US3175703A - Button loading mechanism for sewing machines - Google Patents

Description

arch 30, 1965 YOUNG, JR 3,175,703

IN VEN TOR. DARCY ANDREWS YOUNG,

ATTORNEY i d States Patent Patented Mar. 30, 1965 3,175,703 BUTTON LOADING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Darcy Andrews Young, Jr., Brighton, N.Y., assignor to Rochester Button Company, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 20, 1962, Ser. No. 203,918 2 Claims. (Ci. 214-1) The present invention relates to button feeding apparatus for sewing machines, and more particularly to an improved apparatus for delivering buttons to the button gripping jaws of a commercial type sewing machine.

Commercial sewing machines for sewing buttons on fabric are equipped with a button chuck comprising a pair of jaws for holding a button just above the fabric onto which it is to be sewn, and in registry with the sewing machine needle. To speed up the loading of buttons in the button chuck, devices have been developed for automatically delivering buttons from a button supply to the jaws of a button chuck.

One such device is disclosed in the copending US. patent application of Roy H. Hendrickson, Serial No. 820,975, which was filed June 17, 1959, now Patent No. 3,042,254 and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. The device includes a transfer arm having a plurality of button-centering pins projecting from one face thereof. A button of the type having a plurality of holes therein is fed from a supply onto the transfer arm in such manner that the button-centering pins enter the holes in the button. Thereafter the transfer arm is moved to insert the button into the jaws of a sewing machine button chuck from the back of the chuck, and is then returned for another button.

After a button has been sewn in place on a piece of fabric, such as a mans shirt front, the sewing machine operator pulls the fabric forwardly to dislodge the button from the jaws and to sever the thread, by which the but ton is sewn to the garment, from the bobbin or other supply in the sewing machine. Sometimes the operator is not fast enough and before she has dislodged the button and the fabric, a new button will be brought to the jaws by the transfer arm. In such case, heretofore the new or incoming button had to strike and dislodge the button then in the jaws, together with the fabric to which the latter was sewn, before the new button could enter and be chucked between the jaws. This contact between the buttons, or between the new button and the fabric onto which the preceding button was sewn, has tended to dislodge the new button from the button-centering pins on the transfer arm before it has been properly positioned in the button chuck, thus causing incomplete transfer and interruption of the sewing cycle.

One object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus for delivering buttons into the jaws of the button chuck of the sewing machine without using the incoming button to dislodge the button then in the jaws of the chuck.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the type described in which the button transfer arm is provided with means for clearing the button chuck before inserting a new button thereinto.

Another object is to provide an improved button transfer mechanism which will speed up the overall sewing operation, and which will obviate any difficulty if a slow operator fails to dislodge a button in time from the button chuck after it has been sewn on the fabric.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims Which considered in conjunction with the attached drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical view of a button feeding apparatus built according to one embodiment of this invention, and showing the button transfer arm in its button receiving position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of this feeding mechanism, and showing also part of a sewing machine button chuck, and the button transfer arm in dotted lines in the course of its swing from its button receiving position to its button delivery position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the button transfer arm at the end of its delivery swing, in a plane parallel to the plane of FIG. 2, and showing the plow on the transfer arm as it engages and forces out of the front of the button chuck, the preceding button and the material to which it has been sewn; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the button carrying end of the transfer arm.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the transfer arm has four locating pins which project upwardly adjacent the free end of the arm to enter the holes of a button and locate the button on the arm. The arm is pivoted about its opposite end to carry individual buttons from a supply chute rearwardly into the spring-tensioned jaws of the conventional button holding clamp or chuck of a commercial sewing machine.

Also projecting above the free end of the transfer arm is a further pin, or plow, which is positioned in front of the button-holding pins, to enter the button chuck jaws in advance of the button-holding pins during delivery of a button into the chuck jaws. The plow urges from the jaws the button which is then in them, and also pushes away from the jaws the fabric to which this latter button has been sewed. Thus the device of the present invention insures proper chucking of successive buttons in the jaws and speeds up the overall sewing operation.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, 11 designates a base plate which is adapted to be secured on a table or stand at one side of a sewing machine proper. Mounted to overlie the table is one end of a chute 12 forming part of button feeding apparatus of the type disclosed in the above-noted copending application. Chute 12 has an opening or hole 13 through which buttons B from a hopper supply drop onto four buttoncentering pins 15 that project upwardly from the free end of a pivotal transfer or swing arm 16 disposed in button receiving position beneath the hole. The pins 15, which are spaced from one another in correspondence with the holes in the buttons being fed, are adapted to pass through the holes in a button B to hold it for transfer to the jaws of a button chuck. All four pins 15 are spaced rearwardly of a circular pin or plow 17 which also projects upwardly from arm 16 at its free end for a purpose to be described below.

The transfer arm 16 is secured to a shaft 18 that is oscillatably and reciprocably mounted in a pedestal 19 that is secured to or is integral with the base 11 of the apparatus. The shaft 18 is mounted at its lower end in a bushing 21 that is carried in pedestal 19, and is formed intermediate its ends with a collar 22 which is adapted to slide and oscillate in a bearing 23 formed integral with pedestal 19 or with a plate 37 that is secured thereto.

Swinging motion of the shaft 18 to swing the button carrying pins 15 from a position of registry with the hole 13 to a position between the conventional clamping jaws 25 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of an adjacent sewing machine is effected by operation of a cam 26. This cam has a cam path 27 formed in one side face thereof in which there engages a roller or follower 28. This roller or follower is mounted upon a slide 29 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which has rack teeth formed integral therewith at its forward end.

3 These mesh with the teeth of a pinion 31 that is integral with or secured to the shaft 18.

The shaft 18 is adapted to be lifted and lowered by a lever 32. This lever is forked at one end to straddle the shaft 18 and to engage between the shoulder 22 and a second, axially-spaced lower shoulder 33 also turned on the shaft. At its opposite end lever 32 carries a roller 34 which engages in a track 35 of the cam 26. Lever 32 is pivoted intermediate its ends upon the stud 36 that is threaded into a plate 37 that is integral with the base 11 and projects upwardly therefrom.

The cam 26 is secured to a shaft 41 which is journaled in the plate 37. This shaft is adapted to be driven from a motor (not shown) through a pulley 42 (FIG. 2) and belt 43. Pulley 42 is secured to a shaft 44 (FIG. 2) that is connected by a conventional one revolution clutch 45 with the shaft 41. The one revolution cluch 45 is adapted to operate when a solenoid 46 on base 11 is energized. The locking dog of this one revolution clutch is adapted to be returned to locking position by a coil spring 47.

The operation of the apparatus will be understood from the preceding description, but may be summed up briefly here.

When cam 26 is rotated, cam track 27, slide 29 and pinion 31 will operate to swing arm 16 through an arc to transfer a button from beneath opening 13 into the jaws 25 of the button holding clamp of the sewing machine. As the free end of the transfer arm approaches the rear of the button chuck jaws (FIGS. 2 and 3), the plow 17, which is in advance of pins and of the new button B carried thereon, passes first between the jaws (FIG. 3) and engages and urges the button B then in the jaws, and the fabric F to which it is sewn, out of the front of the jaws. This clears the jaws, prevents interference with the incoming button B, and permits this button to :be placed properly between the jaws. After delivery of the button to the button holding jaws, cam track and lever 32 operate to lower shaft 18 and arm 16 to clear the pins 15 from the newly-delivered button, cam track 27 operates through slide 29 and pinion 31 to swing the arm 16 back again until pins 15 align with hole 13, and cam track 35 operates through lever 32 to lift the arm and complete its return to starting position with the pins just below the hole 13.

The solenoid 46 for one-revolution clutch may be energized in the same manner as in the above referredto copending application.

It will thus be seen that by the relatively simple expedient of employing an ejection pin or plow 17 on the transfer arm of the disclosed mechanism, applicant has eliminated any physical contact between the incoming and outgoing buttons in the sewing machine button chuck. This eliminates the possibility of dislodging a button from the transfer arm. Moreover, the plow 17 also removes from the path of the incoming button the fabric to which the preceding button had been sewn, thereby aiding the sewing machine operator, and speeding up the overall sewing operation.

While the plow 17 has been described as being a round pin, it obviously could be shaped differently provided it precedes the pins 15 between the button chuck jaws to clear the way for the incoming button.

While the invention has been described in connection with one embodiment thereof, then, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a button feeding mechanism for transferring buttons individually from a button supply to the jaws of a button chuck in a sewing machine,

(a) a pivoted transfer arm having a button supporting surface adjacent one end thereof,

(b) a plurality of pins fixed to said arm and projecting perpendicularly from said arm parallel to its pivot and adjacent said one end thereof to enter holes in a button on said surface and hold the same on said arm during the movement of said arm,

(0) means to pivot said arm between said button supply and said button chuck to insert a button carried by said pins between said jaws from the rear of said jaws, and

(d) a further pin fixed to said arm and projecting perpendicularly from said arm and spaced from the first-named pins and closer to said one end of said arm so as to pass between the jaws of said button chuck in advance of the button held by said firstnamed pins upon movement of said arm from said supply to said button chuck.

'2. Apparatus for loading buttons into the .jaws of a button-holding chuck on a sewing machine, comprising (a) a rigid pivotal transfer member,

(b) a group of pins fixed to said'member and projecting parallel to one another from one face of said member adjacent one end of said member,

(0) at least one further pin fixed to said member and projecting from said one face thereof, and being disposed between said group and the terminus of said one end, and

(d) means to pivot said member from a first position in which a button is placed over said group of pins in spaced relation to said further pin, toa second position in which a button carried on said group of pins is urged between the jaws of the button-holding chuck from the rear of said jaws,

(e) said member being operative during movement thereof to said second position to pass said further pin into said button chuck jaws in advance of the button carried by said group of pins thereby to clear said jaws to receive the last-named button.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,321,990 Burkey June 15, 1943 2,505,468 Forca Apr. 25, 1950 2,609,110 Tesch Septp2, 1952 3,042,254 Hendrickson July 3, 196.2

Claims (1)

1. IN A BUTTON FEEDING MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING BUTTONS INDIVIDUALLY FROM A BUTTON SUPPLY TO THE JAWS OF A BUTTON CHUCK IN A SEWING MACHINE, (A) A PIVOTED TRANSFER ARM HAVING A BUTTON SUPPORTING SURFACE OF PINS FIXED TO SAID ARM AND PROJECTING (B) A PLURALITY OF PINS FIXED TO SAID ARM AND PROJECTING PERPENDICULARLY FROM SAID ARM THEREOF TO ENTER HOLES IN AND ADJACENT SAID ONE END THEREOF TO ENTER HOLES IN A BUTTON ON SAID SURFACE AND HOLD THE SAME ON SAID ARM DURING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM, (C) MEANS SAID PINS BETWEEN SAID JAWS FROM THE REAR OF SAID PLY AND SAID BUTTON CHUCK TO INSERT A BUTTON CARRIED BY SAID PINS BETWEEN SAID JAWS FROM THE REAR OF SAID JAWS, AND (D) A FURTHER PIN FIXED TO SAID ARM AND PROJECTING PERPENDICULARLY FROM SAID ARM AND SPACED FROM THE FIRST-NAMED PINS AND CLOSER TO SAID ONE END OF SAID ARM SO AS TO PASS BETWEEN THE JAWS OF SAID BUTTON CHUCK IN ADVANCE OF THE BUTTON HELD BY SAID FIRSTNAMED PINS UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM FROM SAID SUPPLY TO SAID BUTTON CHUCK.

Images