US593604A - Can-labeling machine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

H. W. PHASE.

CAN LABELING MACHINE.

Patented Npv InJnZa r THE mums qz'rsns w. ncToumo. WASNINGTON, o, c.

UNITED STATES- PATE T (lrrrcn.

HENRY XV. PEASE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO L.

C. PARKE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CAN-LABELING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,604, dated November 16, 1897.

Application filed April 22, 1895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. PEASE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Labeling Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to machines for automatically pasting labels 011 round or cylindrical objects, such as cans or'jars, and more particularly to that species of machines in which the momentum of the can or object itself in descending along an inclined runway imparts to the various devices which cooperate in the application of the label to the can the necessary power for their actuation; and my present invention is designed as an improvement on a device of this nature shown and described in United States Letters Patent to Orittenden and Pease, No. 497,368, patented May 16, 1893, to which reference may be had for an understanding of any features common to both patents.

My present improvements relate more particularly to the stop mechanism for holding thecans in check and the tripping device for releasing such mechanism.

One of the objects ofmy invention is to improve the stop mechanism and releasing device therefor, whereby the former will be more positive, accurate, and reliableinchecking the cans, and the latter will be more sensitive and responsive to the pressure of the cans and consequently will require less power for its actuation. I

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of novelty herein described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a can-labeling machine embodying my improvements, partly in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, partly broken away.

Like signs of reference indicate like parts inboth the views.

In carrying out my invention I employ an inclined runway 1, which may be of the ordinary or any suitable construction, supported Serial No. 471,464. (No model.)

upon suitable standards or legs 2. At the upper end of this runway I journal a transverse horizontal shaft 3, which is provided at a point between the sides of the runway with a number of spokes or arms 4, secured to or formed on the shaft and being capable of imparting a rotary movement thereto. These spokes or arms 4 are preferably four in number and are arranged radially on the shaft in the form of a paddle-wheel, and they constitute stops for holding the cans 5 (shown in dotted lines) in check, their dimensions being such that each in turn projects a sufficient distance above the runway to be deflected or depressed far enough .by the foremost can to bring the next arm or spoke up above the runway in front of the next can, whereby the latter will continue the rotation of the shaft 3 or will be stopped by the spoke or arm, accordingly as said shaft is locked or allowed to rotate. The construction is such, however, as to permit of only an intermittent rotation of the shaft, thus allowing the cans to pass or proceed one at a time; and to this end the shaft is provided With a toothed wheel or ratchet-wheel 6, having a number of teeth equal at least to the number of arms or levers 4 and being adapted to be engaged by a longitudinallvmovable bolt or latch 7. This latch or bolt '7 works through a suitable guide or keeper 8 and is pivoted at its lower end to a swinging arm 9, which in turn is pivoted to a standard 10 and is adapted to be deflected or raised by the moving can for withdrawing the bolt or latch 7 from engagement with the tooth of the wheel 6 each time a can rolls under and raises the arm 9. In order that the arm 9 may better perform its function, I provide the same at its lower end 0 with an antifriction roller 11, which is mounted upon a horizontal pintle projecting transversely over the runway, whereby it is adapted to be engaged by the edge of the can, and in order that the trip or releasing mech- 5 anism thus constituted may not produce an unequal resistance on the ends of the can, which would tend to deflect the can from a straight course, I arrange a similar arm 12 on the opposite side of the runway and provide ICO it likewise at its lower end'with an antifric-. tion-roller 13 similar to the roller 11, While at its upper end it is pivoted to a suitable standard 14, the two arms 9 12 being connected together, however, by a transverse shaft-15, whereby the motion of one will be imparted to the other.

If desired, one or both of the arms 9 12 may be provided with a retracting-spring 16, suitably secured to the runway or other fixed part of the machine, which will accelerate the gravitation of such arms and effect the prompt return of the bolt or latch 7 to a position to be in readiness to arrest the rotation of the shaft 3 and the arms thereon when the next tooth of thewheel 6 has reachediit. Thus it will be seen that as soon as the foremost can has passed the uppermost arm or spoke 4 the next arm will oppose the movement of the next foremost can and hold the latter-until the can just released has passed under the rollers 11 13, causing the-arms9 12 to rise andwithdraw the bolt or latch 7, where upon the rotation of the shaft will be .permitted, and the weight of the can restingagainst the uppermost one of the arms or spokes 4 will accordingly depress such armor spoke and proceed down the runway in the manner described.

After the can has passed the arm or spoke 4 and before it reaches the described tripping mechanism it rolls under the initial paste roller 17, mounted above the runway in such a position as to come in contact with the can and coat the same with paste received from a paste-trough 18 throughout a suflicient area to enable it to pick up and adhere to one of the labels 19 asit rolls over the same, substantially in the manner shown in the-afore said patent. l

\Vith the stopping and releasing mecham ismthns described it will be seen that the feeding of a single can at a time is rendered absolutely certain, inasmuch as the cans can not pass down the runway without revolving the arms or spokes 4, and in doing so theynecessarily'brin g the teeth of a the ratchet wheel 6' one after the other into engagement with the sliding bolt 7, which being arranged,

as shown, so as to move at substantially right angles to the line of pressure or force produced upon it bysuch wheel 6 is capable of resisting great pressure and yet requires but little power for its withdrawal from engage-' ment with the teeth of such wheel, thereby rendering it very sensitive and responsive to the pressure of the cans as they descend along the runway.

With-a machine of this character it is often desirable to keep, asupply of cans on the runway above the stop mechanism or spokes 4, and in order that the feeding of thissuppl-y of cans through the machine may be checked, when desired, without the necessity of removing this store of cans from the runway, I provide a stop-lever 20, which may be pivoted to the side of the'runway and provided with a tooth adapted to engage with the teeth of the wheel GWlIQD thrown into a forward po- ;for: restricting its movement tothe perpen- To each end of this table or bed 22' dicular. is secured one end of a strap or other equivalent device 23, which passes upward over a.

roller 24, journaled in the sides of the frame.

' The other ends of these strapsare secured,

respectively, to two sectors 25 26, journaled upon shafts 27, supported in the side members of the frame in such a manner that. when the sectors arerotated away from the labelbed the straps 23 will be drawn upward and the bed consequently elevated, forcing the labels 19 up flush with the surface of the runway, so as to be in a position to be impinged by the can as it rolls over them. In order that the labels may be held up to their proper position with a gentle pressure and great nice'ty, each of the sectors 25 26 is actuated to turn away from the label-bed in the. manner described by an adjustable weight 28.

' These weights may be connected to and adapt- V ed to effect the rotation of the sectors in any suitable manner. attaining this end I have provided each of the sectors with an extension or'arm 29, which is shown'as a part of the sector, but of course might be secured to the shaft 27. The weights 28 are provided with apertures, through which As a convenient means of the arms 29 pass, and with set-screws 30,by

:means of which the said weights may be secured at any desired points on the armswhen it is desired to vary the degree of upward ten;

sion on the label-bed. Ordinarily, however,

ithese weights would be so set as to a little ,more than counterbalance the weight of the,

bed and the full supply of labels. As the labels are removed one by one the weight of thebed is gradually lightened and the preponderance of weight on the off side of the sectors causes 'the bed to rise the distance of the thickness of one label, and so onnntil all of the labels have been removed, the weights 28, however,

descending a short distance each timea label is removed, and bycoming nearer'and nearer to the perpendicular in this manner their effecton'the label-bed is'diminished proportionately with the reduction of the weight on such bed, thus holding the bed up to its work at all times with a gentle and uniformpres- In order that the sectors may exert the erence to their respective straps and to the arms 29 that both arms will always be at the same angle of inclination to the perpendicular, whereby they will simultaneously arrive at a perpendicular or vertical position, and consequently simultaneously cease acting upon the label-bed. By the employment of one of these sectors at each end of the board in this manner all liability of the bed binding in its guideways is avoided and both ends are carried upward with a uniform and gentle pressure.

Throughout the specification and claims I have referred to the portions 26 as sectors, but it will nevertheless be understood that it would not involve a departure from the spirit of my invention to make these portions in the form of a complete circle or wheel, a sector being employed because the other half of a circle or wheel would be superfluous;

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a can-labeling machine, the combination with a runway and label-applyingmechanism, of a rotary stop-Wheel having a number of arms or spokes adapted to project into the path of the cans, a device for lockingsaid stop-wheel against rotation, and a trip arranged in the path of and adapted to be struck by the cans for automatically releasing said locking device, substantially as set forth.

2. In a can-labeling machine, the combination with a runway and label-applying mechanism, of a rotary stop-wheel having a number of arms or spokes adapted to project into the path of the cans and being provided with a toothed wheel, a bolt or latch arranged to engage the teeth of said wheel, and a trip arranged to be operated by the cans for automatically withdrawing said bolt or latch and releasing said stop-wheel, substantially as set forth. 3. In a can-labeling machine, the combination with a runway and label-applying mechanism, of a rotary stop-wheel having a number of arms or spokes adapted to project into the path of the cans and being provided with a toothed wheel, a bolt or latch arranged to engage with the teeth of said wheel and a pivoted arm arranged in the path of the cans and connected to said latch for withdrawing the latter from engagement with said toothed wheel, substantially as set forth.

at. In a can-labelingmachine, the combination with the runway and label-applying mechanism, of a horizontal shaft having a number of radial arms orspokes projecting upward from the runway, a ratchet-wheel on said shaft, a sliding bolt or latch arranged to engage with said ratchet-wheel, connected arms pivoted above the runway and having connection with said bolt or latch, projections on said arms extending transversely of the runway and means for forcing said latch into engagement with the ratchet-wheel, substantially as set forth.

5. In a can-labeling machine, the combination with a runway and label-applying mechanism, of a rotary stop-wheel having a number of arms or spokes adapted to project into the path of the cans, a ratchet-Wheel on the axis of said stop-wheel having teeth corresponding in number and arrangement with said arms or spokes, a device for locking said stop-wheel against rotation, a trip arranged in the path of and adapted to be struck by the cans for automatically releasing said locking device, and a permanent stop-lever having a tooth and being pivoted so as toswing into engagement with the teeth of said ratchetwheel, substantially asset forth.

6. In a can-labeling machine, the combina tion with a body portion, of can-delivering means, a paste-applying device, a label-carrying table, a stop-detent for the delivering means, and a lever carried tion, and adapted to be engaged by the can, said lever being connected to and controlling the stop and detent, substantially as set forth.

7. In a can-labeling machine, an inclined table or way over which the can rolls, awheel located in the can-path and controlling the feed of the cans, a locking device for the wheel and means also located in the can-path and actuated by the passing cans for releasing the locking device, substantially as set forth.

8. In a can-labeling machine, radial arms forming receptacles into which the cans are received at the upper end of the table, a pawlan d-ratchet mechanism by which the holdingarms are retained in position, a roller at the lower end of the apparatus adapted to be raised by the passage of the cans beneath it and a connection between said roller and the pawl which holds the ratchet at the upper end, whereby the pawl is withdrawn and the cans delivered upon the table, substantially as set forth.

HENRY W. PEASE. /Vitnesses F. A. HOPKINS, .JNo. G. ELLIOTT.

on the body por ICO

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