Improvements in and relating to Machines for Labelling Bottles and like Articles.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Labelling Bottles and
like Articles.
I, DUGALD CLERK, of 18, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent (a communication by Louis Jules Dufour,
of 42, Boulevard Bonne-Nouvelle, Paris, in the Republic of France), do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:―
This invention relates to machinery for labelling bottles, flagons and like
articles, and its object is to rapidly paste labels of any size or description upon the
bottles in a secure and efficient manner.
The invention consists of improved mechanism for holding the labels in bulk,
taking them out one by one automatically from a case, pasting the one side,
and attaching the label securely to the bottle or like article in any desired
position.
The machine embodying the improvements is constructed in the following
manner: A bed plate carries upon it a vertical upright in which is placed a
short first motion shaft revolved in any suitable manner either by hand or pulley.
Upon this first motion shaft a large cog gear wheel is keyed, and this cog gear
wheel has upon one side an extension of a sector of the cogs, thus forming a toothed
arc whose purpose is hereinafter described. Two parallel feed rollers covered with
india-rubber, felt, or similar material, revolve upon suitable bearings placed on
the bed plate, and these rollers which are placed a slight distance apart are driven
in the same direction by arranging a cog upon the end of one of the roller shafts,
so that it meshes with the large cog gear wheel, while an idle pinion is placed
between the cog upon the first parallel feed roller, and a similar gear wheel placed
upon the end of the shaft on the second parallel feed roller. Thus upon the
revolution of the first motion shaft the two parallel feed rollers are driven at the
same speed and in the same direction.
Placed upon the bed plate, and arranged behind the second parallel feed roller,
are three short standards with suitable bearings carrying five rollers constructed
and disposed relatively to each other as follows: A roller, hereinafter called the
pick-up roller, is arranged close to the label-containing box, and it has its surface
covered with india-rubber, gelatinous compound, or any material which will drag
up a label without attaching it to its surface. A little in front and above the
pick-up roller, and parallel with it, are two label feed rollers which receive the
label from the pick-up roller, and carry it forward to the pasting device, and
these label feed rollers consist of a small power driven roller and a large weighted
roller which lies in slotted guides and presses upon the top of the label. Under-
neath and in front of the two last mentioned rollers are the remaining two rollers
which constitute the pasting mechanism; and these consist of a roller dipping

page_text: into a paste trough and carried on bearings in that trough; while the trough
itself is carried upon springs which exert a constant pressure upwards, and force
the pasting roller continuously against a power driven distributing roller con-
stituting the second roller of the pasting mechanism. This distributing roller
has parallel grooves in its surface which retain the paste and distribute it evenly
over the label as it leaves the label feed rollers, and also assist to carry that label
forward on to the bottle.
The label containing box is mounted in the rear of the machine immediately
behind the pick-up roller, and it is placed in such a position and is constructed of
such a depth that the top ends of the labels project from the containing box;
and are pressed in bulk against the surface of the pick-up roller. A spring guide
plate over the top edges of the labels is turned in at one edge so as to press against
one side of the said labels, while a second guide plate is placed immediately under-
neath the first to that side of the label near the pick-up roller, and immediately
above the point of contact with that roller and the label adjacent to it. These
guide plates converge towards the point of roller contact of the label feed rollers.
The label containing box is so constructed that it may be expanded or contracted
to contain different sizes of labels, and it is at its bottom end fixed to a screw
carrier attached to the bed plate, so that by adjusting this screw the position of the
label containing box relatively to the bottle may be altered.
A second motion shaft is mounted upon the short standards hereinbefore referred
to, and it has keyed upon it a pinion which upon the rotation of the large cog gear
wheel comes into gear every revolution for a pre-determined period with the
toothed arc. This second motion shaft has suitable gear wheels placed
upon it, which intermesh with and drive gear wheels keyed upon the ends
of the pick-up roller, the small label feed roller, and the distributing roller;
and these gear wheels are so arranged that the direction of motion of these rollers
is the same as that of the parallel feed rollers hereinbefore referred to.
The bottle or like article to be operated upon is placed between the parallel feed
rollers, and lies upon the upper portion of both their adjacent peripheries, as the
horizontal space between the feed rollers is so arranged that the smallest bottle used
cannot pass through between them. The horizontal position of the bottle relatively
to the position of the label containing box is determined by an adjusting disc
which butts against the bottom of the bottle, and is secured in the desired position
by a set screw or like device.
The operation of the hereinbefore described mechanism is as follows.—The
bottle is laid upon the top of the parallel feed rollers, and lies partly between them;
and labels of a suitable width are placed in the containing box which is adjusted
by the screw carrier so that the relative position of the label on the bottle may be
correct. Upon rotating the cog gear wheel the pick up roller drags a label up out
of the containing box, and forces it between the guide plates into the junction of
the label feed rollers. These label feed rollers carry the label forward on to the
top of the distributing roller which, as it is kept covered with paste by the pasting
roller; distributes the said paste upon the under surface of the label, and also in
conjunction with the feed rollers carries the label forward on to the periphery of
the bottle situated a short distance underneath. This bottle is being revolved in
the same direction by the parallel feed rollers, and the label is carried round, pressed
against and firmly affixed to the bottle by the action of these parallel rollers.
When the bottle is labelled it is removed by hand, and another placed in position,
or mechanism to automatically remove the bottle, and place another in position
synchronously with the operation of this improved labelling machine may be
employed.
The hereinbefore described gear wheels and toothed arc are so arranged relatively
to one another that the operations of picking up, feeding forward, and pasting
the label at the proper moment; is carried out intermittently by the operation
of the said toothed are and gear wheels; but it is to be clearly understood that the
toothed arc may only drive the pick-up roller intermittently while suitable gear

page_text: COD-
wheels may drive the label feed rollers, distributing and pasting role-
tinuously, without departing from the subject-matter of the present invention.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1897.
MARKS & CLERK,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Labelling Bottles and
like Articles.
I. DUGALD CLERK, of 18, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent (a communication by Louis Jules Dufour.
of 42, Boulevard Bonne-Nouvelle, Paris, in the Republic of France), uo hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:.
This invention relates to machinery for labelling bottles, flagons and like
articles, and its object is to rapidly paste labels of any size or description upon the
bottles in a secure and efficient manner.
The invention consists of improved mechanism for holding the labels in bulk,
taking them out one by one automatically from a case, pasting the one side,
and attaching the label securely to the bottle or like article in any desired
position.
A machine embodying the improvements is represented in the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the whole machine.
Figure 2 is a sectional end elevation on line y of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan of the whole machine, and
Figures 4 and 5 are diagrammatic end elevations on a smaller scale showing the
principal phases in the working of the machine.
A bed plate A mounted on feet at a convenient height carries upon it at one end
a vertical upright B, in which is placed a short first motion shaft C revolved in
any suitable manner either by hand or pulley. Upon this first motion shaft C
a large cog gear wheel D is keyed, and this cog gear wheel has upon one side an
extension 1) of a sector of the cogs, thus forming a toothed are whose purpose is
hereinafter described. Two parallel feed rollers H H¹ covered with india-rubber,
felt or similar material, revolve upon suitable bearings placed on the bed plate A,
and these rollers, which are placed a slight distance apart, are driven in the same
direction by arranging a cog wheel F upon the end of one of the roller shafts
as H so that it meshes with the large cog gear wheel D, while an idle pinion G
is placed between the cog wheel F upon the first parallel feed roller H and a similar
cog wheel F placed upon the end of the shaft on the second parallel feed roller H¹.
Thus upon the revolution of the first motion shaft, the two parallel feed rollers HH'
are driven at the same speed and in the same direction.
Placed upon the bed plate A and arranged behind the second parallel feed
roller Hare three short standards B1 B2, B3, with suitable bearings carrying five
rollers I, J, K, L, M, which are of a length at least equal to the maximum width
of the label constructed and disposed relatively to each other as follows:--A
roller I hereinafter called the pick-up roller, is arranged close to the label-contain-
ing box U, and it has its surface covered with india-rubber, gelatinous compound,
or any material which will drag up a label without attaching it to its surface.
A little in front and above the pick-up roller I and parallel with it, are two label

page_text: feed rollers J and L which receive the label from the pick-up roller I and carry
it forward to the pasting device; and these label feed rollers consist of a small
power driven roller J and a large weighted roller L which lies in slotted guides and
presses upon the top of the label. Underneath and in front of the two last
mentioned rollers are the remaining two rollers K and M which constitute the
pasting mechanism, and these consist of a roller M dipping into a paste trough N
and carried on bearings in that trough, while the trough itself is carried upon
springs which exert a constant pressure upwards, and force the pasting roller M
continuously against a power driven distributing roller K constituting the second
roller of the pasting mechanism. This distributing roller K has parallel grooves
in its surface which retain the paste and distribute it evenly over the label as it
leaves the label feed rollers J, L, and also assists to carry that label forward on to
the bottle.
The label containing box U is mounted in the rear of the machine immediately
behind the pick-up roller I, and it is placed in such a position and is constructed
of such a depth that the top ends of the labels T project from the containing box,
and are pressed in bulk against the surface of the pick-up roller. A spring guide
plate S over the top edges of the labels T is turned in at one edge so as to press
against one side of the said labels, while a second guide plate R is placed imme-
diately underneath the first to that side of the label near the pick-up roller I, and
immediately above the point of contact with that roller and the label adjacent
to it. These guide plates SR converge towards the point of roller contact of the
label feed rollers J and L. The label containing box U is so constructed that it
may be expanded or contracted to contain different sizes of labels. The box has
a projection on which it slides on the bed A and also has a projection through
which passes loosely the adjusting screw Y, which screw is fixed in supports XX¹
Two small nuts ff are screwed up to the sides of the box U and hold it firmly
on the screw Y in the desired position relatively to the bottle.
On the axle of the pick-up roller I is fixed a pinion a which receives its motion
from a pinion E' running loose on its axle Q, which pinion E is actuated inter-
mittently by the toothed arc D₁ of the large cog gear wheel. At the extremity
of the label feed roller J the pinion is fixed, which is actuated by a toothed
wheel having a broad rim and fixed on the axle Q. To the axle Q is fixed the
pinion E, through which the motion of D is communicated to Q. The roller L is
caused to revolve by being in close contact with the roller J. The pasting roller K
carries a pinion e also actuated by the broad wheel d before mentioned. The
roller M is revolved by contact with the roller K.
The bottle or like article to be operated upon is placed between the parallel
feed rollers H, H', and lies upon the upper portion of both their adjacent
peripheries, as the horizontal space between the feed rollers is so arranged that
the smallest bottle used cannot pass between them. The horizontal position of
the bottle relatively to the position of the label containing box is determined by
an adjusting disc W which butts against the bottom of the bottle Z', and is secured
in the desired position in the standard Z by a set screw or like device.
The operation of the herein before described mechanism is as follows:-
The bottle Z is laid upon the top of the parallel feed rollers HH' and lies
partly between them, and labels T of a suitable width are placed in the containing
box U which is adjusted on the screw Y so that the relative position of the label
on the bottle may be correct. Upon rotating the cog gear wheel D, the pick-up
roller I drags a label up out of the containing box U, and forces it between the guide
plates RS into the junction of the label feed rollers J L. These label feed
rollers JL carry the label forward on to the top of the distributing roller K
which, as it is kept covered with paste by the pasting roller M, distributes the said
paste upon the under surface of the label, and also in conjunction with the feed
rollers JL carries the label forward on to the periphery of the bottle Z' situated
a short distance underneath. This bottle is being revolved in the same direction
by the parallel feed rollers H H' and the label is carried round, pressed against and

page_text: firmly affixed to the bottle by the action of these parallel rollers.
When the
bottle is labelled it is removed by hand, and another placed in position, or
mechanism to automatically remove the bottle, and place another in position
synchronously with the operation of this improved labelling machine may be
employed.
The herein before described gear wheels and toothed arc are so arranged relatively
to one another that the operations of picking up, feeding forward, and pasting
the label at the proper moment is carried out intermittently by the operation
of the said toothed arc and gear wheels; but it is to be clearly understood that the
toothed arc may only drive the pick-up roller intermittently while suitable gear
wheels may drive the label feed rollers, distributing and pasting rollers con-
tinuously, without departing from the subject-matter of the present invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my 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 labelling bottles, flagons and like articles, a revolving pick-
up roller I such as hereinbefore described, having a surface of rubber, felt or other
suitable substance, which comes successively into contact with the series of labels
arranged in proper order for pasting, in a pack and pressed sufficiently against the
pick-up roller I to be drawn out by it one by one, the labels being supported in a
label containing box U whose vertical and horizontal position with reference to
the said pick-up roller I can be adjusted; the said pick-up roller I, by its inter-
mittent rotation effected by the toothed arc D¹ of the wheel D gearing with the
pinion E, brings about the drawing of a label from the box U with each turn of
the said wheel D, and carries the said label forward to the revolving feed rollers JL,
between which it passes on its way to the pasting roller K, on leaving which it falls
upon the bottle, attaching itself thereto by its pasted side, and is carried away by the
said bottle in its rotation upon the revolving rollers H H', which rollers effect the
completion of the labelling substantially as described.
2. In a machine for labelling bottles, flagons and like articles, a pasting roller K
such as hereinbefore described having longitudinal channels which carry the paste,
situated over a roller M revolving in a paste box N, which roller M supplies the
paste to the said channels in the roller K, from which it is distributed uniformly
upon the surface of the label to be pasted, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose herein before described.
3. In a machine for labelling bottles, flagons and like articles the feed
rollers HH, such as herein before described, which cause the bottle itself to revolve
in contact with themselves and thus effect the completion of the labelling, the label
being brought to the bottle by the combined action of the rollers I, J, K, L, the
whole process of fixing of one label corresponding to one revolution of the wheel D;
the said rollers HH' as well as the rollers K, L, J, M having continuous rotation
due to the wheel D, while the coated roller I joins in the rotation only during the
contact of the toothed arc D' with the pinion E which pinion runs loose on its
axle Q and in turn rotates the pinion a of the said roller I so as to draw out only
one label for each turn of the wheel substantially as described.
4. The machine for labelling bottles, flagons, and the like, substantially as
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
רד
1
1541 1 of Tul, 1000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.