US268369A - Machine for sewing on buttons - Google Patents

Description

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J MATHISON. MACHINE FOR SEWING 0N BUTTONS. No. 268,369.

Patented Nov. 28, 1882'. Y

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J. IVIA'THISON.V MACHINE FOB SEWING 0N BUTTONS. y 268,369. Patented Nov. 28, 1882.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4, J. MATHISON. MACHINE POE SEWING 0N BUTTONS.

Patented Nov. 28, 1882.

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J. MATHISON.

MACHINE FOR SEWING 0N BUTTONS. No. 268,369. Patented Nov. 28.1882.

0., .fu e e h s s t e e .n s 6 N 0 S Tl- H m1 A M J. u d o M 0 m MACHINE FON SEWING 0N BUTTONS. No. 268,369.

Patented Nov. 28. 1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH MATHISON, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WILLIAM D. ALLEN, OF SAME PLACE, AND O. B. LANCASTER, OF

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR SEWING ON BUTTONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,369, dated November 28, 1882.

Application meu August 1,1882. (No inouei.) i

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, JosEPH MATHIsoN, of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain'Improvements in Machines for SecuringButtons to Material, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a. machine adapted to secure a series of buttons to a boot or shoe or other article by a con-- tinuous thread or cord, in such manner that each button will be independently attached, so that if the cord should break or be severed between the buttons the attachment would not be atl'ected.

The invention is intended to provide means for carrying in'to effect the improved method ot' attaching buttons described in my application for Letters Patent of the United States tiled March 18', 1882, Serial No. 55,723, said method consisting essentially in drawing a primary loop of thread through the material to which the button is to be attached and also through the eye of the button, then drawing a secondary loop through the material and through the primary loop outside ofthe eye of the button, tightening the primary loop, and finally passing the secondary loop over the button and tightening said loop, thereby interlocking both loops and forming a square knot, one loop or bight of which passes thronghand the other around the eye of the button.

Ot' the accompanying drawings, forming 'a part ot' this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view ot' a portion ot' a machine embodying my invention. Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 represent similar views, illustrating different stages ot' the operation. `Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 represent the position of the button and the loops securing it at different stages of the operation. Fig. 13 represents a side view ot' the loop-spreaders before they separate to spread and lower the loop. Fig. 14 represents a front view of the same. Fig. 15 represents a front view of the spreader-s depressed and" separated. Fig. 15 represents a back view of the same. Fig. 16 represents a section on line .r a', Fig. l5. Fig. 16 represents 'a side view of the loopspreadersin position shown in Figs.

15 and 16. Fig. 17 represents a perspective view of the wedge which separates the spreaders. Fig. 18 represents a side elevation ofthe entire machine. Fig. 19 represents a section on line z z, Fig. 18. Fig. 20 represents an ele' vation of the opposite side Of-the machine. Fig. 20a represents a rear view of a portion of the machine, showing the lower portion of the raceway, support-ing standard and its guides. Fig. 21 represents a section on line y y, Fig. 20. Fig. 22 represents a bottom view. Fig. 23 represents a section on line Fig. 22, and a side elevation of the arm of the machine with its side and parts of its mechanism removed. Fig. 24E represents a section online y y', Fig. 22, and a sideelevation of the arm of the machine with its side removed. Figs. 24, 241, 24C, 24d, andr2ete represent details. Fig. 25, Sheet 4, represents a section on line a z', Fig. 22.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures. y In carrying ont my invention, I provide a suitable supporting-frame, A, having a narrow elongated work-supporting arm, B, preferably horizontal, and ot' such size as to enable the upper of a boot or shoe to be drawn upon it, and allow said upper a free. movement laterally of the arm. Said arm B is Vhollow and contains a vibratory thread-carrier, O, and suitable tension devices.

Above the thread-carrier is a needle-plate, D, forming a part ofthe upper surface of the arm, and provided with a slot, s3, extending longitudinally of the arm, to permit the needle, hereinafter described, to pass downwardly through the needle-plate, and move longitudinally of the arm to t'eed the material while depressed.

E represents the neck or arm, supporting the needle, presser, and cast-off bars, and located over the work-supporting arm B.

The needle-bar F and cast-ott' bar G are directly supported in a carrier, H, which is pro- '2 aegee@ to the outer end of which is pivoted a lever, W, said lever being pivoted at a to the neck E, and provided with a roller, Z), at its lower end,which bears upon the periphery of adisk, c, on the driving-shaft- R, said disk having two projecting cams, e j'. The lever XV is held in yielding contact with theperiphery ofthe disk c and its cams by a sp1-ing, g, and 0is oscilla-ted by said cams and spring, thereby reciprocating the carrier H horizontally,thelatter being moved inwardly i'rom the outer end ofthe neck E hy each cam, and outwardly by the spring. The cam fis shorter and has less outward projection than the cam e, and therefore gives the carrier H an inward movement, which is of less extent and shorter duration than thatimparted by the cam e. The movementsimparted respectively by thccamsfand e to the carrier H, produce what are hereinafter termed primary 7 and secondary 7 lateral or feed movements of the needle while the ,latter is in the material.

The needle-bar F is provided with a stud or pin, O, which projects tliirongh a vertical slot, P, in the carrier H and enters an orifice, N, in a slide, M, which is fitted in a slot, L, in an oscillating lever, J. Said lever is pivoted at K to the neck, and is oscillated vertically by means ot' a cam-groove, P, in a disk, @,on the driving-shaft 1i, and a connected rod, S, having astud or roller, T, entering said cam-groove. The connecting-rod S has a slot, U, through which the shaft R passes. rithe needle-har F is thus reeiprocated vertically, the slide M in the lever J enabling said bar to be reciprocated vertically while at any point to which it is moved laterally.

The cast-od bar G is provided with two projections, la h, between which is a stud, t', attached to the needle-bar, said stud having a considerable independent movement between the projections h 7L, so that as the needle-bar rises and falls the stud t' moves the cast oit' bar to alimited extent in the same directions, theI movements thus imparted causing the cast-ot't to be operated in the usual manner in casting off the primary loop, as hereinafter described; but, as it is necessary to give the east-oit' an independent downward movement whilethe needle is depressed and moving laterally during` the secondary feed movement, before alluded to, I provide at the top of the neck E a bellcrank lever, a3,piv'oted to an arm on the neck, and so located that when the needle-bar is m akingits secondary or longer t'eed movement the upper end of said bar will strike a projection, a5, on one arm ofthe lever c3, as shown in Fig. 24", and turn said lever on its pivot, thereby pressing its other arm, which has a projection, a7, downwardly on a pin orstud, c, ou the castoft bar, and depressing the latter, as shown in Fig. 24", just before the needle-har rises at the completion ofthe outward or feed movement.

The presser-bar j is provided with an elongated presser-toot, 7c, composed of two arms, 2 3, connected by a block or enlargement, c3, to

which the presser-bar is attached, and separated by a slot, l, extending longitudinally of' the'work-supporting arm and coinciding with the slot s3 in the needle-plate D. The sides of the slot l are formed to support the head of the button ofthe kind shown, in an upright position with its edge or shank projecting downwardly into said slot, so that when the secondary loop is pulled in, as hereinafter described, it will necessarily inclose the shankv of the button.

The worleholding arms or branches 2 3 are curved upwardly at their rear ends, and the curved portions are separated from each other by a much wider space than the slot l, so that the attached button can pass freely back from the presser-foot, either in the direction ot' the length ofthe work-supporting arm or diagonally. This arrangement. enablesashoe-upper, to which the buttons are attached in a curved row, to be freely i'ed along without obstruction of the attached buttons by thepresser-foot, said buttons moving diagonally back from the pressenfoot. The presser-bar is raised to permit the work to be fed by the lateral movements of the needle by a bell-crank lever, on,

Ypivoted at n to the neck E, and connected by a rod, o, to a lever, p, which is pivoted at a,

and has a roller, r, bearing on the periphery ot" the disk Q on the shaft lt, said disk having the camgroove p in its side.

The disk Q has two cam-projections, t t, which act alternately on the roller r, and swing the lever p in the direction required to raise the presser-bar. A. spring, u, on the outside ofthe neck E, bearing on a stud, fv, projecting from the presser-bar, presses downwardly on said bar and the pressert'oot, and forces the latter down upon the work when the cam t ceases to act on the lever p.

A hand-lever, nt, is pivoted to the outer surt'ace of the neck E, to enable the operator to raise the presser foot independently. The presser-foot is provided at its upper end with an enlargement, a3, having ears a a', in which isjournaled a rod or arbor, b', having between the ears e a an enlargement or collar, c, rigidly secured to said rod or arbor.

d d' represent arms pivoted at e e to the collar c', and adapted to swing on their pivots toward and from each other. These arms, which I term loop-spreadersf7 are provided at their swinging ends with hooks fj", and on their front sides with siiring-iingers g' g', said hooks and tingers cooperating in grasping a loop of thread, as hereinafter described.

li represents an arm journaled on the rod I1', so as to turn independently thereon,-and provided with a curved wedge, i', adapted to be inserted between the spreaders d and separate the same, as shown in Figs. 1,3, 15, and 16. rEhe collar c is cnt away or slotted centrally to receive the arm L, and the slot terminates atone side of said arm in a shoulder, 7c', adapted to bear against a corresponding shoulder, j', formed on the arm.

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The rod bis provided with an arm, Z', connected by means ofan adjustable trunnion, m', with an adjustable socketed ear, n', on'a rod, o', which extends backwardly and `is pivoted to a lever, p', the latter being pivoted at q to the frame A, a-nd provided with a roller, fr', entering a Ycam-groove, s', in a disk, on the driving-shaft.

The ro'd b is oscillated by means ofthe camgrooves and theintermediatedevices, the camgroove being formed, as shown, to give the rod the following movements, viz: The spreaders being directly under the collar to which they are pivoted, as shown in Figs. 1,3,15, and 16, and being held apart from each other by the wedge z", the spreaders are next moved forward, leaving the wedge, which is held in the position shown by aspring, u', which holds a leather buffer, v, on the arm h against the bottom of the enlargement a3 of the presserbar. Each spreader is provided with a spring, a2, which is secured at one end to the block c and at the other end to the spreader, as shown in Fig. 15a, and presses the spreader inwardly, so that asthe spreaders pass forward be youd the wedge and upward they closeinwardly, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. Before the spreaders complete their forward movementv the shoulder 7c' on the collar c comes in contact with the shoulderj on the wedge-artn h', and causes the wedge to move forward with the spreaders, the latter remaining closed, however, in advance ot' the wedge. When the pivoted to an extension of the enlargement of the presser-toot, engages automatically with a tooth, c?, on the rear portion of the wedge, as shown in Fig. 13, and locksthe wedge in the position shown, so that it is ready to separate the spreaders on their return or downward movement. The spreaders having entered a loop ot' thread, as hereinafter described, are next moved backwardly and downwardly, and during said movement are separated by the wedge, as shown in Figs. 1,- 2, 15, and 16. When the spreaders have nearly completed their downward movement an arm, d2, attached to the collar c', strikes a lateral projection on the dogV b2, as shown in Fig. 16, and disengages the dog from the tooth of the wedge', the latter, under the influence ot' the springr u, resuming its original position. (Shown in Figs. 16 and 16a.)

The time of the described movements of the `spreaders` with relation to the movements ot the needle is more particularly described in the general operation ot' the machine.

f2 represents the button-reservoir, and g2 the inclined raceway leading therefrom. The raceway is curved inwardly at its lower end, and is given a quarter-twist, so as to present the eyes of the buttons sidewise to the needle, as shown in Fig. 1. The raccway is formed to permit the buttons to be drawn from its end, instead of being drawn out laterally, as in my Patent No. 252,117, dated January 10, 188,2.

The lowerend of the raceway is provided with ayielding spring, w, which projects partly across the raceway, and bears against the lower buttons, and constitutes a. yielding stop, holding each button therein in succession until said button is withdrawn from the raceway, as described hereinafter. 'lhe raceway is supported with `the reservoir on a post composed of two sectious,h2 and i2. The lower end ot' the section h2, to which the reservoir and raceway are directly attached, is journaled on the section i2, which is adapted to slide horizontally in guides jz on the frame A. The raeeway is therefore adapted to oscillate laterally of the work-supporting arm and to re ciprocate longitudinally thereof. The pivoted section h2 is provided with'an arnnj, having a screw, 7a2, on its outer end bearing against the side of the neck E. The neck is provided with an inclined or diagonal surface, Z2, over which the screw k2 passes when the raceway is moved longitudinally. A spring, m2, extending from a stud on the section h2 to a stud on the section i2, draws the raceway inwardly toward -the neck F. When the raceway -is moving backwardly from the outer end of the work-supporting arm its screw k2, in passing over the diagonal surface Z2, is forced outwardly, thereby swinging the racewayI outwardly. The swinging and longitudinal movements of the racewa-y cause the delivering or lower end of the raceway to move diagonally from the position it occupies when presenting a button to the needle, as shown inFig. 1, to the position it occupies after the button has been withdrawn `from the raceway, as shown in Figs. L.Land 5. The sectional post [L2 il is reciproeated -in its lguides by means of a lever, o2, pivoted at pl to the frame A, engaged at its lower end by a roller with a cam-groove, r2, in a disk, s2, on the driving'shat't, and at its upper end with a block, t2, pivoted to thesection 2, the upper end ofthe lever being bifur cated to embrace the block t2..

The thread-carrier, which operates in the usual manner, is supported in a vertical roekshaft, u2, having an arm, '02, which is connected by a rod, 202, with a lever, m2, which is pivoted at y2 to the frame A, and has a roller engaged with a earn-groove, z2, in the dish c 0n the driving-shaft, said devices oscillating the carrier and causing it to alternately hold the thread away from and press it against the hook side ofthe needle.

Operation: The button-raceway being in position, as shown in Fig. l, the eye ofthe lower button, zr, is held under the needle. The needle descends through tte'eye ot' the button, the material, and the needle-plate. The needle then makes its shorter or primary feed movement while down. At the same time the thread'guide swings around to press the thread against the hook side of the needle. The needle is then raised and draws a primary loop, G, through the eye ofthe button, as shown in Fig. 3. rlhen the needle is moved back to its IOO IOS

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first position, passes down through the first loop, as seen in Fig. 4, outside the eye of the button, through the material and the needleplate. While the hook of the needle is perforating the material the raceway is moved backwardly, and the loop C is then caused to pull the last button past the yielding spring w and ont of the raceway. as shown in Fig. 4. The needle then makes its longer or secondary feed movement, and the thread-guide again moves to press the thread against the hook ot' the needle. lVhile the needle is making its secondary feed movement the cast-off is moved down to the material by the arm a3 and casts off the loop C. The needle rises, and as it rises draws up a secondary loop, D', through the iirst loop, as shown in Fig. 5. The operation of drawing' the srcondary loop entirely up tightens the primary loop, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. The needle then drops enough to free the hook from the cast-ofi', so as to release the loop from the hook ot' the needle. rlhe spreaders swing toward the needle at the same time, and the hooks of the spreaders, which are now close together, enter the loop as soon as the loop is released from the hook of the needle. The forward swinging move- 'ment of the s'preaders after the hooks enter the loop is sufficient to deflect or bend the loop away from the needle. rIhe spreaders then commence to recede from the needle, and at the same time are separated at their hooked ends, thus spreading the loop into a triangular form, and carrying' it over the head Yot' the button, as shown in Figs. l and l0.

The springs g serve to hold the loop upon the hooks during their receding and separating movements. While theloop D is beingopened and carried over the head ot' the button the needle is moved to its original position, and at the same time the raceway returns to its original position, so as to present its lower button to the needle. rlhe needle then descends through the eye of the lower button in the raceway, engages with the thread, which is again presented to it by the thread-carrier, and draws up another primary loop through the eye of said lower button. rIhe operation ot' drawing up the last-named loop draws in the secondary loop previously drawn over the preceding button, drawing said loop inwardly and interlocking it with the primary loop of said button, thus forming the square knot which secures the button to the material, as shown in Fig. ll. The above-described steps are taken in the attachment of each button.

cf* represents a bent arm, which is pivoted to the extension of the upper part of the presser-foot, and is held by a spring, d3, against an adjustable stud, e3, on the rod 0. One end of said arm c3 projects in front of the spreaders, and is raised and lowered by the action ofthe rod o and spring d3. The arm c3 is brought down upon the secondary loop while said loop is in the position shown in Fig. 1, and prevents the loop from rising and failing to be drawn'nnder the button when it'is tightened by the operation of drawing up the succeeding primary loop, as above described, in case the springs g g release the loop before it is tightened or if from any cause the loop has a tendency to rise above the button it is intended to aid in securing.

I do not limit myself to the employment of the arm as, however, as it is only intended as an auxiliary device to guard against the accidental loosening ofthe loop.

l do not limit myself'to the particular devices shown for forming the knot which attaches the buttons, as said devices may be variously modified without departing from the spirit ot' my invention.

The cams ef, which impart the primary and secondary feed movements to the needle, are madeadjustable as to their projection from the periphery ofthe disk c, to which they are attached, so that the length of said feed movements, or either of them can be varied, 'as may be desired. To this end each of said cams is attached to the disk c by screws s4 s, the heads of which are conntersunk in the outer surfaces of the cams and screws 35 85, whose heads are provided with ilanges countersnnk in the inner surfaces of said cams, as shown in Fig. 24. The screws s4 hold the cams to the disk, and the screws S5 regulate the approach ofthe cams to their seats on the disk, the cams heilig movable toward and from the disk.

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l. In a machine for attaching buttonsfthe combination of button-feedingmechanism, and mechanism for lirst drawing a primaryloop of thread through the material and the eye of a button; secondly, drawing a secondary loop through the material and through. the primary loop outside of the eye of the button 5 thirdly, throwing the secondary loop over the head of the button and iinally forming said loops into a square-knot, as set forth.

2. In a machine for attaching buttons, the combination of loop-forming mechanism, button-feeding mechanism whereby a button is presented to the needle of the loop-forming mechanism, means for imparting to said needle the primary and secondary 4feed movements described, whereby first the primary and secondary loops are drawn respectively through and outside of the eye ofthe button, and, secondly, the material with the partially-attached button is advanced,and devices for spreading and depressing the secondary loop after the IIO material is advanced, to cause said loop to inclose the button and hold it until tightened by the subsequent action of the loop-forming mechanism, as set forth.

3. In a machine for attaching buttons, the combination of button-feeding mechanism, a longitudinally --slotted presser-foot, a loopforming mechanism, means for imparting to the needle and cast-oli' of the loop-forming mechanism the primary and secondary lateral movements described, means, substantially as described, for vertically reciprocating the castoff at differentpoints in its lateral movements,

and loop-spreading devices, all arranged and Y operated substantially as described.

4. The presser-foot composed of. two connected-arms'separat'ed by a longitudinal slot, the sides of which are adapted to support a button and having an enlarged rear opening to permit the passage of an attached button, as set forth.

5. The combination, with the button-feeding and loop-forming mechanism, of the loopspreaders and'mechanism for inserting said spreaders into the secondary loop and depressing and separating them to depress and spread said loop, as set forth.

6. The combination of the rod b', having an enlargement or collar, mechanism for oscillating the same, the spreaders pivoted to said collar and pressed inwardly by springs, the wedge t", journaled on the rod, and drawn backwardly by a spring, u', the shouldersj 7c', arranged as described, whereby the spreaders are moved forward and in advance of the wedge, and the latter is subsequently moved with the spreaders, a dog, b2, to lock the wedge, and an arm, d2, to disengage the dog from the wedge when the spreaders move back` wardly, as set forth.

`7. The combination, with theloop-spreaders, of the auxiliary loop-holding arm and mechanism for raising and lowering the same, as set forth. M

8.. The raceway pivoted to a longitudinallymovable support, i2, combined with meansl for oscillating the raceway and movingitlongitndinally, as set forth.

9. The combination of the raceway, the section h2, supporting the raceway, the longitudinally-movable section t2, having a pivotal connection with the section h2, mechanism, substantially as described, for reciprocating the section 2 and the parts supported thereby,

and the fixed incline Z2, the arm ordevice k2 and horizontally movable in tixed guides,

means for giving said carrier first a short and then a longer reciprocating movement, mechanism, substantially as described, for reciprocatin g the needle-bar vertically, devices on the needle and cast-off bars causing the operation of the latter by the vertical movements of the needle-bar, and an independent device operated by the longer lateral movement of the needle-bar to depress the cast-olf bar,as set forth.-

11. The combination of the carrier H, reciprocated horizontally, as described, the needle and cast-olf bars guided and moved laterally by the carrier, the oscillating lever J,-having a slot, L, a slide, M, in said slot engaged with a stud on the needle-bar, the projections h It on the cast-off bar, and the interposed stud on the needle-bar, whereby the cast-oft' is operated during the vertical movements ot' the needle-bar, and the lever a?, pivoted to a fixed snpport and operated by the longer lateral movement of the needle-bar, to depress the cast-off, as set forth.

12. The raceway formed topermit thc removal of the buttons from its end and adapted to be moved longitudinally and laterally, as

described, combined with the spring fw, prowhile a loop is' being drawn through the eye thereof by the needle, and mechanism for moving the raceway backwardly while the said loop is held by the needle, thereby withdrawing the button from the racen-ay, as set forth.

14. In a machine for securing buttons, the combination, with the loop-forming and feeding mechanism, of the narrow elongated worksupporting arm adapted to permit the free lateral and longitudinal movement of a bootor shoe upper, and the presser-foot having a slot adapted to support a button while it is being attached, and an enlarged rear opening to permit the passage of the attached buttons, as set forth. Y

15. The combination, with the laterally-movable needle, of the cams @ji-and intermediate devices for moving the needle laterally, said cams being adjustable so as to regulate the feed movements of the needle, as set forth.

In testimony whereof lhave signed my name to this specification, in the presence ot'two subscribing Witnesses, this 29th day of July,18S2.

JOSEPH M ATHISON.

Witnesses z C. F. BROWN, A. L. WHITE.

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