Improvements in Tag or Label Making Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 13th May, 1893
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tag or Label Making Machines.
I, WILLIAM MARCELLUS LITTLE, of Vandalia, in the County of Fayette and
State of Illinois, in the United States of America, Machinist, 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,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the figures and letters
marked thereon :-
This machine takes the paper from the roll and turns out the finished tag or
label, having its eye strengthened by a metal or other plate or strip, the scope of
the invention being set forth in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings Figure I is a top view or plan of the machine.
Figure II is a side elevation of the machine.
Figure III is a transverse section at III-III Figure I.
Figure IV is a detail horizontal section at IV-IV Figure V.
Figure V is a vertical section at V-V Figure IV.
Figure VI is detail horizontal section at VI-VI Figure III.
Figure VII is a detail view of part of a tag or label strip after creasing and
before folding.
Figure VIII is a detail perspective view of the first part of the folder.
Figure IX is a perspective view of part of the tag or label strip after passing the
first part of the folder.
Figure X is a detail perspective view of the second part of the folder.
Figure XI is a view of part of the tag or label strip after the full fold has been
made and before passing between the compression and feed rollers.
Figure XII is an elevation of the creasing rollers.
Fi
Figure XIII is a transverse section at XIII-XIII Figure I.
Figures XIV and XV are transverse sections at XIV-XV of Figure XVI
showing the glue pot respectively in the backward and forward position.
Figure XVI is a detail plan view of the frame showing the glue pot and slide.
Figure XVII is a vertical longitudinal section at XVII-XVII Figure XVI.
Figure XVIII is a vertical longitudinal section at XVIII-XVIII
Figure XVI.
Figure XIX is an enlarged transverse section of the glue pot at XIX-XIX
Figure XVI.
Figure XX is a detail perspective view of the tag or label strip showing the
fold half made, the glue applied and the metal reinforce in position.
Figure XXI is a detail perspective view of the tag or label strip showing the
fold in process of being formed.
Figure XXII is a perspective view of the finished tag or label.
Figure XXIII is a transverse section at XXIII-XXIII of Figure I.
Figures XXIV, XXV, XXVI and XXVII are sectional details and
Figure XXVIII is a view of part of a tag or label strip showing one tag or label
completely made.
The main frame of the machine may have any suitable construction. It is shown
supported on legs 1. 2 is a horizontal table or frame. 3. are standards giving
support to an upper frame having longitudinal bars 4 and transverse bars 5. 6 is
the main shaft which extends lengthwise of the machine, and which turns in boxes 7.
8 is the drive pulley and 9 a fly-wheel on the shaft. The rolls 10 of paper, from
which the tags or labels are made, are supported on vertical arbors 11.
There are
two of these rolls in the machine which is illustrated, the machine having duplicate
parts for forming two strips of paper into tags or labels at the same time.
It is

page_text: obvious that the machine might be single if preferred, working up only one strip
of paper. Where, as in this case, two strips are used, the tag or label forming
mechanism upon each side acts alternately, one side being at rest while that upon
the other side is in motion.
The duplicate parts upon the opposite sides will be marked with the same
numbers, and the description will not be needlessly duplicated.
The strip of paper 12 from each roll passes first between the two creasing
rollers 13, 14, which turn on vertical arbors 15 fixed in the table 2. The
roller 13 has a circumferential groove 16 receiving a circumferential rib 17 upon
the other roller 14, see Figure XII, so that the strip in passing between these
rollers is grooved or creased where, subsequently, the fold is made.
From the creasing rollers the strip 12 passes between the two rollers 18 and 19.
The roller 18 has positive intermittent rotation, while the roller 19 acts as a mere
pressure roller and turns loose on a vertical arbor 20, whose ends 21 are made
eccentric to the body of the arbor, see Figures IV and V, so that as the arbor is
turned, the roller 19 is carried to or from the roller 18; the means of turning this
arbor is an arm 22 upon a collar 23 fast upon the arbor. The ends 21 rest in
circular blocks 24 in which they are placed eccentrically, so that by the turning of
the arbor and also of the blocks, the roller 19 may have either longitudinal or
transverse adjustment, or both.
The roller 18 is not a feed roller, but the purpose of the rollers 18, 19 is to keep
the strip 12 stretched between them and the feed rollers 25, 26 and to prevent its
being raised by the folder. The roller 25 is the active roller while the roller 26
is a mere pressure roller. The roller 26 turns on an arbor similar to the arbor 20
and supported in a similar manner and for a like purpose, namely, to give means
for the adjustment of the roller (26) relatively to the roller 25.
Between the pairs of rollers 13, 14 and 25, 26 the fold is made in the lower edge
of the strip 12 and the glue and reinforce are applied. The folder has an upright
plate or wall 27, against which the strip 12 lies flat.
The lower part of the folder has a winding inclined face 28 which folds the
lower edge 29 at right angles to the vertical body of the strip, the angle being at
the groove or crease 30, see Figures VII, VIII, IX, XX, XXI. As soon as the
fold is turned at a right angle, the glue pot 31 moves forward and glues part of
the strip against which the reinforce 32 is set and beyond the edges of the reinforce,
as shown at Figure XX, so as to hold the folded edge in place when it is brought
up against the body. Just after the strip 12 is glued, the reinforce 32 is cut from
its strip, resting in the slot 33, and forced against the glued part of the paper
strip 12 by the end of the cutter. The edge or fold 29, as the strip 12 moves
forward, is forced upward and against the body of the strip (12) by an under
part 34 of the. folder and, immediately thereafter, the strip passes between the
rollers 25, 26 and the edges are pressed flat against the body of the paper strip,
when it adheres. The reinforce I purpose to make of tin but do not confine myself
to this, or indeed any particular material.
After the fold is stuck fast in place, the tags or labels are cut off the strip and,
at the same time, the corners 35 are bevelled, the shears being of such a form as to
accomplish this by a single movement. As each tag or label is cut off, the tag or
label next following has the tie hole 36 punched in it.
I will now describe the operating parts more in detail with the actuating
mechanism.
37 is a crank on the main shaft. The wrist pin 38 of the crank works in a
vertical slot 39 of a yoke 40 upon a sliding bar 41. The sliding bar carries' two
pins 42, each of which works in the slot 43 of an arm 44 of a loose collar 45 upon
the shaft 46 of the roller 18. The shaft 46 carries a ratchet wheel 47, and the
collar 45, a spring pawl 48 engaging the ratchet wheel. The construction is such
that the reciprocation of the bar 41 causes the intermittent rotation of the
shaft 46. This shaft (46) carries a bevel wheel 49 that engages a bevel pinion 60
on a shaft 51, which carries a bevel pinion 52 that engages a bevel wheel 53 fast

page_text: upon the shaft 54 of the roller 25, so that the rollers 25 and 18 have simultaneous
periods of action and rest. The cog wheels and pinions 49, 50, 52, 53, are so
proportioned that the surface speed of the roller 25 always. exceeds that of the
roller 18; so that there is a slight slip of the strip. 12 between the rollers 18, 19,
and the strip is always on a stretch between the two pairs of rollers (18, 19
and 25, 26. It will be seen that while one of the feed rollers 25 is being turned
forward, by the action of one of the pawls 48 upon its ratchet wheel 47, the other
feed roller is at rest, as the pawl 48 which actuates it is running backward on its
ratchet wheel 47.
55 is a cutter blade or cutter working in guides of a longitudinally adjustable
bracket 56. This bracket rests on the table 2 and has a stud 57 passing through a
longitudinal slot 58 in the table with a nut 59 screwing on the stud and bearing
against the underside of the table at each side of the slot 58. By tightening the
nut, the bracket is held in position. The bracket 56 carries an upright 60 in which
is the vertical slot 33 in which fits loosely the strip of tin or other material from
which the reinforce 32 is cut. As the cutter 55 moves backward the reinforce
strip slips downward in the slot in front of the cutter, and as the cutter moves
forward it cuts off the reinforce and carries it forward against the glued part of
the tag strip (12). 61 are lugs upon the cutter, which are connected by a pin 62
The upper end
with a lever 63, the lever being fulcrummed to the table 2 at 64.
of the lever has a slot 65 in which works a pin 66 upon a rod 67 extending: trans-
versely in the machine and working endwise in guides 68. 69 is a yoke at the
middle of the rod carrying anti-friction rollers 70 upon each side, against which
works a cam 71 upon the main shaft 6. The cam gives the endwise motion to the
rod while one cutter 55 is moving backward, see Figures I and XIII. 72 is an arm
extending longitudinally from the cutter 55 and sustaining the glue pot 31. The
glue pot has a lug 73 through which passes the arm. 74 is a set. screw working in
the lug and bearing against the arm so as to hold the glue pot in position, while
allowing its adjustment on the arm. The cutter, and glue pot move forward.simul- .
taneously, and the distance of the pot from the cutter is such that the tag or label
is glued at one forward movement of the cutter, and the reinforce is applied, to the
same tag or label at the next forward movement..
The glue pot has a discharge nozzle 75 stopped. with. some. porous. pad. 76, which
will allow the glue to pass through it, and by which it will be smeared on the tag
or label strip. The glue pot is preferably surrounded by a steam or hot water
jacket 77 to keep the glue hot.. In making tags or labels of different widths, the
glue pot must be at different distances from the cutter 55, hence the need for making
the glue pot adjustable on the supporting arm. The adjustable character of the
bracket 57 is called for to enable it to be set at a different distance from the
cutter by which the tags or labels 78 are cut from the strip 12. The lugs 61 are
placed so far asunder as to allow this longitudinal adjustment of the cutter
bracket 57, see Figure I.
It has been described how the fold is pressed flat against the body of the
strip 12 by the rollers 25, 26. This leaves the strip in condition for punching
the string hole 36 and cutting the tag or label off the strip. These operations are
done simultaneously but on. contiguous tags or labels. 80 is a slide carrying the
punch 81 and the movable cutters 82, 83. This slide is actuated by the same
means as the cutter 55 to which reference is made, the same reference numbers
being used. The punch 81 is upon a movable plate 84, and the punch hole 85 is
in a movable plate 86 attached to the guide plate 27. The purpose of making
the punching device movable is to allow the punch to be set a different distance
from the cutter 82, as must be done when a tag or label of a different width is
being made.
82 is the straight upright movable cutter attached to the slide 80 and working
in conjunction with the fixed cutter 87 to cut the straight side of the tag or label
while, at.the same time, the bevelled. corners are cut by the V-formed, cutter 83
working in conjunction with a fixed cutter 88 of similar form.

page_text: 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. The combination of the upright creasing rollers, the upright guide rollers,
the folder, consisting of an upright wall, a rib having a winding inclined part and
an under part, and the upright feed rollers for manipulating a strip of paper
supported on edge, substantially as described.
2. The combination of the upright guide rollers, the upright feed rollers,
and the folder, located between the guide rollers and the feed rollers, con-
sisting of an upright wall, a rib having a winding inclined part and an under
part for manipulating a strip of paper supported on edge, substantially as
described.
3. The combination of the upright creasing rollers, the upright guide rollers,
the upright feed rollers, and the folder, located between the guide rollers and the
feed rollers, for manipulating a strip of paper supported on edge, substantially as
described.
4. The combination of the upright guide rollers, the upright feed rollers, the
folder located between the guide rollers and the feed rollers, mechanism for operating
the guide rollers, and mechanism for operating the feed rollers and imparting a
greater speed to the latter than the mechanism imparts to the guide rollers,
substantially as set forth.
5. The combination of the vertical creasing rollers, the vertical guide rollers
and the feed rollers having intermittent movement, the folder, and a gluing device,
the whole arranged for manipulating a strip of paper supported on edge, substan-
tially as described.
6. The combination of the creasing rollers, the guide rollers, the feed rollers,
mechanism for imparting intermittent rotary movement to the guide rollers and to
the feed rollers, the folder, the glue pot having a nozzle and a pad, mechanism for
reciprocating the glue pot, and a device for cutting off and applying a reinforce,
substantially as described.
7. The combination of the vertical fixed cutter 87, the angular fixed cutter 88,
the plate 86 having a punch hole 85, and the reciprocating slide 80 having the
vertical cutter 82, the angular cutter 83 and the plate 84 having the punch 81,
substantially as described.
8. The combination of the vertical fixed cutter 87, the angular fixed cutter 88,
the adjustable plate 86 having a punch hole 85 and the reciprocating slide 80
having the vertical cutter 82, the angular cutter 83 and the adjustable plate 84
having the punch 81, substantially as described.
9. The combination of the upright creasing rollers, the folder, consisting of an
upright plate, a rib having a winding inclined part and an under part, and the
upright feed rollers adapted to give a forward movement to and manipulate
the strip, which is supported on its edge, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
10. The combination of the upright creasing rollers, the upright guide rollers,
the folder, consisting of an upright plate, a winding inclined part and an under
part, the upright feed rollers, the reciprocating, gluing and reinforcing devices,
and reciprocating cutting and punching devices, the whole arranged to operate
upon a strip supported on its edge and transform it into finished tags or labels,
substantially as set forth.
11. The combination of the bracket having an upright strip holder, the cutter
blade adapted to sustain the strip, to cut the reinforce from the same, and
to apply the reinforce to the tag or label strip, and the gluing device located
in a position adjacent to the bracket, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
12. The combination with a set of upright creasing rollers, guide rollers, and feed
rollers, and a folder, of another set of upright creasing rollers, guide rollers, and feed

page_text: rollers, and a folder, parallel therewith, and mechanism common to both sets having
reciprocating bars and connecting devices by which each set is operated inter-
mittently and alternately, substantially as described.
13. The combination of devices for operating upon a tag or label strip supported
on its edge, consisting of the upright creasing rollers, the folder having an
upright wall, the upright guide rollers, the gluing device, the reinforcing device,,
the upright feed rollers, and the cutting and punching devices, substantially as
set forth.
Dated this 14th day of March 1893.
WILLIAM MARCELLUS LITTLE,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
WILLIAM MARCELLUS LITTLE,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.