GB853764A - Improvements in or relating to automatic button-feeding means for shank button sewing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

853,764. Sewing machines. SPEED FEED MACHINE CORPORATION. Dec.11, 1958 [Feb. 24, 1958], No. 39979/58. Class 112 [Also in Group XXX] In a shank-button sewing machine buttons pass from a container to a shoot which locates the lowermost button in the sewing position where it is retained by holding means adapted to be released on raising of the presser foot, whereby, on withdrawal of the lowermost button after sewing, the buttons in the shoot move downwards by gravity to locate the next button in the sewing position. A work support 22 is carried by one end of a slide 24 the other end of which carries a vertical rod 26. A block 42, adjustably attached to the latter, frictionally engages the inner surface of a part-tubular member 28 which is attached at its upper end to a rock shaft 30. An arm 32, also attached to shaft 30, carries a roller 34 engaged in a cam groove 36 formed in a wheel 38. Rotation of the latter thereby imparts to slide 24 reciprocating movements the amplitude of which is determined by the position of block 42. Arms 54 and 56 carried by a block 50 fixed to slide 24 are biased downwardly by a spring 55 to engage a presser foot 62, carried by arm 56, with the work support 22. A lug 59 carried by a vertical rod 57 engages an inverted L-shaped member 60 carried by arm 56, whereby the presser foot 62 is raised when rod 57 is lifted by a lever 58. A shoot 68, connected at its upper end with a button container 70 and at its lower end with the presser foot 62, is formed with a channel 72 for guiding the heads 164 of the buttons, and also with a slot 98 for guiding the button shanks 102. Container 70 is inclined towards the shoot and is attached by a rubber block 116 to a bar 115 telescopically and adjustably mounted within a fixed tube 114, whereby machine vibration transmitted to the container causes the buttons therein to move into the shoot via button-shaped openings 108. The lower end of the shoot terminates in a pair of resilient fingers 84 which form a continuation of the slot 98 and which are biased towards the presser foot 62 by a leaf spring 86 fixed to the shoot. The lowermost button is thus clamped against the presser foot, its head is located by a spring stop 96 carried by the presser foot, and its shank is located by a finger 90 projecting from the spring 86. When the presser foot is raised after the sewing operation, the upper curved end of a plate 92 carried by spring 86 is engaged by a cam surface 124 on a fixed plate 120. Spring 86 is thereby forced away from the fingers 84, and, when the lowermost button is removed with the work, the next button slides down the shoot till its head engages the stop 96, to be clamped against the presser foot when the latter is lowered.