US184662A - Improvement in methods of japanning small articles - Google Patents

Description

O I f vcqlmncmrw.. METHOD 0F JAPAN'NING SMALL ARTICLES. N.1s4,eez.

' Patented Nov. 21,

.the cavities between the same.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES RADCLIFFE, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TC NEW JERSEY` MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN METHCDS OF JAPANNING SMALL ARTICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 184,662., dated November 21, 1876; application filed' May 8,1876.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES RADCLTFFE,

of the city of Newark and State of New Jer-` sey, have invented a new useful Improvementhandle; but I illustrate the same in its appli.

cation to the japanniug of metal buttons, from which illustration its applicability to the arrangement and japanning oi' other small articles of different configuration will be readily apparent.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top view of a plate for collecting the buttons. Fig. 2 is a view of a second plate, to which the buttons are transferred from plate A. Fig. 3 is a view of a third plate, to which the buttons are transferred from plate B, and with which is arranged a device for removing the buttons. Fig. is a section showing plates A and B when placed together, with buttons in the cavities between them. Fig. 5 is a section of plate B, with the buttons lying in the depressions therein. Fig. 6 is a section showing` plate C with a device for removing the buttons therefrom. Fig. 7 is a section' showing the plates B and C, together with buttons in tacle for holding plate A for the purpose of collecting and arranging the buttons.

My invention has been applied by me in the manufacture of suspender-buttons. These buttons are wholly or in part of metal, and

Fig. Sis a i the process heretofore employed in japanning them has been either to dip or immerse them in japan in a vessel from which the japan is afterward strained off, and the buttons picked apart, or to place them in revolving cylinders, into which the japan is sprinkled While the buttons are kept in motion or to rotate them lin a cylinder or rattler over the fire after the japan is applied until they are suiicently dry not to stick together, or other similar methods. These operations involve considerable time and labor.

The object of my invention is to obviate the necessity of these methods.

I proceed to describe my invention as applied hy me to the japanning of said metal buttons. These buttons are circular, and have a depression in the center of their face on one side. I form a plate, A, preferably. ot' brass, on the surface of which I produce a large number of depressions of the size of the buttons to be japanned. In the drawings I have represented four depressions; but in practice I make as many of these depressions as possible on the surface of this plate, leaving a small space between each one-say, about one-quarter of an inch. These depressions are made with a slight elevation in their center. In order to iill this plate with buttons l usually place the plate in the bottom of a box, Fig. 10, adapted to receive it, and, pouring in a quantity of buttons, sweep or slide the same over the surface of the plate backward and forward, by which means the depressions in the plate will be almost immediately filled with buttons; and, owing to the fact that each depression has a slight pretuberance in the center corresponding to the depression in the. face of the button, all the buttons will be arranged on the plate with the same side downward. This arrangement of the buttons with the same side downward I adopt for convenience, though it is not a necessary part of my invention. When the depressions on said plate A are filled with buttons, as shown in Fig. l at a a, I place a corresponding plate, B, having depressions iu locations corresponding precisely with the depression in the first plate over the top of said plate A. Said two plates may be caused to register by pins in one or the other of them, as at b b, ttingintorecesses or sockets in the other plate, as at c c.

By turning the two plates thus placed together over, as shown in section, Fig. 4', the

buttons are caused to be arranged in the second plate with the other side upward. A brush filled with japan is then passed over the surface of said buttons as they lie in the depressions in the plate B, and they are thus coated with japan upon one side. I now place a third plate, C, of the same size, and'having depressions in locations corresponding precisely with the depressions in the rst and second plates, over the plate B, and turning the two plates over, as showuin section in Fig. 7, the buttons will be arrangedin the depressions in the plate C with their unjapanned sides uppermost. With a japanning-brush I then coat the other sides of said buttons with japan, as before. The depressions in plate C are made with holes in their center, passing entirely through the plate. In the rear ot' the plate U I arrange a plate, E, of similar size. This plate is arranged to move on bearings, so that it may approach or recede from the plate C. The plate E is kept at a short distance from the rear surface of the plate C by springs, as shown at d d. On thesurface of the plate E, toward the rear of the plate G, I arrange pins e e, corresponding in location to theA holes in the depressions in the plate C. Bypressing the plate E on its bearings toward plate C, the pins e e will be caused to enter the holes in the depressions in the plate C. l When tbe buttons have been coated, as aforesaid,

y on both sides, I place over the upper surface ofthe plate C a plate, D, (shown in section at Fig. 8;) then, by turning the two plates C and D over, and pressing the plate E towards U, so that the pins will enter the holes in the depressions, the buttons will be pushed out of the depressions onto the plate D, when they will lie separated from each other at distances regulated by the depressions in the rst plate in which they were collected. The plate D has its surface preferably covered with small points or projections, which may be readily .made by punching small holes 4through-the surface of the same, or in any other suitable manner, the result of which is that the said to use three plates, so that the rst plate A may be kept clean for -the purpose of collecting the buttons, in the rst place, the plates B and C, or onel ot' them, being subsequently used for the purpose ot' holding the lbuttons while they are. being coated with japan.

I have shown a particular form of devicev for removing the said buttons from the depressions in the plate C after they are coated with japan; but I do not limit myself to'this form of device, as other known and existing devices may be used for this purpose, though I have found the arrangement shown and described desirable. The buttons may also be allowed to fall out of the depressions onto the plate D by their own gravity; but I prefer the'use of a device to remove them, as they tend to stick by the japan. n

The plates described by me may be used for collecting buttons or small articles for other purposes than above indicated, and when used for collecting or holding articles other than buttons the shape of the depressions therein will of course be correspondingly modified.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl l. The improvement in the art ofjapanning small articles, which-consists in collecting said articles in one or more plates, substantially as above described, coating the same with japan while held in said plates, and depositing' them and hardening them upon a baking or drying plate, substautiallyas specified.

2. The improvement in the art ofjapanning small articles preparatory to baking them, which consists in the process of coating one side/of said articles while the same are held in a plate, B, and removing said articlesto a second plate, C, which registers with the rst, and then coating the opposite side of said articles.

CHARLES RADCLIFFE.

Witnesses: A

J AMES McMAHoN, EDWARD HEATON.

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