Improvements in Can-labelling Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
Improvements in Can-labelling Machines.
I WILLIAM GRiffith TrethEWEY, Notary Public, of the Village of Mission
City, in the Province of British Columbia in the Dominion of Canada 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:-
My invention relates to Improvements in Can-labelling Machines; and it has
for its general object to provide a cheap and simple machine adapted to label a
large number of cans in a short space of time, and also, adapted with slight
adjustment, to label cans of various sizes.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully understood from
the following description and claims when taken in connection with the annexed
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1, is a longitudinal section of my improved machine.
Fig. 2, is a horizontal section of the same taken in a plane above the bed.
Fig. 3, is an enlarged detail transverse section taken in the plane indicated by
the line y, y, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4, is an enlarged detail horizontal section taken in the plane indicated by
the line z, z, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5, is a detail horizontal section taken through the vertical guides and the
vertical plate of the label supporting bracket above the gravitating pawls.
Fig. 6, is a detail side elevation of one of the guides, with the several pawls in
dotted lines.
Fig. 7, is an enlarged detail perspective view of the can gumming pan with parts
broken away.
Fig. 8, is an enlarged perspective view of the label gumming device removed
from its supporting bracket.
Fig. 9, is a similar view of said bracket with the box removed.
Fig. 10, is a detail side elevation partly in section of one of the label guides
carrying the label retaining tips.
Fig. 11, is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 12, is an enlarged detail front elevation of the can feeding mechanism.
Fig. 13, is a detail section taken in the plane indicated by the line *, *, of
Fig. 12, and :
Fig. 14, is a transverse section of the endless travelling band.
In the said drawing, similar letters designate corresponding parts throughout the
several views, referring to which:
A, indicates the main frame of my improved machine which may, and preferably
does comprise a suitable rectangular casing as a, the uprights or standards b, and the
horizontal bar c, supported by and connecting said uprights or standards; and
B, indicates the bed which is mounted upon the casing a, and preferably comprises
the longitudinal parallel bars d, and the transverse bars é, as illustrated. The said
bed B, is preferably of a greater length than the casing a, as shown in Fig. 1, and
its side bars d, are rabbetted, as shown at f, in Fig. 3, to receive various parts of
the machine as will be presently described.
The uprights or standards b, of the main frame A, are extended above the
bed B, as better illustrated in Fig. 1, and they are provided with the fixed slides g,
upon which are mounted the adjustable blocks h, carrying the shafts i, of the band
wheels C. These adjustable blocks h, are connected to vertical adjusting screws j,
which take through the horizontal bar c, and consequently it will be seen that the

page_text: wheels C, and the endless band D, which takes around the same and has its face
fluted or corrugated in order to prevent the adhesive substance from adhering to
it, may be adjustably fixed at various distances from the bed to suit cans of
various sizes.
E, indicates the inclined can feeding plate which is connected at one end to one
of the cross bars e, of the bed and is supported in its inclined position by a bracket
arm as k; and F, indicates the curvilinear arms which are designed to release the
cans and permit the same to take between the band D, and the bed at regular
intervals. These arms F, are connected, preferably in an adjustable manner, to a
horizontal shaft G, and the said shaft is journaled in a frame H, which is provided
with a depending sleeve I, designed to receive an upright J, rising from the bed.
The said upright J, is longitudinally slotted, as better shown in Fig. 12, and the
sleeve I, of the frame H, is provided with a set screw 1, whereby it will be seen
that the frame H, and the shaft carrying the arms G, may be fixed at various
distances above the bed so as to enable the said arms to properly engage the cans
of various diameters.
As better illustrated in Fig. 12, of the drawing, the shaft G, is surrounded by a
coiled spring K. One end of this spring K, is connected to one of the uprights m,
of the frame H, and its opposite end is connected to a wheel L, which is fixedly
mounted on the shaft whereby it will be seen that it will tend to hold the arms F,
in their normal position and will return them to their normal position when they
have been raised to release a can, as will be presently described. The wheel L,
upon the shaft G, provided with a peripheral projection n, (see Fig. 13,) and
this projection is designed to be engaged by a similar projection p, of the wheel M,
mounted upon a shaft N, also journaled in the frame H, as illustrated. Said
Bhaft N, is provided at its outer end with a stepped pulley 9, around which takes a
twisted belt r, which also takes around a stepped pulleys, upon the adjacent
shaft is whereby it will be seen that when the machine is in operation, and the
band D, is travelling in the direction indicated by arrow, the wheel M, will be
rotated in the direction indicated by arrow in Fig. 13, so as to engage the pro-
jection n, and partly turn the wheel L, and raise the arms F, at regular intervals,
in order to release the cans which are placed upon the plate E, and enable the same
to take one after another between the band D, and the bed.
P, indicates the can gumming pan which is placed in the rabbets f, of the side
bars of the bed B, in advance of the plate E, as illustrated. This pan. P, is
preferably of a general rectangular form (see Fig. 7,) and it is provided upon its
bottom wall with a series of strips t, which serve to support the gumming cloth u,
and is also provided in its side bars with longitudinal vertically-disposed slots,
which are designed to receive the screws w, having thumb nuts, as illustrated.
These screws and nuts w, x, serve to adjustably fix the longitudinal metallic strip Q,
with respect to the pan and the said strip serves in conjunction with a fixed strip R,
at one edge of the pan to hold the cloth u in position and also to guide the cans
in a straight path across the pan; and being adjustable it will be seen that the
strip Q, may be fixed at various distances from the strip R, so as to increase
or diminish the width of the path according to the length of the cans to be
labelled.
The pan P, is fed with adhesive substance from a tank S, through a suitable
valved pipe as y, which extends through one of the side bars of the pan, as
illustrated. When the pan is full of adhesive substance, the cloth u will be
saturated therewith, so that each can as it rolls across the cloth u will receive a
sufficient amount of adhesive substance on its periphery to enable it to take up a
label as it rolls across the stack of the same. In order that the pan P, may be
removed and a larger pan employed when cans of extraordinary diameter are to
be labelled, I provide transverse blocks z, upon opposite sides of the pan, which
blocks are designed to be removed to afford space for the large pan when the same
is necessary.
S', indicates an aunular frame which is arranged in the rabbets f, of the side bars.

page_text: of the bed B, in advance of the pan P, and comprises the cross bar a', and the
longitudinal bars b', having the slots c', and the depending flanges d'. The transverse
bar a', of this frame S, is engaged and held in position by the contiguous block z,
which is flanged as shown, and said transverse bar is also secured in position by the
vertical guides e', which are connected to it and are also connected to the horizontal
strip, of the main frame, as shown. The longitudinal bars b', of the frame S',
serve for the connection of the angle irons T; the vertical branches g', of which
serve as guides for the labels as better illustrated in Fig. 1.
Said angle irons T, are provided in their horizontal branches ', with slots i,
and they are connected to the bars b', of the frame S', by bolts which take
through the slots,, of the branches ',, whereby it will be seen that they may
be adjusted laterally and longitudinally so as to enable them to properly engage
and guide labels of various sizes.
U, indicates rubber or other elastic tips carried by bars V, which are adjustably
connected to the horizontal branches of the irons T, through the medium of
bolts j', and thumb nuts k'. The said rubber tips U, are designed to engage and
hold the labels in such a manner as to permit a passing can to take up the
uppermost label, and they are therefore preferably bevelled and notched as illustrated
in order to render them more flexible.
W, indicates a plate, which is fixed in the forward portion of the bed B, in such
a manner as to leave a space between its side edges and the side bars d, of the
bed; and X, indicates an adjustable plate which is mounted upon the plate W,
and is provided with lugs , engaging the side edges of said plate as shown.
This plate X, is provided adjacent to its inner end with apertured wings m', and
it is adjustably connected with the side bars 6, of the frame S7, by bolts n', which
take through the wings m¹, and the slots c¹, of said side bars, and thumb nuts as p',
so as to permit of its being adjusted longitudinally and adjustably fixed for a
purpose presently to be explained. Said plate X, is also provided at its inner end
with a bracket Y, designed to receive and support the label gumming box Z, which
is fed from a suitable tank q', through a valved pipe r¹.
The label gumming box Z which is disposed on the opposite side of the stack of
labels with respect to the can gumming pan P is of a wedge shape in cross section
and has a discharge opening p' in its reduced side as shown, and it is arranged in
the loop of the bracket Y which loop preferably has its upper wall fluted or
corrugated as shown at t' so as to reduce the size of the opening through which
the adhesive passes and consequently prevent the same from discharging in too
large quantities. Said box Z is removably secured in the loop s¹ of the bracket Y
by the interposed block u' (see Fig. 1) and it is adapted to rest above the labels
as shown in the said figure so as to apply adhesive substance to the end portion of
the labels which overlap the other end when the labels are taken up by the cans.
Connected to the underside of the bracket Y, and also connected in an adjustable
manner to the longitudinally slotted strip f¹, through the medium of a bolt and
thumb nut, are the vertical guides Z, Z, of the adjustable label supports A', one
of which (the guide Z') is provided upon its inside with rack teeth to', for a purpose
presently described.
The label support A', preferably comprises the depending vertical portion a',
which rests against the guides Z, Z, and is disposed transversely of the machine, the
horizontal portion 62, which extends longitudinally of the machine and between the
guides e', and is braced by a suitable reinforcement as c³, and the horizontal portion d²,
which extends at right angles to the inner end of the portion 62, and is arranged above
the portion a, as shown. Said support A', carries anti-friction wheels f, g, which
engage opposite sides of the guides Z, Z', as better shown in Fig. 4, and is moved
upward gradually, as the labels are removed by passing cans, by the weight B',
through the medium of the cord ', which takes over a sheave, journaled in a
bracket on the guides Z, Z', and is connected to a staple or arm, extending from
the portion a², of the support as shown.

page_text: In order to effectually prevent retrograde downward movement of the support A',
I provide the same with the several gravitating pawls C', which are designed to
engage the rack teeth w', of the guide Z. The several pawls C₁ are loosely
mounted upon a shaft k³, extending laterally from the support portion a², as shown,
and they are of different sizes as illustrated and are designed to engage the rack
teeth at different distances from the edges thereof whereby it will be seen that
they will prevent even a slight retrograde movement of the support A.
H', indicates the inner longitudinal guide bar of the machine which is
connected with angle irons n², on the uprights b, in an adjustable manner, as
illustrated, and I', indicates the outer, adjustable guide bar. This guide bar is
provided with longitudinally slotted straps p2, and the said straps are connected
to the longitudinal bar d, of the bed, by bolts and thumb screws as shown, whereby
it will be seen that the guide I', may be fixed at various distances from the guide H³,
in order that cans of various lengths may pass between them.
It sometimes happens that a few cans in a large number are slightly longer than
the others, and I therefore, in order to guide such extraordinary long cans, straight
across the labels, provide the spring strip J¹, better illustrated in Fig. 1. This
strip is connected to the, underside of the outer guide I', as shown, and it serves to
properly guide the cans of uniform length and gives and properly guides a can of
extraordinary length.
In the practical operation of my improved machine, a rectangular block D',
is arranged upon the support A', and upon this block the labels are arranged in a
stack and are pressed against the elastic tips U, of the angle irons T, by the
weight B, so as to enable a passing can to take up a label. The cans to be labelled
are placed in series upon the inclined plate E, and when the machine is set in
motion, they are released, one by one, at regular intervals, by the arms F, and
being engaged by the band D, they are rolled over the pan P, the stack of labels,
and the label gumming box. The pan P, serves to gum the peripheries of the cans
so as to enable them to take up a label from the stack, and the box Z, serves to
gum the overlapping portions of the labels so that they will adhere to the portion of
the label which they overlap ; and after the cans pass the box Z, the band D,
presses the same against the plate X, so as to securely fix the labels thereon.
By reason of the construction of my improved machine it will be perceived that
it is adapted, with slight adjustment, to label cans of various lengths and diameters,
and is also adapted to work labels of various sizes, it being simply necessary when
large labels are to be employed, to move the plate Y, and the parts connected
therewith toward the forward end of the machine and the angle irons T, laterally
outward, and when small labels are to be employed to move the plate Y, toward
the rear end of the machine and the angle irons T, laterally inward. When labels
of large size are to be applied, a block D¹, corresponding in size thereto, is
employed, and when small labels are to be applied, a small block is employed.
have in some respects specifically described the construction and relative
arrangement of the several parts of my improved machine but I do not desire to be
understood as confining myself to such specific construction and arrangement as
such changes or modifications may be made in practice as fairly fall within the
scope of my 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 can labelling machine, the combination of a bed, an endless corrugated
band arranged above the bed and taking around band wheels, an inclined platform
connected to the bed, an arm F, arranged above the inclined platform, and
mechanism intermediate of one of the band wheels and the arm F, adapted to raise
said arm at intervals, substantially as specified.
2. In a can labelling machine, the combination of a bed, standards or uprights

page_text: extending above the bed, slidable blocks arranged upon standards or uprights,
shafts journaled in said slidable blocks and carrying band wheels, an endless corru-
gated band taking around the said wheels, and screw shafts for adjusting the
sli lable blocks so as to carry the band toward and from the bed, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a can labelling machine, the combination of a bed, standards or uprights
extending above the bed, slidable blocks arranged upon the standards or uprights,
shafts journaled in said slidable blocks and carrying band wheels, an endless
corrugated band taking around the said wheels, screw shafts for adjusting the
slidable blocks so as to carry the band toward and from the bed, an inclined plat-
form connected to the bed, a shaft arranged above the platform and carrying au
arm F, and mechanism intermediate of one of the corrugated band wheels and said
shaft adapted to turn the same and raise the arm F, at intervals, substantially
as specified.
4. In a can labelling machine, the combination of a bed, a longitudinal guide H',
arranged above the bed, a longitudinal guide I¹, also arranged above the bed and
having lateral slotted straps, and a suitable means for adjustably connecting said
straps to the bed, substantially as specified.
5. In a machine for labelling cans, the combination of a bed, and an endless
corrugated band arranged above the bed and taking around band wheels and having.
ribs or corrugations upon its face, substantially as specified.
6. In a machine for labelling cans, the combination with a bed having an open
space for the passage of labels; of a movable label support, a suitable weight, and a
cord taking over a sheave and connected to the movable support and the weight,
substantially as specified.
7. In a machine for labelling cans, the combination with a bed having an open
space for the passage of labels and a vertical rack bar disposed below the bed; of
a vertically movable label support carrying a pawl in engagement with the vertical
rack bar, and a suitable means for moving said label support up, substantially
as specified.
8. In a can labelling machine, the combination with a bed having an open space
for the passage of labels, and label retaining devices connected with the bed and
arranged in the open space thereof; of a vertically movable label support, a
suitable weight and a cord connecting the weight and support so as to enable the
weight to press the labels against the retaining devices, substantially as specified.
9. In a can labelling machine, the combination with a bed and a platform
connected thereto; of a vertically adjustable frame H, an arm carried by said
frame and arranged above the platform, and a suitable means for raising said arm
at intervals, substantially as specified.
10. In a can labelling machine, the combination with a bed and a platform
connected thereto; of a shaft as G, an arm F, carried by said shaft and arranged
above the platform, a wheel L, fixed on the shaft G, and having a peripheral
projection, a second shaft N, carrying a wheel M, having a projection adapted to
engage that of the wheel L, a suitable means for rotating the shaft N, and a spring
adapted to return the arm F, to its normal position after it has been raised,
substantially as specified.
11. In a can labelling machine, the combination of a bed, band wheels mounted
upon shafts arranged in vertically-adjustable bearings above the bed, a band taking
around said wheels, a platform connected to the bed, an arm F, carried by a
vertically adjustable frame and arranged above the platform, and mechanism
intermediate of the shaft of one of the band wheel and the arm F, adapted to raise
said arm at regular intervals.
12. In a can labelling machine, the combination of a vertical rack bar, and a
vertically movable label support carrying a plurality of pawls of different sizes
adapted to engage the rack bar, substantially as specified.
13. In a can labelling machine, the combination of a bed having an open space

page_text: for the passage of labels, an adjustable label gumming device arranged at one side
of said open space, vertical and adjustable guide bars connected with the label
gumming device, and a label support movable on said vertical guides, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
14. In a can labelling machine, the combination of a bed having an open space
for the passage of labels, label guide and retaining devices connected with the bed
and adapted to be adjusted longitudinally and transversely with respect thereto, an
adjustable label gumming device arranged at one side of said open space, vertical
guide bars connected with the label gumming device and adapted to be adjusted
with the same, and a label support movable on said vertical guides, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
15. In a can labelling machine, the combination with a bed having an open space
for the passage of labels, and a vertically movable label support; of the angle
irons T, adjustably connected with the bed and having depending portions adapted
to guide the labels and also having tips adapted to engage and retain the labels in
position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
16. In a can labelling machine, the combination with a bed having an open space
for the passage of labels and a vertically movable label support; of elastic tips
supported in the open space of the bed and adapted to engage the labels in such a
manner as to permit of the uppermost label being taken off by a gummed can,
substantially as specified.
о
17. In a can labelling machine, the combination of a bed having an open space
for the passage of labels, the frame S, arranged in said bed and comprising the
cross bar a', and the longitudinal bars 61, having, slots c¹, a label gumming device
arranged at one side of the open space in the bed and adapted to be adjusted in the
direction of the length of said bed, guide bars e¹, connected to and depending from
the bar a', of the frame S, vertical guide bars connected with the label gumming
device and adapted to be adjusted therewith, a vertically-movable label support
guided by the vertical guide bars, the angle irons comprising the depending
branches and the horizontal branches having longitudinal slots, label engaging tips
connected with the angle irons, bolts taking through the slots in the horizontal
.branches of the angle irons and the slots in the bars 61, of the frame S, and thumb
nuts mounted on said bolts, all substantially as specified.
0
18. In a can labelling machine, the combination with a bed having an open space
for the passage of labels, and a plate W, connected to the bed; of an adjustable
plate having lugs in engagement with the side edges of the plate W, and carrying
a label gumming device, substantially as specified.
.
19. In a machine for labelling cans, the combination with a suitable bracket Y,
having a loop s', and also having a vertical portion v1; of a wedge shaped adhesive
box, arranged in the loop s', of the bracket, and a block interposed between said
box and the vertical portion o, substantially as specified.
20. In a can labelling machine, the combination of a bed having an open space
for the passage of labels, a removable can gumming pan arranged in the bed in advance
of the open space thereof, and transverse blocks arranged in the bed on opposite
sides of the can gumming pan; the said block being adapted to be removed to
afford space for a large pan, substantially as specified.
21. In a can labelling machine, the combination with a can-gumming pan having
a guide strip as R, of an adjustable guide strip Q, and a suitable means for
adjustably fixing the said strip Q, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
22. In a can labelling machine, a can gumming pan, having a series of strips t,
arranged at intervals therein, a cloth arranged upon the said strips t, and a suitable
means for holding said cloth in position, substantially as specified.
23. In a can labelling machine, the combination of a bed having an open space
for the passage of labels, a vertically movable label support, a suitable means for
raising said support, a can gumming pan arranged on one side of the label space,
a label gumming device arranged on the opposite side of the space, and a suitable

page_text: means for rolling cans over the can gumming pan, the labels, and the label gumming:
device in succession, substantially as specified.
Dated this 30th day of April 1894.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents.