US2022277A

US2022277A - Button fastening machine

Info

Publication number: US2022277A
Application number: US598624A
Authority: US
Inventors: Minnie S Elliott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-03-14
Filing date: 1932-03-14
Publication date: 1935-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1952-11-26

Description

Nov. 26, 1935. w ELLLOTT 2,022,277.

BUTTON FASTENING MACHINE Filed March 14. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 26, 1935. w ELLIOTT 2,022,277

BUTTON FASTENING MACHINE w. E. ELLIOTT 2,022,277

Filed March 14, 1932 III I I261 '28 I56 7| I I as as giant-84 IIs g us 66 I57 I2I v l4 lia 7a NW. 2%, 1935. w; E, E'Lmw I 2,022,277

BUTTON FASTENING MACHQINE Filed March 14, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 An a,

Patented Nov. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUTTON FASTENING MACHINE Application March 14, 1932, Serial No. 598,624

17 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for fastening, preferably by stitching, buttons, preferably the ordinary shoe button type, to desired articles such as shoes. The invention is preferably embodied in a machine of the general type shown in the patent to Sullivan et al., No. 1,149,474, August 10, 1915.

The object of the invention is to provide novel means for adjusting the size of the passageway from the hopper and in the button-feeding chute of the machine.

The object of the invention is further to provide novel means for effecting the operation of the gripping and releasing of the button carried by the button carrier.

The object of the invention is further to provide novel means for maintaining the relation between the button-feeding chute and the button carrier for different sizes of buttons;

The object of the invention is further to provide means for preventing the starting of the machine if a button is not transferred from the chute by the button carrier upon the operation of the carrier.

The object of the invention is further to pro vide means for preventing the starting of the cycle of operation of the machine if the button carrier moves beyond button-fastening position.

The object of the invention is further to provide means for insuring the passage of the buttons down the button feeding chute.

The object of the invention is further to provide novel means for adjusting the throw of the vibrating needle bar'employed for fastening the button thus to vary the length of bar formed by the stitching mechanism.

The object of the invention is further to provide means for enabling the machine to be utilized for barring work.

'These and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a rear elevation of a machine of the type referred to, together with preferred forms of the various features of this invention embodied therein.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine frame and many of the elements of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a rear'elevation of certain elements of the machine detached therefrom with the parts shown in full lines with the machine stopped.

shown in a different position,

" 8-8 of Fig. 7. r

Fig. 9 is a view in'vertical cross section shOw- 10 ing the rolls 33 and the end of the cam 32 00- operating therewith.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cam 32.

Fig. 11 is a rear elevation showing the mechanism for operating the button agitator.

Fig. 12 is a view in cross section taken transversely of Fig. 11 to show the operation of the agitator.

Fig. 13 is a detail in end elevation of the construction enabling the machine to perform barring work.

Fig. 14 is a detail in plan of the end of the connecting rod.

The general construction of the machine is similar to that shown in the aforesaid patent to Sullivan et al. and is of a type well known in the art so that it is only necessary here to describe in detail a preferred embodiment of those features with which the present invention is particularly concerned.

The machine comprises a suitable frame having the hollow standard I, the laterally extending tubular work supporting arm 2, and the overhanging bracket arm 3 with its head 4. The needle frame 5 is mounted to swing on vertical u5 pivots in the head and carries the usual reciprocating needle bar and needle cooperating with the shuttle or other looper in the work support to form the bar by means of which the button is secured to the work. The presser bar 6 is mounted in the head 4, carries at its lower end the presser foot 1 and is pressed down into working position by the usual spring 8. The presser foot including the button shank guideway 9 is of the usual construction to receive and guide the :5 button into button-fastening position.

The button hopper I!) which contains the supply of buttons is mounted upon the top of the bracket arm 3 and presents at the side the discharge aperture H leading into the upper end of the button chute by which the buttons are conveyed from the hopper to the button guideway of the presser foot. This button chute comprises the two parallel flat plates l2 and I3, the plate l2 being slotted at M to receive the button shanks and the two plates being separated sufficiently to provide for the passage of the button heads therebetween. The plate i2 near its upper portion is secured to a bracket i5, in turn secured to the bracket arm 3 and adjacent its lower end to a bracket i6 mounted from the head i. The buttons which are shown as of the ordinary shoe button type having the heads I1 and shanks l8 pass from the hopper through the opening I with the shanks riding in the slot is which continues into the slot M of the plate i2 and with the heads riding against a cap plate 2i! having a flexible strip 2! connecting it with the plate l3. While the buttons may be of various shapes, they are shown as of the roll type and the slot in the hopper and in the button chute is rounded at the edges to enable a portion of the button as well as the shank to ride freely therein. In order to provide for buttons of different sizes, it is necessary that the plate i3 shall be accurately adjusted toward and from the plate i2 and that the cap plate 2% shall correspondingly be adjusted toward and from the bottom of the hopper. One feature of the invention provides means for effecting these adjustments. vAt the upper end of the chute a bracket 22 is secured to the arm 3 and terminates in a base plate 23 parallel with the chute. The cap plate 29 is carried by a vertical plunger 24 mounted in a casing 25 secured to the side of the hopper i9 and yieldingly pressed downward by the spring 26 in the casing. The cap plate 20 is extended rearward and down" ward and carries in its depending portion a stud 2i. At its front end this stud rides in a vertical slot 28 in the base plate 23 and at its rearward end is provided with an anti-friction roller 29. A stud 30 is secured at its inner end to the plate l3 and extends through the base plate 23. A helical spring 3| on the stud between the base plate 23 and the'plate I3 acts to press the latter inward or toward the plate i2. At the rear of the base plate 23 a cam 32 shown separately in Fig. 10 is journalled on the stud 3G and cooperates with follower rolls 33, see Fig. 9, journalled on a shaft 34 extending diametrically through the stud 38. The cam '32 is secured in a sleeve 35 and this sleeve is provided with a cam 36 engaging the roller Consequently by rotating the sleeve 35 the follower rolls 33 cooperating with the cam 32 in conjunction with the spring 3i enables the plate 53. accurately to be adjusted toward and from the plate l2, while at the same time the cam 36 cooperating with the roller 29 in conjunction with the spring 2% simultaneously and correspondingly adjusts the cap plate 28 toward or from the bottom of the hopper, with the flexible strip yielding as required. An accurate means for rotating the sleeve 35 and indicating its position of adjustment is provided. The base plate 23 is extended to present a substantially circular section 3'! and in this section is journalled a shaft carrying adjacent the base plate a pointer 38 and a pinion 3-9 and carrying at its outer end a knurled head 4%. The pinion 39 meshes with a gear M on the sleeve 35. The pointer 38 is shown as provided with a pin 42 adapted to fit in any of the series of holes 43 formed in the edge of the section 3? of the base plate and the shaft carrying the pointer, the pinion 35, and the knurled head ii! is movable outward sufficiently to engage and disengage the pin 42 and is yieldingly pressed inward. A similar construction to that described is provided for the lower end of the chute and therefore needs no detailed description. The base plate with the circular section 4:3 is secured to the bracket 96 and carries the shaft with the knurled head 55 and the stud 45 and sleeve 47 corresponding to the

parts

49, 30, and 35 at the upper end of the chute. Thus by operating the knurled heads if! and 45 the required adjustment of the button chute for buttons of different size is very accurately made and indicated and the parts locked in adjusted position.

It is important that the buttons shall pass continuously and freely out of the hopper into and down the button chute. Suitable means, such as shown, for example, in the aforesaid patent to Sullivan et al., provide for such passage of the buttons from the hopper into the chute. A feature of the present invention provides means for insuring the desired passage of the buttons down the chute. For this purpose the plate I3 is provided substantially throughout its length in line with the path of the button heads with a slot 58, see Figs. 11 and 12, and a series of preferably yielding fingers are mounted and operated to move periodically through the slot and into and out of engagement with the button heads thus to jar or agitate the buttons, prevent their sticking in the chute and insure their proper :noveinent down the chute. In the preferred construction illustrated, a bar is extending beneath and parallel with the chute is secured to a pair of arms pivotally mounted on lugs 5i extending downward from the plate E2 or its support. A series of spring fingers shown as made of flat metal are secured to the bar 45) and are curved at their upper ends so that as the bar swings on its pivots, the ends of these fingers pass through the slot 48 and agitate the buttons by yieldingly en aging with and disengaging therefrom. This button-agitating means is operated periodically. For that purpose a spring 53 surrounding one of the pivots of the bar acts to swing the bar into the position shown in Fig. 12 with the fingers 52 disengaged from the buttons. One of the arms 59 supporting the bar 68 is extended past its pivot as at 54 to form an operating lever. A lug 55 on this lever engages the bracket 55 to limit the movement of the agitating device in opposition to the spring 53. The arm is connected by a link to one end of a lever 55? fulcrumed at on an arm 5% secured to the plate i?. or its support i5. opposite end of the lever 53 pivotally connected at it to a lever iii iulcrumed at on a curved arm 63 which is pivotally mounted at 54 from the plate i2 or its support. In the specific construction here illustrated, a lever 65, later to be described, has mounted at its free end a roll 6% and the lever is provided with the oppositely be eled faces cooperating therewith so that as the lever is swung in either dire-c tion, the lever 35 i moved endwise with its fulcrum carri d about the pivot 55 and the lever 53 is therefore rocked thus through the connections described the agitator compri r the bar 39 and the spring fingers all are swung into button-engaging position. The periodic eration of the lever may be secured by any suitable means but preferably, as will hereinafter be set for-1h, p e each time the machine is started and it stopped.

The buttons transf r end of the button chute to th raceway in resser foot and placed position mechanism generally similar to' that of the aioresaid Sullivan et a1. patent. The reciproce in" button carrier 66 pivotally supported at E3 on cm the lower the arm 19 and at H on the rock lever I2, the arm "I9 being pivoted at I3 and the lever 12 being fulcrumed at It on the machine frame. The button carrier is provided with the usual button-gripping rock lever I yieldingly pressed into button-gripping position but in this case swung to open position by novel means. The lower end of the plate 53 of the button chute is provided with a laterally projecting cam I6, see Fig. 3, and the rock lever is provided with a roll TI cooperating therewith so that as the button carrier passes through its cycle of movement, the roll cooperating with the cam causes the rock lever to swing in opposition to its spring to grip and release the-button as required. Since the cam I6 is mounted on the plate I3 of the button chute, it is adjusted'therewith toward and from the plate I2 of the chute and consequently the rock lever is simultaneously adjusted as required by the button size. The general operation of the'button carrier with the adjustable stop collar 73 limiting the endwise movement, the stop shoulder 19 of the presser foot and the giveway connection including the two-part connecting rod 89 and Bi extending to the lever l2, the latch lever 82, the shouldered thrust collar 93 and the connecting spring 84 needs no further description at this point except that the tripping stud 85 on the frame is fixed, while the set screw 86 in the latch. lever 82 cooperating therewith is adjustable. This mechanism, however, involves a further feature of the invention which will hereinafter be described.

The main shaft 81 of the machine is of the usual type provided with the fast pulley 88 and stopping'cam 89 and with the loose pulley 99. This shaft, in the present form of construction, is provided with a worm 9! meshing with a worm Wheel 92 on a transverse shaft 93. The main shaft also is suitably connected to operate the transverse rock shaft 9 by which the needle bar frame 5 is vibrated to produce the barrequired for fastening the button. A further feature'of the invention resides in the means for providing an adjustable connection for jogging or vibrating this needle frame soas to produce a bar of any desired length without disturbing the position of the needle with respect to the eye of the button. For this purpose a rock arm 95 is secured to and extends upward from the'shaft 94 and has adjustably mounted thereon a plate 99. This plate is provided with a rib riding in an arcuate groove 91 of the arm 95. The connecting rod 98 is connected by a'universal, joint 99 to the needle bar frame at its opposite end by a universal joint 3% to the plate 96. The center of curvature of'the groove 91 is at the joint 99 so that whatever may be the adjust d position of the plate 99, and consequently what ever may be the length of the bar formed, the needle'will always be centered at one end at the button eye. The plate 99 is provided with a rack ture of the present invention resides in means for preventing sufficient depression'of thestarting I treadle to start the machine in case'no button fastening operation.

is carried into fastening position by the button carrier-means are also provided to raise the starting treadle positively into non-starting position if the treadle is inadvertently heid down by the operator at the conclusion of a button- In a preferred embodiment of these features of the invention, themain elementsfor controlling the starting and stopping of the machine which are disclosed in the aforesaid patent to Sullivan et al. are associated with additional elements by means of which the desired results are secured and it is therefore necessary only to describe in detail the addiper end with the cam 89, the thrust collar I ll] adjustably secured on the plunger rod, the spring III normally forcing the stop lever laterally against the cam 89, the bell crank lever II2 fulcrumed on the frame at H3 with its follower H4 cooperating with the face H5 and the notch H6 of a cam HI secured to the shaft 93 and driven step by step from the main shaft, the connection at H8 between the bell crank lever H2 and the arm H9 of the stop lever I94, the lever I29 fulcrumed at I2I and engaging the lug I22 on the presser bar 6, the rock lever I23 fulcrumed at 24 having at one end the'forked connection with the lever I29 and carrying at the other end the spring-pressed plunger pin I25 cooperating with the thrust collar II 9, the spring I26 depressing the free end of the rock'lever I 23 are all shown as constructedand co-acting substantially as in the aforesaid patent to Sullivan et al.

In the further preferred embodiment of the invention the rod I2'I extending downward to the starting treadle is hooked over a stud I28 on the free end of an arm I29 pivoted at I30 on the machine frame and normally pressed upward by the spring I3I on the rod I32, which rod is pivoted at its upper end to the arm I29 and slides at its lower end through a lug I33 on the machine frame and carries a collar 63 5 with the spring seated between the lug I33 and this collar. The movement of the arm I29 is limited in an upward direction by a stop lug I35 and in a downward direction by a stop lug I36 on the frame. A bell crank lever I 31 is fulcrumed on a stud I38 aligned with the fulcrum I95 of the vibratory stop lever. One arm I39 of this bell crank lever depends downward and is pivotally connected at I49 to the part 89 of the connecting rod which operates the button carrier 68. The other arm I4I extends above the arm I29. A link I 42 is pivoted at I 43 to the arm MI and is provided with a slot Md fitting over a stud Hi5 projecting from the arm I29. The end of the arm I ti of the bell crank lever is provided with the bifurcations hit and M1 straddling a stud I48 in the end of the arm I I9 of the vibratory stop lever.

The general operation of the foregoing mechanism will readily be apparent. Atthe begirning of the cycle of operations the machine is stopped with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3. The belt is on the loose pulley 99, the

follower H4 is in the notch are of the cam Ill,

the plunger I98 of the vibratory stop lever is raised and locked'by thecam 89, the presser'bar is held elevated by the collar M9, the arm I29 to which the starting treadle is connected is against the stop I35, the lower bifurcation I il of the bell crank lever I31 is engaging the stud I48 on the stop lever and the button carrier 68 is retracted. When now the operator depresses the treadle, the arm I29 swings downward, swinging with it the bell crank lever I3! until the bifurcation I45 engages the stud I48 on the vibratory stop lever. This period of movement is sufficient to cause the bell crank lever I3I through the described connections to project the button carrier 68 until the button is carried into fastening position in the presser foot guideway or until the collar I8 engages the frame. As the depression of the treadle continues rocking the bell crank lever I31, the connection between the parts BI) and 8| of the connecting rod gives way and the bifurcation I 46 in engagement with the stud I48 rocks the vibratory stop lever on its fulcrum I95 simultaneously releasing the presser foot, swinging the bell crank lever II2 to carry its follower II4 out of the notch H5 in the cam II'I, releasing the plunger rod I98 from the cam 89, and shifting the belt onto the fast pulley 88, thus starting the machine in its cycle of operations with the parts in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. The operator then removes his foot from the treadle and the arm I29 under the influence of the spring I3I moves into its uppermost position against the stop I32, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The face II5 of the cam II'I now holds the parts in working position and the operation of the machine continues until the follower II4 again drops into the notch I I6 which allows the spring II I to act and causes the machine to stop in the well known manner.

But it may happen that for one reason or another a button has not been carried by the button carrier into button fastening position when the operator depresses the treadle and it is desirable that the machine should not go through its cycle of operations if this has occurred. The present invention provides for preventing such an occurrence. In the construction illustrated a safety lever I49 is fulcrumed at I50 on the frame to swing in a horizontal plane and projects through the frame on such a level that when swung beneath the end of the arm I29 it will engage with and stop the downward motion of the arm I29 before, through the link I42, the bell crank lever I31 has been rocked to start the machine. The inner arm I5I of this lever I49 extends over the button carrier 68 in the path of a lug I52 carried by a collar I53 adjustably secured to the buttoncarrier 68. The collars I8 and I53 are so adjusted that if a button is present in the button carrier, as shown in Fig. 6, and is carried by the button carrier against the stop shoulder I9 into buttonfasten-.

ing position, the lug I52 will not be carried far enough to engage the arm I5I and there will be no movement of the safety lever and it will remain in the position shown in Fig. 6 and out of the path of the arm I29. If, however, no button is present in the button carrier, the movement of the button carrier 68 will continue past the position necessary to bring the button into fastening position and until the collar I8 engages the machine frame. This movement of the button carrier beyond button-fastening position causes the lug I52 to engage the arm I5! of the safety lever and to move the safety lever into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 so that as the operator continues to depress the treadle the arm I29 will engage the lever I49 and be locked against further downward movement, thus preventing the starting of the machine. A spring with the arm IEI.

I54 on the fulcrum I50 acts to hold the safety lever in normal position. It will thus be seen that it is impossible for the operator by depressing the treadle to start the machine in operation if for any reason the button carrier fails to trans- 5 fer a button from the chute into button-fastening position.

It not infrequently happens that the operator inadvertently retains his foot on the starting treadle so that the machine fails to stop at the 10 conclusion of a cycle of movement and thus repeats the button-fastening operation upon the same button. The present invention prevents such a happening and this feature is embodied in a simple and preferred construction illustrated. A lever, which is preferably the lever 65 already described, is fulcrumed at I55 on the machine frame and has a forked end I56 engaging a stud on the arm I29 which may be the stud I45. This lever near its opposite end is provided with a follower roll I51 in the path of a wiper cam I58 secured to the shaft 93. This wiper cam is so positioned that before the notch IIB comes opposite the follower N4 of the controlling lever II2, it will engage and depress the free end of the lever 65 and thus force upward the arm I29 and the treadle connected thereto. Consequently it is impossible for the treadle to be held down when the machine completes its cycle of movement. In this connection it will be noted that 30 since the lever 55 is connected to the arm I29, it will be rocked back and forth both when the cycle of operation of the machine is started and when it is concluded, so that the button agitator is vibrated twice on each occasion.

Suitable means are also provided to enable the machine conveniently to be utilized in performing barring work when, as illustrated, the button fastening operation is a stitching operation. To enable the machine to be utilized for this purpose, it'is necessary to provide means which will allow the operation of the machine without buttons being fed. In the construction already described, if a button is not carried by the button carrier into button-fastening position, the button carrier continues past the position necessary to bring the button into fastening position and the safety lever I49. moves into position beneath the arm I29 so that it is impossible for the operator to start the machine. Means are therefore here provided to prevent the safety lever I49 from moving beneath the arm I29 when no button is carried to buttonfastening position and it is desired to operate the machine for barring. As illustrated, the part 8| of the connecting rod has adjustably mounted on its free end a hook I59 held in place by set screws I60 passing through a slot therein. An arm I6'I is mounted on a stud I52 on the machine frame and projects adjacent the path of 60 the connecting rod 8| being notched at its free end to permit the free movement of the hook I59 there past. A second arm I53 provided with a handle I64 is mounted to pivot and slide longitudinally on the stud I92 and is provided with a 65 small stud I65 entering one of two holes I69 in the arm IBI so that this arm I93 may be retained either in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 13 or in an elevated position parallel When the arm IE3 is in its 70 lower position shown in Fig. 13, it does not interfere in any way with the operation of the machine as already described. If it is desired to do barring work, this arni IE3 is shifted to its upper position parallel with the arm ISI and thus its free end. is brought into the path of the hook I59 on the connecting rod 8] and the parts are so adjusted that when the arm I63 is in this position, the button carrier 68 cannot move beyond button-fastening position, but will remain in that position and the safety lever I49 will therefore not interfere with the free downward. movement of the arm I29. Consequently all that it is necessary to do to enable the machine to be used for performing barring work is to shift the arm I63 into its upper position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A button-fastening machine comprising button-fastening means, a chute inclined downward and comprising two parallel plates between which the button heads are fed downward toward button-fastening position, a bar having secured thereto a series of yielding fingers, and means for vibrating the said bar at predetermined times in the operation of the machine to cause the said fingers to move into and out of the chute and yieldingly to engage and disengage the buttons.

2. A button-fastening machine comprising a frame, button-fastening means, .a hopper above the button-fastening means to contain the supply of buttons, a chute comprising two parallel plates between which the button heads pass inclined downward from the hopper toward the button-fastening means, a cap plate covering the button passage from the hopper into the chute, means for simultaneously adjusting the cap plate vertically and one of the chute plates laterally to conform to the size of the buttons fed and a flexible strip connecting the cap plate and the adjustable chute plate forming one wall of the passageway from the hopper to the chute.

3. A button-fastening machine comprising a frame, button-fastening means, a hopper above the button-fastening means to contain the supply of buttons, a chute comprising two parallel plates between which the button heads pass inclined downward from the hopper toward the button-fastening means, a cap plate covering the button passage from the hopper into the chute, and means for simultaneously adjusting the cap plate vertically and one of the chute plates laterally to conform to the size of the buttons fed in which the said adjusting means comprises two cams, one for adjusting the cap plate and th other for adjusting the chute plate.

4. A button-fastening machine comprising a frame, button-fastening means, a hopper above the button-fastening means to contain the supply of buttons, a chute comprising two parallel plates between which the button heads pass inclined downward from the hopper toward the button-fastening means, a cap plate covering the button passage from the hopper into the chute, means for simultaneously adjusting the cap plate vertically andone of the chute plates laterally to conform to the size of the buttons fed and means for indicating the adjusted position of the cap plate and the chute plate.

5. A button-fastening machine comprising button-fastening means, .a chute comprising two plates between which the button heads pass inclined downward toward the button-fastening means, a reciprocating button carrier for conveying a button from the chute to fastening position, the said carrier including a button-gripping rock lever, a cam on said chute and a follower on said lever cooperating to effect the gripping and releasing of the button through the movement of the carrier.

6. 'A button-fastening machine comprising the construction defined in claim 5, together with means for adjusting the chute plate carrying the said cam toward and from the other plate to adjustthe chute to the size of button heads being fed and to maintain the proper cooperative relation between the button chute and the carrier.

7. A button-fastening machine comprising button-fastening mechanism, a button-feeding chute, a button carrier for transferring the button from the chute to the button-fastening mechanism, means for operating the carrier and starting the machine on its cycle of operation, and means for preventing the starting of the machine if a button is not transferred from the chute by the carrier upon the operation of the carrier,

8. A button-fastening machine comprising button-fastening mechanism, a button-feeding chute, a button-carrier for transferring the button from the chute to the button-fastening mechanism, means for operating the carrier and starting the machine on its cycle of operation, and means for preventing the starting of the machine if the button carrier when operated passes beyond button-fastening position.

9. A buttonfastening machine comprising button-fastening mechanism, a button-feeding chute, a button carrier for transferring the button from the chute to the button-fastening mechanism, a treadle, means acting upon the depression of the treadle to move the button carrier to button-fastening position and then to start the machine on its cycle of operation, and a latch moved by the carrier and acting, if the carrier moves beyond button-fastening position, to lock the treadle against depression sufiiciently to start the machine.

10. A button-fastening machine comprising button-fastening means, a chute inclined down ward and comprising two parallel plates between which the button heads are fed downward toward button-fastening position, a vibratory button agitator comprising a series of yielding fingers movable simultaneously upon vibration of the agitator into and out of the chute and acting yieldingly to engage and disengage the buttons;

and means for vibrating the agitator at predetermined times in the operation of the machine.

11. A button-fastening machine comprising button-fastening means, a chute inclined downward and comprising two parallel plates between which the button heads are fed downward toward button-fastening position, a vibratory button agitator comprising a series of yielding fingers movable simultaneously upon vibration of the agitator into and out of the chute and acting yieldingly to engage and disengage the buttons, and means for vibrating the agitator upon the starting of the machine.

12. A button-fastening machine comprising button-fastening means, a chute inclined down- "ward and comprising two parallel plates between stopping of the machine. 13. A button-fastening machine comprising button-fastening means, a chute inclined downward and comprising two parallel plates between which the button heads are fed downward toward button-fastening position, a vibratory button agitator comprising a series of yielding fingers movable simultaneously upon vibration of the agitator into and out of the chute and acting yieldingly to engage and disengage the buttons,

and means for vibrating the agitator both upon the starting and upon the stopping of the ma.- chine.

14. A button-fastening machine comprising the construction defined in claim '7, together with means for rendering inoperative the said means for preventing the starting of the machine if a button is not transferred from the chute by the carrier upon the operation of the carrier thus to enable the machine to be used for barring.

15. A button-fastening machine comprising the construction defined in claim 8, together with means for rendering inoperative the said means for preventing the starting of the machine if the button carrier when operated passes beyond button-fastening position thus to enable the machine to be used for barring. a

16. A button fastening machine comprisin the construction defined in claim 9, together with means for preventing the said latch from looking the treadle against depression sufficiently to start the machine when it is desired to utilize the machine for barring.

17. A button-fastening machine comprising the construction defined in claim 8, together with an arm and means for positioning the arm in the path of the means for operating the button carrier to prevent the button carrier from passing beyond button-fastening position when it is desired to utilize the machine for barring.

MINNIE S. ELLIOTT, Emecutria: of the Last Will and Testament of William E. Elliott, Deceased.