against and cut slightly into the edges of the labels and thus prevent more
than one label at a time being drawn back from under the wire E.
Before a label is withdrawn as just described a pivotted paste carrier F con-
sisting, by preference, of a bent wire is moved (as indicated by dotted lines in
Figure 5) so as to convey a portion of paste from a suitably arranged paste dish
or pot on to the edge of the label. This pasting contrivance may be actuated
by the depression of the roller B, a cord f¹ being led from an arm f² (see Figure 3)
on the rocking spindle 63 of said roller B and being passed around the spindle f³
of the paste carrier F. This ensures said paste carrier being operated each time
that the roller B is depressed by a vessel passing over 'it. A small spring f
(Figure 1) coiled around the spindle f³ serves to return said paste carrier F to its
normal position as soon as the vessel has passed over the roller B. The paste
will be spread evenly over the edge of said label as the latter is drawn from under
the wire E and the adhesion of this end of the label to the other part is ensured
by the weight of the tin itself rolling over the joint, thereby completing the

page_text: operation of securing a label around the tin which may then be removed from
the machine.
If in addition to fixing a label around the tin it is also desired to secure an
external wrapper around it then the tin is allowed to continue rolling down the
track and when it has almost made another revolution since passing over the
wire E it travels over a small tank G containing water.
At this stage one end of the label will be loose, that is it will not have been
pressed down on to and thus have been caused to adhere to the tin therefore as
said tin travels over the tank G said loose label end will be flapped on to the
surface of the water as indicated in Figure 6 and its under or outer side will be
moistened. Instead of this arrangement the tin or other vessel might be run
bodily through a small supply of water. In any case the use of water in this
way is of paramount importance as it enables delicate wrappers or labels to be
picked up without injury and afterwards admits of said wrappers being removed
without defacing the labels.
On the next revolution of the tin or other vessel the wetted end of the label
comes in contact with a wrapper H the effect of which is that said wrapper
adheres to it and is picked up and rolled around the tin at the same time that
the pasted end of the label is pressed on to, and caused to adhere to, the tin.
The wrappers H are (like the labels C) supported upon a vertically adjustable
carrier held in its raised position by means of a weighted cord h¹ and if found
necessary the wrappers may be retained in position upon the carrier by the use
of inclined upwardly projecting pins 2 and stops or other equivalent devices.
The cord after passing over a spindle or roller 5 is passed over a fixed bar or
other support which enables the label to be supported by a slightly over-
balanced weight.
By this means a lighter weight can be used on the cord h¹ to resist the down-
ward motion of the support when a heavy tin is passing over it, whilst on the
other hand the effect of the weight in raising said support upwards will be reduced
so that it will not grip the ends of the wrappers too tightly.
Provision is made for applying paste or other adhesive material to the rear
edges of the wrappers H before they are individually withdrawn from under the
wire E
For this purpose a similar contrivance to that used for pasting the labels
may be used. This, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, 'comprises a pivotted
paste carrier I operated by a cord i from the arm f of the roller B; a spiral
spring being used for the purpose of returning the paste carrier to its normal
position. represents a trough or dish containing the supply of paste or other
adhesive material.
The wrappers are not shewn in Figure 8 in order that the supporting springs 46
may be seen. These are for the purpose of compensating for any bend in the
wire E by allowing the support h to rise in the centre.
When the tin or other vessel has made another revolution between low guide
rails the wrapper will be bound around it with a portion projecting at each
end. These projecting ends require to be folded inwards neatly in order to complete
the operation. This is effected by causing the tin or other vessel to roll (as
indicated in Figure 9) between a set of folding wires J arranged at intervals as
shewn, so as to allot or measure the quantity in each fold which is then immediately
engaged by the finger K supporting said wire and is thereby turned neatly in.
In this way when the tin or other similar vessel reaches the end of the machine
it will have a wrapper as well as a label secured around it and the wrapper will
be turned in neatly over the ends of the tin or other vessel which will then be
ready to be packed in cases or the like.
In the case of conical tins or vessels, that is those made larger at one end
than the other the inclined race or track down which they run must be curved
instead of straight as will be well understood.
It will be readily understood that the tins or other vessels may be fed on to

page_text: the incline A by hand or in any other convenient manner. One device for this
purpose is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 24. It consists of an inclined race L leading
from near the delivery end of the machine back to underneath the opposite end.
A slightly inclined table or other support L is hinged to the bottom of the race L
at its upper end in order that trays containing the tins to be labelled may be
placed upon it. These trays are formed without any front side so that when one
has been placed upon said hinged table it may be turned over and thus caused
to discharge its contents on to the upper end of the race L. The tins will then
roll down said race to its lower end and will be taken up one at a time by means of
an endless travelling carrier or elevator M consisting of lengths of chain passing
over pulleys N N¹ arranged one above the level of the top of the machine, and one
below the level of the bottom of the race or track L. These endless chains are
fitted with pivotted projecting brackets or supports m adapted to project under-
neath the tins and slightly inclined downwards so that each of said brackets will
raise a tin up the passage O and when it reaches the incline A will discharge it
and start it rolling down said incline.
Suitable guides m² are provided for the lower edges of the projecting brackets m
to bear against on their upward travel. Either of the wheels N or N may be
rotated at any desired rate of speed by means of a belt or cord leading from any
convenient source of motive power as will be readily understood. With this
arangement of feeder trays full of tins may be placed in the machine and will
afterwards be automatically delivered one at a time on to the labelling and
wrapping platform.
In the case of light tins being labelled it might be necessary to provide means
for holding them down to their work. For this purpose an endless pneumatic
belt P passing around rollers at each end of the machine might be used as in-
dicated in Figure 10 the guides or platform upon which the tin rests being
depressed in those places as for instance at p where otherwise the adhesive com-
position indicated at p might contact with said belt. Guide rollers as ² are
mounted so that they bear upon the belt 1' wherever any special pressure has to
be put upon the tin as for instance where it has to pick up a label.
belt allows the tin or other vessel to embed itself slightly as shown and thus
A pneumatic
ensures the tin being carried along.
The various parts of the machine above described, might, if preferred, be made
adjustable to suit different sizes of tins or other vessels although in practice it
will probably be found advisable to construct a different machine for each sized
tin or other vessel to be labelled.
In the case. of tins having removable lids where the label is required to be
stuck around the edge of the tin a piece of sponge or other absorbent material
projecting from a trough containing paste might be arranged to contact with
said edge as will be well understood.
The various receptacles for containing water, adhesive material or other liquids
may be automatically kept full on the same principle as the ordinary automatic
supply drinking fountains.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
:-
1. The herein described method of wrapping tins and other vessels having labels
secured around them, consisting in moistening a portion of said labels with water
then rolling the tin over a pile of wrappers whereby the uppermost of said wrappers
is picked up and subsequently wrapped around the tin, its overlapping edges being
subsequently secured by means of paste or other adhesive composition and finally
folding in the projecting ends substantially as and for the purposes herein des-
cribed and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The herein described machine for labelling and wrapping tins and other
vessels consisting essentially of the various parts constructed arranged and operat-

page_text: ing substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
or
3. In a machine for labelling wrapping tins and other vessels a roller (such
as B) mounted upon pivotted arms upon the upper end of an incline in such a
manner as that a tin rolling over it will depress it beneath the surface of some
adhesive material contained in a vessel beneath it and will also cause said roller
to turn a part of a revolution substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
or
and
4. In a machine for labelling- wrapping tins and other vessels a roller (such
as B) for applying adhesive material in combination with a series of small wires
(such as b) arranged parallel to and a short distance from the surface of said
roller, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and
as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In a machine for labelling tins and other vessels a wire (such as E) revolving
in suitable bearings and extending across the rear ends of the labels substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
6. In a machine for labelling tins and other vessels a label support (such as D)
made with two inclined surfaces (such as d d¹) substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. In a machine for labelling tins and other vessels a label support (such as D)
projecting under a wire (such as E) and having the part projecting under said wire
arranged at such an angle that it will bend the end of the label backwards or
inwards to an angle of about 90° as it is being withdrawn from under said wire
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings.
8. In a machine for wrapping tins and other vessels a counterbalanced vertically
adjustable wrapper support having a weighted cord (such as h¹) passed over a fixed
bar or other support (such as substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
or
9. In a machine for labelling and wrapping tins and other vessels a pivotted
paste carrier (such as F) connected by a cord or otherwise with the rocking spindle
of a roller (such as B) used for applying adhesive material to the tins or
other vessels and which is depressed by the passage of the tin or other vessel over
it substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
10. In a machine for labelling tins and other vessels a small spring catch (such
as d³) bearing against and cutting slightly into the edges of the pile of labels
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
11. In a machine for wrapping tins and other vessels folding guide wires (such
as J) substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and
as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
12. In a machine for wrapping tins and other vessels fingers (such as K) for
smoothing down the folds in the ends of the wrappers substantially as and for
the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
13. In a machine for labelling or wrapping tins and other vessels an inclined
race (such as L) leading from the delivery end of the machine back to the opposite
end; in combination with an endless travelling carrier or elevator (such as M)
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings.
and
or
14. In a machine for labelling wrapping tins and other vessels an endless
travelling helt (such as P) in combination with supporting guides or rails formed

page_text: with depressions (as indicated at 7) substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and explained and as illustrated in Figure 10 of the accompanying
drawings.
15. In a machine for labelling wrapping tins and other vessels an endless
and
or
travelling pneumatic belt (such as P) substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and explained and as illustrated in Figure 10 of the accompanying
drawings.
Deted this 31st day of Nav One thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight
SAMUEL FYFE.
W. C. PEACOCK.
Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Agents.