US1167616A - Button-holding clamp. - Google Patents

Description

W. L. BARRON.

Patented Jan. 11 1916.

. Jill 79-.

- the l nited States WILLIAM L. BARRON,

E Fllfi.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BUTTON-HOLDING CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. Ill, 1916.

To all (i /1.0m it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. BARRON, a citizen of the. United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button- Holding (.lamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has for its object toprovide effective means for sewing on integralshank buttons or those having upon the back of the head a solid shank pressed, molded or otherwise formed thereon and adapted to be penetrated by the needle in applying the fastening stitches, and also to provide buttonholding means adjustable to receive buttons of widely varying shapes and sizes.

As represented in the accompanying drawings, the improvement is embodied in a jogging work-clamp such as that disclosed in patent to J. Sullivan, No. 777,5(3l, dated December 13, 1904. In its preferred form the work-holder comprises a work-supporting plate havingthe usual needle-apertureand constituting the lower member of the work-holder, and the button-holder which constitutes the upper member of the work-holder and which is carried by a spring-pressed sustaining arm.

The work-supporting plate has upon its upper face at one side of the needle-aperture a work-supporting block affording a shoulder in angular relation therewith, and the button-holding member carries a pair of reciprocally movable levers fulcrumed thereon and provided with spaced and opposed button-head sustaining'jaws formed with shouldel's for engagement with the opposite edges of a buttonhead for centering the same lat erally relatively to the button-fastening means and adapted to hold the shank of a button extending between the same in contact with the fabric resting upon the top and against the adjacent face of said block, which latter has a lateral notch affording a needle-aperture in register with that of the work-supporting plate. The jaw-carrying levers are sustained in such manner that the button-gripping jaws are rigidly maintained a fixed distance in advance of the said shoulder of the work-sustaining block. In the operation of the machine, relative jogging movements are produced between the nately through the button-shank and beyond the end of the same.

Positively acting means are preferably provided for adjusting the spacing apart of the shouldered button-head sustaining jaws to receive buttons of diflerent sizes, and in the case of molded shank buttons, buttons having'the transverse eyes or fasteningthread receiving apertures at different distances from the back of the button-head; and the holder is preferably provided with a pressure-member sustained independently of said jaws and adapted to maintain the button-head yieldingly seated upon the said jaws, said pressure member being controlled by an adjustable stop to determine its initial spacing from said jaws to freely admit the edge of a button to be gripped thereby.

To insure against the dislodgment ofthc button from its holder in the retraction of the needle, subsequent to a thrust through the needle-eye, a button-detainer is preferably pivotally mounted upon said support and adapted to swing transversely of the button-gripping jaws to bring its operative portionabove and in operative relation with the upper edge of a button held by said aws.

The subject of the present application is a work-holder of which a modification is disclosed in my Patent No. 1,151,853, of August 31, 1915.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a work-holder and a portion of a sewing machine embodying the present improvements, and Fig. 2 a front side elevationof the same; Fig. 3 is an end view in partial transverse section representing the work-holder, and Fig. 4 a perspective view of the button-holding portion of the latter taken from the under side. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the supporting plate of the button-holder and the detainer-lever mounted thereon, with its retracting means. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the operative portion of the work-sustaining plate. Fig. 7 is a plan representing the button-gripping jaws and the pressure-plate with an interposed button. Fig. 8 is a plan of the rear-' ward ends of the buttonaw carrying levers, to show their interlocking connection. Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a specimen of one style ofintegral shank button which the needle 3 which constitutes one member of the stitch-forming mechanism, and the spring-pressed bar 4 to whose lower end 1s secured the block 5 carrying the lateral clamp-lifting pin 6. Resting upon the throat-plate 7 is the flat work-sustaining plate 8 affording the lower member of the work-holder and formed with the needle aperture 9 having the enlargement 9 to accommodate the lower portions of the button-heads. The plate 8 is provided at the side of the needle-aperture opposite the button-head enlargement with the rectangular work-sustaining block 10 whose lateral face 10 adjacent the needle-aperture 9 affords a shoulder in angular relation with'the fiat operative upper face of the plate 8 to receive that portion" of the material against whichthe end of the button-shank rests in the stitching operation. The block 10 is formed with the needle-clearance notch 11 in the face 10' in. register with the adjacent portion of the needle-aperture.

The primary work-supporting member 8 has a series of transversely elongated apertures 12 entered by the dowel-pins 13 upon the reduced forward end of the slide-bar 14 constituting a carrier upon which the plate 8 is secured by means of the screw-stud 15 passing through a transverse slot 8 therein and provided with the clamp-nut 16. 'The slide-bar 14 carries upon its-rearward end the block 17 recessed to receive the downturned rearward end 18 of the upper workclamp arm 19, as shown more fully in the United States patent to C. M. Horton, No. 1,051,998, of February 4, 1913, the arm 19 having a backwardly ofiset opposite end portion 20 terminating in the sustaining plate 21 for the button-holder. In practice the slide-bar may be actuated by any usual or suitable means, such as those represented in the United States patent to J. J. Sullivan, No. 777,564, of. December 13, 1904, for producing between it and the stitch-forming mechanism relative lateral jogging movements whereby groups of tacking or fastening stitches may be made. Secured by means of the screw 22 upon a suitable seat in thetop of the block 17 is the rigid pressure spring 23 whose forked forward end rests upon the arm 19 and embraces the stud 24.

thereon.

Pivotally mounted beneath the plate 21 by means of fulcrum-studs. 25are the buttonjaw carrying levers 26 downwardly ofiset at the forward end and provided with'the depending transverse grippin jaws 27, the operative faces of these jaws eing notched to form button-head seats 28 in their outer faces with the preferably convergently inclined centering shoulders 29 engagingthe peripheries of the button-heads to rigidly sustain the shank against lateral displacement with its transverse aperture in register with the needle.

The plate 21 is provided at its rearward extremity with a depending laterally slotted ear 30 embracing the neck 31 formed in the head 32 of the adjusting screw 33 which is fitted within the threaded longitudinal socket 34 of a slide-block 35 having a reduced end 35' in which is tapped the shouldered stud-screw 36 entering the apertured adjacent ends of the links 37 extended later-. ally therefrom and pivotally connected by means of the stud-screws 38 with the buttonjaw carrying levers 26.

The levers 26 adjacent the fulcrum-studs 25 are provided with lateral extensions 39 having intermeshing segmental series of teeth 40 affording a positive connection whereby they are caused to move reciprooally under the action of the adjusting screw 32, block 35 and links 37 to determine their spacing apart to receive buttons with different sized heads; and the fixed fulcrum-studs 25 for the levers 26 serve to maintain the faces of the jaws 27 opposite the seats 28 spaced unyieldingly from the shoulder 10 of the block 10, so that the fabric is by them bent over the corner of the block 10 and is not allowed to press the end of the buttonshank so as to dislodge the button-head from the seats 28 and displace the button-shank aperture relatively to the needle-path.

The button-head is maintained yieldingly in engagement with the seats 28 by means of the pressure-plate 41 which is shown crimped so as to contact with the same at spaced points upon opposite sides of the center. The suitably apertured opposite ends of the plate 41 are sustained upon studs 42 with nuts 43 at the shouldered forward extremities of the members 44 of a yoke having an apertured rearwardly extending arm 45 which is entered by the shouldered screwstud 46 tapped into a depending boss 47 of the slide-block 48 having its opposite edges notched to fit a guideway 49 of the sustaining plate 21 in which it is held by means of the plate 50 and the countersunk-screw 51 and knurled headed screw 52. The gripping jaws 27 are shown notched to receive the" and formed intermediate its ends with the cross-slot 58 entered b the shank of the clamp-screw 59 tappe --into the plate 21 and designed to maintain the lever 56 in the desired position of adjustment. In adjusting the button-holder to receive a button, the levers 26 are first set by manipulation of the screw 32 so that the shoulders 29 of the jaws 27 engage the opposite edges of the button-head at a comparatively abrupt angle, as represented in Fig. 7, the spacing apart of the adjacent ends of the jaws being such as to freely admit between them the button-shank. The clamp-screw 59 is then loosened and the stop-lever 56 moved forwardly in engagement with the adjacent extremity of the plate 50 to advance the yoke 44 45 for the free admission of the buttonhead between the same and the seat 28," and after introduction of the button the stoplever is released and is clamped in the position to which it is shifted by the plate 50 under the action of the spring 53, the button-head being securely clamped upon the divided seat 28 afforded by the levers 26 by the free action of the spring 53. The jaws 27 are thus rigidly maintained inspaced relation suitable to receive buttons of the same size and style, and the pressure plate 41 is maintained yieldingly in the closest relation to the seat 28 which it is adapted to assume under the existing adjustment of the stop-lever 56, so as to freely admit succeeding buttons of the same size and character but to yield sufliciently to enable the buttons to receive the full effect of the spring 53 in clamping them securely in position.

The plate 21 has at its forward end the depending lug 60 to which is fitted the channeled rearwar'd face of the shank 61 of the presser-foot 62 having in its forward extremity the needle clearance notch 63, the shank being adjustably secured in position by means of the fastening screw 64 passing through a slot 65 therein and entering the threaded aperture 60 of the lug60. The operative lower face of the presser-foot overlies the work-supporting block 10 and is in practice so adjusted that it presses the fabric adjacent the stitching position firmly upon the top of said block.

The part 20 of the clamp-arm 19 is formed with a forwardly extending projection 66 sustaining a fulcrum-stud 67 upon which is mounted the rock-lever 68 having upon the extremity of its forwardly extending arm the depending lu 69 to which is fitted the channeled shank 70 of the curved laterally extending detainer-arm 71 the lower face of whose outer extremity 72 is adapted to assume an operative position above and transverse to the button-head seats of the buttongripping jaws 27 to prevent the disengagement of the button from such jaws in the retraction of the needle after a thrust through the button-shank eye when partially filled with the threads of the fastening stitches. The shank 70 of the detamerarm 71 is secured for vertical adjustment to accommodate different sized button-heads by means of the clamp-screw 73 entering a .slot 74 therein and tapped into the/ lug 69 of the rock-lever 68.

The rearwardly extending arm of the rock-lever is formed with a nose 75 adapted for engagement with the cam-shaped periphery 76 of the stop-lever 77 mounted upon the stud-pin 78 and' adapted to be shifted thereon to determine the operative position of the extremity 72 of the button detainer-arm 71, the nose 75 of the rocklever 68 being maintained yieldingly in contact with the stop-lever by means of a spring 79 connected at one end with the stud-screw 80 upon the member 75 of the rock-lever 68 and at the other end with the stud-screw 81 sustained by the clamp-arm member 20. Rigiclly secured to the bracket-arm head 1 is the depending arm 82 having near its lower end the laterally inclined cam-edge 83 disposed slightly above the inner edge of the rearward arm of the rock-lever 68. The lifting of the clamp-arm 19 with the button-holding elements raises the rock-lever arm into engagement with the cam-edge 83 and causes the retraction of the operative extremity 72 of the detainer-arm 71 from its button-detaining position, thereby permitting the admission of a new button within the gripping jaws after the stitched button has been drawn downwardly in the re moval or shifting of the work after a stitching operation.

With molded integral shank buttons, it is common to form the fastening-thread re ceiving transverse aperture in the shank at some distance from the back of the head, and with this class of buttons it is preferable to have the part 72 of the detaining arm or detainer project somewhat beyond the back .of the head to insure against the escape of the button by any slight shifting of the latter within its gripping jaws, the extremity of the member 72 being in such case sufficiently in advance of the needle-path to prevent interference with the needle in the fastening operation. In some cases, however, the detainer requires greater precision of adjustment, as in the case of the style of buttons represented in Figs. 7 and 9, wherein the head a is formed with a comparatively short integral shank 6 having the transverse aperture 0 which.is so close to the back of the button-head as to require a clearance cut (I in the latter. In this case, the extreme forward edgeof the detaining member 72 requires to be set flush with the rearward face of the button-head so as to escape interference with the needle, and it is preferably formed with a beveled needle clearance notch 72x58 represented in Fig. 5. In performing this adjustment, the eccentric operative edge 76 of the stop-lever 77 is of con-.

extension plate 21, which causes the raising siderable advantage, as by means of it the operative position of the detamer member 72 is readily and accurately determined.

In the use of the machine, the lifter-bar 4 is raised by the usual means, thereby engaging the pin .6 with the lateral extension 84 of the post 85 secured in the clamp-arm bar 4 is then lowered to permit the parts to assume the positions represented in Fig 3, the rearward faces of the jaws 27 bending the material over the edge of the block 10 so as to prevent the forcible engagement of the same with the extremity of the buttonshank, to thus partially dislodge the button from the gripping jaws and impair or destroy the register of the aperture 0 with the f needle-path in the forward'thrust of the needle.

. In the operation of the machine, the rela tive jogging movement between the needle and the work-holder causes the descent of the needle alternately through the buttonshank aperture and that portion of the material resting upon the top of the block 10 adjacent the end of thebutton-shank, wherev by a series of fastening stitches s is produced and the button is secured closely to the face of the material, the height of the top of the block 10 relative to the upper side of the button-shank determining the amount of play of the button upon the fastening stitches and the degree of flexibility of the button-fastening. By loosening the clampnut 16 upon the screw-stud 15, the worksupporting plate 8 may be shifted laterally so as to adjust the-spacing of the shoulder 10 of the block 10 from the rearward faces ofthe jaws 27 to accommodate materials of different thicknesses.

A button-holder constructed in accordance with the present improvement, as herein shown and described, is adapted to accommodate a style of button having a molded head and wire shank, or having a cloth-covered head and unapertured projecting cloth shank, or a molded button having the head and shank formed integral with a transverse aperture in the shank either close to or compar'atively remote from the back of the head. It will also accommodate buttons of these several types with heads of widely varying diameter and thickness. The improvement therefore provides for a very material increase 1n the capacity of button-holders over .PIGVIOUS construct1ons,and-th1s is due partly to the precision with which the button is held from lateral displacement relatively to the fastening means, partly to the means of controlling the fabric adjacent the buttonshank whereby it is prevented from displacing the button within the gripping jaws, and partly to certain constructive features of the work-holder.

While the various constructive features herein shown and described obviously contribute to the result above mentioned, it is evident that certain of them are susceptible of modification or may be wholly omitted from association with others of them without departure from the present invention.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is 1. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having a worksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angular relation therewith, and a shank-button holding member constructed with a button-support disposed above the face of the work-supporting member and at the side of said shoulder from the adjacent face of which it is rigidly sustaineda fixed distance and provided with button-head sustaining jaws with an intervening space extending throughout their depth in a direction transverse to the operative face of said work-supporting member, and spring-actuated means acting independently of and adapted to press the button-head upon said aws. j

2. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having a worksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angular relation therewith and a button-holding member constructed with a pair of reciprocally movable levers provided with opposed button-head sustaining jaws and fulcrumed to swing so as to move said jaws in a path adjacent and substantially parallel with the face of said shoulder, and means for holding a button-head in engagement with said jaws with its shank projecting between the same.

3. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having a worksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angular relation therewith, and a button-holding member constructed with a pair of reciprocally movable levers mounted upon independent fulcrums disposed in a planesubstantially parallel with the face of said shoulder and provided with opposed button-head sustaining jaws, and means for holding a button-head in engagement with said jaws with its shank projecting between the same.

4. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having a work sustaining operative face .provided wlth a' i shoulder in angular relation therewlth, and

a button-holding member constructed with a support, a pair of spaced and opposed jaws mounted upon said support and d sposed at the side of and rigidly sustained a fixed dis tance from the face of said shoulder, and means sustained by said su port independently of said jaws for yiel ingly maintaining a button-head in engagement therewith. 5. The Work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having a worksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angular relation-therewith, and a button-holding member constructed with a support, a pair of spaced and opposed jaws disposed at the side of and rigidly sustained relatively to the face of said shoulder, and means including an element mounted upon said support and bodily movable transversely of said jaws whereby the button is maintained in engagement with the latter.

6. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having a worksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angular relation therewith, and a button-holding member constructed with a support, a pair of reciprocally movable jaws mounted upon said support and confined to movement in a path substantially parallel with the face of said shoulder, positively acting means for adjusting the spacingapart of said jaws, and yieldingly acting means for holding a button-head in engagement with said jaws with its shank proecting between the same.

7 The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having a worksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angular relation therewith, and a button-holding member constructed with a support, a pair of spaced and opposed jaws mounted upon said support and disposed at the side of and sustained a fixed distance from the face of said shoulder, a springactuated holding element for maintaining a button-head in engagement with said jaws with its shank extending between the same, and an adjustable stop for determining the initial position of said holding element relative to said jaws.

8. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having a worksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angular relation therewith, and a button-holding member constructed with a support, a pair of spaced and opposed jaws mounted upon said support and disposed at the side of and sustained a fixed distance from. the face of said shoulder, means for adjusting the degree of separation of said jaws, a spring-actuated holding element for maintaining a button-head in engagement with said jaws with its shank extending between the same, and an adjustable stop for determining the initial position of said holding element relative to said aws.

9. The button-holder comprising a support, a pair of reciprocally movable levers fulcrumed thereon and provided with opposed jaws having button-head seats adapted to engage the rear face of the buttonhead, a fulcrum-block, link connections between said block and said levers, an adjusting screw for shifting said block upon said support for adjusting the spacing apart of said jaws, and means adapted to yield independently of said jaws for maintainin the button-head in engagement withsaid aws.

10. The button-holder comprising a support, a pair of spaced and opposed jaws sustained by said support, a holding element for maintaining a button-head in engagement with said jaws with its shank extending between the same, a slide-block, a connection between said slide-block and said holding element, a spring connected with said slide-block for drawing said holding element toward said jaws, and an adjustable stop for limiting the movement of said slide-block under the action of said spring.

11. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member, and a buttonholding member constructed with spaced button-gripping jaws disposed above and in angular relation with the operative face of the work-supporting member, and a buttondetainer having a button-engaging portion disposed transverse to said jaws and movable into and out of operative relation with a button sustained by said jaws.

12. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member, and a buttonholding member constructed with a' support, spaced button-gripping jaws mounted upon said support and disposed above and in angular relation with the operative face of the work-supporting member, and a button-detainer pivotally mounted upon said support to swing into and out of operative position above and transversely of said button-gripping jaws.

13. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member, and a buttonholding member constructed with a support, spaced button-gripping jaws mounted upon said support and disposed above and in angular relation with the operative face of the work-supporting member, a button-detainer movable transversely of said jaws toward and from operative position above the latter, a carrier for said detainer, and means for securing said detainer upon its carrier adjustably transversely to the direction of movement of said detainer.

14. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member, and a buttonholding member constructed with a support, spaced button-gripping jaws mounted upon said support and disposed above and in angular relation with the operative face of the work-supporting member, a button-detainer pivotally mounted uponsaid support to swing into and out of operative position above and transversely of said button-gripping jaws, an adjustable stopfor determining the operative position of said detainer, and a spring for yieldingly maintaining said detainer in engagement with said stop.

15. In a button sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle, of a worksupporting member having a work-sustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angular relation therewith, and a buttonholding member movable toward and from said work-supporting member and comprising a button-support disposed above the face of the latter and at the side of said shoulder from the adjacent face of which it is rigidlg verse to the operative face of said work-- supporting member and sprin actuated means acting independently of sald jaws for Y pressing the button-head upon said jaws.

16. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having a worksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angular relation therewith, and a button-holding member constructed with V a support, a pair of spaced and o posed jaws disposed at the side of and rigi ly sustained a fixed distance from the face of said shoulder,-means engaging the button-head for yieldingly maintaining it in engagement with said jaws, and a presser-foot mounted upon said support independently of said jaws and at the side of said shoulder op 0- site that occupied by said jaws and over ying the work-supporting member.

17. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having a worksustammg operative face provided with a shoulder in angular relation therewith, and

, a button-holding member constructed with a support, a pair of aws mounted upon sai sipaced and opposed support, said jaws being disposed at the side of and rigidly sustained a fixed distance from the face of said shoulder, means for yieldingly maintaining a button-head in engagement with said aws, and a resser-foot mounted upon said support and provided with means of adjustment in a direction substantially parallel with said shoulder and adapted to overlie the work-supporting member adjacent said shoulder.

18. The work-holding means comprising a fastening means and dis work-supporting member, and a buttone operative face 19. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member, and a buttonholding member constructed with spaced button-gripping jaws having shoulders for engagement with the opposite edges of a button-head for centering the same laterally relative to button-fastemng means and disposed above and in angular relation with the operative face of the work-supportin member, and a button-detainer having a utter;- engaging portion disposed transverse to and above said jaws and movable into and out of operative relation with a button sustained by said jaws.

20. The Work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member, a carrier therefor, a worksustaining block mounted thereon and affording a shoulder in angular relation with the operative face of said member, means whereby said block may be adjusted relatively to said carrier and in a direction transverse to said shoulder, and a button-holding member constructed with a button-support disposed above the face of the work-supporting member and at the side of said shoulder and provided with a button-head sustaining jaw, and means for maintaining the button-head seated upon said jaw.

21. The work-holding means comprising a work-support and a button-holding member constructed with laterally spaced jaws having button-head seats and arranged substantially in a plane transverse to the supporting face of the work-su port, and means for pressing a button-hea in engagement with said jaws with its shank exposed between them.

22. The work-holding means comprising a work-support and a button-holding member constructed with laterally spaced jaws with the direction of thrust of the needle, In testimony whereof, I have signed my and means for pressing a button-head in enname to this specification, in the presence gagement With said jaws with its shank exof two subscribing Witnesses.

posed between them, said. needle and but- I WILLIAM L. BARRON. ton-holding member being arranged to re- Witnesses: ceive relative jogging movements trans- H. A. KORNEMANN, J12,

versely to said plane. W. P. STEWART.

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