US2119371A - Machine for applying labels - Google Patents

Description

May 31, 1938; GQW, VO HOE 2,119,371

' MACHINE. FOR APPLYING LABELS 3 Sheets-Sheet ,1

Filed July 1 1935 ENTOR. EEQRBE Won/mm ATTORNEY.

ca. w. VON HOF E MACHINE FOR APPLYING LABELS #Filed July 16, i956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

EEOREEW l m' HOFE BY' r i ATTOEYS.

Maya, 1938. G.w.voN HOFE 2,119,3

MACHINE FOR APPLYING LABELS Filed July 16, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w v 6 F 3 E;

O 1 7 6A! 4M INVENTOR. GE Wvon/ Hora ATTORNEYS cylindrical articles of relatively small diameter Patented May 31, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE P he a 2,119,371

2,119,371 p MACHINE, FOR APPLYING LABELS I George ,vonHoI'e, Bound Brook, N. J., assign a or to New Jersey Machine Corporation. ,Hof-

boken, N. La corporation of New Jersey, Application, Julyulfi, 1936, Serial No. 90,921

The inventionrelatesto machines for applying labels and the like and more particularly to adhesive coated labels, to the articlesor elements for whichthe labels and the like are designed and has for its object to provide an improved melabels and the like to articles .or elements which because oftheir shape or dimensions or both,or because of the predetermined position of the labels and the like thereon, complicate the applying operations. Other more specific objects will appear from the description hereinafter and claims. I N

thefeatures of novelty will be pointed out in the trate examples of the invention without defining matic, of theflnovel-machine in a form' designed particularly forjapplying labels or the like to such as smalldry batteries; Fig. 2 is a central sectional elevationthereof; Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary detail viewsillustrating other forms of the novel machine; Fig. "6 is, a fragmentary detail view showing another form of the machine illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2, and Fig..7isqa fragmentary, plan, view of the arrangement shown in The machine which is diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises asupporting frame or pedestal Iii of suitable type and dimensions in-which, an upright shaft II is journalled in any conventional manner; the shaft II projects upwardly beyond theirame Ill and is in keyed or equivalent connection with a bearing lsleeve I2 which, in the illustrated example, rests upon the upper endportionof the frame I 0 for rotation with said shaft I I as will appear more fully hereinafter. The sleeve I2 carries and preferably comprises an integral part of a movable carrier shown in the form of a horizontal table I! adapted to be intermittently rotated in a horizontal plane and provided on its peripheral edge with bearingbrackets I4 arranged in co-operating In. the accompanying drawings, which illus-j 19 Claims. ((1216-55) pairs at intervals in opposed diametric relation to each other as shown in Fig. 1. Co-operatingrollers I5 are journalled in groups of two in spaced parallel relation to each other in each pair of bearing brackets, I4, and for convenience 5 of description and identification are hereinafter referred to as, wrapping rollers; each two cooperating rollers I5 are rotatively driven in the, same direction by suitable driving means which, inthe example illustrated, is shown in the form ofa drivingroller I6 located in surface engagement with the rollers I5 of each pair and itself driven in any convenient manner.

;In the operation of the specific form of the machine selectedfor purposes of description, the shaft I I and with it the movablecarrier or table I3, is rotated intermittently insteps, each of which rotatively advances thetable I3 through 90, so as to shift the wrapping rollers I5 successively tothe various operative stations, of which there are four in the illustrated machine. The first of these may be termed the feeding station indicated at A, the second the label applying station B, the third the wrapping station C, and the fourth the ejecting station D; it will be understood that the various station designations are used merely for purposes of description and that they accordinglymay vary in accordance with the various operative steps performed ,thereat or at equivalent stations in other specific types of the novel machine. l I I Any suitable mechanism may be providedio'r eflecting the intermittent rotation of the table I3 in the desired manner, For instance, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the shaft I I at an inter- 35 mediate point may be provided with a gear wheel I! fixed upon said shaft II in any suitable man-- her to rotate therewith, it being understood that the illustrated support or pedestal I II is constructed to accommodate said gear wheel I1 and its associated mechanism as indicated at I8. The gear wheel I] is arranged in mesh with a rack I9 mounted for horizontal reciprocation in a suitable guide 20 fixed upon the support I0 in any convenient mannenit is to be understood that suitable provision is made so that during its one stroke the rack II! will rotatively actuate the gear I! and with it the shaft and table, I3, while during its reverse movement the rack I9 will simply develop a recovery stroke without operati'vely afiecting the shaft I I, and table I3; in other words the, arrangement is such that each operation of the table I3 is followed by a period of rest during which the operative steps at the various stations A, B, C; and D may be efl'ected.

For the purpose of illustrating the mechanism whereby the rack I9 is reciprocated, said rack is provided with a rod 2| projecting from one end thereof and carrying a roller 22 in rolling engagement with a cam 23 fixed upon a driving shaft 24 journalled in conventional bearings upon an upright frame 25; any conventional means may be provided for maintaining the roller 22 in operative engagement with the cam 23. The latter may be driven as illustrated by means of a pulley 26 mounted upon the shaft 24 and a belt 21 connected with any selected form of driving mechanism such as a motor or the like.-

In the novel machine in all of its forms, successive labels are carried by a prime supporting means into adhesive receiving relation with an adhesive applying means, and subsequently to the application of the adhesive are delivered by said prime supporting means to, a secondary supporting means with which the machine is provided; the secondary supporting means in cooperationwith an article to be labeled by the machine, supports a label in position for application to the article for which it is designed or to put it more specifically, means is included in the machine for detachably supporting at least one end of a previously gummed label, while the latter is in position for application to said article. Themachine in question is designed specially for applying labels provided on one surface with a coating'of adhesive in the well-known way. In the example of the novel machine illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the secondary supporting means referred to above is shown in the form of plates 28 adjustably mounted on the upper face of the table 13 for instance, by means of slots 29 and bolts 30in spaced registry with each group of rollers l5 and I6, as shown in Fig. l. The plates 28 are provided with supporting members or upright flanges 3| and with members 32 projecting from said flanges towards the rollers l5 in spaced parallel relation to each other and preferably provided at spaced intervals along their upper edges with projections 33; in the preferred form the free ends of the members 32 may be bevelled as indicated at 34 to avoid interference with the operation of applying the label as will appear more fully hereinafter.

In the form of the machine disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, the cylindrical article 35 such as for instance a dry battery cell, is rotated about its axis at the wrapping station C for the purpose of wrapping or applying the label circumferentially about the same. To effect this rotation of the article 35, mechanism is provided for rotating the roll l6 which, because of its frictional contact with the rollers l5, correspondingly actuates the latterand thereby in turn rotates the article 35 about its axis. To develop these operations,the machine is provided at the wrapping station C with a driving roller 36 fixed upon a shaft 31 which also carries a pulley 38 connected by means of a belt 39 with a pulley 40 located upon a shaft 4| suitably journalled in the frame 25.- The shaft is further provided with a secondpulley 42 connected by means of a belt 43 with a pulley 44 fixed upon the previously mentioned drive'shaft 24. The shaft 31 is journalled upon one arm of a bell crank lever 45 pivotally mounted on the shaft 4| and having its other arm provided with a roller 46 arranged in engagement with a cam 41 mounted upon a shaft 48. The latter is journalled in brackets 49 fixed upon the frame 25; a spring 50 or its equivalent serves to maintain the roller 46 in operative engagement with the cam 41. The arrangement in addition includes means for preventing the un intentional displacement of the article 35 during the period of application of the label thereto which means may coincidentally function to press the label into engagement with said article 35 during said period of application. In its illustrated form the last named means consists of a pressure roller 5| journalled upon one arm of a bell crank lever 52 which is pivoted at 53 upon the frame 25 and at the free end of its other arm carries a roller 54 arranged in engagement with a cam 55 also fixed upon the previously mentioned shaft 48; if desired, a spring 56 or its equivalent may be provided for maintaining the roller 54 in operative engagement with the cam 55. The operation of the shaft 48 to rotate the cams 41 and 55 may be effectecl'in any suitable manner and as shown, may be brought about by means of a toothed gear 51 on the shaft 4| meshing with a toothed gear 58' on the shaft 48. With the construction described the bell crank levers 45 and 52 will be periodically operated by the cams 41 and 55 to move the rollers 36 and 5! away from each other or in other words, to spread said rollers apart to avoid interference with the intermittent rotation of the table l3 when the application of a label to the article 35 has been completed at station C; the arrangement of thecams 41 and 55 preferably is such that the roller 36 will be moved away from the roller It at approximately the same moment that the pressure roller 5| is moved away from the article 35.

The machine further includes any conventional means for bringing successive labels into the applying'position at the applying station B, which means may constitute the previously mentioned prime supporting means, and in such case operates to carry the labels into adhesive receiving relation with an adhesive applying means, and subsequently to the application of the adhesive delivers the gummed labels to the secondary supporting means referred to above. Generally, such prime supporting means may include a suitably actuated suction head 59 arranged to remove the terminal label from a stack or other supply of labels and to pass said label over an adhesive applying roll 59 or its equivalent whereby a coating of adhesive or its equivalent is applied to said label and to then carry the adhesive coated or gummed label to the applying position at station B. As the mechanism for transferring individual labels successively from a supply thereof to the adhesive applying means and subsequently to the applying position at station B per se forms no part of the instant invention and as the mechanism in question may be of well-known type, it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate the same in detail.

The machine so far described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 operates as follows: During a rest period of the table [3, one of the articles 35 such as a dry battery cell is deposited upon a given pair of the rollers l5 located at the time at the feeding station A so that said article 35 rests between and in engagement with the two rollers l5 of said given pair thereof. Through the'operation of the cam 23, the rack I9, the gear [1 and associated elements, the shaft H is given a quarter turn about its axis to thereby move the table I3 rotatively through an arc of whereby the article 35 previously placed upon the rollers I5 is brought to the applying station B. At the same time this actuation of the table 13 brings "condition at this stage. ;As. soon as .the label a a succeeding pair of rollers l to the feeding station A in position to receiveanojther of the articles 35 which may be placed in position onsaid into adhesive receivingjrelation to the adhesive applyingroll 59 or its equivalent and subsequently, transfers the adhesive coated label a to the v secondary supporting means or in other Words, to thepositiondllustrated atthe station a B in Fig. 1 in which one Iend of said label q, reg isters with and adhesively engagesthelupright flange 3|;of the plate ialocatecl. at thisstation at the time, while the other endof said label rests upon the periphcralsurfacefloi thearticle 35 at said. station .3; the arrangement is such that. the opposite ends. of the label a, are adhesively connected with the previously mentioned flange 3i andthe article 35 respectively, while the intermediate portions of thelabel rest upon the projections 330i the members 32 so as to. be

supported thereby, itbeing understood that the adhesive coatinguof thelabel ais still in a tacky has thus been placedin position on the secondary supporting means at. the station Bfor application to an article, the table l3 is again rotatably actuated through an arc of 90f. to thereby bring the labela while in the applying position on said secondary supporting means to the wrapping station 0, it being understood that atthis time the rollers 36gand. 5| are spread apart by the action of the eams 41 and 55 to avoidany interference with this adjustment of theparts. At the proper moment the bell crank levers 45. and 52 are op erated to bring the roller .36 into. engagement .1 Q withthe roller I 6 and the .roller5l. intocontact withuthearticle 35. As this occurs the roller 36 willrotatively actuate the roller [6 and through itthe rollers 15, tocausethe article 35 to be rotated on its axis in a direction tocircumferentially wrap the label a upon the externalfsurface of. the article 35. Duringthiswrapping the end of the label awill be withdrawn from theflange 3| and said label a will be properly supported bythe prOjections 33 of the members 32 as the wrapping operation proceeds; at the sametime the pressure roller IE will not only maintain the article .35 in proper position butwill also exert a pressure upon the label a whereby the latter is eilfectively applied to the particular article 35.

When the wrapping of the labela upon the ar- 55 ticle 35 has been completedatthe station cane rollers 36. and5l are moved away from each other by the action of the cams (H and. 55, where upon the rotation of the rollers li and I 5 and accordingly the rotation of the articlel35 ceases.

At the proper moment the table I3 is again r0 tatablyshifted through an: arc of 90 to shiftthat pair of. rollers, l5 which carries the articlec35 to which the labelahas beenapplied, to the ejecting station DJ. Atthisstation the labeled article 35 may be removed from the rollers l5 by hand or provision maybe made for automatically ejecting said labeled article 35 from said rollersiS.

It willbeunderstood that as the table l3 isin F termittently actuated in the manner set forth, that eachpair of rollers I5 is moved to the several stations in successive sequence, the several operations being carried out concurrently at each stationjlduri ng periods of resflin the intermit- Figs. 1 and. 2 or otherwise manipulated inaccordance with the characterof the machine in whichsaid table I 3* isembodied. The form of the machine now being described also includes secondary supporting means forsupporting the previously gummed labels in position for application to the articles for which .saidllabels are intended, said secondary supporting means being illustrated in the form ofuprightposts 28 lo cated upon opposite sides of each seat [5 in spaced relation thereto at distances dependent upon the dimensions of the labels for which the machine is primarily designed. At their upper ends the upright posts 235 carry supporting members 3|, theupper surfaces of which are located at a commonlevel predetermined with respect to the articles to which the labels are to "be applied. Theicrm under discussion alsoembodies wrapping means whereby the label is applied to or wrapped about the article, said wrappingfmeans being located at a.stationrcorresponding to the station C of- Fig. 1, or being otherwisedisposed in dependence upon the type of machine in which said wrapping means is incorporated; in the illustrated example, the wrapping means comprises levers 45 providedwith rollers and pivoted at ll upon a vertically movable plunger 60. The levers include arms 6| acted upon by springs 62 in a mannerto force the rollers 361 toward each other; it will be understood that any suitable mechanism operatingin properly timed relation to the other parts of the machine may be provided for vertically operating the plunger for the purpose to be morefully set forth hereinafter. In addition theplungerfiu yieldingly carries apressure member 51 mounted upon a rod 52F which itself is slidable within. the plungeryGO and is guided in its vertical movethe adhesive coatingof the labels in a tacky condition. Such heating meansnmay be of. any suit able type and as indicated at 66 is o ian electrically operated type. a

operatedto bring the seats l5 to the stations corresponding to the stations A, B, C, D of Big.

1, in which case the article 35 illustrated as of cylindrical forrnis placed in position. on a seat |5l at thestation .A and is then'carried to the applying station B, it being understood that when this transfer takes place the. plungerfiiland its associated elements will occupyaraised position at station C so as not to interfere with the described movements of the table I3 When 3 the article 35?? reaches the applying station B,

a label was carried by suitable prime supporting means, for instance, such as hereinbefore referred to, into adhesive receiving relation with In practice the table l3. maybe intermittently an adhesive applying means, as exemplified by the roller 59 of Fig. l, and subsequently to the application of the adhesive is transferred by said prime supporting means. to a position in which the opposite ends of said gummedlabel are located upon and adhesively attached to the upper surfaces of the supporting members 3i with an intermediate portion of the label a in tangential contact with the surface of the article 35. Because of the tacky condition of the adhesive coating at this stage, the label a at its opposite ends will adhere lightly to the supporting members ii and accordingly will be held'in position thereby for application to the article, the latter in the illustrated example co-operating with said supporting members 3| in thus supporting said label a. when the operation of positioning a label a has been completed, the table I! will be actuated to bring the article 35' and the label 'a' to the wrapping station C. At this stage and in proper operative synchronism with the other parts of the ma chine, the plunger 60 will be'moved downwardly to initially bring the pressure member 5| into contact with the label a at the point of tangential engagement thereof with the article 35 to thereby press said label a into firmadhesive engagement with said article, as will be apparent. As the downward movement of the plunger it continues, said plunger 60 will move lengthwise of the rod 52 to compress the spring 64 to thereby progressively increase the pressure exerted by the pressure member 5| upon said label a, which accordingly is firmly held in proper position against shifting relatively to the article 35. At the same time the continuing downward movement of the plunger 60 will cause the rollers 36 to engage the label a on opposite sides of the pressure member SI and to withdraw the opposite ends of said label from the supports 3|; in the continuing downward movement of the parts the rollers 36 will follow the outer shape of the article 35, which in the illustration is cylindrical, and accordingly will wrap the label a about said article 35 or in other words, apply said label thereto. By the action of the springs 62 the rollers 36 during these operative steps will develop a pressure upon the label a to cause it to firmly adhere to the article 35 and to effect an efficient application of said label a to said article 35.

' The form of the machine illustrated in the fragmentary manner in Fig. 4 is designed especially for applying labels as exemplified for instance, .by revenue stamps to the heads of bottles or the like, and in its construction may correspond substantially to the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3. The machine under discussion accordingly also includes secondary supporting means-for supporting a previously gummed label in position for application to an article, which supporting means, as illustrated, includes supporting members 3|" corresponding to the supporting members 31' and similarly mounted upon a table such as IS; in addition suitable provision may be made upon the table such as the table H, for supporting the article 35 in position intermediate of the supports 3|". The machine in addition also includes prime supporting means, for instance such as previously referred to herein, for carrying a label into adhesive re: ceiving relation with an adhesive applying means, such as the roller 59 and for subsequently transferring the gummed label to the secondary supporting means; the machine further embodies applying or wrapping means illustrated in the form of levers 45' which may correspond in construction and operation to the members 45 and carry at their free ends wrapping devices shown in the form of brushes 36 pivotally secured at 31' to the levers 45"; it will be understood that the aforesaid wrapping means may, as in the previous forms, be located at a wrapping station C. Asthe article 35 is brought to the label applying station corresponding to the station B, a label a is brought by the prime supporting means into position for transfer to the secondary supporting means and for application to the article with the opposite ends of said label a. in adhesive connection with the supporting members 3| and an intermediate portion of said label a resting upon the article 35''; the latter thus also co-operates with the supporting members li in the aforesaid support of said label a. After the latter has been placed in position as described, the table corresponding to the table I3 is rotatively actuated or otherwisemanipulated to bring the article 35 with the label a in the position previously mentioned to the wrapping station corresponding to the station C of Fig. 1. The levers 45 are then moved downwardly into contact with the label a which, as the downward movement of the levers 45' continues, is withdrawn from the supports 3| and wrapped upon or applied to the article 35', as will be apparent. It will be understood that the levers 45' are preferably under the influence of springs, such as the springs 62, so that the brushes 36 develop a pressure upon the label a as it is being applied to the article 35 it will similarly be obvious, because of the pivotal connection of the brushes 36' with the levers 45', that said brushes will automatically accommodatethemselves to the progressive wrapping operation and to the surface contour of the article 35 to which the label a is being applied.

In Fig. 5 the machine is diagrammatically illustrated in a form designed specially for applying labels to or wrapping labels upon articles of triangular, rectangular or polygonal form; for purposes of description an article 35 of triangular shape in cross-section has been selected. The form of the machine under discussion may be of the same general type and operate in the same general manner as those previously described herein and embodies a prime supporting means for carrying a label into adhesive receiving relation with an adhesive applying means, such as the roller 59*; the form of the machine under discussion may further include a table Iii similar to the previously mentioned tables l3 and I3, and also provided with secondary supporting means for receiving the gummed labels from the prime supporting means and supporting said labels in position for application to the articles for which said labels are designed; as illustrated, the aforesaid secondary supporting means comprises upright posts 28 located upon the upper surface of said table I3 in spaced parallel relation to each other as shown; the upright posts 28' at their upper ends carry supporting members 3l adapted, as in the forms shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to support the label a in wrapping or applying position. The table l3 further includes seats l5 arran'ged upon opposite sides of an opening B with which the table l3 is provided as illustrated in Fig. 5; the seats l5 are arranged to support the article 35 over the opening I! and so as to extend across the same forthe purpose to be more fully set i'orth hereinafter. H, In the form, now being described, the seats I 5 are closer to one of thesupporting members 3lFof a given pairethan to. .theother j the table 13 one of said supportingmembers of said pair, as indicated in Fig. 5. The machine illustrated in Fig.5 furtherincludes wrappingmeans located, for instance ata stationC, for applying orwrapping the label to or. upon the. specific articles; in its illustrated form thiswrapping means consists, of ,levers 453. corresponding to the levers 45 of Fig. 3 and mounted and operated in the same or an equivalent manner to .secui e the desired results. I At theirfreeends, the levers 45 are provided with wrapping members illustrated in theform of brushes .369 which may be fixed upon said a levers. 45, or. otherwise supported thereon asmay be found necessary in anygiven machine. Infadditionthe machine of Fig. in-.

cludes a additional lever 45 provided at ,its free end with a wrapping .member shown. also in-the form of a brush .36! pivotally connected j with the lever 45 at 3 1P; .the lever 45 is 013- erated in any convenient manner to reciprocate.

the brush 3t lengthwiseof the opening lii of In practice after; theearticle 35 been placed in position upon the seats I5 at a feed",

ing station corresponding to the stationA of Fig.

1 the table l3 mayberotatively actuated to bring the article to the applying-station such: as the stationB in Fig. 1., At thisg point the label is carried by a primesupporting means into adhesive receiving relation with the adhesive applying rneans, andthe adhesively coated label t a is carried by the prime supporting means such as hereinbefore described into position for transfer to the secondary supporting means whereby said label a ds held inpositionfor application to the article. 35; in this positlonthe label a? has its opposite ends 'inadhesive connectionwith the supporting members. 3|? and at anintermediate point 'nearerits one end is in contact with the, outer surfacefof the articlex35 .as

shown Fig. 5. The article 35? here also thus co-operates with the supporting members .31 in supporting the label a in position forapplication. to said article. 35. When the label a has been placedin applying position at the station B,

thetable I? is againactuated to shift the article 35 and the label a in the applying position to the wrappingstation corresponding for instance,,to the station C of .Fig. 1. When this one of said surfaces as indicatedby dotted lines in Fig. 5; this .is due to thefact that thearticle 35 is located nearer to the one support 3l than to the other, or inother words, ls'closer to one end of the label a than to the other. As the next; step inthe wrapping or applying operation the lever 45 is operatedin the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5 tovcause the brushv36 to bring the depending portion of the labela into contact with the lower.,surface of the=article 35; the aforesaid depending portion of said label a3 will thereby. be adhesively, connected withsaid lower surface'of the article 35? and accordinglywill q complete the application of the label to such armay be adapted for applying labels to articles of rectangular or polygonal form in 2. corresponding manner by nism accordingly. r i t l l The it diagrammatically illustrated arrangement shown. in Figs. 6 and? corresponds to the machine shown in Figs. land 2 and difi'erstherefrom only in the fact that the suction head 59 or its equivalent is providedwith'an electrically operated or equivalent heating device .61 so located that it will engage that end of the label which is adhesively secured to the article 35 whichis oflcircular formand may correspond to the article 35 of Fig. 2. This heating deviceifil may serve. to soften the plastic coating with which; the articles 35 as exemplified by many 1 types of drybatterycells are covered alongr a line lengthwise of said article 35* to cause said plastic coating to act as an adhesive for adhesively. securing the one end of the label-to the article, 35 In such case an adhesivecoating previously applied to the label may be. in the form of ,a stripe located at the other end, of the label a as shown in Fig. 7, which; adhesive strip at will operate first toadhesively attach,

said other end .of the label. a for instance, to a supporting memberor flange3l as in Fig. 2,

and subsequently to fasten thelabel a in POSi-r. tionon thearticle 35 when completely applied thereto. The constructionand.operation of the arrangementillustrated in Figs. 6 and '7 may be otherwise as set forth previously. hereinin connectionlwith Figs. 1 and2. f i

As set forth inthe description asthma which the labelsare to be applied co-operate,

with'the several secon'dary supporting means in the difierent forms of the machine, to. support saidllabels inposition for application to the articles for, which said labels are intended. It will be: understood that in the forms shown in Figs.

3,4 and 5 the co-operating supporting members 3P .il and 3l respectively, of the secondary supporting means constitute the. major factors in such support of thelabels and in some ticler n will be understood that the machine,

arranging the applying mechacases may effect. such support independentlyof but relatively to the articles to be labeled.

The novel machine in all ofits formsis simple in construction and provides for carrying ,a label into adhesive receiving relation with adhesive applying means and subsequently transferring the gummed label to secondary supporting means whereby: the gummed label is efficiently supported in position for application to an article and furthermore provides forithe rapid and efficient removalof the labels from said secondary supporting means and their application'to the articles for which said; labels aredesigned'. The i machine is particularly adapted .for handling,

labels of unusual dimensions and for applying the same to articles of unusual sizeand shapes,

and is of malximum efficiency in applying labels 1 to cylindrical articles of smalldiameter and to 1 articles having a cross-sectional form otherthan cylindrical; In all the forms of the machine the:

label is held by theaforesaid secondary supportingmeansin position for application to an article, generally by the adhesive coating of such label while such coating is still tacky,1so. as to be easily released from such applying position and appliedto the article in. a uniform andeflicient manner.

Various changes in the specifie forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim? 1. Ina labeling machine, the combination of a carrier movable to successive operating stations, holding means on said carrier for supporting an article to be labeled, secondary supporting means on said carrier inpredetermined relation to said holding means for temporarily receiving and supporting a previously gummed label, prime supporting means operative at a given station for depositing said gummed label upon and in temporary adhesive contactwith said secondary supporting means in predetermined applying relation to said article, and means operative at a subsequent station for releasing said label from its temporary adhesive contact withsaid secondary supporting means and for effecting the application of said label to said article.

2. ma labeling machine, the combination of means forcarrying a label provided with adhesive on its one surface, means on which said label is deposited by said carrying means subsequent to the application of said adhesiveto said label to adhesively support at least one end of said label while the latter is in position for application to an article, and means for effecting the release of said one end of the label from said supporting means and the application of said label from said position to said article.

3. In a labeling machine for applying adhesive coated labels, the combination of holding means for supporting an article to be labeled, additional 'means co-operating with an article positioned upon said holding means in supporting a label in position for application to said article, and means for carrying said label into adhesive receiving relation with an adhesive applying means and for subsequently depositing said label upon said additional means in temporary adhesive contact therewith and in initial adhesive contact withsaid article in predetermined applying relation to the latter.

4. In a labeling machine for applying adhesivecoated labels, the combination of holding means forsupporting an article to be labeled, additional means co-operating with an article positioned upon said holding means in-supporting a label in position for application to said article, means for carrying a label during application of adhesive thereto and for subsequently depositing saidlabel upon said additional means in'temporary adhesive contact therewithand in initial adhesive contact with said article in predetermined applying relation to the lattenand means for releasing said label from said additional means and eiiectingits application to said article.

5. In a labeling machine, the combination of a movable carrier, holding means on said carrier for supporting an article to be labeled, additional means on said table co-operating with an article positioned upon said holding means in support- I ing a label in predetermined position for application to said article, andmeans for carrying a label during application of adhesive thereto and for subsequently depositing said label upon said additional means in temporary adhesivecontact therewith and in initial'adhesive contact with said article in predetermined applying relation to 6. In a labeling'machine orapplying adhesive coated labels, the combination of-amovable carrier, holding means on said carrier for supporting an article to be labeled, a suppo t. on said carrier in spaced relation to said holding means and with which one end of a label may be in adhesive contact while another portion of said label is in adhesive engagement with an article supported on said holding means whereby said support and said article co-operate in supporting said label in predetermined position for application to said article, and means for carrying said label during application of adhesive thereto and for subsequently depositing said adhesive coated label on said support in said applying position for application to said article.

7. In a labeling machine for applying adhesive coated labelsfthe combination of a rotatable table, a group of rollers carried'by said table for supporting an article to be labeled, a member mounted on said table in spaced registry with said group of rollers with which one end of a. label may be in adhesive contact'while the other EIld'Of said label is in adhesive engagement with the outer surface of the article supported by said group 'of rollers whereby said article and said member co-oper'ate to support said label in position for application to said article, means whereby said rollers are rotated to rotate said article about its axis and thereby withdraw the end of said label from said member and progressively apply said label circumferentially of said article, and means for carrying said label during application of adhesive thereto and for subsequently transferring said label to a position for adhesiveengagement respectively with said member and said article.

8. In a labeling machine for applying adhesive coated labels, the combination of a rotatable table, a group of rollers carried by said table for supporting an article to be labeled, a member mounted on said table in spaced registry with said group of rollers with which one end of a label may be in adhesive contact while the other end of said label is in adhesive engagement with the outer surface of the article supported by said group of rollers whereby said article and said member co-operate to support said label inposition for application to said article, means wherey said rollers are rotated to rotate said article about its axis and thereby withdraw the end of said label from said member and progressively apply said label circumferentially of said article, and means on said table between said member and said group of rollers for supporting said label during its progressive application to said article.

9. In a labeling machine for applying adhesive coated labels, the combination of an intermittently rotatable table, a group of co-operating rollers carried by said table for supporting an. article to be labeled, a member adjustably mounted on said table inregistry with said group of rollers with which one end of a label in applying position is adapted to be adhesively engaged while the other end of said label in said applying position is adhesively engaged with the article supported on said group of'rollers, wrapping means adapted to be operatively combined with said group of rollers at the end of an intermittent movement of said table, said wrapping means operating to rotate said group of rollers to rotate the article supported thereby on its axis whereby said label is progressively applied circumferentially of said article, pressure developing means operating in harmony with said wrapping means for maintaining the article in place and for applying pressure to said label during its application to said article, and means located between said member and said group of ating in harmony with said wrapping means for rollers forsupporting said] label during its promittently rotatable table, agroup of co-operating rollers carried by said table forsupporting an article to be labeled, a member adjustably mounted on said tablein registry with said group of rollers with which one end of a label in applying position is adapted to be adhesively engaged while the other end of said labelin said applying position is adhesively engaged with the article supportedonsaid group of rollers, wrapping means adapted to be operatively combinedwithsaid group of rollers at the end of an intermittent l the article supported thereby on its axis whereby said label is progressively applied circumferentially of said article, pressure developing means oper maintaining the article in place and for applying said article, means located between said member 25 pressure to said label during its application to and said group of rollers for supporting saidlabel during its progressive application to said article, and means for shifting said wrapping means and pressure developing means to inoperative position at the completion of the application of the label to said article to avoid interference with a subsequent intermittent rotation of said table.

I 11. In a labeling machine for applying adhesive coated labels, the combination of a carrier, a pair of co-operating supporting members mounted on said carrier in spaced relation to each other for receiving a previously gummed label, means for conveying said gummed label and depositing it upon said supporting members in; temporary adhesive contact therewith and in predetermined position for application to an article, and means on said support for supporting said ,article in label receiving relation to the label temporarily:

deposited on saidsupporting members.

12. In a labeling machine for applying adhesive coated labels, the combination of a carrier, 9; pair of co-operating supporting members mounted on said carrier in spaced relation to each other ,for receiving a previously gummed label, means for conveying said gummed label and depositing it upon, said supporting members in temporary adhesive contactftherewith and in predetermined position for application to an article, means on said support for supporting said article in label receiving relation'to the label temporarily deposited on said supporting members, and wrapping means for releasing said label from said supporting members and for applying said label to 3 said article.

13. In a labeling machine for applying labels,

the combination of, a movable table. a group of supporting rollers carried by said table for supporting a cylindrical article to be labeled, supporting means on said table in spaced registry with said group of rollers for adhesively receiving one end of a label while the other end of said position, means for carrying said label during application of adhesive thereto and for subsequently transferring said label to said supporting means and said article, and heating means mounted on said label carrying means in registry withthat end of the label which is to be engaged with said article. p

14. In a labeling machine for applying labels including an adhesive applying means and a primary, supporting means for carrying a label into adhesive receiving relation with said adhesive applying means and beyond the same, that ,improvement which comprises a movable carrier for supportingan article to be labeled, secondary supporting means on said carrier on which the gummed label is deposited by said primary supporting means in predetermined applying relation to said article, and means whereby said label is released from said secondary supporting means and applied to said article.

In alabeling machine, the combination of means for holding an article to be labeled, means for depositing a previously gummed label in applying position in initial adhesive engagement with said article, heating means wherey the adhesive coating of the label is heated, and means for completing the application of the label to the article.

16. Ina labelingmachine, the combination of means for holding an article to be labeled, sup porting means in co-operative relation to said holding means for adhesively receiving a predetermined portion of a label while another portion of said label is engaged with the article to be,

means and article, and heating means mounted on said depositing means in" registrywith that portionof the label which is'to be engaged with said article, I t

17. In a labeling machine, the combination of a transfer head for transferring a'label to an applying station, and heating means mounted on said transfer head whereby a label carried thereby is subjected to the heating action of said heating means.

18. Ina labeling machine, the combination of a suction-controlled transfer head for transferring a label to an applying station, and a heating device mounted on said transfer head whereby a predetermined portion of a label carried thereby is subjected to the heating action of said heating device.

19. In a labeling machine, the combination 01 a transfer head for transferring an adhesive coated label into applying relation to an article to be labeled; and heating meansmountedon said head and effective to develop adhesive connection

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