A MACHINE FOR PASTING AND APPLYING LABELS TO BOTTLES TINS, BOXES AND JARS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Foster of 23 Forston Street Hoxton in the
County of Middlesex for an Invention of "A MACHINE FOR PASTING AND
APPLYING LABELS TO BOTTLES TINS, BOXES AND JARS."
:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Foster at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th September 1882.
FREDERICK FOSTER of 23 Forston Street Hoxton in the County of Middlesex
A MACHINE FOR PASTING AND APPLYING LABELS TO BOTTLES, TINS BOXES AND
JARS."
«
P
The object of this Invention is to paste or gum labels and to present them when
pasted in a position ready for applying them in a uniform manner to bottles,
tins etc when the machine shall have been arranged and regulated for that purpose;
the arrangement and regulation depending upon the size and shape of the label and
the position in which the label is intended to be applied on the bottle or other
article as may be required For this purpose I construct by preference a circular
table from which rises at the centre a vertical column capable of turning upon its
axis vertically. Beneath the table I arrange a crank with fly wheel and treadle
and I attach to the crank shaft a wheel engaging with another wheel at right angles
fitted to the lower part of the of the above mentioned vertical column which passes
through the table at the centre. From this central column I extend a horizontal
arm bent down in the form of a winch handle carrying a pasting roller of peculiar
construction (presently to be explained) in such manner that by working the
treadle, motion is transmitted to the radial winch shaped arm carrying the pasting
roller which causes the roller to translate round the circular table at a short
distance within the outer edge; but raised off the surface of the table. Upon the
table is raised a pad in a frame, with a well around. the pad for the purpose of
carrying off into a removable vessel any surplus paste or gum that may be carried
over the pad by the action of the pasting roller in passing over in contact with it;
this pad being however, automatically and intermittently supplied with paste or
gum in quantities as nearly as possible equal to the requirement of each label;

page_text: such automatic and intermittent supply being worked and regulated as hereafter
explained. At another part of the table at a distance from the centre equal to that
of the pad I insert and fix by means of two screw down buttons a well for
carrying a stock of the labels to be employed such well being removable at will for
the purpose of inserting any other well according to requirements These wells are
made of a shape corresponding to the shape of the labels employed with them and
are fitted with a false bottom or platform capable of rising within them urged by
a spring. The labels which fit in loosely are put into these wells in packets
depressing the false bottom and a small projecting wire fitted in the upper part of
the well, when turned round over the labels prevents them from being forced out of
the well by the action of the false bottom with its spring The upper label is
always on a level with the upper part of the well and sufficiently high above the
surface of the table to allow the pasting roller to roll over in contact with it. On
one side of the label well I arrange a guide in the form of a "T" one of the arms of
which is provided with a slot by means of which and a stud with thumb screw it
can be fixed in varying positions on the table to serve as a guide for the articles on
which the labels are applied to ensure applying the labels in a uniform manner.
The pasting roller is of a conical form having its apex in the direction of the centre
of the table and the amount of taper given to this cone is proportionate to the size
of the circle in which it translates so that it may travel smoothly over the pad and
the labels without rucking the labels as would be the tendency with a cylindrical
roller owing to the unequal distance over which its parts the nearest and the
furthest from the centre of the table have to travel in an equal length of time.
The lower part of the winch shaped radial arm which forms the axle on which the
pasting roller is fitted is of a diameter less than that of the hole through the
pasting roller through which this axle passes, so that the pasting roller in passing
over the pad and the labels bears on these of its own weight and in order that this
weight may be uniformly distributed over the surface with which the pasting
roller comes in contact, the base or larger end of this conical roller is hollowed out
so that the centre of gravity, of the conical roller shall be situated as nearly as
practicable at equal distances from its two ends. Half way between its two ends
is formed a concentric groove which allows the roller to pass over the label without
being raised off the label by the small wire projection which retains the labels in
the label well. Over the table is constructed a bridge beneath which passes the
radial winch shaped arm carrying the pasting roller. On this bridge is carried the
reservoir of paste or gum and from this reservoir extends a tube the extremity of
which is fitted with a cock in a position over the pasting pad on the table. The
plug of this cock is fitted with a curved handle capable of adjustment and the
radial winch shaped arm carrying the pasting roller comes in contact with the said
curved handle giving motion to the plug of the cock. The length of this curved
handle is arranged so that the cock shall be turned on immediately after the passage
of the pasting roller and shall remain turned on until the curved arm shall be
released by the passage of the pasting roller; the moment of release being regulated
according to the quantity of paste or gum required by the machine depending upon
the size of the labels employed. I have described the machine as fitted with one
label well and one paste pad but it is obvious that it may be fitted with more of
these and very conveniently with two label wells and two paste pads giving
employment to two operators facing each other sitting at opposite sides of the table
either operator giving motion to the machine by means of the treadle and crank
provided. The mode of operation is as follows:-Having filled the label well with
the required labels arrange the guide so that when the article to which the label is
to be applied is placed against the edge of this guide it shall lay accross the label
with the label in the position in which it is required to adhere. Then supply some
paste or gum to the pasting pad by setting the machine in motion allowing the
pasting roller to pass two or three times at first over the paste pad to ensure the
proper coating of the roller. At this stage labelling may be commenced by rolling
the bottle or article to receive the label; over the label well immediately after the

page_text: passage of the pasting roller over the label, and in a contrary direction to that in
which the pasting roller passed. Thus the free end of the label will adhere to the
bottle or other article and to release the other end of the label from the small wire
projection on the label well it is only necessary to follow up with the fingers of one
hand immediately the free end of the pasted label is raised and with these fingers
to bear upon the next label depressing the whole packet of unpasted labels together.
with the platform or false bottom and spring of the label well. By the time the
article thus labelled can be passed on, the pasting roller again comes round and the
operation is repeated, the speed of the radial arm with pasting roller being
arranged in accordance with requirements depending on the dexterity of the
operator.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Foster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th March
1883.
FREDERICK FOSTER of 23 Forston Street, Hoxton in the county of Middlesex
"MACHINE FOR PASTING AND APPLYING LABELS TO BOTTLES, TINS, BOXES AND
JARS
"
The object of this Invention is to paste or gum labels and to present them when
pasted in a position ready for applying them in a uniform manner to bottles,
tins etc when the Machine shall have been arranged and regulated for that purpose;
the arrangement and regulation depending upon the size and shape of the label,
and the position in which the label is intended to be applied on the bottle or other
article as may be required.
For this purpose I construct by preference a circular table L from which rises
at the centre a vertical column M capable of turning upon its axis. vertically.-
Beneath the table I arrange a crank with fly-wheel and treadle, and attach to the
crank shaft a wheel engaging with another wheel at right-angles fitted to the
lower part of the above-mentioned vertical column M which passes through
the table L at the centre. From this central column I extend a horizontal arm H
bent down in the form of a winch handle carrying a pasting roller D of peculiar
construction (presently to be explained) in such manner that by working the
treadle motion, is transmitted to the radial winch-shaped arm H carrying the
pasting roller D, which causes the roller D to translate round the circular table L
at a short distance within the outer edge but raised off the surface of the table L.
Upon the table L is raised a pad C in a frame with a channel around the pad C
for the purpose of carrying off into a removable vessel any surplus paste or gum
that may be carried over the pad C by the action of the pasting roller D in passing
over in contact with it: this pad C being however automatically and intermittently
supplied with paste or gum in quantities as nearly as possible equal to the require-
ments of each label-such automatic and intermittent supply being worked and
regulated as bereafter explained. At another part of the table L at a distance
from the centre equal to that of the pad C I insert and fix by means of two screw
down buttons a well A for carrying a stock of the labels to be employed such
well A being removable at will for the purpose of inserting any other well
according to requirements. These wells are inade of a shape corresponding to the
shape of the labels employed with them, and are fitted with a false bottom or
platform F..capable of rising within them urged by a spring G. The labels which
fit in loosely are put into these wells in packets depressing the false bottom or
platform F and a small projecting wire E fitted in the upper part of the well 'A'
when turned down over the labels prevents them from being forced out of the
well A by the action of the false bottom or platform F with its spring G.-The
upper label is always on a level with the upper part of the well A, and sufficiently
high above the surface of the table L to allow the pasting roller D to roll over in
contact with it. On one side of the label well A, I arrange a guide B. in the form
of a T one of the arms of which is provided with a slot by means of which and
a stud with thumb screw it can be fixed in varying positions on the table L to
serve as a guide for the articles on which the labels are applied, to ensure applying
the labels in a uniform manner. The pasting roller D is of a conical form having
the apex in the direction of the centre of the table, and the amount of taper given
to this cone is proportionate to the size of the circle in which it translates so that
it may travel smoothly over the pad, and the labels without rucking the labels as

page_text: would be the tendency with a cylindrical roller owing to the unequal distance over
which its parts, the nearest and the furthest from the centre of the table have to
travel in an equal length of time. The lower part of the winch-shaped radial
arm H which forms the axle on which the pasting roller D is fitted is of a diameter
less than that of the hole through the pasting roller D through which this axle.
passes, so that the pasting roller D-in passing over the pad C, and the labels, bears
on these of its own weight and in order that this weight may be uniformly
distributed over the surface with which the pasting roller D comes in contact the
base or larger end of this conical roller D is hollowed out so that the centre of
gravity of the conical roller D shall be situated as nearly as possible at equal
distances from its two ends.-Half-way between its two ends is formed a concentric
groove which allows the roller to pass over the label without being raised off the label
by the small wire projection E which retains the labels in the label-well A. Over
the table L is constructed a bridge Q; beneath which passes the radial winch-shaped
arm H carrying the pasting roller D. On this bridge Q is carried the reservoir R
of paste or gum, and from this reservoir R extends a tube S the extremity of
which is fitted with a valve I in a position over the pasting pad C on the table L.
This valve I is kept closed by means of a beam acted upon by a spring and is
opened by means of the radial winch-shaped arm H, carrying the pasting pad roller D,
coming in contact with a button on one end of the beam which controls the
valve I, the said button being capable of adjustment. The adjustment of the said
button is arranged so that the valve I shall be opened immediately after the passage
of the pasting roller D, and shall remain open until the button shall be released by
the passage of the pasting roller D, the moment of release being regulated according
to the quantity of paste or gum required by the machine depending upon the size
of the labels employed. The saddle-shaped piece of this valve I carrying a rubber
seating to effect the closing of the outlet of the tube S conveying the paste or gum
is so formed in order that the gum or paste delivered through the valve shall run
down each side of the saddle shaped piece and so fall at two points on the paste
pad C, to assist the distribution of the paste or gum over the surface of the pad C.
I have described the machine as fitted with one label well and one paste pad, but
it is obvious that it may be fitted with more of these, and very conveniently with
two label wells, and two paste pads (as shown in the plan Figure 1, on the accom-
panying sheet of drawings) giving employment to two operators facing each other,
sitting at opposite sides of the table, either operator giving motion to the machine
by means of the treadle and crank provided. The mode of operation is as
follows. Having filled the label well A with the required labels, arrange the
guide B so that when the article to which the label is to be applied is placed
against the edge of this guide B, it shall lay across the label with the label in the
position in which it is required to adhere. Then supply some paste or gum to the
pasting pad C by setting the "Machine in motion allowing the pasting roller D to
pass two or three times at first over the paste pad C to ensure the proper coating
of the roller D. At this stage labelling may be commenced by rolling the bottle
or article to receive the label over the label well A immediately after the passage
of pasting roller D over the label and in a contrary direction to that in which
the pasting roller D passed. Thus the free end of the label will adhere to the
bottle or other article, and to release the other end of the label from the small
wire projection E on the label-well, it is only necessary to follow up with the
fingers of one hand immediately the free-end of the pasted label is raised, and with
these fingers to bear upon the next label depressing the whole packet of unpasted
labels together with the platform or false bottom F, and spring G of the label
well A. By the time the article thus labelled can be passed on to the pasting
roller again comes round, and the operation is repeated, the speed of the radial
arm H with pasting roller D being arranged in accordance with requirements
depending on the dexterity of the operator. Having now fully described the
nature of the said invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed,
and having supplemented the description by reference to the accompanying

page_text: drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan of the Machine. Figure 2 an enlarged
elevation of the label well A. Figure 3 a side view and an end view of the valve I
which regulates the supply of gum or paste and Fig. 4 an elevation of the
machine (in all the drawings the same reference letter indicates the same part).-I
would add that in order to prevent as much as possible any surplus gum from
running down the inside of the label well A and damaging the labels therein
contained I prefer to cover the pasting roller C with water-proof cloth by means
of marine-glue causing it to hold the gum or paste and not to part with the same
so readily as a plain metal roller, and also in order that the pasting roller D when
coming in contact with the labels, and when leaving the label-well A may not
displace the packet of labels, I fit the label well A with 4 small brackets K
KKK which serve to lift the pasting roller D allowing it to drop on to the
packet of labels off of the brackets K K and to rise off of the packet of labels on
to the brackets K" K" And I would have it understood that I claim in a
Labelling Machine.
1° The pasting Roller D arranged to take its supply of gum or paste from a pad
and then deliver it to the label with the arrangement by which the passage of the
said roller D controls the supply of paste or gum to the pasting pad D.
2° The label well A by means of which labels may be gummed or pasted and
removed on to the article to which they are to be applied one at the time.
All substantially as herein set forth and described, and in the manner described,
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hands, and seal this twenty
second day of March in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred
and eighty three