US1149474A - Button-sewing machine. - Google Patents

Description

1.1. SULLIVAN & A. F. FIFIELD. BUTTON SEWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14.31912.

f /A Tron/vir J. SULLIVAN & A. F. FIFIELD.

BUTTON SFWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.|4,1912.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TTOHNEY 1.1. SULLIVANy L A. F. FIFIELD.l

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man Nov. 14, 1912.

lg' Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

OFFIE.

JOHN J'. SULLIVAN, 0F `IIE'SWICH, MASSACHUSETTS, .AND ALBERT F. FIFIELD, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION F NEW J ERSEY.

BUTTON-SEWING MACHINE.

Maaate.

Specication of Letters llatent. Y Ptent Aug, 10, 1915.,

Applicationled November 14, 1912. y Serial No. 731,241.`

T 0 al w/om t may concern.'

Be it known that we, JOHN J. SULLIVAN and- ALBERT F.- FIFIELD, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Ipswich,l in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, and Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Sewing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an` improvement in button-fastening machines, and more particularly of that class comprising stitchforming mechanism, a presser-foot having a button-guideway adapted for directing a button into fastening position, a chute in register with said guideway, and a buttoncarrier or propeller adapted to convey the buttons successively from themouth of the chute through the guideway of the presserfoot into fastening position.`

*The invention has for some of its objects to insure the location of the button within fastening position in the presser-foot before the descent of the latter to clamp the work for the fastening operation; to facilitate the movement of the button from the chute into fastening position; to provide simple means for yieldingly gripping the buttons in their travel from the supply to the holding member; to provide means which are positively acting in conveying the button. from the chute and yieldingly acting in positioning the same for the fastening operation; and to insure a certaint of delivery of the buttons from the supp y-llopper to the chute.

In its preferred form the machine is constructed with an endwise reciprocating bar disposed slightly above andi parallel with the work-support and dprovided with button-engaging means a apted to receive a button at the lower end of the chute and move the same through the guideway of the presser-foot into the range of action of the button-fastening means, such bar being supported by swingingarms mounted upon parallel fulcra beneath the same and connected with a vibratory controlling lever of the stop-motion device for effecting the starting and stopping ofthe stitch-forming or other fastening means. The button-carrier and presser-foot lifting devices are so constructed and independently connected with the stop-motion that in the manual operation of the latter to start the machine, thebutton is first advanced into position, the presser-foot then lowered and the fas'- temng mechanism thereafter set in motion, thereby obviating the forcible resistance to the advance of the button heretofore imposed by the premature lowering of the presser-foot upon the work and the thrusting of the button forward into contact withv the work under the action ofthe presserfoot;. The button propelling bar is prefer-` in the advance of the carrier to fastening position. The rock-lever member ofthe carrier is provided with a button-detaining spring-linger extending in advance of its clamping jaw and adapted to detain the foremost button of the chute in the retracted position of the carrier until the advance of the latter to fastening position, during which the lower button is securely gripped and the lone above it caused to rest upon the top of the advancing carrier where it remains until the retractlon of the carrier after a button-fastening operation. The hopper for supplying the buttons to the chute may be provided with an agitator mounted upon a shaft to which is imparted step-oy-step rotary movements by means of ratchet-and-pawl mechanism, the agitatorshaft having frictionally mounted thereon a spring-retracted arm confined to a range of vibratory movement less than the angular movement which would be normally imparted thereto under the actionl of the ratchet-and-pawl mechanisln. By this means, for each step of advance movement of the agitator it performs a backward movement of less extcul. thereby producing a more effective agit-:tion ol' the buttons titi Q menare than when receiving operative movements .invariably in the same direction.

-5 is a perspective view of the same parts with one member of the button-chute partially removed. Fig. is a perspective view of a portion of the stop-motion device, and Fig. 7a perspective view of the controlling cam and an element of the stop-motion engaged thereby. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the presser-foot takenV from the lower side. Fig. 9.is an elevation of the actuatingr mechanism of ythe button-agitator, -and Fig. 10 a. bottom plan of a portion of such mechanism. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the agitator shaft carrying the bushing with vthe rachet-wheel mounted thereon.

As represented in the drawings, the present improvement is applied toa Singer button sewing machine of which the frame is constructed with the usual hollow standard 1 with the laterally extending tubular work-supporting arm 2 and the overhanging bracket-arm 3 in the head 4 of whichl is ulcrumed the swinging needle-bar frame 5 having journaled therein the usual reciprocating needle-bar carrying the needle 7 which cooperates with the shuttle 8 journaled in the race 9 of the work-supporting arm 2 in the production of the fastening stitches. elournaled also in the bracket-arxiv head 4 is the presser-bar 10 normally pressed downwardly by means or" the spring'll surrounding the same and having secured to its reduced lower end by means of the fastening .screw 12 the. channeled shank 13 'of the presser-foot 1st. The presser-foot` has the usual needleaperture 15 rearward of which it is cut away totorm the flat vertical button-head seat or guideway 16 intersected by the inclined and upwardly flaring slot 17 affording a button-shank guideway beneath which are the lips 18 depending slightly below the lower tabric-engaging faces'19 separated by the elongated needle-aperture.

Mounted upon the top of the bracket-arm is the base 20 ot the button-hopperI embraced by the cylindrical casing 21 having the usual discharge aperture at one side leading into the upper end of the buttonchute comprising the inclined bar 22 with central longitudinal button-shank guiding slot 23 and overlying bar 2l adording between them a button-head guideway whose mouth at the lower end is in register with the guideway of the presser-foot when elevated. The lower extremity of the bar 22 extends close to the adjacent edge of the presser-foot, so that the button-shank slot 23 is in substantial alinement with the slot 17 of the presser-foot, but the lower end of the bar 24 is cut away above the slot 17 substantially parallel with the operative worksupporting face 25 of the throat-plate 26 sustained by the work-supporting arm 2.

Sustained slightly abovethe work-supporting arm 2 and beneath the arm 3 is the endwise reciprocating bar 27 having secured upon its forward end the apertured boss 28 of a block 29 formed at its forward extremity with the button-engaging shoulder or jaw 30 and upon its upper side with the button-supporting rib 3l having a downwardly inclined forward portion and adapted to traverse a path, in the movement of the carrier, beneath the mouth and at an inclination with the chute and the lower extremity of the member 2l thereof, so as to sustain the lowermost button within the chute when the carrier is in advance or button-attaching position, as represented in Fig. 5. The block 29 sustains the vertical fulcrum-pin 32 upon which is mounted for lateral movement the rock-lever 33 having a forwardly extending arm St formed with a transversely odset lateral button-engaging face or jaw 35 and with a rearwardly extending arm 3G normally pressed outwardly by means of the spring 37 interposed between the same and the end of a socket in the block 29. The arm 34 has secured to its outer face by meansof the screw 38 the wire spring 39 whose free end portion t0 extends transversely through the slot il in the member 35 and. affords a yielding button-detaining finger normally disposed in register with the mouth of the chute when the carrier is inretracted position. The forward portion of the bar 27 adjacent the boss 28is embraced by and clamped by means of the screw 2 within the split socket 43 forming the head of the transverse fulcrum-pin l-l: which is journaled within and sustained by the transverse boss of an upwardly extending swinging arm 4G having at its opposite end the boss t7 which is fixed iipon the rearward end of the transverse pivotal pin t8 journaled in the lower portion of the work-supporting arm 2 in which it is held in position b v means of the screw 49 and washer 50. The fulcrum-pin 44C is lnaintained in position within the boss t5 by means of the screw 51 and washer 52. The boss 45 has an extension l5 upon which is adjustably secured b v means of the clampscrew 53 the split hub 54 of the cam-arm or member whose front face a'ords a forwardly and dowr'nvardly inclined cam surniagara t ported by the swinging arm a6 which, in t e retracted position ci the carrieris substantially vertical, but swings forwardly in the advance ot the carrier and downwardly around the pin 48 as a ulcruin, as reprelc sented in dotted lines in Fig. 1, so as to cause the carrier to follow substantially the inclination orp the button-shank slot 17 of the presser-toot to facilitate the advance movement of the button into fastening position. As the cam-member 55 is rigidly connected with the arm 46, it is caused to move downwardly about the pivotal pin et in the advance o the carrier, as represented in Fig. 5, for disengagement from the adjacent 20 tace 'of the rock-lever arm 36, thereby permitting the clamping jaw 35 to grip the button engaged by the rigid jaw for securely ,holding it for the fastening operation.

rlhe bar 27 passes through aA clearance 25 aperture 57 of the standard 1 having in its inner wall the annular' seat 58 to receive the knurled thrust-collar 59 adjustably mounted upon the threaded rearward end 27 of the bar and securedin position thereon by S-ineans of the set-screw 60. Secured upon i the rearward end of the bar 27 by means ot the set-screw 61 is the apertured socket ot a block 62 pivotally connected by means of the screw-pin 63 with the upper end of the swinging upper arm 6-1 ot a rock-lever fulcrumed by means ot the stud 65 upon a lug 66 extending from one side of the standard, said'rock-lever having a depending arm 67 carrying the screw-pin 68.

Pivotally connected with the rock-lever arm 67 by means of the screw-pin 68 is the forward section 69 of a two-part connecting rod whose rearward extremity is slidingly fitted within a socket 70 ot the rearward section 70 formed at its opposite extremity l5 the adjacent end of the thrust-collar 75 apwith the boss 71. rll`he component sections o this rod are drawn together by means of a spring 72having one end connected with a pin 73 depending from the boss 71 and the il other end connected with a pin 7 L1 depending from a forward extension 69 of the section 69, the two sections being normally main' tained in fixed relation by engagement of the forward extremity of the section with section 70, such rock-lever having a rearwardly extending arm 81 adapted for engagement with the stationary conical-pointed tripping stud 82 having its threaded shank 83 tapped into the standard 1 andmaintained in the desired position of adjustment by means of the jam-nut 8l. The latch-lever is normally maintained in operative relation with the collar by means of the spring 85Aconnecting the forward arm 78 ot the same with the rod section 70.

'lhe boss 71 of the sectional connecting rod is pivotally attached by means of the screw-bolt 86 with the lower end of a depending arm 87 attached by screws 88 to one edge of the vibratory stop-lever 89l which is fulcruined by means of center` screws 90 between the ears 91 of a bracket 92 sustained by the standard 1, and has journaled therein the plunger-rod 93 whose upper extremity is adapted to engage the operative side face and periphery of the stopping cam 9a hned upon the main-shaft 95 of the sewing machine and provided with the peripheral notch 96 therein in arresting the operation of the stitch-forming mechanism. The plunger-rod is normally pressed upwardly into operative position toward the main-shaft 95 by means of a surrounding spring 97 interposed between the upper end of the bushing'98 in the lower member of the stop-lever-89 and the thrust-collar 99 `adjustably secured upon the plunger-rod'by means of the set-screw 100. The plungerrod is thrown' laterally into operative relationwith the cam 9a by means of the spring 101 interposed between the upper part of the stop-lever 89 and the stan'dard l, and is `adapted to be disengaged therefrom, by means of the treadle-rod 102 connected with the lateral arm 103 oi" the stop-lever 89.

The arm 103 carries upon one side the roller-stud 10i which is embraced by the `forked extremity 105 of the lateral arm 106 @t a bellcrank-lever ulcrumed upon the setscrew 107 sustained by the standard 1 and having an upwardly extending arm 108 carrying the roller-stud 109 normally resting upon the rearwardly extending flange 110 ot the controlling cam-cylinder 111 loosely journ'aled upon the main-shaft 95 and deriving step by step operative movements from well known actuating mechanism such States patent to l?. Diehl and M. Hemleb, No. 568,338, of ySeptember 29, 1896. arm .103y is drawn downward to shift the stop-lever 89 *from full line position to the dotted line position (Fig. 1) when the notch 110 of the cam element 110 is in register with the roller-stud 109, and is held down until the outer edge ore the cam comes into operative relation with the stud 109, when the release oiz the arm 103 permits the stud 109 to roll in contact with the cam 110 under ico j as that disclosed, for instance.. in the United The I maa/iva the action of the spring 101 until the notch 110 again comes into register with it, whereupon the release of the bellcrank-lever 106 108 permits the stop-lever to regain o erative position in which the plunger-r 93 Y wherein its shank isy thrust against the stopshoulder 17 of the presser-foot within the range of movement of the needle in one of its lateral positions. In advancing the bar 27,.the two sections of the connecting rod remain initially locked together by means of the latch-lever 78 81, but are automatically unlocked before the end of its operative stroke by engagement of the latch-lever with the tripping stud 82. In the continu'ed movement of the sto -lever 89, the thrust-collar 59 is arrested y engagement with the stationary seat 58, thereby ositively arresting the movement of the ro section 69 and permitting the section 70 in its continued movement relative thereto 'to distend the spring 72 which serves as a buffer to revent excessive strain upon the button suc as to break it or mar its appearance. In the retraction of the carrier' by the automatic action of the sto -lever 89, the component sections 69 and 0 of the connecting rod are first drawn into initial relation and locked together byA the spring 72 and latchlever 7.8 81, after which the bar 27 is retracted and the `button-carrier withdrawn,

into button-receiving position wherein the clamping jaw 35 is shifted outwardly by the action of the cam member to admit ton-carrier traverses an inclined path cor-v responding substantially with the inclination of the button-shank guiding slots of the chute and presser-foot relative to the top or work-supporting face of the throat-plate with which the fulcrum-pin 48 is disposed parallel and substantially beneath the pivotal connection of the swlnging arm 46 with the carrier when the latter is in retracted or button-receiving position, The advance of the carrier toward fastening position is therefore in a downwardlv inclined direction around the fulcrum-pin 48 as a` center.

The present machine is preferably provice, as represented for instance in the United States patent of W. L. Barron, No. 998,595, of July 25, 1911. rIhe presser-bar 10 has fixed thereon the collar 114 provided with the lug 115 adapted for engagement by the arm 116 of a tilting lever fulcrumed upon the stud-screw 117 and having a rearwardly extending arm 118 carrying a rollerstud 119 which is 'embraced by the forked forward extremity 120 of the forwardly extending arm 121 of the rock-lever mounted upon the fixed fulcrum-stud 122. This rocklever has a rearwardly extending arm 123 laterally odset and provided'with the socket 124 having the plunger-pin 125 whose reduced rearward end passes through said socket and is provided with the thrust-nut 126 and jam-nut 127 to sustain the thrust of the spring 128 encircling the same and interposed between the inner end of the socket and the enlarged forward end of the pin. When the stop-lever 89 is shifted, into stopping position by the action of the spring 101, the plunger-pin 125 is thrust aside by the lateral movement of the collar 99, but in the depression of the plunger-bar 93 by the cam 94, as represented in Fig. 6, the plunger-pin 125 snaps over the upper end of the collar 99, and the subsequent rise of the plunger-bar 93 into the notch 96 in finally stopping the machine causes the rocking of the levers l121 123 and 116 118 to lift the presser-foot. In the setting of the stoplever 89 for a new operation, the connections between the same andthe button-carrier and presser-foot are so constructed and arranged that in the initial movementl of the same the carrier-bar 27 is first advanced 'to bring its thrust-collar 59 against the stop- .disconnect it from the plunger-pin 125,

thereby permitting the presser-bar 10 to descend under the action of its spring 11 u on the collar 114 and seating the presseroot firmly upon thel material mI interposed between the same and the work-support. During these two stages of operation, the upper end of the plunger has moved laterally through the notchy 96 in the stopping cam and the belt has been shifted upon the tight pullafy7 112, but it is only after the release of the plunger-pin` 125 from engagement with the collar 99 and the lowering of the presser-foot that the final disengagement of the plunger-bar 93 from the stopping cam 94 is actually completed to permit the starting of the shaft 95l for the button-fastening operation. By this means, as previously stated, the button is first conveyed along the raceway aorded by thelower end of the chute and the guideway of the presser-foot intente `fastening operation cannot be begun until each of these preliminary actions have been completed and the button and the work associated together in the required relation Sullivan No. 596,020, of December 21, 189'?.

- r1`he shaft 129 has ixed thereon by means or set-screws 132 a bushing ormed'with the hub 133 andthe concentric bearing members 13s and 135, upon the latter of which is secured the ratchet-wheel 136 having peripheral teeth adapted for engagement by the pa'wl 137. vThis pawl'is ulcrumed at 138 upon' the lateral ear 139oareciprocat ing bar 1416 having a forked extremity embracing and supported byja transverse pin 141 of a bifurcated post 1412 secured to and depending from the base 20. The other end ofthe bar 1410 is pivotally connected by means of the pin 1.1-3 to the forked extremity 144 ofen upwardly extending arm 115 of a yoke-lever 146 mounted upon the fixed fulcrum-pin 117 and embracing the actuating cam 148 upon the main-shaft 95 from which it derives rocking movements and by means of which the bar 1t() is reciprocated. Illhe pawl 137 is pressed normally in contact with the ratchet-wheel 136 by means of a spring 119 interposed between the bar 14.6 and a pin 150 upon the head of the `pavvl 137.

Fitted upon the bearing member 134 of the bushing is a strap 151 formed in one side with arecess 152 and provided witha l' radially extending tubulararm 153. Within the recess 152 is disposed the crescentshaped brake-shoe 154 fitted to the periphery of the bushing member 134 and having in its opposite face apoclret 155 enteredby the conical extremity of a plug 156 disposed within the arm 153Aand forced against the brake-shoe 154g by means of a spring 157 interposed between said plug and a screwplug 158 in the internally threaded outer end of the arm-153 by means ot which the" pressure ofthe brake-shoe upon ther member 134: may be regulated.

The base 20 of the hopper 'has a depending 'Flange 159 carrying a pin 160 to which is connected one end of a spring 161 having its opposite end attached to the arm 153. and adapted to drawv the latter in a direction opposite that in which the shaft -is normally turned by means of the pawl 137. The flange 159 has secured thereto by means of the screws 162 the foot 163 of a stop-arm 16115 between which and the edge of l the Harige the arm 153 is adapted to move under the alternate action of the pawl 137 upon the ratchet-wheel 136 and the spring 161 acting directly upon the arm 153.

By the means just`descrihcd, the arm 153, normally resting against the stop-shoulder a'orded by the edge of the flange 15S), moves toward the stop-arm 164 in opposition to the spring 161 until it encounters the arm 16% when the strap 151 is permitted toslip upon ,the bushing member 134 a distance equivalent to the net advance movement of the agitator-shaft 129, and upon the retraction of the pawl 137 for a succeeding engagement with the ratchet-wheel 136 the retraction of the arm 153 by the spring 161 causes a similar retrograde movement of the ratchet-wheel 136 until arrested by the, encounter of the arm 153 with the shoulder ot the flange 159 when the partsare arrested for an advance movement under the succeeding action of the pawl 137. By means of this mechanism, while the agitator receives'a progressive step-by-step movement under the action of the ratchet-and-pawl device,v

each movement is succeeded by a retrograde movement in the opposite direction which insures a thorough agitation of the buttons and a dislodgment of any which meet with obstruction produced by the jamming of port, a button-carrier adapted to convey ay button along said raceway for a stitching operation, and successively acting means for operating the carrier to introduce a button in said raoeway and lower the presser-foot.

2. The combination with a shaft, stitchforming mechanism operatively connected with said shaft, a stop-motion for controlling the action of said shaft, and a worksupport, of a presser-foot provided'\`vith a button-raceway and movable toward and from said work-support, a button-carrier adapted vto convey a button along said raceway ior a stitching operation, means connected with the stop-motion for operating the carrier to introduce a button in said raceway, and means independent thereof and controlled in its action by said stopmotion for-'lowering the presser-foot thereafter.

3. rl'he combination wth a shaft, stitchforming mechanism operatively connected with said shaft, a stop-motion for controlling the action of said shaft, and a 'worksupport, of a presser-foot provided with a button-raceway and movable toward and from said work-support, a button-carrier adapted to convey a button along said racevvay for a stitching operation, means connected with the stop-motion for operating the carrier to introduce a button in said raceway, and means independent thereof and controlled in its action by said stop-motion for lowering the presser-foot thereafter, the carrier operating and presser-foot controlling connections with the stop-motion being arranged to perform their functions successively in the order named and prior to the completion of the action of the stopmotion in inaugurating the operation of said shaft to produce a stitching action.

4. The combination with button-fastening means and a buttonraceway,.of a carrier adapted to convey a button intofastening position, manually controlled means for moving said carrier in one direction, means for moving saidl carrier in the opposite direction and an automatically acting controlling device for said means.

5. The combination with button-fastening mea-ns and a. button-receivay, of a carrier adapted to convey a button into fastening position, manually operated means for ad$ vancing the carrier to place a button in fastening position, means for retracting said carrier to receive the succeeding button and an automatically acting controlling "device for said means.

6. The combination with a work-support, button-fastening means and a button-raceway, of a reciprocatingcarrier adapted to A conve a button into fastening position, a plura ity of swinging supporting arms spaced apart and pivotally'connected with said carrier, yand means for reciprocating the carrier.

7. The combination with a work-support, button-fastening means and a button-raceway leading into fastening position, of a reciprocating carrier adapted to convey a button along said raceway linto fastening position, a plurality of swinging support-ing arms4 mounted upon parallel fulcra andspaced apart and pivotally connected with said carrier,` 'fand means lfor reciprocating the carrier. 7 I i 8. The combination with a work-support, button-fastening means, and a' button-raceway downwardly inclined toward the worksupport and leading into fastening position above the'same, of a reciprocating carrier adapted to convey a button along said race- Y Way into fastening position, a swinging supporting arm mounted upon a fulcrum substantially parallel w lh' and below the operative face of the work-support, and pivot- Vally connected with the button-carrier adjacent its button-holding portions, and means for reciprocating the carrier. Y

9. The combination with a Work-support, button-fastening means and a button-raceway leading into fastening position, of a reciprocatingcarrier adapted to convey a button along said raceway into fastening position, a plurality of swinging supporting arms mounted upon parallel fulcra disposed at the opposite side of the operative face of said Work-support from the carrier and spaced apart and pivotally connected with said carrier, and means for reciprocating the carrier.

10. The combination With button-fastening-means and a button-raceway, of a reciprocating carrier provided with a springpressed button-engaging jaw and adapted to convey a button into fastening position, supporting means for said carrier including a ksupporting means 'for said carrier including a swmging arm` pivotally connected therewith, means carrled by said swinging arm fir moving the button-clamping jaw lateral ly toward' and from said raceway, and means for. reciprocating the carrier. .v

12. The combination with button-fasten- `ing means and a button-raceway leading into `fastening position, of a reciprocating carrier comprising an endwise reciprocating bar and a spring-pressed rock-lever pivotally mounted lthereon andprovidedwith a button-engaging jaw, supporting means for said bar including a swinging'arm, means for imparting endwise movements to said bar, and a cam-member carried by said swin 'ng arm and adapted to engage said rockever for imparting lateral movement to its button-engaging jaw.

13. The combination with a work-support, button-'fastening means and a buttonraceway, of a reciprocating carrier movable in a path inclined to-and beneath a ortion of said raceway and provided with a utton engaging jaw, a spring detentfin er carried by and extending in advance cfg said jaw,

and means for actuating said carrier.

`raceway leading intbutton-fastening posi- Gil inseam tion, of a reciprocating carrier movable in a path inclined to and beneath a portion of said racevvay and provided with a laterally movable spring-pressed lbutton-engaging jaw having a spring detent-inger sustained in advance thereof, and means for actuating said carrier.

l5. The combination with the frame com @rising a standard with laterally extending Work-supporting arm and an overhanging bracket-arm, and button-fastening means, of a button-chute sustained by the bracketarin, a presser-'foot formed with a buttonguideway and also sustained by the bracketarm 'with its guideway in register with the mouth of said chute, a carrier :tor conveying buttons from the chute to fastenincl position within the presser-foot and comprising an endwise movable bar substantially parallel with and disposed intermediate the arms oi' said frame, and means for imparting endwise movements to said bar.

16. rlhe combination With button-tastening means and a button-raceway leading into fastening position, ot a reciprocating carrier adapted to convey a button alon said raceway into fastening position, an actuating means therefor including a rod constructed in two relatively movable sections yieldingly connected together and provided `with ioclringmeans 'formaintainingrg;` them in fixed relation, and means for un locking said sections during the operative movement of said rod.z

17. The combination with button-tastening means and a button-raceway leading into fastening position, of a reciprocating carrier adapted'to convey a button alon said raceway into fastening position, an actuating means therefor including a rod constructed in two relatively movable sections, one of which is formed with a shoulder and the other of which carries a springpressed latch-lever adapted for engagement with said shoulder, a spring tor normally maintaining said sections in initial relation, means tor reciprocating said rod, and a stationary tripping element 1within the path of movement ci? said latch-lever and adapted to disengage the same from said shoulder in the movement ot said rod between extreme positions.

i8. rEhe combination with button-fastening means, a button-chute leading thereto, and a button-hopper for supplying 1onttons tothe chute, of an agitator Within said button-hopper, a rotary agitator shaft, ratchetand-pawl mechanism for imparting to said shaft step-by-step rotary movements in one direction, an element rictionally mounted upon said shaft, a spring acting,- thereon in opposition to the action oi the ratchet-andpawl mechanism, and a stop member for limiting the movement of said element under the action of said ratchet-and-pawl mechanism.

in testimony whereof, We have signed our names to this specication, in the-presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. SULLTVAN.

ALBERT l?. FFELD.

Witnesses:

NEWTON H. Hom, STANLEY N. SMITH.

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