US2137381A - Label-feeding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Nw., 22; w. c.. w. BLACKSTONE 337.93%

` LABEL FEEDING MECHANISM i Filed Aug. 22, 1935 e sheetsLsheei 2 M cfromvmsa NW E2 i938- c. w. BLAcKsToNE LABEL FEEDING MECHA'NISM Filed Aug. 22, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 NOV. 22, C,` W, BLACKSTQNE LABEL FEEDING MECHANISM ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 22, -1 938y 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LABEL-FEEDNG MECHANISM Clarence W. Blackstone, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Standard-Knapp Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 22, 1935, Serial No. 37,268

^ r'z'claims. (c1. 21a-az) This invention relates to labeling-machines,

` and primarily to machines for labeling cans and other like packages. More particularly, it concerns labeling machines of the type `in which a can passes along a runway, has siccative 'applied thereto, picks up a label thereby, and windsit around itself while rolling, the lap end of the label having been in the meantime rendered adhesive and being secured to the can by the rolling that occurs after the lap end is gummed, such as shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,271,724.

The principal object of the present invention isA to provide a labelling machine in which the operator canreplenish the supply of labels without shutting down the machine.

Another important object of the invention is to provide i'or automatically compensating for the greater height of the far end of the labelstack over the near end caused by the greater thickness of one end of the labels over that of the other, Awhich is sometimes caused by the printing, embossing, or engraving, etc., and to hence maintain the top surface of the labelstack always in proper position to enable the labels to be easily removed.

The other objects and concepts of the invention will be made manifest as this specification progresses.

The. presently preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings,v but it is to be understood that the invention is limited in its embodiments only by the scope of the sub-joined claims. In' these drawings, i

dlg. 1 is a central, longitudinal vertical, section of this embodiment, partly in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a view of the central portion of the machine partly in elevation and partly in section on line v2---2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a transverse, vertical section on line tl--t of Fig. 1;

Fig. (i is a top plan `view of the label receptacle and associated parts;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of th label receptacle showing the position of the parts as the supply of labelsapproaches exhaustion but before it is time to replenish it;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the position of the parts after the supply of labels is still further `diminished and the means for temporarily supporting it during the, insertion of a fresh supply, have functioned;

Fig. 7 is also similar to Fig. 5 showingthe label support lowered to its lowermost position and having had a fresh supply of labels placed upon'it;

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section of the label receptacle with the parts as shown in Fig. 7, except that the supply o! labels has not yet been placed upon the label support;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the label receptac showing the mechanism for automatically controlling the label. stack to compensate for differences in the height of the stack at its `opposite ends; and

Fig. 10 is a transverse section on line Ill--ill` of Fig. 9. A

Referring now more in detail to the 'construction shown in the drawings, l is-a main frame or table of any suitable construction, and preferably of rectangular formation, supported in the usual manner by suitable standards or legs 2.

A runway for cans or the like extends longitudinally of the machine, the runway being generally indicated by the numeral I0, and comprising oppositely disposed bars I0' adapted to afford a supporting rest for only the ends of the cans. Adjacent opposite ends of the machine are suitable chutes, a feed chute and a discharg chute, not shown. f

The cans are fed through the machine by endless-belt carriers I6, mounted upon rollers I'l and iii respectively, positioned upon shafts like il, These shafts are supported upon a suitable auxiliary frame i9, extending longitudinally of and above the runway, the auxiliary frame being vertically adjustable by the usual mechanism (not shown) to accommodate cans of different diameters.

In order to prevent contacting of the belt it with the pasted portion of the cans, conical guide rollers 29 of special formation are provided, to engage the inner surface of the lower stretch of the belts. The rollers 29 are mounted upon Va suitable shaft tt, and each has a hub portion ti', connecting with a disk-part 32, of substantially the same diameter as the greatest diameter of the roller 2t, thereby affording an abutment `which latter is to position the roller supported l belts I6 in driving contact with only the ends of the cans in their movement along the runway, with the result that the belts will not engage the pasted Varea of the periphery of the cans.

The conical rollers are arranged along the length of the belts between the paste pot 40 and the far end of the label magazine. At suitable intervals elsewhere throughout the length of the feed belts Il are suitable spring pressed rollers I2', of substantially the same diameter from en d to end, adapted to exert the feeding pressure of the belt on the cans. A belt tightener of any approved type may be provided to take up any play or slack, as desired.

AThe pasting mechanism 440 is arrangedat the forward end-oi' the machine below the runway il and includes a paste receptaclev 40. Adjacent the forward 4end of the paste receptacle 40 is a suitable supporting shaft 4I. extending transversely of the runway and adapted to have mounted thereon a pasting roller, which latter comprises a plurality of connected disk-shaped parts 44, fixed upon a common hub 45, secured vto the `shaft 43, the disk-shaped parts 44 being separated from one another by an intervening space. A cover 41 may be provided at the forward end of the receptacle 4l, the same having .a suitable Qcut out part whereby to receive the The shaft 43 for the paste roller is adapted to be suitably .driven from the source of power, as by worm wheel Ill, worm BDI, and drive shaft 802.

The forward end of the paste receptacle 40 which accommodates the pasting roll is carried by a suitable bracket 51, adiustably mounted at 58 upon a suitable supporting member I., to the end that the paste receptacle may be adjusted longitudinally of the machine, the rear end being supported on a cross shaft which is carried in brackets (not shown) which are longitudinally adjustable. is a bolt having a threaded engagement with the oilset part 51*L of the bracket 51, and a suitable engagement, 6i, with the base oi' the receptacle 40, said bolt terminating in a small handwheel l2, so that the forward end of the receptacle may be slightly tilted about the tulcrum at point 50|, to thereby regulate the engagement between the paste disks 44 with the periphery of the can. A suitable centering device and auxiliary support for the receptacle 40 includes a bolt 83 having a tapered upper end loosely fitted into a recess in the lug on the base of receptacle 4I, and having a threaded engagement at its opposite end in an aperture in the oil'set part 51* of the bracket, a nut til "erves to retain the bolt 43 in position, after having been adjusted to accommodate for the adjustment of the bolt 60.

The label receptacle includes suitable sides 84, the upper edges of which taper downwardly at their forward ends I4* to a point below the runway bars Ill, to the end that the forward ends of the uppermost labels will be positioned above the forward end of the label receptacle whereby to be picked up by a passing can in its movement along the runway and over the upper edges I4* of the label receptacle, which said upper edgesv constitute in effect a continuation of the runway bars il. The said upper edges of the sides connect with that portion of the runway bars Il' projecting rearwardly beyond the label receptacle. Projecting downwardly from one side I4 vof the label receptacle are vertical bars Il, which form guides for the edges of the labels positioned upon the label support. In order to accommodate labels of variable widths, the' sides' u are'relativeiy laterally adjustable on rods 6l and l1, and heldin place by bolts Il. The rod I8 is supported in a bracket at the upper end of a vertical rod 10, which latter is supported in a suitable bracket sleeve 1|, the sleeve 1I being longitudinally adjustable on a horizontal rod 14 and adapted to be held in adiusted position as by 'a threaded bolt 12. The rod 61 at the opposite end of the label receptacle is supported in any desired manner upon a suitable frame 13. `The supporting frame 13 and supporting rod 10 are mounted upon longitudinally extending rods 14 and 14", projecting from a T-shaped centrally located sleeve support 15, the latter being mounted in any desired manner upon the frame I.

A label follower or bed proper is provided and comprises plates 1B mounted upon a suitable base 11, as by threaded bolts 18 projecting downwardly from the plates 16 and engaging slotted apertures 19 in said base 11. Suitable lugs 80 project downwardly from the undersurface of 'the plates 1B, and spiral springs 8l engage at one end a fixed part of the support 11, and at the opposite end engage said bosses 80, whereby to force the plates 1l outwardly into contact with the vertical guides 65, thereby adapting the plates 14 to the size of the receptacle determined by the adJustable sides 84.

'Ihe labels. as they are usually made, have their front, or pick-up, end left blank, that is to say, without any printing or embossing thereon for from 1/2 to :V4 in. When the label iswrapped around the can, the lap end, or right-hand end, thereof overlaps the unprinted margin 0f the pick-up end, and the omission of ink or varnish from the margin facilitates adhesion. The absence of the coating of ink and varnish at the pick-up end, however, makes the label supply thinner at this end, particularly when the decoration on the label includes embossing. etc. The difference in thicknessl in a single label is minute, but when a stack of a' thousand or more labels is considered, it causes a difi'erence in the height of the stack which is considerable, sometimes causing the right-hand end of the stack to nuff up as much as in. to 3/4 in. above the left hand end.

However, for the top of the label stack to be in proper relation to the path of the cans, it should be substantially horizontal, or, in other words, substantially parallel with the right-hand portion of the can stack immediately above the label stack, and preferably the pick-up end should actually be slightly higher than the lap end of the label stack. In order to accomplish this, I have provided the mechanism shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 8, by means of which the label support, 'or bed, is tilted automatically in such a way as to maintain the proper relation between the top of the label bed vand the can stack, irrespective of the number of labels in the machine. That is to say, with a low stack of labels in the machine, the label bed will be tilted to a less degree than when a high stack of labels is in the machine, thereby maintaining the proper ievel aJ the top of the label stack. The change in angle of tilt is proportional to the' elevation of the label support or bed.

In addition, due to the dilferent kinds of printing, embossing, engraving, etc., which are used for the ornamentation of labels, some kinds oi' labels' will tend to fluif up at the lap, or righthand, end to a greater extent than others. Accordingly, the mechanism of my invention is made so that vit can be'adiusted to suit the paralsmaar ticular kind of label employed. hen once so adjusted, no change is necessary, unless the character of the labels changes, but should a didier-ent sort of label be used in the machine, or if there should be a change in the characteristics oi the labels from one batch to another, the desired adjustment can be made quicltly and easily. This mechanism will now be described.

The main support-rod has its upper end fiattened as at dit to form a tenori-like member which is embraced by a yoke-litre member lli", pivoted f bolted as at itt to the underside of the bed plate ll. The lower end of tail lltli bears a roller liti, and the corresponding face oi the ilxed f or, to render the top of the pile substantially hori-` lit) tid

tid

rental though the plate itself is depressed at its right end. As the follower is fed upwardly, the straight-line cam action of roller 'thi and channel member lili functions to gradually increasingly elevate the right end of the bed plate with respect to the left end of the bed plate since the unevenness of height of the pack due to the dis parity in thickness oi the labels at opposite ends i disappears gradually, so that finally the bed-plate itseli is rendered almost horizontal, the top suriace ci the stack, in all feed-positions, remaining always horiaontal. it will be understood that this term horizontal means, as indicated above, in proper relation to the path oi the cans.

The rod di has upon one edge there-oi racls teeth tile, adapted to be engaged by suitable teeth on spur tt, mounted upon a shaft di, supported at the lower end oi the 'IV-shaped member it. IThe shaft di is provided at one end with a hand wheel tt, and at the other end with an intermittent iced mechanism, which is positively driven by suitable means controlled by the movement of a can pass ing along the runway to raise the rod di at inter-l vals as the labels are talren up by the cans.

This feeding mechanism for the labels includes a trip tt, (see Fig. 2) mounted on a roclr arm @il which is pivoted upon a suitable stud di on the side member til of the label receptacle. The rocir arm lili has a curved tail piece the to engage a lug 9i so as to limit the upward swinging movement of the rock arm ed. 'lihe connection between the trip member t9 and rock arm 9b is adjustable, as through the medium of a screw and slot connection dll-dii, with the arm dll, whereby the position of the trip member d@ may be accurately adjusted with respect -to the desired heiaht tc which labels are to be fed.

vlilhe trip member di is arranged upon the side of the label receptacle adjacent the iorward upper edge thereof, and is so positioned in the space above the inclined portion tile oi the label receptacle as to be engaged and pressed down by one of the heads of the cans whenever the elevation oi the iront edge of the label stack is low enough to permit it. The extent ofthe downward movement of the trip member bya can is determined by the height of the labels in the receptacle; that is to say, assuming that the normal position of the can engaging end oi the trip member is in substantially the same horizontal plane as the topmost label, the can in its movement over the label supply will not, owing to its contact with the label supply, move the trip member to any appreciable extent, but as the labels are talren oit, the movement of the trip member by the cans yis in'u creased and only after the member is moved downwardly by the cans a predetermined distance is the actuating means placed in operative condition to elevate the label bed.

Gperatively connected as by a pintle tt, to the iree end oi the roch arm lill, is a vertically ex tending bar db, which latter is slotted at its low er end at the, whereby to receive a pintle @l on the rcclr arm tt, sleeved upon the shaft di. The pintle lill has an eccentric extension iii mounted in a bearing in the root; arm iid, whereby its position may be accurately adjusted. The bar titi is held normally in elevated position by a spring i265 between the pintlc di and a pin lith in the lower end oi the bar. At the free end of the roclr arm is positioned a spring actuated pawl itil, adapted to engage suitable ratchet teeth W2, upon a ratchet wheel iti secured to the shaft ill. A pivot beeuirig4 itila ior the pawl it@ is given the form ot an adjustable eccentric, to the end that' vtransverse shalt litt driven by bevelled gears lil and litt from a shait tilt.

.assuming that the height of the label stack is such that the cans will not force trip, or control member, with rod and the right end of roclr arm il@ downward a surlicient distance to raise the lett end ci the roclr. arm and pawl ill@ the space of one ratchet tooth, cam liti on its next rotation 'will impart only a slightly idle rocking movement to the roch arm. When, however, the height of the label stach is reduced by the further removal or the labels, the pressure of a passing can on member til'will move it a sufficient distance to raise the pawl tilt the full space ot a ratchet tooth. Then on the next rotation of cam itil, roclr arm @d will cause the ratchet wheel lill to be rotated correspondlnaly, thereby feeding the label stack upwardly and restoring the top of the stack to its original elevation.

We now come to the mechanism for providing for the replenlshing of the label supply without stopping the machine. This includes devices for temporarily supporting the residualporticn of a nearly exhausted stach of labels while permitting the label bed to be lowered to receive a fresh stack oi labels.

.at each end of thelabel-receptacle, there is provided a plate dit@ hinged at its bottom edge on pins ttl running transversely of the machine and slightly outside the vertical feed-path of the label pile. Each plate has a light coiled spring db2, pressing them onto the ends oi the label-pile. When the bed-plate rises above the tops of plates ttt, the upper ends or members dttwill be pushed bil materials, equivalently mounted, constructed and functioning.

On the longitudinal sides of the pile, on each side, and in the same horizontal plane as the tops of the members 880, are a plurality of latches 804, here shown as six in number and of the doorlatch type with their cam-sides (or faces) down.

These latches 804 are under spring tension, and

when the pile is divided, snap into place under the top portion and hold it up until joined by the new supply, when they are retracted, as shown.

When the label bed has fed upwardly until there is about 2 inches of the stack left, a suitable signal is given the attendant, and he then turns the label feed wleel 88 to elevate the bed plate a sufllcient distance for the hinged plates and latches to slip under.` the bottom of the pile. This raises the pack to somewhat higher than normal position and -prevents the cans from. striking the control or trip member 88.

Two guide-members 8,00 having their `ends overlying the label stack, as shown best in Figs. 4 and 1, are pivoted on the shaft 50| which also supports the front wall of the paste receptacle. Coiled compression springs 808 urge plates 800 upwardly, When thebell rings and the operator runs up the bed higher than normal, the runway I is lleft behind and the members 800 bear on the pile as in Fig. 7 and provide a ramp for the cans. Each member 800 bears an ear 800' carrying stop pin 504 for limiting the upward movement Cof the member 800.

After this operation, the label bed is lowered by releasing the dogs |00 and |08 through the medium of a double-arm' trip device sleeved upon the shaft 81, one arm |08 of said device having a pin |08 to engage under the dog |08, and the other arm |01 having a pin |08 to engage under the dog |00. 'I'he arm |01 is also provided with an operating handle |08 (Fig. 1) whereby to impart rocking movement to the arms, and saidy rocking movement, in one direction, lifts the pawls out of operative contact with the ratchet wheel |0|. The arm |05 is also provided with means for limiting its movement in opposite directions, comprising a bifurcated terminal ||0, to engage over a lug or projection, on the support 15, -as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. l spring ||2 connecting with the arm |08, at one end (at its opposite end with the support 18), tends to normally hold the pins |08 and |08 out of contact with the pawls |00 and |08, respec-v tively. When the saidk pawlsfhave been released from operative engagement with the ratchet wheel |0|, as just described, the operator may impart rotary movement to the ratchet wheel through the medium of the hand wheel 88, and thereby lower the label bed into a position to receive a new supply of labels.

A suitable compensating spring 88 may be provided, and mounted on the shaft 81 and secured at one end to the hand wheel 88, and at its opposite end to a fixed part of the machine. As' the shaft 81 is moved in one direction to lower the label bed, the spring is put under tension, and when moved in an opposite direction to raise the label bed, the tension is gradually relieved.

The signalling device for indicating the necessity of replenlshing the label supply is here shown as consisting of an electricbattery or other source of i electric energy 800 having a normally open circuit 80| in which is located a gong or bell 802. me terminal of the ropen circuit is constituted ject slightly over vthe edges of the label.

alsmaar by a spring-mounted stop 808 on member 1li, and the other by a contact 804 on upwardly moving rod 82. When the supply of labels falls to 2 inches, or thereabouts, contacts 804 and 808 meet and cause the bell to ring. y

In order to prevent more than one label being picked up by the can, knife blades |80 and |88 are mounted in the sides of the label bed to pro- The blades |80 extend into the receptacle at opposite sides near the `forward end thereof, whereby to engage the margin of the uppermost labels at their edges. The' blades |80 which are near the front end of the label bed are continuously rocked to insure their cutting through the top label without stripping it off the can. To this end the shaft |28 carries at its end a small crankpin (Fig. 2) to which is connected a rod |21, pivotally connected at its upper end to a rock arm |28, positioned on a rock shaft |29, extending transversely of the machine and mounted in suitable bearings of the label framework 18. Projecting in a direction opposite to the arm |28, and fixed upon the rock shaft |28, are arms |8|, pivotally connected by links |82 to arms |88 attached at |84 to the knife shanks |85, mounted in bearings |88 carried by the side bars 64.

The knife blades |88 are mounted upon the bell crank levers |88, sleeved upon studs |40 on the sides 84 of the label receptacle, springs 4| being connected to one arm of the bell cranks |89 and at their opposite ends to pins |42, tending to normally exert a slight downward pressure of the knife blades upon the uppermost label. 'I'he pins |42 are lengthwise adjustable in a suitably supported bracket' |48, on the side of the label receptacle, whereby to regulate the tension of the spring. When properly adjusted, the pins may be held in place through the medium of set screws or the like |44. v

In order to facilitate winding the labels on the cans, a curling bar |45 extends transversely across the label receptacle, and has a flattened under surfaeeto engage the upper surface of the labels adjacent the rear end of the latter. 'I'he curling bar |45 is mounted at its ends upon bell cranks |46, sleeved at |41, upon the stud |40, a suitable spring member |48 being connected at one end vto the opposite arm of the bell crank |48, and at its opposite end to a pin |49 having an adjustable connection with a support |80. Said pin is adapted to be held in adjusted positions, as by a set screw |l. I'he tension of the spring and thereby the pressing contact of the curling bar upon the labels may be regulated at will.

A suitable lap-end pasting mechanism is provided which includes a coiled-wire-belt. pasteapplying member 100. This mechanism is not shownl as it requires no modification to accommodate the extra elevation given the label stack when the stack is replenished, the belt being sufficiently extensible for the purpose.

In order to accurately guide the cans in their movement along the runway there is preferably provided at one side of the runway a relatively fixed guide member 2|0, to engage one end of the cans, and a thin, yieldable, sheet-metal strip 2| to engage the opposite end of the can's.

In operation, about one thousand labels at a time are initially carried in the receptacle and they are inserted in the usual manner. The label bed is so raised that the cans can contact and pick them up, and the cans roll through, labeling themselves by means of the automatic mechaiii lib

bil

has automatically ied up so that there is only t inches to 1% inches thickness oi labels on it,

the electrical contacts are closed, and the attend- 'hand wheel, a new pile of i000 labels is inserted on the lowered bed-plate, and it is. raised and pushed up so that it releases the small top-pile and it joins with the new 1000.

li have shown my improved mechanism for maintaining the labeling machine in continuous operation during the replenishing of the label stach as applied to a well-irnown type oi label machine, shown for example in U. S. Patent No. i,271,'721i. lit will be understood however that the invention constituting the present improvements consist only in thosemechanisms and combinations oi mechanisms recited in the appended claims. It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to the details oi construction herein illustrated but covers all such modications thereof as fall within the scope oi such claims.

i claim:

i. In a machine having a magazine for sheetmaterial including a vertically movable plate, means ior automatically feeding same upwardly synchronously with the other operations oi the machine, means lor automatically segregating and supporting a residue or sheets in the operative-position, means for lowering the plate into position for receiving a fresh additional supply ci sheets thereon, adding the new supply to the old supply to form a new total supply while continuing the other operations of the machine, and

means on the lowering-member and on the mal chine frame for signalling imminent depletion oi the supply. e

2. in a machine of the character described, a main trame, a receptacle-frame therein including vertical members and horizontal members deiining a smaller oblong framework, hinged, verti cally-eirtending plates at one end oi said oblong framework, said plates'being spring controlled, and at least one retractable cam-lilre member at either side oi said oblong framework near the top thereof, said latter member being operative to support a residual stach oi material in operative-position.

Zi. in a machine of the character described, a main frame, a receptacleirame therein including vertical members and horizontal members dehnlng a smaller oblong framework, hinged, vertically-extending plates at one end of said oblong irameworir, said plates being spring-controlledf and a plurality of spring-controlled foam-like latch members around the sides of the oblong, said latter members being operative to support a.

residual stach of sheetmaterial in operative-position. l

di. in a machine of the class described, a run way comprising two spaced members, a frame for a stach of sheet-material at one end thereof, and substantially parallel, elongated members each having one end fhiedly pivoted between the nrunway members and their opposite ends overlying the longitudinal dimension of the stach.

5. in a machine of the character described,

a runway, a irame ier a stach oi sheet material Vn'iachine frame and the other resiliently overlying the longitudinal dimension of the stach.

6. in a machine of the character described, a runway, a frame for a stack of sheet material at one end thereof, and two substantially parallel, elongated spaced members in the runway, one end of each of said members being pivoted to the machine frame and the other end being tapered and overlying the stack, a resilient compression member adjacent this end for damping the movement of said elongated members, and a slotted ear on each elongated member engaging a pin to effectuate a stop-action of the upward rise of said elongated members.

7. `In a `machine oi the character describeda main trame, a magazine mounted therein, a magezine-bed for supporting a supply of sheetfmaterial with one end initially lower than the other, a vertically movable elongated member underheath and having said bed pivoted thereto, means `for automatically vertically moving said elon gated member synchronously with a progressive depletion of the sheets on said bed, a lever fixed to said bed and extending substantially parallel with the line oi movement thereof, and means for moving said lever laterally simultaneously with the movement of said elongated member ior progressively elevating the said depressed end of said bed to thereby ultimately bring said bed into a substantially horizontal position.

8. In a machine of the character described, a main frame, a magazine mounted therein, amagezine-bed, an elongated member vertically movable in said frame, means for feeding same upwardly, a bracket attached to the underside of the bed, a pair oi ears on said bracket embracing the upper end oi. said elongated member, a pivoted connection between the two such as to locate the .tar end oi the bed initially in a depressed position, a yoke-member depending from said bracket alongside the elongated member, the lower extremity thereof bearing -a cam-follower member, and a cam-track fixed to the said frame, whereby there is produced a straight-line cam action progressively elevating the depressed end ci said bed when said elongated member is ied upwardly. i

9. in a machine oi the character described, a sheet-material bed having an elongated downward feeding extension member, an open electric circuit having one terminal on said feeding member, means for ieeding said elongated member upwardly, a signalling device in said circuit, the other terminal of said circuit being located on an adjusting member on the frame of the machine at such a position that the circuit is c'losed to actuate the signal when a predetermined dimincally adjusting the relative vertical height oi the respective ends or the stach in order to compenssate for the disparity in thicimess of the ends oi y the labels, whereby to maintain the pathv over titi,

the stach for the articles being labeled, always substantially horizontal and no higher at one end than at the others;

11. In a machine of the character described. a main frame, a label-receptacle mounted therein, a label-follower bed in the receptacle for supporting a supply of sheet-material with one end initially lower than the other, a vertically movable elongated member underneath .and attached to said bed, means for automatically vertically moving said elongated member synchronously with a progressive depletion of the label-supply on said follower, and means for synchronously and progressively elevating the said depressed end of said follower to thereby ultimately bring said follower into a substantially horizontal position.

l2. In a machine having a magazine for a supply of sheet-material, feeding mechanism for the magazine including a support. means for lowering the support while retaining a suilicient supply of sheets in operative position, to permit removal of sheets from the top thereof, means operated by the feeding mechanism for signalling an attendant when substantial reduction of the supply of sheets becomes imminent, and means forpermitting replenishing the sheet-supply without interfering with the removal of the sheets.

13. In a machine having a magazine for sheetmaterial, means for adjusting the magazine for inserting a fresh supply, means for supporting a residual supply in position for continuing the machine in operation while replenishing, means for joining said fresh supply to the residual supply to completely fill the magazine without interrupting the operation of the machine, and means for signalling imminent depletion of the SUDPIY- 14. In a machine having a magazine for feeding a stack of labels, means for removing labels from the top thereof, means for supporting a residual supply and means for lowering a magazine-part to take a new supply thus permitting replenishing the supply of labels without interfering with the removal of the labels from the top of the stack. and means on said replenishingpermitting means and on the machine frame for signalling imminent depletion of the stack.

15. In a machine for attaching strips of material to rollable-surfaces. a strip-receiver, means for feeding same, means for supporting a re sidual supply and means for lowering a magasinepart to take a new supply thus permitting replenishing the strip supply while simultaneously attaching the strips. and means on the replenishing-permitting members and on the machine frame for signalling imminent depletion of the strips.

16. In a machine of the character described, a label magazine bedvfor supporting a supply of labels with one end of the bed initially lower than the other, a frame member, 'an elongated member mounted for vertical movement in said frame member and having said bed pivoted thereto, means for automatically vertically moving said elongated member synchronously with a progressive depletion of the labels on said bed, a lever fixed to said bed and extending downwardly therefrom in substantially parallel relation to said elongated member, and cam means cooperating with said lever and said frame member to cause a lateral shifting of the lever as said bed rises to progressively elevate the depressed end of said bed to ultimately bring the bed into a substantially horizontal position, said cam means being adjustable to vary the initial depression of the lower end of said bed.

17. In a machine of the character described, a label magazine bed for supporting a supply of labels with one end of the bed initially lower than.

the other, a frame member. an elongated 'member mounted for vertical movement in said frame member and having said bed pivoted thereto, means for automatically vertically moving said elongated member synchronously with a progressive depletion of the labels on said bed, a lever fixed to said bed and extending downwardly therefrom in substantially parallel relation to said elongated member, ia. cam follower at the lower end of said lever, an elongated cam member having a cam track forcooperating with said cam follower to cause a lateral shifting of the lever as said bed rises to progressively elevate the depressed end of said bed to ultimately bring the bed into a substantially horizontal position, said cam member being pivoted at its upper end to said frame member and, having an adjustable connection at its lower end whereby the angularity of ,said cam track may be adjusted.

CLARENCE W. BLACKSTONE.

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