US2509902A - Labeling machine for cylindrical bottles and like articles - Google Patents

Description

May '30, 1950 s. E. BANKS LABELING MACHINE FOR CYLINDRICAL BOTTLES AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed June 2, 19 8 6 Sheets-Sheet l Attorney NKg 2,509.902 HINE FOR zmxcm. BOTTLES AND Lm: mucus May'30, 1950 s. E.'

LABELING MAC 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1948 I nvenlor om J A ttornev y 1950 s. E. BANKS 2,509,902 LABELING momma run cnmnmcu.

BOTTLES AND mu; mxcuzs 6 Sheets-sheaf; 3

Filed June 2, 1948 F/GG.

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l 0 I. n e U n I A ltorney 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/GB.

Ill/ll III] E. BANKf:

48 Inventor ,g g, M By M Mn, '9 AL;

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LABELING MACHINE FOR CYLINDRICAL May 30, 1950 Filed June 2, 1948 May 30, 1950 's. E. BANKS LABELING MACHINE FOR CYLINDRICAL BOTTLES mu um umcms 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 2; 1948 FIG/l FIG/6.

May 30, 1950 s. E. BANKS LABELING IACHINE FOR CYLINDRICAL BOTTLES AND um ARTICLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 2, 1948 A Home) ery plate.

Patented May 30, 1950 OFFICE LABELING MACHINE FOR CYLINDRICAL BOTTLES AND LIKE ARTICLES Sydney E. Banks, Sheffield, England Application June 2, 1948, Serial No. 30,664 In Great Britain June 20, 1947 26 Claims. (Cl. 216-54) This invention relates to labelling machines for cylindrical bottles and the like articles (hereinafter generally referred to as bottles), its object being to provide a machine capable of applying labels accurately to bottles fed at a high rate through the machine.

According to the present invention, a labelling machine for cylindrical bottles and like articles comprises means to apply gum to one face of a label, a delivery plate with suction openings, means to transfer the label, gummed-side out, to the delivery plate, for the label to be held by suction applied to its non-gummed face, and means to roll an article over the delivery plate to apply the label to the article.

A pick-up plate may be used to receive a label from a label-stack, the side of the pick-up plate first receiving the gum that is to be applied to the label, and a labelling machine so provided comprises an apertured pick-up plate, means for intermittently rotating the plate into different positions, means disposed opposite one such position of the plate for applying gum to the plate on each side of the aperture, a label stack disposed opposite another position of the plate, a delivery plate disposed opposite yet another position of the plate, means to move the label stack towards the gummed pick-up plate to apply a label to the plate, a transfer pusher movable through the aperture in the pick-up plate towards the delivery plate when the pick-up plate, with attached label, is opposite the delivery plate, means to move the pusher through the aperture, suction openings in the delivery plate to provide for holding to the delivery plate a label transferred from the pick-up plate, a conveyor for cylindrical articles, means for intermittently rotating the delivery plate between the position opposite the pick-up plate and a position alongside the conveyor, and means to roll an article on the conveyor over the delivery plate to apply the label to the article.

The delivery plate may be hollowed to a curve struck about the centre of a drum or wheel serving to roll the bottle over the plate, especially if the bottle tends to slip on the surface of the plate, as when the bottle is damp with condensation. For many purposes, however, the plate may be flat. The rim of the wheel is surfaced to have a driving grip on the bottle, eg, with rubber, rubberised or similar resilient material, as also are the surfaces of the transfer pusher and the deliv- The peripheral speed of the drum is substantially twice the rate of feed of the bottles.

pusher, to ensure accurate positioning of the label on the delivery plate, as well as to assist in removing the label from the gummed faces of the pick-up plate. Means may be provided to reduce the suction when the delivery plate lies alongside the conveyor; this facilitates removal of the label by the bottle rolled over the face, and also lessens the amount of air drawn into the system after the label has been removed from the face.

A resilient mountin of the wheel for rolling the bottle over the delivery plate enables the wheel to recede and return as the bottle passes into and out of the nip formed by the rim of the wheel and the plate.

The bottle is in rotation before it reaches the delivery plate, and for this purpose a wall alongside theconveyor leads smoothly to the plate and is resiliently surfaced to avoid slipping of the bottle.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan of the machine;

Figure 2 is a front elevation;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan of the main driving mechanism;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure Figure 6 is a front elevation, and Figure 7 an underneath plan of a Geneva-stop mechanism; Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure Figure 10 in a section on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a sectional detail of Figure 2, taken on the line "-4 I, of Figure 14;

Figure 12 is a section on the line l2--|2 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a section on the line l3-l3 of Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a section on the line l4--l4 of Figure 11;

Figure 15 is a section on the line l5-l5 of Fi ure 13;

Figure 16 is a section on the line Iii-I6 of Figure Figure 17 is a sectional plan on the line l|--I1 of Figure 5;

Figure 18 is a section on the line l8--I8 of Fig- It is preferable to apply suction to the transfer ure 17;

Figures 19 and 20 are diagrammatic plans of one valve gear;

Figure 21 is a diagrammatic plan of another valve gear Figure 22 is a diagrammatic section on the line 22-22 of Figure 8;

Figure 23 is an elevation taken in the direction 2323 of Figure 22;

Figure 24 is a section on the line 2424 of Fi ure 23;

Figure 25 is an elevation in the direction 25-25 of Figure 8, to a larger scale; and

Figure 26 is a diagrammatic plan of a modification of Figure 1;

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the machine comprises a central base i supporting a base plate 2 above and below which are housed the principal units of mechanism. Front and rear extensions 3 and 4 from the base l are generally flush with the plate 2 and provide for the feed and delivery oi the bottles. A chain conveyor 5 is carried by the sprockets 6, passing across the parts 2, 3 and 4 in a level path and returning below the plates.

The drive is provided by a motor 1 in the base I through a V-belt 8, variable V-pulleys 9 controlled by a lever it to adjust the speed of the machine as a whole, and v-belt i to a cross shaft l2 and thence through a worm i3 and worm wheel l4 to a longitudinal shaft 55 (Figure 3). Bevel gears I6 transmit the drive to a second cross shaft ii. The conveyor 5 is driven by a sprocket i8 and chain I9 from the shaft ii to a sprocket 28 connected to the sprocket 6 at the delivery end. At the feed end of the shaft i5 a sprocket 2| (Figure 10) is connected by a chain 22 to a sprocket 23 secured to a sprocket 24, both sprockets being rotatable at the upper end of an arm 25 pivoted at 26.

The sprocket 24 is connected by chain 21 to a sprocket 28 on a. sleeve 29 rotatable on a stub axle 30 secured in a block 3|. The sleeve 28 has secured to it a worm feed device 32 having the pitch of its thread 33 increasing from the feed end towards the delivery end of the machine. The chain 21 is held taut by a spring 33A connected to the arm 25.

Bottles 34 are led to the conveyor 5, e. g. in succession from automatic fill ng and stoppering machines, and pass between a wall 35 (Figure l) ending at the worm feed 32 and a wall 36 parallel to and extending beyond the worm feed. The speed of the conveyor 5 determines the speed with which the bottles 34 pass through the operative part of the machine in the area occupied by the plate 2, and the worm feed 32 determines the spacing of one bottle from the next and also the timing of the bottles through the operative part of the machine, by holding back the bottles where the pitch of the thread 33 is shortest and gradually allowing them to acquire the speed of the conveyor 5 as the pitch increases. The result is that bottles 34 follow each other at a predetermined spacing and at a definite speed from the delivery end of the worm feed 32, from which point they are guided by the extension of the side wall 36 and an opposing wall 31. At the end of the wall 36 is a gap. 36 on the far side of.

which is a short plate 38, and the gap is intermittently closed by one side of a rotatable delivery box 4|). A corresponding but larger gap 4| faces the gap 38 between one end of the wall 31 and the end of a similar wall 42.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 8, it will be seen that the gap 4| is substantially op- P081 the i ht or the delivery a a is deep enough to allow the rim of a feed wheel a 43 to protrude towards the delivery mwheel 43 is carried by ashaft 44 in horizontal swinging arms 45 pivoted about the axis of a vertical shaft 43 carried in a bearing 41 on the plate 2 (Figure 10). The shaft I5 drives the shaft 46 through bevel gears 48 and the upper end of the shaft 46 carries a sprocket 48 driving through a chain 50 a sprocket 6| on the shaft 44 to drive the periphery oi the wheel 43 at twice the linear speed of the bottles as they pass the delivery box 4|). The arms 45 lie substantially parallel to the conveyor 5 and a spring 52 (Figure 8) connected to the lower arm 45 and anchored at 53 to a slide 64 urges the arms 45 and the wheel 43 towards the delivery box, the movement being limited by a stop 55.

The rim of the wheel is recessed to receive a facing 56 of rubber, slightly protruding so as to provide the only contact with the bottles 34. The ends of the plates 36 and 38 adjacent the gap 38 are faced with rubber 51, and the sides of the delivery box 48 are also resiliently faced, as will be described fully below.

The wheel 43 protrudes through the gap 4| until the stop 55 limits the approach to the delivery box 48 to an amount somewhat less than the diameter of the bottles. The arrival of a bottle at the feed end of the gap 38 thus brings the bottle into contact with the rubber rim 56 and the rotation of the wheel 43 (clockwise in Figure 1) causes the bottle to rotate anticlockwise across the gap, making contact at a line on the side of the box 40 for the time being closing the gap, The wheel 43 swings slightly about the axis of the shaft 46 against the pressure of the spring 52, the spring keeping the bottle in firm contact with the wheel 43 and the box 48, but gently enough to lessen the risk of bottle breakage. Each bottle is thus caused to roll over a side of the box 40, until, under the continued movement of the conveyor 5, it passes out of contact with the wheel 43 and proceeds to the delivery end of the machine, where a wide table 58 extends to each side of the conveyor to allow the accumulation of a large number of labelled bottles ready to be placed in crates.

The slide 54 is carried by guides 58 (Figure 10) on the plate 2 and may be rdjusted towards and away from the delivery box 40 by a screw 66 ending in a knob 6|. The slide carries with it the stop 55, thus determining the approach of the wheel 43 towards the box 46; also the walls 31 and 42, determining the width of the channel through which bottles are carried by the conveyor 5 pass the box 48; and also the block 3| carrying the worm feed 32. The machine may thus be adjusted to take difierent diameters of bottles by rotation of the knob 6 Labels are presented to the bottles by the delivery box 48 and are supplied from a label feed device 62 to the sides of a pick-up box 63, which sides are provided with gum by a gumming device 64. Labels are transferred from the pickup box 63 to the delivery box 40 by a pusher 66.

Drive to delivery box, label feed, pick-up box, and packet The shaft l1 drives through bevel gears 66 66, a vertical shaft 61 which is connected by spur gears 68 with another vertical shaft 68 (Figure 9). The foot of the shaft 61 carries the driving member 14 of a Geneva-stop mechanism, the pin 1| entering the radial grooves 12 in the other member 12A of the Geneva-stop mechanism carried on the foot of a shaft 13 at the top of which is mounted the delivery box 40. The foot of the shaft 69 also carries the driving member I0 of a Geneva-stop mechanism, the corresponding driven member 15 being at the foot of a vertical shaft 16 at the top of which is mounted the pickup box 63. The Geneva-stop mechanisms bring the delivery box 40 and the pick-up box 63 to rest in the positions shown in Figure 1, the precise timing being explained below. The Geneva-stopss and associated mechanisms may run in oil to preserve their accuracy over long periods. When at rest, opposite sides of the pick-up box register with the label feed 62 and the gumming device 64.

Label feed The label feed comprises a slide 11 carried by guides I8 (Figure from the plate 2, a connecting rod I9 pivoted at 80 to the slide being driven by a crank pin 8| at the top of the shaft 69 (Figure 5). A plate 82 resting on the upper face of the slide 'Il carries two upright plates 83 each with a central aperture 84 generally conforming to the shape of the label to be applied, the plates 83 being connected by four bars 85 protruding into the apertures 84 sufflciently for their inner edges 86 to touch the outline of a label 01, shown in the present instance as oval in shape. A stack 88 of such labels is charged between the ends 89 of the rods 85 and pushed towards the claw ends 90 of the rods lying in proximity to the pick-up box 63. The claw ends are bent slightly inwards so as to resist movement of the stack 88 along the bars 85. Behind the stack is placed a pusher 9|, shaped to correspond with the labels 81, carried by a square pusher rod 92 resting on the periphery of a non-rotatable pulley 93 carried on the end of an upstanding lever 94 pivoted at 95. At an intermediate point, the lever 94 is pivoted at 96 to a link 91 pivoted at 98 to the slide IT. The rod 92 extends beyond the pulley 93 and at its free end 99 is connected to a cord I00 passing round the pulley 93 in a groove I0 I, and, after making at least one full circuit of the pulley, passing over a guide I02 to end in a weight I03.

The reciprocation of the slide IT by the crank pin 8| moves the bars 85 and the label stack 88 carried by them a fixed distance at each stroke towards the pick-up box 63. The pivot point 96 of the lever 94 is moved by the same amount but the upper end of the lever carrying the fixed pulley 93 is moved by a greater distance, in proportion to the ratio provided by the lever. The cord I00 is held firmly in the groove IOI of the pulley 93 by the weight I03 and the movement of the slide 'I'l towards the pick-up box 63 causes the cord I00 to urge the rod 92 connected to the pusher 9I towards the stack 88 at a greater rate than that at which the stack is being moved to wards the pick-up box 63. Similarly, when the slide 11 moves away from the pick-up box, the pulley 93 moves at a correspondingly greater rate than the rod 92, thus slackening the cord, which slips round the pulley and relieves the pressure of the pusher 9I on the label stack. The purpose of this arrangement will appear below.

Gumming device On the shaft I! a sprocket I04 drives through a chain I05 a sprocket I06 (Figure 13) on a shaft I01 carrying a spur gear I08, a pin I09 protruding from the face of the gear. A gum roller H0 is carried on a shaft II I across a sum trough I I2.

The shaft III is in line with the shaft I01 and a plate H3 on the shaft III has a fork III to embrace the pin I09, thus providing for the driving of the gum roller H0, and, with the fork II4 brought to the horizontal position shown in Figure 15, enables the gum trough I I2 to be slid out to the right from its support II5 for cleaning purposes. A scraper blade II6 removes surplus gum from the surface of the roller 0.

The spur gear I08 meshes with a spur pinion III (Figure 14) rotatable on a stub shaft I I8 and secured to a driving sleeve II9 for two rubber belts I20 fitting in grooves I2I in the sleeve and presenting projecting faces I22 to receive gum from contact of the roller I I0 with the lower runs of the belts. A second sleeve I23 rotatable on a stub axle I24 supports the other ends of the two belts, the axle I24 being carried in a bearing I26 spaced from the shaft I I8 sufllciently to keep the belts I20 taut. Between the sprocket I06 and the spur gear I08 the shaft I0'I carries a pinion I26 meshing with a spur gear I21 on a shaft I29 carrying a sprocket I29, driving through a. chain I30 (Figure 12) a sprocket I3I on a driving shaft I32 over-hanging the belts I20. A 3-armed spider I33 is carried on the shaft I32 and each arm of the spider has a transverse pivot I34 on each end of which is pivotally mounted a Z-lever I35, the levers I35 being urged together by a spring I36. Between adjustable pivot points I31 in each pair of arms I35 is mounted a spindle I38 parallel to the shaft I 32, a pair of rubber rollers I39 spaced in accordance with the spacing of the belts I20 being secured on each spindle I38. The arms I35 project beyond the pivots I 34 to provide attachments at I40 for two sets of three springs I4I arranged in the form of a triangle. The tendency of the springs MI is to urge the rollers I39 outwards from the shaft I32, the movement being limited by stops I42.

Referring to Figure 2, the rotation of the gum roller H0 is counter-clockwise and of the sleeves II9, I23 clockwise. The belts I20 thus pick-up the controlled amount of gum supplied by the roller H0. The rotation of the spider I33 is clockwise to carry each pair of rollers M39 in turn along the upper (inclined) run of the belts I20, but in the opposite direction to the motion of the belts. The yielding of the springs I4I allows each pair of rollers I39 to follow a length of the upper run of the belts to drive the rollers at an increased speed and cause them to pick up gum from the belts. The contact of the rollers I39 with the yielding parts of the belts I20 between the supporting sleeves I I9, I23 provides for accurate transfer of gum from the belts to the rollers.

Pick-up box Each of the four sides I43 of the pick-up box 63 has a central slot I44 extending through the bottom edge I45 of the sides. On each side of the slot the side I43 has attached to it vertical strips I46 of rubber wide enough to extend beyond the two edges of a label 81 (Figure 18). The two strips I46 are spaced correspondingly to the two rollers I39 of each of the three pairs of rollers carried by the spider I33, and when the box 63 is at rest a pair of rollers that has just received gum from the belts I 20 is carried up the strips I46 of the side of the box 63 next to the gumming device, the spider I33 being rotated at of the speed of the Geneva-stop drive member I0 rotating the box 63. The springs I4I allow the rollers I39 to follow the side of the box 63 as they are carried round by the spider I33. The independent mounting of each arm I35 of a pair enables each roller I39 of a pair to make correct contact with the corresponding strip I46.

In each side of the box holes I41 just large enough to permit entry of the claw ends 90 of the bars 85 of the label feed 62 pass through the rubber I46 and the metal backing of the box. After the rollers I39 have applied gum to the rubber strips I46 of the pick-up box 63, operation of the Geneva-stop mechanism connecting the shafts 69 and 16 rotates the box 63 by successive A-revolutions to bring the gummed side through an idle position and then into a position opposite the label feed. The box remains at rest after each %-revolution.

Operation of label feed device When at rest opposite the label feed device 62, the gummed side of the box has the label stack carried towards it by operation of the crank pin 8|, the claw ends of the rods 85 entering the holes I41, and the pusher 9| acting on the rear of the stack presses the label 81 at the forward end of the stack 88 into close contact with the gummed strips I46.

As indicated above, the extra leverage of the arms 94 of the rod 92 presses the labels 81 in the stack 88 and ensures intimate contact of the foremost label with the face of the pick-up box. The labels are placed in the stack with their blank sides facing the pick-up box position, and the pressure exerted through the stack causes the rear of the foremost label to adhere to the gummed strips I46. On return of the slide 11, the increased speed of the rod 92 relieves the pressure on the pusher 9| rapidly from the stack, and in doing so, prevents the label now adhering to the pick-up box from being nipped in the claw ends of the rods 85 and being pulled away from the pick-up box by the receding label stack.

This avoids a difliculty arising if the edges of the labels in the stack are not quite in line, when a protruding edge of the foremost label might be folded back by a claw over the edge of the next label, and held there, were the pressure on the stack not relieved as just described.

After retraction of the label feed device 62 the pick-up box moves through another A-revolu tion to bring the side I43 carrying the label oppositeone of the sides I48 of the delivery box 40 lying parallel to the face of the pick-up box.

Pusher mechanism On the shaft 69 is secured a cam I49 (Figures and 1'1) of simple eccentric form operating through a follower I50 a lever I5I secured to the lower end of a shaft I52 mounted in a bearing I53 carried by the plate 2 (Figure 18). Above the plate 2 the shaft I52 carries a lever I54 pivoted at I55 to a flat link I56 slotted at I51 to pass round the pick-up box shaft 16 and its upper bearing I58. The link I56 is pivoted at I59 to a lever I60 pivoted at I6I on the plate 2, the levers I5I and I60 and the link I56 forming a parallel linkage. Under the operation of the cam I46,

the link I56 is movable between the pick-up box shaft 16 and the delivery box shaft 13 in a direction substantially parallel to the plane through the axes of these shafts.

.Near the pivot I50 the pusher 65 upstands from the link I56 in a position in line with the slot I44 in the face of the box 63 adjacent the box 40. On the side towards the box 40 the pusher is faced with rubber I62 (Figure 25) having a central gap I63 slightly less in height than the length of the label 81, and within the gap two inset islands I64 of rubber are secured, flush with the rubber I62. Between the insets a suction passage I65 emerges, the passage being connected by a vertical passage I66 within the pusher 65 leading to a flexible tube I61 by which suction may be applied to the pusher.

When the pick-up box 63 is rotating, the pusher 65 lies within the box because the cam I49 has pushed the link I56 towards the shaft 16. After the box 63 has come to rest, the cam I49 allows a spring I68 (Figure 1'7) acting between one of the label feed slides 18 and the lever I to push the link I56 towards the delivery box shaft 13, and the pusher passes through the slot I44 in the side I43 of the pick-up box 63 bearing the label 81 to carry the label towards the side I48 of the delivery box 40. The width of the pusher and of the slot I44 and the distance between the faces I43 and I48 of the two boxes are such that the pusher removes from the gummed strips I46 the sides of the label 81 previously adhering to the strips. The suction applied by the passage I65 to the space within the gap I63 surrounding the islands I64 causes the central ungummed portion of the label 81 to be held to the pusher, the islands preventing undue sucking in of the central strip of the label and thus enabling the label to lie substantially flat across the rubber face I62 of the pusher, with the gummed edges protruding to each side of the pusher.

The suction ensures that the label is positioned on the pusher, irrespective of any tendency for one side to adhere more strongly to the side of the pick-up box than the other, and to be accurately positioned on the delivery-box, and, in turn, on the bottle. v

Delivery box The pusher carries the label thus detached from the pick-up box 63 to the side I48 of the delivery box, the front (ungummed) face of the label being next to the delivery box. Each side I48 is covered with resilient material I69 (described more fully below) pierced with six holes I10 disposed in conformity with the shape of the label (Figure 23) and connected by channels I1I behind the covering I69 to a passage I12 connected by a tube I13 to one of four nipples I14 by which suction is applied just as the label 81 is placed against the covering I69. Suction is cut ofl from the pusher (by valve mechanism described below) and the label is left adhering to the side I48 of the delivery box 40, with the gummed face of the label 81 outwards. The Geneva-stop mechanism on the shafts 61, 13 carries the delivery box 40 through two successive A,-revolutions to bring the side I48 carrying the label 81- into the gap 38 opposite the rubberrimmed wheel 43. The delivery box 40 comes to rest just before the bottle 34 reaches the gap 38 filled by the side I48 of the delivery box. The bottle is then rolled by the wheel 43 over the rubber surface 51 at the end of the wall 36 so that the bottle is rotating when it reaches the nowstationary side I48 and picks up the label by the adhesion of the gum on the sides of the label facing the bottle. When the bottle is released from the pressure of the wheel 43, the continued movement of the conveyor 5 carries the bottle 34, with label attached, to the delivery table 58.

As shown in Figure 1, the corners I15 of the pick-up box 63 are cut away, and this, with slight out-of-phase operation of the Geneva-stop mechanisms, enables the boxes 63 and 40 to rotate through successive A-revolutions without interference between each other, giving rapid rotary movements separating fairly long stationary periods for the application of gum and of labels to the pick-up box and for the transfer of labels by the pusher 65 from the pick-up box to the delivery box, and for rolling of the bottles 34 over the delivery box to receive the labels.

Suction mechanism Suction to the pusher 65 and the sides I48 of the delivery box 40 is supplied from a tank I16 (Figure 4) connected to a suction pump I11 driven by sprocket I18 and chain I19 from a sprocket I80 on the shaft I1 (Figure 3) A common outlet I8I from the tank I16 is controlled by a cock I82 leading to three branch connections I83, I84, and I 85. The branch I83 leads to the stationary upper member I86 (Figure 9) of a valve I81 at the upper end of the shaft 61. The member I86 is held down by a spring finger I 86A, which also embraces a pin I86B to prevent the member rotating. The branch I83 is connected to a central passage I88 (Figure 19) registering with a central passage I89 (Figure 20) in the lower member I90 of the valve, the member I90 being secured to the shaft 61. A curved passage I 9| in the member I90 communicates with the passage I89 through a passage I92 and is rotated by the shaft 61 over ports I 93, I94 in the face of the upper member M6. The port I93 is connected by the flexible tube I61 to the pusher 65. The port I94 is connected by a flexible tube I95 to a valve I96 above the delivery box 49.

The valve I96 (Figure 8) is mounted concentric with the shaft 13 by a disc I91 at the upper end of the shaft and is held against rotation by a pin I98 entering a slot I99 in a member 200 bridging the gap 38 at which the sides I48 of the box 40 are presented. On the under face of the valve I96 (Figure 21) are three ports 2M, 202. and 293 arranged round part of the circle containing the connecting passage of the four nipples I14 within the box 40. The flexible pipe I95 is connected to the port 20I nearest to the pick-up box 63. 20I is a short port slightly separated from the elongated port 292 disposed above a nipple I14 in the position reached by the first Vi -revolution of a side I48 of the box I 40 in its movement away from the pick-up box 63 towards the gap 38. The port 203 is a short port slightly separated from the port 202 and is disposed above a nipple I14 in the position nearest the gap 38.

The port 202 is connected to the flexible branch I84 and the port 203 is connected to the branch I85, 2. throttle valve 204 being arranged in the Branch I85, so that a reduced amount of suction is available at the port 293, as compared with the suction available at the ports 20I, and 202.

The operation of the valves I81 and I96 is as follows: The rotation of the lower half I90 of the valve I81 brings the passage I 9I connected via I92, I89, I88, and I83 to the receiver I16 into communication with the port I 93 connected by the flexible pipe I61 to the pusher 65 just before the pusher is carried through the slot I44 in the side of the pick-up box 63 to carry a label 81 towards the delivery box 40. This provides the suction to hold the label to the pusher 65 during detachment of the label from the box 63, and the suction is maintained until the passage I9I also communicates with the port I94 in the upper half I86 of the valve to apply suction via the pipe I95 and the port 20I to the side I48 of the delivery box 40 facing the pusher 65. Suction is thus momentarily applied to both faces of the label, and is then broken from the pusher to leave the label adhering to the delivery box. As the box rotates, the label is retained through two A;--revolutions of the box by the elongated port 202 maintaining suction on the label I14, the gap between the ports 20I 202, being bridged by the nipple inlet as the box 40 rotates. Similarly, the gap between the ports 202 and 203 is bridged as the box brings the side I48 carrying the label into the gap 38, but, a the nipple I14 leaves the port 202, the lesser amount of suction supplied by the branch I through port 203, comes into operation, and the label 81 is left adhering less strongly to the side I48 of the box, so as not unduly to resist transfer of the label 81 to the bottle 34 by the contact of the gummed sides of the label to the bottle.

Moreover, the throttle valve 204 limits the amount of air that is sucked through the holes I10 in the side of the delivery box while that side remains stationary after removal of the label by the bottle. When the delivery box next rotates, the nipple I14 belonging to that side moves to a blank portion of the valve I96 to cut oil? ingress of air into the suctionsystem.

Miscellaneous details The side I48 of the delivery box should not encourage the bottle to slip under the rolling pressure applied by the wheel 43. For dry bottles, thick rubber sheet is very satisfactory, Corkimpregnated rubber may also be used, this material also being useful if the bottles are damp, as by condensation; but for damp bottles it is preferred to use rubber covered with chamois leather, or sponge rubber, the latter yielding slightly to the curve of the bottle to discourage slipping. As an alternative, the delivery box 40A may have curved sides I48A struck about the axis of the shaft 44 carrying the wheel 43, as shown. in Figure 26. This reduces the tendency of a bottle to slip when it is being rolled over the delivery box, especially if the bottles are clamp.

The pick-up box and delivery box should be of light construction to enable them to partake of the rapid intermittent movements necessary for high output without unduly stressing the mechanism.

A vertical slot 205 (Figures 1 and 5) is formed in the front face of the pusher 9| of the label feed device 82, for the insertion of a U-spring 206 of fiat strip when the pusher carries the rear of the exhausting label stack 88 beyond the foremost plate 83. The spring 206 maintains the pressure on the stack while the pusher is withdrawn for the insertion of further labels, the spring being withdrawn after replacement of the pusher. By these means, the stack may be replenished without stopping the machine. As the labels are gradually consumed, the weight I03 causes cord I08 to slip round the pulley 93 to enable the pusher 9I to follow the rear of the stack.

As shown in Figures 1 and 8, a cut-away portion 201 of the cover for the wheel 43 is formed opposite the delivery box 40. This ensures that if a bottle 34 arrives by accident at the labelling position while the box 40 is still turning, the bottle will not be crushed. The wheel 43 would, of course, be pushed back against the spring 52.

For shapes of label other than oval, the: bars 85 of the label feed device 62 and the holes I41 in the pick-up box 63 would be appropriately positioned, and the pusher 9I would be shaped to cor- 11 respond. For wider labels, the slots I in the sides of the pick-up box 63 may be made wider. the pusher 65 being correspondingly wider.

The label feed device 62, pusher 65 and pickup box 53 may be readily interchanged for different sizes of labels. The sets of holes ill] in the delivery box 40 may also be spaced wider apart for wider labels, as by interchanging the sides of the box, or the complete box may be interchanged. In general, a bigger bottle requires a bigger label; and also a worm 32 with larger pitch, though a single worm 32 suiilces for dif ferent sizes of bottles within the limits of its pitch.

Although the gumming device has been shown with three pairs of rollers I39, with a rate of rotation appropriate to their use with a foursided pick-up box 63, a different number of rollers could be used, say four, with appropriately ad- Justed rate of rotation.

What I claim is:

1. A labelling machine for cylindrical bottles and like articles comprising means to apply gum to one face of a label, a delivery plate with suction openings, means to transfer the label, gummed-side out, to the delivery plate, for the label to be held by suction applied to its nongummed face, and means to roll an article over the delivery plate to apply the label to the article.

2. A labelling machine as in claim 1, wherein the means for rollin an article over the delive y plate comprises a wheel.

3. A labelling machine as in claim 2, comprising a resilient mounting for the wheel to enable the wheel to recede and return as the bottle passes into and out of the nip formed by the rim of the wheel and the delivery plate.

4. A labelling machine as in claim 2, comprising means to vary the width of the nip formed by the rim of the wheel and the delivery plate to accommodate articles of different diameters.

5. A labelling machine for cylindrical bottles and like articles, said machine comprising an apertured pick-up plate, means for intermittently rotatin the plate into different positions, means disposed opposite one such position of the plate, for applying gum to the plate on each side of the aperture, a label stack disposed opposite another position of the plate, a delivery plate disposed opposite yet another position of the plate, means to move the label stack towards the gummed pick-up plate to apply a label to the plate, a transfer pusher movable through the aperture in the pick-up plate towards the delivery plate when the pick-up plate. with attached label. is opposite the delivery plate, means to move the pusher throughv the aperture, suction openings in the delivery plate to provide for holding to the delivery plate a label transferred from the pick-up plate, a conveyor for cylindnical articles, means for intermittently rotating the delivery plate between the position opposite the pick-up plate and a position alongside the conveyor, and means to roll an article on the conveyor over the delivery plate to apply the label to the article.

6. A labelling machine as in claim 5, comprising means for applying suction to the transfer pusher just before the pusher moves through the aperture in the pick-up plate.

7. A labelling machine as in claim 6, wherein the means to apply suction to the pusher and the delivery plate operate to apply suction simultaneously to both faces of the label, and means are 12 provided to break the suction at the pusher to leave the label adhering to the delivery plate.

8. A labelling machine as in claim 5, wherein the means for rolling an article over the delivery plate comprises a wheel.

9. A labelling machine asin claim 8, comprising a resilient mounting for the wheel to enable the wheel to recede and return as the bottle passes into and out of the nip formed by the rim of the wheel and the delivery plate.

10. A labelling machine as in claim 8, comprising means to vary the width of the nip formed by the rim of the wheel and the delivery plate to accommodate articles of different diameters.

11. A labelling machine as in claim 5, wherein the delivery plate is surfaced with resilient material.

12. A labelling machine as in claim 5, comprising a gumming device having a driving shaft, rollers on spindles parallel to the shaft, springs urging the rollers outwards from the shaft, and belts to receive gum, the gumming device being disposed so that the rollers move along the gummed belts as the shaft is rotated, and then along the side of the pick-up plate, the springs yielding to permit the rollers to follow the belts and the plate.

13. A labelling machine as in claim 5, wherein the label stack has a pusher for the labels, means being provided to move the pusher towards and away from the pick-up plate at a speed greater than the speed of the stack towards and away from the plate.

14. A labelling machine as in claim 13, comprising, as means for moving the label pusher, a lever, a non-rotatable grooved pulley secured to the end of the lever, a pusher rod resting on the periphery of the pulley, and a weighted cord connected to the free end of the rod and passing round the groove in the pulley, means being provided to move an intermediate point of the lever at the same speed as the label stack.

15. A labelling machine for cylindrical bottles and like articles, comprising a pick-up box, the sides of which are apertured, a delivery box, the sides of which have suction openings, a conveyor for cylindrical articles, means for intermittently rotating the boxes so that a side of one is brought opposite a side of the other, and a side of the delivery box is brought alongside the conveyor, means for applying gum to each side of the pick-up box in turn, a label stack, means to move the label stack towards the pick-up box to apply a label to each gummed side in turn, a transfer pusher movable through the aperture in the side of the pick-up box opposite a side of the delivery box, means to move the pusher through the aperture to transfer a label from the pick-up box to the delivery box, means to apply suctions to the openings in the side of the delivery box to which the label has been transferred, and means to roll an article on the conveyor over the side of the delivery box alongside the conveyor to apply to the article a label held by suction to that side of the box.

16. A labelling machine as in claim 15, comprising means for applying suction to the transfer pusher just before the pusher moves through an aperture in a side of the pick-up box.

17. A labelling machine as in claim 16, wherein the means to apply suction to the pusher and the delivery box operate to apply suction simultaneously to both faces of the label, and means are provided to break the suction at the pusher to leave the label adhering to the delivery box.

18. A labelling machine as in claim 15, wherein the means for rolling an article over the delivery box comprises a wheel.

19. A labelling machine as in claim 15, comprising a resilient mounting for the wheel to enable the wheel to recede and return as the bottle passes into and out of the nip formed by the rim of the wheel and the delivery box.

20. A labelling machine as in claim 18, comprising means to vary the width of the nip formed by the rim of the wheel and the delivery box to accommodate articles of different diameters.

21. A labelling machine as in claim 15, wherein the delivery box is surfaced with resilient material.

22. A labelling machine as in claim 15, comprising a gumming device having a driving shaft, rollers on spindles parallel to the shaft, springs urging the rollers outwards from the shaft, and belts to receive gum, the gumming device being disposed so that the rollers move along the gummed belts as the shaft is rotated, and then along the side of the pick-up box, the spnings yielding to permit the rollers to follow the belts and the side of the pick-up plate.

23. A labelling machine as in claim 15, wherein the label stack has a pusher for the labels, means being provided to move the p sher towards and away from the pick-up box at a speed greater than the speed of the stack towards and away from the side of the pick-up plate.

24. A labelling machine as in claim 23, comprising, as means for moving the label pusher, a lever, a non-rotatable grooved pulley secured to the end of the lever, a pusher rod resting on the periphery of the pulley, and a weighted cord connected to the free end of the rod and passing round the groove in the pulley, means being provided to move an intermediate point of the lever at the same speed as the label stack.

25. A labelling machine as in claim 5 wherein the transfer pusher is faced with resilient material.

23. A labelling machine as in claim 15 wherein the transfer pusher is faced with resilient material.

SYDNEY E. BANKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 787,744 Fisher et a1 Apr. 18, 1905 1,981,278 Mudd Nov. 23, 1934

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