US3140679A

US3140679A - Button stitching machine

Info

Publication number: US3140679A
Application number: US234068A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pedersen Mathias
Original assignee: AMF Inc
Current assignee: AMF Inc
Priority date: 1962-10-30
Filing date: 1962-10-30
Publication date: 1964-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 1981-07-14
Also published as: GB994612A; DE1292483B

Description

BUTTON STITCHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 30, 1962 3 Sheet-Sheec 1'.

FIG.|

INVENTOR MATHIAS PEDER SEN ATTORNEY J y 14, 1964 M. PEDERSEN BUTTON STITCHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 30, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 PEDERSEN Q Q INVENTOR MATHIAS ATTORNEY Filed Oct 30, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 N E s m R w m 1 H mm M k l i a Q 7 F i a 2 S mm m k m x H \s & q R

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,140,679 BUTTON STITCHING MACHINE Mathias Pedersen, Valley Stream, N.Y., assignor to American Machine and Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 234,068 14 Claims. (Cl. 112-110) This invention relates to button stitching machines, and more particularly to improvements which make it possible to use a single machine in attaching a wide range in sizes of buttons to selected articles, such for example, as coats and suits, and other articles of apparel.

In the mechanical attachment or stitching of buttons to articles of clothing, such for example, as mens and womens suit coats, machines capable of performing this function have been limited in use to either a single size button, or a very limited range of buttons. This condition has made it necessary to provide more than one machine if for any reason an operator should desire to attach buttons to clothing having a size beyond that which a machine could handle successfully. Obviously the costs involved in providing a plurality of machines so as to attach different sizes of buttons to garments and maintaining them in operating conditions would run high, to say nothing of the requirement for-additional space for such machines in order to meet the requirements of a given establishment.

The present invention solves the problems abovementioned, since it makes it possible to use the same machine for attaching buttons ranging in a Wide number of sizes. A machine constructed in accordance with the invention can handle buttons ranging upward from 20 to 45 ligne. The term ligne is well known in the button art and means one twenty-five thousandth of an inch, that is:

In a given clothing manufacturing plant, where for example, mens suits are being made, it may happen that a run of suits will require buttons of 30 ligne size or in diameter. Once this particular run of suits is completed, the next run of garments may require buttons of 1" in diameter or 40 ligne. The present invention makes it possible to effect the desired attachment of buttons to both runs of garments simply and efficiently without interruption in the operation of the machine for a long period of time and without the need of additional machines to accomplish this result. This result is obtained by providing a button stitching machine of the type shown in Johnson et al. Patent 2,451,495, or Patterson et al. Patent 2,739,550, or in copending I ohnson et al. applications SN. 20,142 and 20,693 filed April 5, 1960 and April 7, 1960 respectively, for Button Stitching Machines, with means for so controlling the position of a part of the upper needle bar of that machine that at the time a button is delivered from its receiving position in the machine to a substantially horizontal position above the work, that part of the needle bar is raised or moved out of the path of travel of the button in its movement from receiving position to such first stitching position. So, also, after the button has been stitched to the work and the posting operation is to be effected, the button is again turned relative to the work from the substantially horizontal position back to a substantially vertical position so that the machine may be operated to effect the desired posting 0p- 3,140,679. Patented July 14, 1964 eration, in the same manner as described in detail in above referred to Patterson et al. Patent 2,739,550.

It is highly desirable in a button stitching machine, and especially a machine of the type disclosed in the above referred to Patterson et al. patent, that a short needle be used. This is because it is necessary to prevent flexing of the needle to the greatest extent possible when the needle is moved downwardly into the work, and also during the posting operation when the needle is projected through the post in order to lock the post windings against unwinding whereby a firm and completed post can be obtained. It is readily apparent, therefore, that in handling buttons ranging from say 20 to 34 ligne, or from .500" to .850", that it is unnecessary to make any changes since this range of sizes can be handled quite readily without interference or striking of the edge of a button with the needle bar, as the button is turned from and to substantially vertical receiving position in the machine to stitching position above the material to which it is to be attached. However, in the case where buttons of, say, from 40 to 45 ligne or from 1'' to 1%" in diameter are to be attached to the work in the machine, their radial dimension is such that when a button is moved from substantially vertical receiving position in the machine into substantially horizontal position above the material to which it is to be attached, the edge of the button would strike against the spindle of the upper needle bar and prevent the button from being moved to and from stitching posi tion. It also would cause breakage of buttons and machine parts, and damage to the machine.

Therefore, in accordance with the invention there has been provided means which is operative to effect a positive raising of a portion of the upper needle bar, at the time when the button is moved from its substantially vertical position to horizontal position for initial attachment to the material to which it is to be secured, and again for raising the spindle of the upper needle bar when the button, after being secured by a plurality of loops of thread to the work, is swung or moved from a substantially horizontal position back to vertical position so that the posting operation can take place. At this time, therefore, due to the operation of the spindle lifting means, adequate space is provided so that this larger sized button can be moved without danger of breakage or jamming of the machine. In this manner it is not necessary to increase the length of the needle and positive control thereof always is obtained, because the needle is of such a length that a minimum of flexing or deviation takes place when it is transferred back and forth from one needle bar to the other, despite the increase in size of button beyond the normal operating limits of a given machine.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel button stitching machine which is capable of handling a wide range of sizes of buttons, such that a single machine may be used to satisfy the requirements of a manufacturing plant, thereby making it unnecessary to provide a plurality of machines to accomplish the same desired result.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanism which makes it possible for a button stitching machine to handle a wide range of buttons to be attached to articles of clothing and the like.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a novel button handling device for a button stitching machine wherein means are so constructed and operated that buttons of different sizes can be handled by the button chuck of the machine without making it necessary to have a plurality of machines for doing this same operation. The invention consists in certain combinations and constructions, which will be described fully hereinafter, and

this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate a same or like parts.

FIGURE 1 is a partial side elevation, partly in section, of a button stitching machine embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial front elevation of the mechanism disclosed in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation, taken on line 33 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view, partly in section, showing the drive mechanism of the button stitching machine.

FIGURES 5, 6, and 7 are partial side elevations, illustrating details of the upper and lower needle bars taken in conjunction with the button supporting chuck during the turning of a button from receiving position to a substantially horizontal position and back to receiving position.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a button stitching machine embodying the invention may be of the type shown in the patents and co-pending patent applications above referred to. This type of machine is provided with a head (not shown) and a table T which supports the work W to which a button B is to be attached. The machine is provided with a pair of opposed, axially aligned, alternately moved upper needle bar and lower needle bar 22 attached by suitable coupling devices 26 to actuating

members

28 and 30, respectively.

Actuating

members

28 and 30 are connected to arms 32 extending from the forward end of levers 34 which at their rear ends are provided with an arm 36 carrying a cam follower 38 engaging cam track 40 in cam 42. Cam 42 is formed in one face of circular flange 44 forming an integral part of hub 46 loosely mounted on stub shaft 48 fixedly mounted in opposite wall of housing 50 (FIG- URE 4).

Flange 44, as shown in FIGURE 1, is provided with a toothed pulley groove 54 in which runs a timing belt 56, such as a Gilmer timing belt, driven from a suitable source of power, such as motor 57, to rotate flange 44 and cam 40, and thereby reciprocate

needle bars

20 and 22 to pass needle N back and forth in proper timed relationship from one needle bar to the other to stitch a button B to work W, and form a post of the loops of thread attaching button B to work W. Levers 34 are rockably supported on shafts 58 whose ends are mounted in brackets 60 on one wall of housing 50, and in frame member 62, respectively.

Since a machine embodying the invention is constructed and operates in the same general manner as those shown in the patents and applications noted above, only such showing and description is made herein as will give a complete understanding of the invention.

Shaft 64 of motor 57 is provided with a pulley 66 on which runs a timing belt 68, such as a Gilmer timing belt which in turn runs on pulley 71 and drives shaft 70 of a worm 69. Formed integrally with pulley 71 is a pulley 73 on which runs timing belt 56 which runs in groove 54 and rotates cam 42.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 2, and 3, it will be seen that upper needle bar is slidably supported in

bearings

72 and 74 vertically spaced, outwardly extending

arms

76 and 78 forming a part of frame member 62. Lower needle bar 22 is similarly mounted in arm 80 of bracket 82 mounted on housing 50 and arm 84 forming a part of the frame structure.

The construction of the mechanism embodying the invention is such that when a button B is delivered into the button chuck, designated generally 90, chuck 90 is in substantially vertical position, or that shown in FIGURES 2, 3, and 5. If a button is of such a size, say ranging from 20 to 34 ligne, as explained hereinabove, when chuck 90 is turned from button receiving position, i.e., FIGURE 1, 2, 3 and 5, to button stitching position or that of FIGURE 7, its size is such that it may be moved freely into and out of such stitching position. However, if a button is of a size ranging from 36 to 45 ligne, it cannot be moved to and from stitching position because it would strike the spindle 91 of upper needle bar 20 and prevent such buttons from being moved into and out of stitching position. In such case, the button would be broken or knocked out of chuck 90, or damage and breakage of parts of the machine including needle N would occur.

In accordance with the invention mechanism is provided which effects the timed movement of needle bar spindle 91 out of the path of travel of a button B in chuck not only when chuck 90 moves it from receiving position to stitching position, but also when chuck 90 moves the attached button from stitching position to the posting position in which the button lies in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the work W to which it now is attached.

The mechanism for effecting the stitching and posting of a button to the work may be similar to that disclosed in the above referred to patents and co-pending applications. Since it forms no specific part of the present invention, further detailed showing and description is deemed to be unnecessary, and is omitted.

Button chuck 90 is similar in construction and operation to that shown in Johnson et al. co-pending application S.N. 20,693 filed April 7, 1960 for Button Stitching Machine. In the same manner as disclosed in the Johnson et al. application, chuck 90 comprises opposed

jaws

92, 94 carried by block 96 detachably mounted in support 98 carried on shaft 100 rotatably supported in bearing bracket 102 secured to bracket table T which supports work W, whereby a button B held in chuck 90 is maintained in proper operative position relative to work W and needle N during the stitching and post forming operations.

As disclosed in co-pending Johnson et al. application, S.N. 20,693,

jaws

92 and 94 are moved to and from each other to receive, hold and release a button by means of a trip lever 104 which is pivotally connected at 106 and 108 to

jaws

92 and 94 respectively. Lever 104 is pivotally mounted at 110 on block 96. It will be apparent, that by means of this construction, wherever part 111 of 104 is engaged by actuating element 112 causing lever 104 to swing on its pivot 110,

jaws

92 and 94 will be opened to receive or release a button. Spring means (not shown) effect the return of

jaws

92 and 94 to closed or button holding position when part 111 of lever 104 is disengaged from actuating element 112. Further detailed description and showing of the button chuck and its operating details are omitted since this mechanism forms no specific part of the invention.

A button is delivered to chuck by mechanism similar to that shown in the above referred to Johnson et al. application S.N. 20,693 when chuck 90 is in the position illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2, 3, and 5. Chuck 90 is turned into the button stitching position shown in FIG- URE 7 by means of gear 114 fixed to shaft 100 meshing with gear segment 116 pivotally supported on pin 118 held in bracket 102 on table T. Link 120 having one end connected to an arm on gear segment 116, and its other end attached to the free end of lever 122 causes gear 114 to be turned into and from the positions noted above under the action of lever 122. This lever is pivotally mounted at 124 on bracket 126 attached to housing 50. A cam follower 128 mounted on lever 122 tracks cam 130 on shaft 132. Cam follower 128 is maintained in engagement with cam 130 by spring 134 which encircles link 136. One end of link 136 is attached to lever 122. Its other threaded end is slidably supported in bracket 138 on the machine frame. Adjusting

nuts

140, 142 mounted on the threaded end of link 136 are pro- 'vided for the purpose of adjusting the positions of chuck The spacing between needle bars 20 and 21, illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 is such that the machine can successfully handle a wide range of button sizes, as from 20 ligne to 34 ligne. However, because of the fact that spindle 91 of upper needle bar 20 extends downwardly below the shell of needle bar 20, if a button is beyond this size range spindle 91 is so located, that when chuck 90 holding a button turns to deliver it into one of the positions described hereinabove, it would obstruct this movement and thereby prevent such button from being moved therepast. The mechanism embodying the invention removes this difficulty and makes it possible for a machine to handle successfully buttons ranging from 36 to 45 ligne or larger.

Needle bars 20 and 22 are constructed, and operated in the same manner as that disclosed in Johnson Patents 2,386,600 and 2,402,251. Each needle bar includes an exterior elongated shell portion 21 in which is slidably mounted a rod 144 encircled by spring 146 normally operative to force the rod downwardly in needle bar 20, and upwardly in needle bar 22, such that each spindle 91 normally is maintained in the position shown in FIG- URE 1. At the proper time during the operation of the machine rod 144 is raised such that the spindle 91 moves upwardly in shell 21 and needle N can be transferred from one needle bar to the other. The details of construction of needle bars 20 and 22 do not form any specific part of the present invention, and therefore further description and showing thereof is omitted in the interests of brevity. The upper end of rod 144 in needle bar 20, and the lower end of rod 144 in needle bar 22, is threaded and supports a shock absorber 148 upon which rests washer 150 held in position by nut 152 slidably mounted on rod 144.

In order to insure the proper operation of the machine with buttons of a size from 36 to 45 ligne, there is provided means which will positively effect a predetermined reciprocatory movement of spindle 91 in upper needle bar 20. This motion is effected for the first time when a button delivered into chuck 90 is moved by the chuck from the substantially vertical position shown in FIG- URES 1, 2, 3 and 5 to the stitchingposition illustrated in FIGURE 7. The timing of the machine in operation is such that by means of the driving and cam control mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 4, needle bars 20 and 22 are operated for several cycles so as to project needle N and a thread having a loose and a fixed end back and forth to selected buttons and the work W such that the button is stitched to the work. During the stitching operation button B'is maintained in the position shown in FIGURE 7. The button stitching operation may be for, say, six or seven cycles of the machine, during which six or seven complete stitches are formed connecting the button to the work. In accordance with the process of attaching a button to the work which may be the same as that disclosed in Patterson Patent 2,379,555, the button is next moved from the position shown in FIGURE 7 to a position substantially the same as that shown in FIG- URE 5. While in such position table T is moved back and forth laterally relative to needle N so as to form loops of thread or windings about the loops of thread connecting the button to the work, thereby forming a post. When the button is moved by chuck 90 from the position shown in FIGURE 7 to that shown in FIGURE 5, if it is of a size beyond 34 ligne, spindle 91 is moved in needle bar 20 from the position shown in FIGURE 5 to that shown in FIGURE 6, in order that the button may pass unobstructedly beyond upper needle bar 20.

In order to effect this desired movement of spindle 91 in needle bar 20, reference is made to FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 which disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention for carrying out this purpose. Mounted on frame member 62 is 'a lever 156 having a free flat end 158 positioned beneath shock absorber 148 on upper needle bar 20. The normal position of lever 156 is such that part 158 is maintained in a substantially horizontal position, as seen in FIGURE 2, at which time spindle 91 in upper needle bar 20 is maintained in the positions shown in FIGURES 1, Land 3. The mechanism for driving cam 42 and shaft 132 is 6 shown in FIGURE 4 and comprises the system of pulleys 66, 71, 72 and pulley toothed groove 54 and worm 70 which drive worm wheel 16% on shaft 132. By means of this driving system the operation of the needle bars, button chuck 90, andspindle lifting means is coordinated for proper timed operative relationship.

Referring to FIGURE 4, it will be seen shaft 132 is provided with two

cams

162 and 164 which control the movement of table T which supports work W for proper movement realtive to needle N during the stitching and posting operations. The mechanism for moving table T may be the same as that shown in co-pending application Serial Number 54,215 filed September 6, 1960. The mechanism for pulling the loose end of the thread R through the work, as shown in FIGURE 7, is the same as that shown in co-pending Johnson et al. application, Serial Number 20,142 filed April 5, 1960. Since these mechanisms form no part of the present invention, further description thereof is omitted.

Spindle 91 of upper needle bar 20 is lifted during the operation of the machine in order that a button B held in chuck may be moved into and out of stitching position. This operation is effected by means of link 166 having one end connected to lever 156 and its other end slidably resiliently connected to lever 168. The latter connection comprises a collar 170 adjustably secured to link 166 by set screw 172. The lower or free end 173 of link 166, as viewed in FIGURE 2, extends slidably through a ball 174 swivelly mounted in support member 176 attached to the free end of lever 168. Positioned beneath ball 174 is a collar 178 which is adjustably secured to the lower end of link 173 by set screw 180. Encircling the lower end 173 of link 166 is a sleeve 182 having a flanged portion 184 which rests against a flattened face of ball 17 4, the other opposite flattened face thereof resting on the upper face of collar 178. The upper end of sleeve 182 extends to a point relatively closely adjacent to the under face of collar 170. A spring 185 having its ends bearing against collars 170 and the upper flat face the flange portion 184 encircles sleeve 182. Lever 168 carries a cam follower 186 adapted to engage with cam 188 on shaft 132.

Referring to FIGURES l and 3, it will be seen that earn 188 is provided with two high points 190 and that the reminder of the cam is concentric with shaft 132. Due to the fact that the upper face of the free end 158 of lever 156 rests on the top of bearing 72, cam follower 186 normally is maintained out of contact with cam 188 insofar as the concentric portions thereof are concerned. However, when the machine is in operation, and cam 188 is rotated in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, upper needle bar 20 is in its down position and the machine is ready to go through that portion of a cycle where chuck 90 is to turn and move the button held therein past the lower end of needle bar 20. Let us assume that the button is too large to move normally therepast. In this case spindle 91 is raised partially as the result of the travel of cam follower 186 relative to the straight line portion A of cam 188 so that in response to the compression of spring 185 spindle 91 is raised partially in the shell of upper needle bar 20. At this time upper needle bar 20 is maintained in its down position, but as the bar moves upwardly to its momentary dwell position, cam follower 186 engages a high point 190 on cam 188 at which time the upper end of sleeve 182 comes into engagement with the lower face of collar 170 and a positive upward movement is given to lever 156 thereby, so that.

spindle 91 is moved to its uppermost position within needle bar 20, which provides sufiicient clearance such that chuck 90 can move the button freely past needle bar I The resilientcoupling described insures thatthere will be a proper operation of the spindle lifting mechanism without in any way interfering with the proper operation U of the needle bars under the influence of cam 42. In the continued operation of the machine the next movement of spindle 91 to its uppermost position occurs when cam follower 186 runs on cam portion B whereupon the action is the same as that described above.

The machine may be operated at all times with cam 188 in the position disclosed. This being the case spindle 91 will be raised each time a button is moved to and from the positions shown in FIGURES and 7 regardless of the size of button being handled by chuck 90. It will be apparent that the detachable mount for chuck 90 makes it possible to interchange chucks in order to handle a desired size of button.

In order to incapacitate the spindle lifting means and thereby cut down on the operation of parts on the machine except when it is necessary to lift spindle 91 in order to effect the movement of larger sizes of buttons, i.e., 36 to 45 ligne past upper needle bar 20, there is provided means which allow cam 188 to be moved from the operative position shown in FIGURES l, 2, and 3 to a nonoperative position. Referring to these figures it will be seen that shaft 132 is provided with a key way 192 in which is located an elongated key 194 by means of which cam 188 is slideably keyed to shaft 132. A set screw 196 in the hub of cam 188 normally secures this cam in its operative position, as shown in the drawings. However, merely by loosening set screw 196, cam 188 can be moved to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 2, out of engagement with cam follower 136 without in any way aifecting the timing of the mechanism when it is returned to operative position. By tightening screw 196 against key 194 when cam 188 is in a non-operative position it can be so maintained until it is desired to relocate it in the position shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3.

It will be appreciated that a machine embodying the invention is provided with mechanism for handling the loose end L of the thread during the formation of each stitch attaching a button B to the material W, and in forming the windings about the attached loops of thread. This mechanism may be the same as that disclosed in the above referred to Johnson et al. patents and Johnson et a1. co-pending application Ser. No. 20,142 wherein the loose end of the thread is pulled by a thread puller (not shown) from the position shown in FIGURE 5 and disposed on a support member (not shown) in the general position shown in FIGURE 7. This mechanism does not form a part of the present invention and therefore further showing and description is omitted in the interest of brevity.

What I claim is:

1. In a button stitching machine having a pair of opposed needle bars, means for alternately operating said needle bars to pass a double pointed needle back and forth from one needle bar to the other, a button chuck, means mounting said chuck for movement between a button receiving and releasing position and a button stitching position, and means mounting said needle bars in said machine in cooperative arrangement with said chuck with a space therebetween sufficient to allow said chuck to move with a button through said space into said button stitching position relative to said needle from said button receiving and releasing position in timed relation with the movement of said needle bars, and mechanism operative when said chuck moves between said positions with an oversized button having a diameter greater than can be accommodated in said space between said needle bars for increasing said space between said needle bars, and means for maintaining said increased spaced relationship between said needle bars during each movement of said chuck between said positions, whereby said oversized button can be moved between said positions without obstruction.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein each of said needle bars comprises an outer shell and an axially movable spindle in said shell, spring urged means nor- 0 mally extending said spindles outwardly from said shells, and wherein said mechanism for increasing said space includes mechanism for retracting the spindle of one of said needle bars inwardly in timed relation with the movement of said chuck carrying said oversized button, whereby said button may be moved past said needle bar when said spindle is in said retracted position.

3. The invention defined in claim 2, including a spindle actuating rod, a head member attached to said rod exteriorly of said outer shell of said needle bar, a lever having a free end engaging beneath said head member, a second lever, a cam, a cam follower on said second lever tracking said cam, and a link connecting said levers for effecting the timed elevation of said spindle relative to the operation of said chuck and said needle bar.

4. The invention defined in claim 3, comprising means pivotally connecting the upper end of said link to said first-named lever, means slidably connecting the lower end of said link to said second-named lever, a collar secured to said link intermediate its ends, a sleeve encircling said link between said collar and said last-named means, said sleeve being shorter in length than the distance between said collar and said last-named means, a spring encircling said sleeve, means on said cam for compressing said spring to efiect an initial resilient retraction of said spindle in said needle bar and to engage the top of said sleeve with said collar, and other means on said cam to cause said sleeve to effect a positive displacement of said spindle to its final retracted position relative to said moving chuck.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, including means for selectively operating said cam.

6. In a button stitching machine having a needle bar and a needle supported thereby, means for reciprocating said needle bar to pass said needle with a thread back and forth through selected holes in a button and the material to which said button is to be attached, a button chuck and means mounting said chuck for movement between a button receiving position and a button stitching position, means mounting said needle bar in said machine in cooperative position relative to said chuck above said material to which said button is to be attached a distance such as to provide a space sufiicient to allow said chuck to move with said button from said receiving position to said button stitching position relative to said needle and said material and back to said button receiving position, and mechanism operative when said chuck carries an oversized button having a diameter greater than can be accommodated in said space for increasing said space, and means for then moving said chuck with said oversized button between said positions without obstruction by said needle bar.

7. The invention defined in claim 6, wherein said mechanism includes means for elfecting relative separating movement between said needle bar and said material to which said button is being attached.

8. The invention defined in claim 6, wherein said needle bar comprises a longitudinally movable spindle, and including a work table supporting said material in a substantially horizontal plane, and wherein said mechanism comprises means for moving said spindle in needle bar upwardly away from said material in timed relation with the operation of said needle bar operating means to provide additional Vertical space for the movement of said chuck with said oversized button.

9. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said mechanism is selectively operated.

10. In a button stitching machine having a pair of opposed, axially aligned spaced needle bars for passing a threaded needle back and forth through selected holes in a button and the material to which it is to be attached, a work support table located in the space between said needle bars, means supporting said needle bars in a normally spaced stitching relationship, a button receiving and releasing station and a button stitching station, a button chuck carried by said table, means for turning said chuck to move a button to be attached to said material between said stations and through said space between said needle bars, mechanism coacting with said chuck turning means for effecting a relative separating movement between said table and at least one of said needle bars to provide additional space between said needle bar and said work support table for the movement of an oversized button carried by said chuck from one station to the other without obstruction by said needle bar, and including means for maintaining said needle bar spaced from said work support table said additional amount at the time said button in said chuck moves past and clear of said needle bar.

11. The invention defined in claim 10 wherein said material on said table is maintained in substantially horizontal position, and wherein said needle bars comprise an upper and a lower needle bar, each of said bars including a needle holding spindle, and said mechanism includes means for lifting said spindle of said upper needle bar away from said material in timed relation with the movement of said chuck and said upper needle bar, while said needle is supported in said lower needle bar.

12. The invention defined in claim 11 wherein said mechanism includes a lever for lifting said spindle, and

10 a cam having means for operating said lever to lift said spindle.

13. The invention defined in claim 12 including means for selectively operating said cam whereby said mechanism can be incapacitated unless oversized buttons are to be handled by said chuck.

14. The invention defined in claim 12 including a cam follower tracking said cam, a second lever supporting said cam follower, a resilient link connection between said first named lever and said second lever comprising a link encircled by a spring, means compressing said spring during a part of the operation of said cam to effect a partial raising of said spindle in said upper needle bar, and a sleeve encircled by said spring operative to effect the terminal upward movement of said spindle as said chuck moves a button past said upper needle bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,022,277 Elliott Nov. 26, 1935 2,158,171 Avis May 16, 1939 2,540,987 McCann Feb. 6, 1951 2,811,939 Mirel Nov. 5, 1957

Claims

1. IN A BUTTON STICHING MACHINE HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSED NEEDLE BARS, MEANS FOR ALTERNATELY OPERATING SAID NEEDLE BARS TO PASS A DOUBLE POINTED NEEDLE BACK AND FORTH FROM ONE NEEDLE BAR TO THE OTHER, A BUTTON CHUCK, MEANS MOUNTING SAID CHUCK FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A BUTTON RECEIVING AND RELEASING POSITION AND A BUTTON STITCHING POSITION, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID NEEDLE BARS IN SAID MACHINE IN COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENT WITH SAID CHUCK WITH A SPACE THEREBETWEEN SUFFICIENT TO ALLOW SAID CHUCK TO MOVE WITH A BUTTON THROUGH SAID SPACE INTO SAID BUTTON STITCHING POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID NEEDLE FROM SAID BUTTON RECEIVING AND RELEASING POSITION IN TIMED RELATION WITH THE MOVEMENT OF SAID NEEDLE BARS, AND MECHANISM OPERATIVE WHEN SAID CHUCK MOVES BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS WITH AN OVERSIZED BUTTON HAVING A DIAMETER GREATER THAN CAN BE ACCOMMODATED IN SAID SPACE BETWEEN SAID NEEDLE BARS FOR INCREASING SAID SPACE BETWEEN SAID NEEDLE BARS AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID INCREASED SPACED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAID NEEDLE BARS DURING EACH MOVEMENT OF SAID CHUCK BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS, WHEREBY SAID OVERSIZED BUTTON CAN BE MOVED BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS WITHOUT OBSTRUCTION.