IL31493A - Assembly apparatus for covered buttons - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to apparatus for assembling covered buttons, i.e, buttons of the type comprising two button cup members and a flexible covering piece and it is an object of the present invention to provide such an improved apparatus of this kind.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for assembling covered button elements consisting of two button cup members and a flexible covering piece including a plunger assembly mounted for rotation about an axis in the press body and for reciprocation along said axis, a forming die mounted on the press body and adapted to receive a first one of the button cup members prior to final assembly of the button cup members, and a loader die mounted on the press body and adapted to receive a second one of the button cup members and also the covering piece, the forming die and the loading die being spaced equally on opposite sides of said axis, and the plunger assembly carrying two complementary similarly spaced, similar die members, the arrangement being such that when the plunger assembly is moved towards the forming and loading dies each of said complementary die members cooperate with one of the loading or former dies to insert the second button cup from the loading die with the covering piece wrapped therearound into the co-operating complementary die and to form a completed button in the loading die from the first button cup in the loading die and a previously inserted second; button cup and covering piece in the other complementary die, the complementary dies being arranged to hold the button cups or completed buttons hen the plunger assembly is moved away from the loading and forming dies the plunger assembly being arranged to rotate through one half revolution between successive inter-engagements of the die members to bring each first button cup with its covering piece into said forming die* An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the apparatus, certain elements . being shown in section; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is, a fragmentary vertical section of ... the apparatus of Figure 1, and , Figure 4 is a developed projection in flat of a cam groove in a member of a plunger assembly of the apparatus of Figure 1« Referring to. the drawings the apparatus . comprises, a press body 1, rising from a base 9 which carries two ; mutually spaced members 12 and 13· Member 12 is a "loader" member and is adapted to receive a button cup and a . covering piece such as a round, flat piece of flexible fabric placed on top of the button cup. Member 13 is a die for final assembly of the button elements, and as shown in sectional view in Figure 2 it is adapted to receive a second button cup, shown as having a projecting eye, and adapted for assembly with button cup arid the covering piece, A cylindrical casing 2 on the press body 1, has within it a spring-loaded plunger assembly consisting of plunger-rod 3 having a shoulder bearing on the top of -a short sleeve which in turn bears upon a long sleeve 16.

Set into the lower end of long sleeve 16 is a carrier plate 6 which is fixed to plunger-rod 3 by a bol . Carrier plate 6 carries in spaced relationship, apertured sleeves 7 and 8 which carry two like die members which are adapted to act as pick-ups for transfer of a piece of covering material with a button cup thereon to the die 13· Referring to Figure 3, the casing 2 carries a spring 17 which urges the plunger assembly into an upper position by engagement with a flange on the top of the short sleeve which in turn abuts a shoulder shown on plunger-rod 3# The long sleeve 16 has an exterior cam-groove in the form shown in Figure 4, and for a purpose hereinafter explained* The plunger assembly can be forced downwardl by a manually-operated handle-lever 4 carried at its lower end in a yoke 4» the arms of which embrace a riser extension of plunger-rod 3 and are held thereto by a pivot stud. Links 5 are pivoted to the lower part of yoke 4* and at their opposite ends to the top of the press body 1» , The cam- roove in the long sleeve 16 of the plunger assembly, shown at 18 in Figure 4, receives a fixed stud 19 (see also Figure 3); The cam- roove 18 is such that when the handle-lever is pulled down the plunger assembly is. rotated through 90° and when the plunger assembly is allowed to rise under the influence of the spring 17 the plunger assembly effects a further partial rotation through 90° in the same direction. The firit 90° rotation is effected during the latter part of the rise of the carrier plate 6 and the two die^pressure and pick-up members, and the second 90° rotation is effected during the first part of the descent of said members. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, each of the apertured sleeves 7 and 8 receive freely movable pins 20 the ends of which are upset or enlarged so that they will not fall out. On the exterior of the press body is a rib 21 which is positioned above die 13, so that after an assembly of the button elements has been effected in die 13 and the plunger assembly rises, the assembled button is ejected by contact of the appropriate pin 20 with said rib 21* To guard against the application of excessive pressure in the die 13 in operation the handle-lever 4 as shown in Figure 1, is provided with a stop stud 22 cooperatin with a cover 23 on casing 2, The stop stud is adjustably and screw threadedly engaged in yoke 4* .

The stop stud 22 may be dispensed with for most uses.

In the operation of the apparatus a button covering piece is placed in "loader" 12 on top of a previously inserted button cup. The second cup of the button is inserted in the die 13· By pressing down handle-lever 4 the covering piece and the first button cup are pressed into the aligned die pressure sleeve 7 or 8 as the latter descend..The return of the handle-lever rotates the plunger assembly 90° bringing the sleeves 7 and 8 to the position shown in Figure 1,. A further button cup and coverin piece are inserted in the member 12 and the handle-lever 4 is , again pressed dow to form a completed button between the die 13 and the sleeve.7 or 8, while the further button cup and covering piece are pressed i,nto the other pick-up member, The return of the handle lever again rotates the plunger assembly through 90° causing ejection of the previously assembled covered button from the sleeve 8 by engagement of the pin 20 with the rib 6· The "loader" 12 and the die 13 are again ready to receive the button parts#

Claims (2)

1. WHAT I CLAIM IS : ·' 1» Apparatus for assembling covered button elements consisting of two button cup members and a flexible covering piece, including a plunger assembly mounted for rotation about an axis in the press body and for reciprocation along said axis, a forming die mounted on the press body and adapted to receive a first one of the button cup members prior to final assembly of the button cup members, and a loader die mounted on the press body and adapted to receive a second one of the button cup members and also the covering piece, the forming die and the loading die being spaced equally on opposite sides of said axis', and the plunger assembly carryin two complementary similarly spaced, similar die members, the arrangement being such that when the plunger assembly is moved towards the forming and loading dies each of said complementary die members cooperates with one of the loading or former dies to Insert the second button cup from the loading die with the covering piece wrapped therearound into the co-operating complementary die and to form a completed button in the loading die from the first button cup in the loading die and a previously inserted second button cup and covering piece in the other complementary die, the complementary dies being arranged to hold the button cups or completed buttons when the plunger assembly is moved away from the loading and forming dies, the plunger assembly being arranged to rotate through one half revolution between successive interengagements of the die members to bring each first button cup with its covering piece into said forming die.

2. , Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the rotary movement is imparted to the plunger assembly by means which comprises a co-operating cam groove and cam follower arrangement between the plunger assembly and the press body, said plunger assembly being connected to a lever device for moving the plunger assembly towards the loading and forming dies and spring bias means for moving the plunger assembly in the reverse direction, the cam groove and cam follower arrangement being arranged to rotate the plunger assembly through 90° during its move* ment in one direction and through a further 90° during its movement in the reverse direction. 3· Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which each of said complementary die members carries a freely movable ejection pin arranged to co-operate with an abutment on the press body on one side of said axis to eject completed buttons from the appropriate complementary die member when the plunger assembly is moved away from the forming and loading dies. Atto ra e y s f o r A p p l i c a n t