US1152692A - Button-feeding mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

W. L. BARRON.

BUTTON FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31,1911.

' Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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- W/TNESSES: Ill/VENTOI? WQ 7 flm W AAWMNW MN I /W ,4 TTOH/VEV W. L. BARRON.

BUTTON FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILVED JULY 31, 19!! 1,15%6920 Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES: I INVENTOR @WZ K w zfimw WNW I B ATTORNEY W. L. BARRON.

BUTTON FEEDING MECHANlSM.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 31. 911.

1,152,692. PatentedSept. 7, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES: IIVVE/VTOR ATTORNEY UNITED ES TE PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM L. BARRON, or NEW ORK, niqnssienon 'ro, SINGER ANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

BUTTON-FEEDING MncHANisM.

To all whom it m an concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. BARRON, a citizenof the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button- Feeding Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improvement in button-feeding mechanism and it has for its object to increase the effectiveness of operation of such mechanism, to insure the presentation to the fastening devices of the button without injury to the same, and to adapt the mechanism for accommodation of buttons of different types, shapes, dimensions and degrees of imperfection.

In its preferred embodiment, the improvement is applied to button-feeding mechanism of the type shown and described in the United States Patent to J. J. Sullivan No. 596,020, of December 21, 1897, and comprisin a c lindrical' ho) )er inclosin a rotar agitator and provided with a lateral delivery aperture through which buttons are discharged into the upper end of an lnclined chute from the lower end of which they are fed successively to fastening position along a guideway in the presser-foot of a sewing machine by means of a feeder or pusher engaging the button-head and maintaining it firmly seated upon said guidew'ay during the production of the initial fastening stitches by which they are secured to the fabric clamped between the presser-foot and a work-support beneath the same.

According to the present improvement, the..feeder is preferably provided with a primary jaw adapted to engage the buttonhead in the direction of the latters movement and an auxiliary jaw adapted to yield transversely of such movement and to engage the button-head to press the same against the guideway of the presser-foot, automatically acting means being provided for retracting the auxiliary jaw out of operative relation with the primary jaw for the reception of each button to be presented to the stitch-forming mechanism. The presser-foot is preferably provided with :1- depending lip extending below the top of the work-support for bending the fabric over the rearward edge of the work-support to provide clearance for the button-head in Specification of Letters fatent.

mama Sept; *1, 1915.

the fastening operation, and the hopper and chute are preferably adapted especially for 'ing or upsetting the other end, thus producing an enlargement which projects more or less from the outer face of the buttonhead.

The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in wh ch- Figure l is a rear side elevation of a button sewmg machine embodying the present 1n1provements,'and Fig. 2 a front end elevatlon of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the work-supporting and buttonhandhng devices at the forward end of the mach ne, showing a piece of fabric to which a ser1es of buttons is being fastened. Fig. 4: 1s a top plan view of the lower end of the button-chute, the feeder and. the presserfoot; and Fig. 5 a bottom plan view of the resser-foot and feeder, with a button sustamed therein in fastening position. Fig. 6 1s a perspective view of the resser-foot, taken from below and rearward of the same, and Fig. 7 a perspective view of the lower. end of the button-chute. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the throat-plate. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of portions of the presserbar and feeder rock-shaft with a stop-arm attached to the latter and in operative relation with the former.' Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a part of the button-hopper ad- ]acent its delivery aperture, and illustrating the way in which the buttons are manipulated therein.

The machine is constructed with a frame comprising the hollow standard 1 with. the lateral work-supporting arm or horn 2 and the hollow overhanging arm 3 in which latter is journaled the main-shaft 4- carrying at its rearward end the fast and loose pulleys 5 and G and at the forward end the take-up cam cylinder 7 provided with the crank-pin 8 connected by means of the pitman 9 with the usual stud upon the collar 10 fixed upon the needle-bar 11 which carries the eyepointcd needle 12. The reciprocating needle-bar 11 is journaled in the swinging frame 13 fulcrumed within the head of the bracket-arm and provided with a lateral arm 14 operatively connected by suitable means includingthe link 15, with the groove 16 of the cam-cylinder 17 deriving step-by-step rotary movements from a suitable connection with the main-shaft 4.

Cooperating with the needle 12 is the oscillating shuttle l8 journaled in the race 19 and .provided with the thread-case 20. The shuttle is actuated by means of the driver 21 ing arm 2 is secured by means of screws 27}.

entering apertures 28 therein, the throat plate 29 which is formed at its outer and forward extremity with a projection 30 affording a flat work-sustaining face 31 and the convexly curved rearward edge of which projection is formed with the groove or recess 32, the needle-aperture or slot 33 extending through the work-sustaining face 31 and intersecting the recessed edge 32 of said projection.

Secured to the lower end of the presserbar 34 by means of the screw 35 is the shank 36 of the presser-foot 37 which is formed upon the bottom of its forward portion with a -flat operative face 38 rearward of which it is cut away beneath the shank" to form the curved transverse button-head guideway 39 with connected button-shank guideway 40 above and at a slight inclination with the Work-engaging face 38. The forward portion of the presser-foot is slotted to afford a needleaperture 41, and the foot is formed with the depending lips 42 extending below the work-engaging face 38 and affording an extension of the button-head guideway or support 39 below the button-shank guideway 40. The shorter member of the presserfoot is formed, in alinement with the button;

shank guideway 40, with a longitudinal notch affording a stop-shoulder 43 against which the shank of the button rests when in fastening position. The presser-bar is provided with the usual spring 44 interposed between a collar 45 fixed thereon and the lower end of the bushing 46, by means of which the presser-foot is pressed downwardly toward the throat-plate.

The top of the bracket-arm is formed at its rearward end with a boss 47 affording a seat for the base 48-of the button-hopper embraced by the cylindrical casing 49provided with the lateral delivery aperture 50. Near its outer edge, the base 48 of the hopper is provided with an annular buttonshank slot51 beginning at 51 near the aperture and terminating in the branch 52 leading'laterally through the aperture 50.

' At the initial end 51* of the slot 51 is the outwardlyextnding cavity 53 having one edge continuous withthat of said slot, and connected with the concentric opposite end portion of the slot by a shallow and preferably tapered groove 54 of less depth than the slot 51.

The base 48 is provided with a depending boss 48 in which is journaled the: rotary shaft 55 having secured upon its upper end within the hopper the conical block 56 carrying the outwardly extending agitatorbrushes 57 by means of which the buttons are circulatedwithin the hopper and their shanks are ultimately entered in the guiding slot 51 to insure their discharge in upright positionthrough the delivery aperture 50. Secured upon the lower end of the shaft 55 is the worm-wheel 58 meshing with a worm 59 fixed upon the main-shaft 4, and by 6 adjacent the opposite face of the button to receive the fastening means. In the figure referred to, one of the buttons is represented in operative relation with the guiding slot 51, the eye 6 of the shank being embraced by the latter and the face of the but ton being upturned in readiness for traverse of the guiding groove and ultimate delivery to the chute through'the aperture 50. Another button, which is represented in section, is shown inverted, which, is a position not infrequently assumed. Were the advance or concaved wall of the branch 52 of the guiding slot continuous, the enlargement 5 of the button-shank would be in clined to follow this branch so as to cause the inverted button to obstruct the aperture 50, but the shallow groove 54 affords sufficient clearance to receive the button-shank projection 11 and thereby permit it to continue its circular movement under the propelling influence of the rotating brushes. Depending from the base 48 adjacent the mouth or delivery aperture 50 is a bracketpiece 60 whose outer face constitutes the upper portion of the button-head guideway of the chute. The outer face of this bracketpiece is formed with a downwardly extending continuation 52 of the member 52 of the button-shank slot and constitutes the upper portion of the button-shank guideway of the chute. Secured upon a suitable spacing block 61 by means of the clamp-screw 62 is the cap-plate 63 whose upper e'nd is inturned for entrance of the delivery aperture 50 and is formed within the hopper with the shield-plate 64 with one extremity extended oppositely to the direction of rotation of the agitator and inclined downwardly toward the bottom of the hopper,

while the portion adjacent the delivery aperture 50 is spaced above the bottom of the hopper slightly more than the thickness of a button-head and projects over the outer portion of the branch 52 of the buttonshank guiding slot, as represented in Fig. 10. formed with a longitudinal shank-end supporting groove or runway to receive the projecting extremity b of the button in its discharge from the hopper.

The body of the button-chute comprises a downwardly inclined bar 66 whose rearward face affords a button-head guideway continuous with that of the member 60 and has therein a longitudinal slot or guideway 67 in register at its upper end with the slot 52 of the member 60 and at its lower end with the slightly flaring mouth of the button-shank guideway 40 of the presser-foot when in operative position which forms an extension thereof leading into the range of action of the needle. The upper end of the bar 66 is secured to the member 60 by means of screws 68, and its lower end is suitably sustained by means of a bracket 69 depending from the head of the overhanging arm 3. Overlying and spaced from the operative face of the bar 66 is the cover-plate 70., which is formed in its inner face with a shallow groove 71 continuous with and serving the purpose of the supporting groove or runway 65 of the cap-plate 63.- The cover-plate is attached to the guidlng bar 66 by means of the stud-screws 72 secured to the one and passing through an aperture in the other and is maintained seated yieldingly upon an interposed spring 73 by means of the nut 74 applied to said stud-screw.

The button-feeding mechanism comprises the rock-shaft 7 5 journaled in the head of the overhanging arm 3 and having fixed upon its lower end the collar 76 provided with the lateral wing 77 tmwhich is secured by means of the screw 78 the slotted upper end of the depending rigid arm 79. The arm 79 is formed at its lower end with the lateral extension 80 whose upper face 81 in retracted position extends beneath the lower end of the button-chute and whose forward extremity affords the primary button-head engaging jaw 82 for propulsion of the buttons from the lower endof the button-chute into fastening position upon the buttonhead guideway of the presser-f'oot.

The rock-shaft 75 has adjustably secured thereon by means of the clamp-screw 83 the split collar 83 formed with a lateral arm 84 to which is pivotally connected one end of the thrust-rod 85 passing through an aperture in the lower end of the swinging The inner face of the cap-plate is lever 86 fulcrumed on the stud-screw 87 and carrying the stud 88 entering the camgroove 89 of the cylinder 17 by means of which the lever 86 is periodically shifted upon its fulcrum-stud. The rod 85 has secured thereon by means of the set-screws 90 the thrust-collar 91 held yieldingly'in contact with the lever 86 by means of the spring 92 interposed between the latter and the collar 93 upon the rod 85. By this means, the rod 85 is caused to follow the swinging movements of the lever 86 in rocking the shaft 75 excepting when the latter 92 is compressed and the connection between such parts is adapted to yield to prevent breakage or abnormal strain upon the parts.

The arm 79 carries upon one side the ful: crum screw-stud 94 disposed transversely of the rock-shaft 75 and upon which is mounted the swinging lever 96 having at its lower. end a lateral extension 97 notched to em brace the operative end of the feeder-arm extension 80 and having a lateral face 98 constituting the auxiliary button-head engaging jaw which extends normally in ad vance'of the primary button-head engaging jaw 82 and is movable with said lever in a direction transverse to that traversed by said primary jaw in pressing the button-head is abnormally obstructed, when the; spring I upon its guideway in the presse'r-foot. Se-

cured to the rear edge of the arm 79 by means of the fastening screw 99 is the flat spring 100 whose free end bears upon the rearward edge of the lever 96 beneath its fulcrum and normally forces the same forwardly to bring the auxiliary clamp-jaw in advance of the primary cla'mp-jaw-relative to the latters direction of operative movement.

The lever 96 is extended upwardly above the fulcrum-stud 9t and is provided with a laterally projecting cam-arm 101 whose operative edge 102 is normally disposed at a slight inclination to the direction of circular movement which it derives from the sustaining arm 79 upon the rock-shaft 7 5, Fixed in and depending from the head of the overhanging arm 3 is the stud 103 carr ing the anti-friction roller 104 so disposed within the normal range of movement of the cam edge 102 that it forcibly engages the same when the feeder is withdrawn from operative position adjacent the stitch-forming mechanism'so as to retract to extreme position the auxiliary button-engagingjaw for admission ofa button fromthelower end of the chute, but is released in the advance of the feeder to enable the auxiliary jaw under the action of the spring 100 to press the butthe positions represented in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, inwhich the main-shaft is at rest, the

presser-foot is raised for introduction of the work, and the feeder is retracted rearward of the lower end of the button-chute. The foremost button previously supported upon the feeder extension 81 while in advance position has descended to the lower extremity of the chute into contact with the arms 105 and 106 of the retaining spring 107 secured by means of the screw 108 upon the exterior of the cover-plate 70, the int'urned extremity of the longer arm 105 engaging the lower edge of the button-head a and the correspondingly shaped extremity of the shorter arm 106 resting upon the outer face of the button-head between the edge and the shank and upon the opposite side of the latter from the arm 105, as represented Fig. 7. To permit the required movement of the feeder, the lower end of the coverplate 70 is cut away,- and the retaining spring-arm 105 serves to maintain the button-head upon the lower extremity of the button-head guideway while the other retaining spring-arm acts to prevent the turning of the button-head upon its shank and its consequent lateral discharge from the chute.

The fabric 1s introduced between the throat-plate and Presser-foot, and the stopmotion is then tripped to simultaneously start themac hine and lower the presser-foot,

whereby the depending lip 12 of the presserfoot serves to bend the fabric sharply over the rearward edge of the throat-plate projection 30, as represented in Fig. 3. After an initial stitch has been taken, the feeder advances to bring its primary jaw 82 into engagement with the rearward portion of the lowermost button-head and the lever 96 is released from its retracting means to permit the spring 100 topress the auxiliary button-head engaging jaw 98 upon the outer face of the button-head, and the button, thus yieldingly held, is pushed past the retaining spring-arms 105 and 106 upon and along the button-head guideway 39 of the presser-foot until its shank-eye Z1 engages the stop-shoulder 43, as represented in Fig. 5, after which the several fastening stitches s are applied, as represented in Fig. 8, the feeder being retracted at or near the completion of the stitching operation and after the buttonshank is securely attached to the fabric m by one or more of the fastening stitches.

For the purposesof thepresent invention, the button-head guiding or supporting face 39 of the presser-foot constitutes an extension of the button-head guideway afforded by the vertical inner face of the guide-bar 66, the sectional guideway thus formed serving in the present embodiment of the improvement to conduct the buttons from the source of supply into fastening position within the range of action of the stitch-forming mechanism.

'Inpractice, the feeder-actuating lever 86 has a slightly greater operative movement than would be required to carry the feeder from one to the other extreme position, and the yielding connection between such actuating member and the feeder is provided to enable the latter to be arrested when the button-shank engages the stop-shoulder 43, thereby insuring the correct positioning of the shank relative to the fastening means, even if the button is slightly distorted and the shank-eye is not exactly central with the head or if the diameter of the button-head should be somewhat larger than that for which the machine is adjusted. The laterally yielding auxiliary jaw obviously adapts the feeder to handle buttons of difiterent thickness of head with equal effectiveness, while permitting the button to yield slightly in case the shank-eye is misshaped, which is frequently the case with buttons of the same class and nominal size.

It has been found in practice that machines designed for handling rigid-shank shoe buttons would not satisfactorily handle the so-called loose-shank buttons, or those in which theshank is swiveled in the head, and is riveted upon the outer face of the latter, for the reason that the shank end projection from the outer face of the buttonhead would not gravitate freely down the inclined chute and could not be properly handled by the feeder. Accordingto the present inprovement, the longitudinal clearance groove 71 of the cover-plate not only receives the projecting shank end, but serves as a bearing for the same, so that the button is supported in its traverse of the chute by the opposite ends of itsmetallic shank and the head has therefore little tendency to jam in the runway in which it is confined.

The feeder, with its relatively yielding jaws, is especially adapted to handle this class ofbuttons, the riveted end of the shank being effectively provided for by the same. The feeder and presser-foot, constructed as described, cooperate in such manner as to accommodate different varieties of shank buttons of various shapes and sizes without any adjustment of their operative parts or the stops for insuring the proper positioning of the button-shanks relative to the fastening devices, and are adapted to handle with equal efiectiveness buttons with eccentric or misplaced shanks or otherwise defective, and the range of use of machines provided with the present invention is therefore much greater than of those heretofore employed for this 'class of work.

Some buttons, of the loose shank variety, have the heads constructed of hardaiid brittle material, such as glass, and the forcible arrest of the button in fastening position. by engagement of its shank with the presserfoot stop-shoulder 43 while the head is pro+ polled by the primary feeder-j aw 82 ashere- ,to'tore"described, is likely to fracture the head which is weakenedby perforation' to receive the s\v1vel-shank. Toprevent such accidentalibreakage, the feeder rock-shaft '75 has clampedadjustably thereon by means ofthe screw 108'the split 'hub 109 ofthe stop-arm 110 whose extremity 110 is shown recessed to fit the Presser-bar 3% which the arm is set 'to engage just as the button reaches fastening position and before its eye is thrust forcibly into engagement with the stop-shoulder l3 by the action of the actuating lever 86 andthe interposed cushionspring 92. {In this case; the stop-shoul- "der still serves in the posit oning of "the shank relative tothe fastening devicesavithout such forcible engagement therewith as to render breakageof the button he ad liable. "Heretofore, it a has been custol'nary to construct the I presser foot of this class 0f machines with the flat worlcengaging face as the lowest portion thereof, and to l utilize 'the button-head, 'propelled by the Jpu'sher 25 subsequent to the lowering of the 1 presserfoot, to "d'efiectthe adjacent fabric below the "worlesu 'aport, so as-to make its own c1earance in the 1 fabric for the button-fastening operation. This propulsion'of the button inforcible' contact With'the fabric to be deflected has not onl'y produced an excessive resistance upon the feeder reqiuriiig greater i power for its actuation a n'd greateif strength of the cushion spring 92, but has endangered 35 the i breaking of the button-head. By'iproviding the presse'nfoOt with the depending frabric-deflecting H 142, this resistance to the travel of the button to fastening position has lbeen fipracticallly, not wholly, remm-ed, the buffer-spring 92 has been Jlightened so I as --to" projduce less strain upon the button by the engagement of its shank with the a presser-lfoot' stop-shoulder, and danger 5' of breakage by; pressure "of theg feeder upon the b'litton-head *has been substantially obi iatedl 1 It will be observed that, ByithG- PIOVlS IOH of the recess 32? in the reari' wat 'd edge nit -the th oat-plateiprojectionfzso, a narrow seat; is a ffonded'radjacent the flat work=supporting j f'ace 31 to} receive Ethe l'ateral thrust or; the butto'n -hea'd "adj ace'nt ftthe shank beneath which clearanceis -provided to prevent? pressu'refof the} inte'rposed' fa-bric neari the louter 1edgebf theibuttonf espec y larger izes; so as-to' cause 1 againdnc to; tilt thesame" to displace it's" shailileeye from operative -r'e'lati ou with the fastening devices.

lly when of the struct fthe button-feeding mechanism "with the several novel features 'herein'shovvn and described ity is evident; that 1 certain of the latter may be omittedor' 'inaterialily-jmodified 5 j in form and construction, and may 'be used in other types of; button-handling mechanism than that disclosed herein, Without de- PtIIlZIII'QfI'Om the scope of the, presentinvention.

Having thus set "forththe inatu'reof the invention, What I claim herein"'is:-

1. In a bu'tton fastening machine, the,

combination with fastening devices, of button-supporting and guiding meansin'cluding a button-head guideway leading to a position within the range of action of the fastening devices, abu'tton-fee'der adapted to engage the buttonsand to propel them along and in contact with saidguideway andprovided with a button-engaging jaw adapted to yield transversely of the operative'face of said guide'way," and means beginning its acti'on prior'to and ending its =act1onsubsequent to the beginning of'- a fastening operation tvlmreby Y said buttonfeeder is movecl in operative engagement with a button'from a remote position into fastening position in ;engagement with which the button-is maintainedduringthe beginning of a fastening operation.

2. In fa buttonfastening machine, the combination with fastening" devices, of button-supporting and guiding means including a button-head guideway leading to a ;posit1on'\v1t1nn the range ot action of the fastening devices, and a button-feeder adapted to engage the buttons and to propel them alongand in contact with saidguideway and comprising a plurality of relatively yielding 1 button engaging jaws of av-hieh one is adapted to 1 yield transversely of theoperatheface of said guideway;

3. In a button-fastening machine, the combinationmath-fasteningdev1ces,of button-supporting "andgui-ding means includ- "4. In" aFbutto'n-fastening machine, th

I combination-"With ,fasteI'1 -ing devices, of but- 'ton-siu 'poiting and, guiding-means:includfi'nga button-headguideway leading towa po- 's'ition Within 1 the range of "action "1 of the fastening devices, anda button-feeder movable along and adapted to engage and pro- "pel the buttons in contact with-said fgui-de- Way and provided with a spring-pressed lever fulcrumed thereon for movement transversely: of i ts direction of movement and provided with a button-head engaging jaw, and feeder actuatingmeans, acting at the beginning and end-of a period embracing the beginning of a fastening operation and adapted to move the feeder in engagement with the button into fastening position and hold the sameqin such position during at least a part of the fastening operation. g

In a button-fasteningmachine, the combination with fastening devices, of button-supporting and guiding means including a button-head guideway leading to a position within the range of action of the fastening devices, a button-feeder adapted to engage and propel the buttons along said guideway and provided with a button-engaging jaw adapted to yield transversely of the operative faceof said guideway, and means for retracting said jaw from normal operative position when remote from fastening position, Y

6. In a button fastening machine, the combination with fastening devices, of button-supporting and guiding means including a button-head guideway leading to a positionadjacent the fastening devlces, a button-feeder movable along and at a substantially uniform distance from the adjacent walls of said guideway throughout its travel to button-attaching position and provided with a spring-pressed lever fulcrumed thereon for movement transversely of its direction of movement and provided with a button-head engaging jaw, feeder-actuating means, and means acting upon said lever for retraction of its button-head engaging jaw when withdrawn from button-fastening position.

7 In a buttonfastening machine, the combination with fastening devices, of button-supporting and guiding means including a button-head guideway leading to a position adjacent the fastening devices, a button-feeder movable along said guideway throughout its travel to button-attaching position and provided with a spring-pressed lever mounted thereon for movement transversely of its direction of, movement and provided with a button-head engaging jaw and with an arm having an operative camedge inclined tosa-iel direction 0f vmovement, a fixed shoulder disposed within the path of movement of said arm of the spring-pressed lever, and feeder-actuating means.

8. In a button fastening machine, the combination with fastening devices, of button-supporting and -;guiding 1 means including a button-head guideway leading to a position adjacent thefastening'devices, a button-engaging stop a cent said fastening devices, a button-feeder, adapted to engage and propel the buttons along said guide wava'nd provided with a jaw adapted to yicld -transversely of the-Operative face: of

s'aid guideway; feeder-actuating means, a yielding connection between said feeder and its actuating means, and an adjustable stop for determining positively the advance position of the button-feeder adjacent the fastening devices under the action of its actuating means.

9. In a buttoh-fastening machine, the combination with fastening devices, of button-supporting and guiding means including a button-head guideway leading to a position adjacent the fastening devices, a but ton-engaging stop adjacent said fastening devices, abutton-feeder adapted to engage and propel the buttons along said guideway 'andprovided with a jaw adapted to yield transversely of, the operative face of said guideway, a rock-shaft upon which said button-feeder is mounted, feeder-actuating means, a yielding connection between said feeder-actuating ineans and said rock-shaft, and a, stop-arm adj ustably connected to and movable with said rock-shaft and adapted to engage a relatively stationary part of the machine for limiting the advance of the feeder under the action of its actuating means.

10. In a button-fastening machine, the combination with fastening devices and a work-support, of button-supporting and guiding means including a presser-foot.

formed with a button-head guideway leading to a position adjacent the fastening devices and with an adjacent work-deflecting member for bending the work over the edge of the work-support intermediate the latter and the button-head. and a button-feeder adapted to sustain a button-head upon said guideway during a fastening operation. 11. In a button-fastening machine, the combination with fastening devices and a work-support, of a spring-pressed presserfoot having an operative face opposed to that of the work-support and a button-head guiding surface in angular relation therewith and extending on bothsides of the plane'of said operative face, and a buttonfeeder adapted tosustain a button-head ilpon Isaidv guideway during a fastening operation.

12. In a button-fastening machine, the

combination withfastening devices and a work-support, of a spring-pressed presserfoot having an operative face opposed to that of the work-support and an adjacent depending lip extending below the same, said presser-foot being formed with-a button-head guideway transverse to said operative face and extending upon said depending lip, and a button-feeder adapted to sustain a button-head upon said guideway during a fastening operation.

13. In a button-fastening machine, the

combination with-fastening devices, of a work support formed with an operative face and an edge in angular relation therewith having a lateral recess, of a springpressed presser-foot having an operative face opposed to that of the work-support and an adjacent depending lip extending below the same and spaced from said recessed edge of the work-support, said Presser-foot being formed with a button head guideway transverse to said operative,

face and extending upon said depending lip, and a button-feeder adapted to sustain a button-head upon said guideway during a fastening operation.

14. In a button-fastening machine, the combination with fastening devices, of a buttonhopper, a chute leading therefrom to a position adjacent said fastening devices and comprising a guiding member formed with a longitudinally extending and substantially vertical button-head guideway and an adjacent button-shank slot, and a cover-plate having an operative face disposed parallel with and at one side of said guideway and formed with a longitudinal shank-end supporting runway, and means for positioning the, buttons traversing said chute for the fastening. operation.

15. In a button-fastening machine, the combination with fastening devices, of a button-hopper, a chute leading therefrom to a position adjacent said fastening devices and constructed with two parallel members of. which one is formed with a button-head guideway and an adjacent button-shank guideway, a presserfoot formed with button-head and button-shank guideways in register with those of said chute, a reciprocating feeder for transferring buttons from said chute to fastening position within said presser-foot, and a retaining spring carried by said chute and provided with independent arms adapted to engage a button-head at the end of said chute upon opposite sides of its shank and to contact with the button-head respectively at the farther edge and outer face of the same.

16. In a button-fastening machine, the combination with fastening devices, of a button-hopper constructed with a lateral delivery aperture and having in its bottom a circular button-shank slot formed with a branch extending through said delivery aperture and with a connected groove substantially concentric with the hopper and of less depth than the button-shanks, a circularly movable button agitator within said hopper, and a chute in register with said delivery aperture of the hopper and leading to a position adjacent said fastening devices.

17. In a sewing machine for fastening shank-buttons to fabrics, the combination with stitchforming mechanism including a reciprocating needle. of button-presenting means comprising a rigid seat disposed and maintained throughout the complete cycle of the machine substantially parallel with the needle and adapted to sustain the inner face of the button adjacent the shankand a spring-pressed clamp jaw adapted to engage the outer face of the button-head and to yield transversely to said seat, means for imparting to said jaw button-feeding movements relatively to said seat and a work-support independent of said button-presenting means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM BARRON. Vvitnesses H. J. BZIILLER, H. A. KORNEMANN, Jr.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, my addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 6;

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