Improved Apparatus to Facilitate the Labelling of Bottles and similar vessels.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 13th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus to Facilitate the Labelling of Bottles and
similar vessels.
I WILLIAM FLETCHER of 15 Granby Street and Medical Hall Bath Street,
Ilkeston, Wholesale Druggist, Wine, Spirit and Ale Merchant, and Mineral
Water Manufacturer and Bottler, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention consists in the production of a novel apparatus to facilitate the
labelling of bottles and similar vessels, with this end in view I make use of a
vertical cylinder within which is contained and capable of free telescopic move-
ment a spindle or tube, retained normally at the top of the cylinder by a spiral
spring.
Parallel with and connected at its upper end to this spindle or tube and in the
same vertical plane is a hollow depending tube or the like terminating at its lower
end in a vessel to serve as a reservoir for containing gum paste or other adhesive
composition, and, fitted on the under side of this reservoir is an absorbent pad for
gumming the labels. Immediately beneath this pad and at a suitable distance
therefrom is a horizontal disc conforming to the shape of the labels to be gummed
supported by a vertical spindle and enclosed at the edges by the sides of a tray
carried on a sleeve telescoping upon the spindle and retained in its normal position
by a spiral spring.
The operation of labelling is effected as follows: Several labels are placed upon
the aforesaid disc and are enclosed by the sides of the tray and a sufficient quantity
of adhesive composition poured into the reservoir. The two parallel spindles or
tubes aforesaid are then depressed by hand or by a foot pedal connected with one
of the vertical tubes when the saturated pad comes in contact with the uppermost
label, pressure is then removed and the tubes or spindles with the aforesaid pad
resume their original position, a weight or spring inside the vertical tube preventing
the label rising also: The bottle to be labelled is then forced down upon the tray
surrounding the labels when the affixing of the now gummed label is effected, the
same operation being repeated with each succeeding label.
Dated this 8th day of June 1892.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus to Facilitate the Labelling of Bottles and
similar vessels.
I, WILLIAM FLETCHER, of 15 Granby Street, and Medical Hall, Bath Street,
Ilkeston, Wholesale Druggist Wine Spirit and Ale Merchant, and Mineral Water
Manufacturer and Bottler, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to novel means to be employed primarily with a view to
effect the facile and expeditious labelling of bottles and similar vessels or
receptacles.
And in order that the nature of my invention may be the better understood,
I have appended the accompanying sheet of drawings; like letters of reference
being employed in the several views to denote like or corresponding parts in each.

page_text: A general view of the apparatus is given at Figure 1 being a sectional elevation of
same; and Figures 2, 3 and 4, detached views to be hereinafter referred to and
identified.
In accordance with my invention, I employ a vertical cylinder A within which
is contained and free, to, move. telescopically there, within,; a hollow spindle or
tube B, and branch B retained when in the normal position, at the top of the
cylinder A by a spiral spring or equivalent. Depending from B', parallel with
and in the same vertical plane, as A and B, isa, hollow tube C, provided at its
lower end with the reservoir or receptacle D, for.. containing a requisite supply
of gum paste, mucilage or other adhesive, composition: the bottom of the
receptacle D is perforated; and, to its underside is adapted a pad d of any suitable
absorbent material for the gumming of the labels, (and of a shape corresponding
therewith,) in the manner hereinafter described. In Figure 2 I have shewn..an
inverted view of the gumming pad (indicated by the black stippled lines.
Figures 1 and 2) illustrating the method which I prefer to adopt for securing
same to the underside of D and in such a manner as to ensure that the pad only.
(and not the metal retaining surface thereof) shall be brought in contact with the
Labels
The marked and essential feature in my invention consists in the means which I
adopt to ensure the prevention of the label adhering to, and being carried away by.
the pad after the back of the label has received its coating of adhesive matter, in
the process or operation of labelling as hereinafter described. This provision
consists in the employment. of a weighted loose plug or piston E, which is intro-
duced within the depending cylinder C. The function of this element in my
invention will be referred to more fully hereunder when describing the operation.
of gumming and labelling.. Below the pad d, (referring still to Figure 1) and at a
suitable distance therefrom, is a horizontally disposed disc G, the contour of
which corresponds also with that of the labels to be gummed; said disc G being
carried by a vertical spindle g and surrounded and enclosed at the edge by the
tray or receptacle for the labels to be gummed, and is carried on a sleeve piece h¹
telescoping upon the fixed hollow spindle or tube g, and retained in its normal,
position by a spiral or other spring or equivalent.
The operations of gumming and labelling are effected as follows: that is to
sayThe reservoir, D having been charged with a sufficient quantity of adhesive
composition; and, a supply of labels having been placed printed face downwards
upon the disc, G, the hollow spindles or tubes B B and C are then depressed by..
any well known means say by, hand or by foot treadle connected with lower end
of B as shown in the drawing Figure 1, whereupon the saturated pad d will be
brought in contact with the uppermost label and the surface of the latter having
received its adhesive coating, pressure, is then removed and the hollow tubes or
spindles B, B, C together, with the pad d resume their normal position.
I will now refer to the weighted plug E, and the particular function which it
serves to fulfil, as forming one of the essential features distinctive of my invention
namely; that of preventing the gummed.label.adhering to and being carried up by
the pad upon the pressure being removed.
This object is effected by reason of the lower end of the weighted piston or
plug E remaining upon the labels during the gumming operation, and also after-
wards during the interval of time occupied in the upward travel or stroke of C
until the shoulder c of C comes in contact with the shoulder.e of the plug. E; this
will be more clearly understood on reference, to the detached details, Figures. 3
and 4 Figure 3 showing the position of the several parts last above referred, to
when pressure is being applied, and Figure 4 the position of said parts when
pressure is removed. Reverting to Figure 1 the stop pin or depending stud Fis
introduced as a provision against the upper end of the weighted piston or plug E
getting jammed at the end of its inward stroke.
To effect the affixing of a now gummed label to say a bottle, the latter is,
forced down by the operator on to the top of the herein before referred to tray h
"

page_text: carried on sleeve piece h¹ and telescoping on spindle g as aforesaid. Whereupon,
the now gummed label becomes affixed to the bottle. The same cycle of
operations, all as aforesaid, being repeated with each succeeding label.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be under-
stood that I make no claim in respect of the subordinate element of the complete
device herein described, consisting of the arrangement of parts in reference to the
particular combination device all as identified by the several reference letters G, g,
, and in the accompanying description and drawings in regard to the label
holder and attachments but what I olaim is.
In apparatus for labelling bottles and similar vessels the means which I employ
for preventing the gummed label adhering to, and being carried up by the pad
upon the pressure being removed, substantially as herein shown and described and
identified by the reference letters C, E, c, e, F, Figures 1, 3 and 4.
Dated this 10th day of October 1909
James Stevenson,
W. FLETCHER.
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, W.C., Agent for Applicant.