US791094A - Button-machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 791,094.. I .PATENTED MAY 80, 19-05.

W. H. HARGRAVESf Y BUTTON MACHINE.

APPLIOALIION FILED we; so, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED MAY 30, 1905.

W H. HARGRAVES.

BUTTON MACHINE.

APPLIOAIION FILED AUG. 30, 1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 PATENTED MAY 30, 190 5.

AVES.

HINE.

W. H. HARGR BUTTON MAG VIII/IIII/A I I I Patented May 30. 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM H. HARGRAVES, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

BUTTON-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,094, dated May 30, 1905.

Application filed August 30, 1904. Serial No. 222.714.

To all whom it may concern;

Be itknown that I, WILLIAMH.HAReRAvEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-lVIaehines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in button-machines.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character by which parts ofa button may be assembled and covered.

A further object is to provide a button-machine having means whereby covering is supplied to one button simultaneously with the securing of the shank to another button by a single stroke of the lever, thus facilitating the process of finishing the buttons.

A still further object is to provide a machine of this character with which buttons from the smallest to the largest size may be made, means being also provided whereby various styles of shanks may be appliedsuch, for instance, as wire eyelet-shanks, prongs, or nails the machine being also capable of applying a variety of styles of covering, such as cloth, leather, or sheet metal.

Still another object is to provide a machine of this character which will be simple in construction, strong and durable, easily operated, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front, elevation of a button-machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary view of the die-carrying shaft, showing the means whereby said shaft is revolved. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the lower dies. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional View through the upper and lower die-blocks, showing a button shell and covering in the lower die in the position they would assume before the dieblocks have been brought together. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the same parts after the die-blocks have been brought together. Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the upper and lower die-blocks after the same have been raised again and the upper die-block automatically turned to bring the covered shell over the clenching-die, a shank being in place on the lower member of the clenching die to receive the covered shell when the die-blocks are again brought together. Fig. 9 is a similar view of these parts after the dies have been lowered and the button shell and shank clenched. Fig. 10 is a detail horizontal sectional View through the standard of the machine on the line 10 10 of Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of the die member used in forming buttons having prong-shanks, and Fig. 12 is a similar view of a prong-shank used in connection with the die member, as shown in Fig. 11 for forming prong-shank buttons. Fig. 13 is a detail perspective View of the spring guide-plate for firmly holding the die-carrying shaft to bring the dies together in perfect alinement.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes a base-plate, which may be of any suitable size and shape and having formed on its front and rear sides apertured ears or lugs 2, whereby the same may be attached to any suitable support. On the rear portion of the plate lis secured an upwardlyproject ing supporting-standard 3, the upper end of which is bifurcated and projects forwardly over the front portion of the plate 1 and has formed therein bearings 4, in which is mounted a horizontally-disposed power-shaft 5. One end of said shaft projects beyondone side of the standard and has secured thereto an operating handle or lever 6. On the shaft 5 between the bearings 4 is secured a sleeve 7 on which are formed radially-projecting cams 8 and 9.

On the front side of the standard 3 are formed upper and lower horizontally-disposed forwardly-projecting bearing- plates 10 and 11.

In one side of the plates and 11 are formed vertically alined bearing apertures 12, through which reciprocates a vertically-disposed die-carrying shaft 13. o the sides of the plates 10 and 11, adjacent to the shaft 13, is removably secured a plate 14, on which is formed an inwardly-projecting guide-block 15. In the front face of the block is formed a vertically disposed semicircular guideway or channel 16, in which the shaft 13 is adapted to slide. On the guide-block 15 opposite tothe plate 14 is removably secured a cam-plate 17, on the forward edge of which is formed an extension 18, which is bent or curved around the outer side of the shaft 13 adjacent to the underside of the plate 10. The lower edge of said extension 18 curves upwardly, thereby forming a camsurface 19, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. The shaft 13 is provided with a horizontally-disposed hole, in which is slidably mounted a short pin or bolt 20, the projecting end of which is adapted to engage the cam-surface 19 of the extension 18 when said shaft is moved upwardly, thereby causing said shaft to be rotated. In order that the pin or bolt 20 will be projected through and beyond the shaft 13 at the proper time to engage the cam-surface of the extension 18, a cam-lug 21 is provided. Said lug is removably secured to the front side of the block 15 between the outer edge of the plate 14 and the shaft 13, whereby when said shaft is lowered the end of the pin or bolt will engage the cam-surface of the lug 21. thereby forcing the opposite end of the bolt or pin through and beyond the opposite side of the shaft 13 and in position to engage the cam-surface 19 when said shaft is raised. Removably secured to the outer edge of the plate 14 is a curved shield or guard-plate 22, the upper edge of which is shaped to conform to the lower cam edge or surface of the extension 18.on the cam-plate 17. Said edge of the guard-plate 22 is spaced from the cam edge 19, thereby forming a slot 23.

Secured to the forward edge of the plate 14, between the same, and the guard-plate 22, is a thin metal plate 14*, havingformed on its inner edge an offset portion 14 at the lower outer corner of-which is formed an in wardly-bent spring-finger 14, which projects inwardly into the path of downward movement of the pin or bolt 20 and is engaged by said bolt while the latter is being pushed through to the opposite side of the shaft, thereby holding said shaft firmly against all rotary or turning motion during the rest of its downward movement, thereby bringing the die-block carried by said shaft into perfect working engagement with the lower dieblock.

The shaft 13 is preferably hollow or pro- Vided with a bore 24, which opens at the lower end of the shaft and is normally closed by means of a flanged or shouldered cap 25, which is adapted to be 'screwed onto the lower threaded end of said shaft and which is prevented frombecoming unscrewed by means of a setscrew 26. In the lower end of the cap 25 is formed an aperture 27, through which is adapted to pass a rod or bar 28, above which and within the bore 24 is disposed a spiral spring 29. Said spring is adapted to normally push the rod or bar 28 outwardly, thereby forcing the lower end of the same into engagement with a stud-shaft 30, which is seated in the base 1 immediately below and in line with the shaft 13. In the base around said stud-shaft 30 is formed an annular recess 31, into which is adapted to project the lower end of a spring 32, which is coiled around said stud-shaft.

On the reduced end of the cap 25 is adapted to be secured an upper die-block 33, said clieblock being provided with a centrally-disposed aperture within which the said end of the cap is inserted. A set-screw 34 or other suitable holding device is employed to hold said dieblock in place upon the cap. Near each end of the upper die-block 33 are formed vertically-disposed apertures 35, in which are arranged the upper members 36 of a pair of dies. Said upper members consist of a cylindrieal bar, the lower ends of which are slightly concaved, as shown at 37 In one side of each of the die members 36 is formed a channel 38, which extends to within a short distance of the upper and lower ends of the same and which is adapted to receive the inner end of set-screws 39, which pass through apertures in the side of the die, and thereby prevent the dropping out or loosening said upper members of the die. On the lower side of the extreme outer ends of the die-block 33 are formed downwardly-projecting lugs 40.

The lower die-block 41 is provided with a vertical centrally-disposed aperture 42, by which the same is adapted to be engaged with the upper end of the stud-shaft 30 and to rest on the coil-spring 32 arranged thereon. In the extreme outer end of the die-block 41 is formed vertically-disposed screw or bolt holes 43. The upper portions of the bolt-holes 43 are of somewhat larger diameter than the lower portions of the same, thereby forming a shoulder. Attaching-screws 44 are adapted to be passed through the apertures 43 and to be screwed into engagement with threaded holes formed in the base-plate 1, thereby slidably connecting said lower die-block with the base of the machine. The said lower die-block 41 rests upon the upper end of the coil-spring 32, which is arranged around the stud-shaft 30 within the recess 31.

Near each end of the lower die-block 41 are formed vertically-disposed apertures 45 and 46, the aperture 45 having at its upper end an annular enlargement 47 and in said aperture is adapted to be inserted the plunger member 48 of one of said dies. In the aperture 46 near the opposite end of the die-block a1 is arranged a shank-receiving die 19, which is in the form of an apertured cylindrical block and has formed on one side thereof a verticallydisposed groove. Said groove extends to near each end of the block and is adapted to receive the end of a set-screw 50, whereby said block is prevented from dropping out of the aperture 4:6. The upper end of the die member 49 is slightly concaved and is adapted to receive the shank to which the shell to which the cover of the button is adapted to be applied. The die member 49 is adapted to lie immediately below one of the die members 36, which are arranged in the upper die-block 33.

In the bearing- plates 10 and 11 at one side of and adjacent to the shaft 13 is slidably mounted a clenching-plunger 51. On said plunger is arranged a coil-spring 52, which is held in confinement by a pin 53, which runs through said shaft and the upper side of the lower plate 11, thereby normally forcing the clenching-plunger upwardly or retracting it from engagement with thedie members. The clenching-plunger has formed in its lower end a threaded aperture or bore 54:, which is adapted to receive the threaded stem of the die-operating head or hammer 55. Said hammer 55 is adapted to be connected to the lower end of said clenching-plunger by means of said screw threaded connection. On the threaded stem of the head 55 is arranged a jam-nut 56, which when said head has been adjusted to its proper position may be screwed up into engagement with the lower end of the plunger 51, and thereby hold said head against rotation. The head 55 is provided with a transversely-disposed aperture, to which is adapted to be inserted a suitable tool,whereloy the same may be turned. The jam-nut 56 is flattened on its opposite sides to form 'a wrench-engaging surface,- whereby the same may be turned.

The arrangement of the cams which operate the shaft 13 and plunger-rod 51 is such that when the lever or handle is operated the cam will carry the shaft 13 and plunger 51 and the die-block down to their lowest point,

the cam 9 holding the die-block shaft and.

die-block down until the cam 8 has forced the clenching-plunger down and clenched the button, this being necessary in covering both a large and a small button. If otherwise, in covering a very small button, the shell being thin, it would clench before the cloth is turned under. Attention is also called to the automatic reversing mechanism for shaft 13 and the upper die-block, to wit: The cam-surface of the extension on the cam-plate 17, that is engaged by the sliding-pin which is forced through to the opposite side of the shaft by the inclined lug 21 at each revolution and downward movement of the shaft, thereby placing the end of the pin in such position that the same will engage the cam-surface of the cam-plate, so that when said shaft is forced upwardly or retracting by the spring within the same the end of the pin will strike said cam-surface and ride around the same, thus revolving the shaft and reversing the position of the ends of the upper die-block.

From the front side of the standard 3 projects a stud 300, which is provided with a cushion 301 at its outer end. As the upper die-block is raised by the shaft 13 and partly rotated during the upward movement of said shaft the said upper die-block comes in contact with the said stud 300, the latter serving to prevent excessive rotary movement thereof. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings the shaft 13 and the upper die-block are shown in an intermediate position; but it will be understood that as the upper die-block reaches the upper limit of its upward movement it is in such position as to be engaged by the said stud 300.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

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

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a die-shaft, guide-bearings therefor in which said die-shaft is adapted to reciprocate and to revolve, a radially-movable pin carried by said die-shaft, a guide engaged successively by the opposite ends of the said pin, a cam effective upon one end of the pin when the said shaft moves in one direction to move said pin radially and project the opposite end thereof beyond one side of the said shaft, and a cam coacting with said projected end of the pin to partlyrevolve said shaft when the latter moves in the reverse direction, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a die-shaft, guide-bearings therefor in which said die-shaft is adapted to reciprocate and to revolve, aradially-movable pin carried by said die-shaft, a guide engaged successively by the opposite ends of the said pin, means coacting with said pin to prevent lost lateral motion thereof in said guide, a cam effective upon one end of the pin when the said shaft moves in one direction to move said pin radially and project the opposite end thereof beyond one side of the said shaft, and a cam coacting with said projected end of the pin to partly revolve said shaft when the latter moves in the reverse direction, substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a die-shaft, guide-bearings therefor in which said die-shaft is adapted to reciprocate and to revolve, a radially-movable pin carried by said die-shaft, a guide engaged successively by the opposite ends of the said pin, aspring coacting with said pin to prevent lost lateral motion thereof in said guide, acam effective upon one end of the pin when the said shaft moves in one direction to move said pin radially and project the opposite end thereof beyond. one side of said shaft, and a cam coacting with said projected end of the pin to partly revolve said shaft when the latter moves in the reverse direction, substantially as described.

4. In a button-machine, the combination with a base having secured thereto, an upwardly-projecting standard, a hollow reciprocating and revolving die-carrying shaft, a retracting-rod slidably mounted in the lower end of said shaft,-aspring arranged in the latter to engage said retracting-rod, thereby forcing said shaft upwardly, means whereby said shaft is revolved when forced upwardly by said spring, a spring-retracted clenchingplunger slidably mounted on said standard, means whereby said hollow shaft and clenching-plunger are projected, an upper die-block carried by said shaft, a lower die-block yieldingly supported on said base-plate and coacting die members arranged in said die-blocks, substantially as described.

5. In a button-machine, the combination with a base having secured thereto an upwardly-projecting standard, a spring-retracted shaft mounted in said standard, a horizontally-disposed pin slidably mounted in said shaft, a cam-surface arranged on said standard to be engaged by said pin thereby revolving said shaft, a cam-lug adapted to be engaged by the projecting end of said pin after said shaft has been revolved, thereby forcing the opposite end of the pin out of the opposite side of said shaft, means for projecting said shaft, an upper die-block fixed on the lower end of the latter, a lower die-block yieldingly supported on said base-plate, coacting die members carried by said blocks, and clenching mechanism adapted to be operated simultaneously with said die-shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM II. HARGRAVES.

IVitnesses:

F. S. MERTZ, CHARLES S. Swan.

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