US673432A - Button-machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 673,432. Patented May 7, I90]. C. W. GABIS.

BUTTON MACHINE.

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BUTTON MACHINE.

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C. W. GARIS.

BUTTON MAQHINE. (Apnlipatipn filed May 24, 1900.|

Pat ented ma 7, I901.

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(No Modal) UNITED STATES CORNELIUS IVEYGANDT GARIS, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

BUTTON-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,432, dated May 7, 1901. Application filed May 24, 1900. Serial No. 17,790. (No model.)

vention, such as will enable others skilled in Y the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to a button-machine,

and more particularly to machines designed for assembling and fastening together elements of buttons made in whole orin part of sheet metal and which preferably are covered with cloth or leather.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which shall be simple of construction, durable in use, and comparatively inexpensive of production and which will perform its functions in an effi-" cient manner.

With this and other objects in View, which will appear in the detail description of the machine, the invention consists of certain features of construction and combination of parts,which will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 2is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through that portion of the machine supported upon the top of the bench or table, the shell-hopper being omitted and the parts being shown in their elevated position. Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the position of parts in their lowered position. Fig. 5 is a vertical central sectional View through the shell-hopper and its dischargethroat. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the reciprocatory die-head. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view on line x azof Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a similar view on line y y of Fig 2. Fig. 9 is a similar view on line 3 3. Fig. 10 is alongitudinal vertical sectional view through the drive-shaft, the drive-Wheel, and the-clutch mechanism. Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the shellhopper, illustrating the guide-lugs. Fig. 12 is a rear elevation of the lever for actuating the carrier-shifter. Fig. 13is a longitudinal sectional view through the shell-hopper throat and the chute, showing in full lines the upper end of the chute contiguous to the lower end of the throat and the shell-check pressed outward to permit of the passage of the shells from said throat into the chute and showing in dotted lines the upper end of the chute lowered and the check in position to prevent shells from escapingthrough said throat. Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view through the 'lower end of the chute,showing its connection with the die-body. Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the leather or cloth covering, the shell, and shank before assembled. Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view through the completed button. Fig. 17 is a detail perspective view of one of the dies. Fig. 18 is a similar view of the hollow plunger, and Fig. 19 is a detail view of limit-bolt 49.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the supporting bench or table, provided with an aperture 2 in its top.

3 denotes the base of the machine, provided with an aperture 4 and with two guide-posts or uprights 5, which are connected at their upper ends by a cross-piece 6. The base is provided with a rigid plunger 7 and with an aperture 8, the latter being adapted to receive the nail of the shank when manufac- 8o turing buttons the shanks of which are provided with nails. The aperture 8 has preferably formed around it a boss 9.

10 denotes the operating-rod, mounted to reciprocate vertically through the aperture 4 and having its upper end reduced to form a shoulder 11. The lower end of this rod projects through the aperture 2 in the top of the bench or tableand is connected by a link 12 to the crank 13 of the drive-shaft 14. This drive-shaft 14 is journaled in a bearing 15 of a bracket depending from the lower side of the top of the table and in a bearing 16, secured to the legs or framework of the machine. It is evident'by this construction that 5 the rotation of the drive-shaft will reciprocate the operating-rod l0 vertically.

17 denotes the die-body, mounted to slide vertically upon said rod 10 and spaced from the base of the machine by a stiff coil-spring I00 18, coiled around the rod. The die-body is provided with two apertures 19 and 20, the former to receive the shank of the button and the latter to receive the shell and its covering-disk. The aperture 20 alines with the plunger 7 and the aperture 19 with the aperture 8 in the base of the machine. The aperture 19 is provided with a plunger 21, which is provided with a groove 22 in its side, into which projects the end of a pin 23 to limit the movement of the plunger. When the diebody is depressed, the lower protruding end of the hollow plunger will engage the boss 9 on the base of the machine and will force the hollow plunger upwardly and raise the button-shank from engagement with the aperture 19 in a manner hereinafter to be described.

24 denotes the carrier, which is journaled upon the rod 10 and seats upon the shoulder 11. This carrier is shown in the present instance as provided with equidistant apertures 25, 26, 27, and 28, each of which is provided with a die 29,which has alimited vertical movement in said apertures by means of a pin 30, engaging a groove 31 in the side of the die.

32 denotes a head fixed to the upper end of the rod 10 and adapted to move vertically with said rod. This head is provided with a plunger 33, which is secured to said head in a fixed adjustmentthat is to say, the plunger may be elevated or lowered relatively to the head and held in this adjusted position by means of a nut 34, screwed upon the upper end of the screw-threaded shank 35 of the plunger. When the head is being depressed, the plunger alines with one of the apertures 25, 26, 27, and 28 and with the aperture 19.

36 denotes a coil-spring placed about the upper reduced end of the rod 10 to hold the carrier 24 firmly upon the die-body 17 when the machine is depressed.

37 denotes the shifter-operating lever, pivoted to the rear side of the base of the machine and projecting upwardly through a slot 38, formed in the cross-piece 6.

39 denotes the carrier-shifter, pivoted to thecross-piece 6 and having a slot or aperture 40 in its rear end, through which projects the upper end 41 of the shifter-lever.

The outer end of the shifter is bent down wardly, as shown at 42, and is adapted to successively engage the notches or recesses 43, formed in the periphery or edge of the carrier, and thereby rotate the carrier at predetermined intervals a quarter of a revolution. The impetus or momentum imparted to the shifter is checked or arrested by stop-lugs 44.

45 and 46 denote spring-arms, which, if desired, may be made in one piece, as shown. These arms are each fixed to the shifter-lever. The spring-arm 45 projects upward,

while the spring-arm 46 projects downward. The spring-arm 45 is arranged in the path of movement of a laterallyprojecting pin 47, while the spring-arm 46 is arranged within the path of movement of a laterally-projecting pin 48. Each pin is fixed to the head 32. When the head is depressed or drawn down, the shifter-lever is rocked from left to right by the pin 47 engaging the spring-arm 45, and when the head is elevated or moved upwardly the shifter-lever is rocked from right to left by the spring-arm 45 coming into engagement with the pin 48. It is of course understood that each movement of the shifter-lever rocks the shifter in a direction the reverse to the direction of movement of the shifter-lever. l/Vhen the shifter is moving from right to left, it is engaged with one of the notches on the edge or periphery of the carrier and rotates the carrier the distance of the movement of the shifter. The rocking of the shifter from left to right takes place when the parts are lowered to the position shown in Fig. 4, in which position itwill be observed that the carrier has been depressed and the notch in its edge or periphery has been freed from engagement with the lower end of the shifter, so that in the movement of the shifter from left to right it will not return or affect the position of the carrier.

49 denotes a stop to limit the upward movement of the die-body. This stop in the present instance, as shown, has a screw which projects upwardly through the base and has its threaded end screwed into the die-body. A nut 50 is used for locking the screw against rotation. I

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for rotating the drive-shaft; but that shown and which lwill now proceed to describe is preferred by me. I

Mounted loosely upon the shaft is a drivewheel 51, which is adapted to receive its power and be'continuously rotated by a drive-belt. (Not shown.) It is desirable to throw this wheel in and out of operative engagement with the drive-shaft to permit the machine to come to astop when occasion demands it, and to this end I have provided a novel clutch mechanism, which consists of a clutch member 52, which is fixed to said shaft and is in the form of a disk and is provided with a lug 53, which has a sliding engagement in a box or bearing 54, formed integral with the disk, and is held pressed inward by a stiff bowed spring 54', fixed to the outer face of the disk. This spring-actuated lug projects into the path of movement of one or more lugs 54*, fixed to the spokes of the drive-wheel, and when the wheel is rotating in the direction of the arrow shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the fixed lugs will come in contact with the springactuated lug and will cause the clutch member or disk to be rotated, and consequently cause the shaft to lock the clutch member to the drivewheel, which, as before explained, is constantly rotating. To allow the machine to come to a stop, I provide a trip-rod 55, mounted to move verticallyin bearings 56, secured to the legs of the frame. This trip rod is provided with an inclined head 56', which normally projects into the path of movement of the hooked outer end of thespring-actuated lug, so that in the rotation of the disk or clutch member the lug will come into engagement with the inclined head of the trip-rod and be withdrawn from the fixed lug secured to the spokes of the drive-wheel, thus stopping the movement of the clutch member or disk and permitting the band or drive wheel to freely revolve upon the shaft and the operative parts of the machine to remain in a position of rest. The trip-rod is normally held in the path of movement of the spring-actuated lug by a coil-spring 57 and is Withdrawn from the path of movement of said spring-actuated lug by a treadle 58, to which the lower end of the trip-rod is pivoted.

59 denotes a chute leading from a hopper 60 and connected to the die-body to deliver the blanks to the aperture 20. The blanks enter said aperture through a transverse aperture 61, formed in the rear side of the diebody.

62 denotes conical guide-pins projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the diebody and adapted to engage with guide-apertures 62, formed in the carrier, so that when the carrier is lowered upon the die-bod y it will be prevented from being accidentally turned.

The operation of the parts of the machine hereinbefore described is substantially as follows: It will be assumed that the chute is filled with shells and that one shell 63 is in the aperture 20 of the die-body and that a shank 63' is in the aperture 19 of the diebody. A covering-disk 64, of leather, cloth, or other suitable material, is placed in the aperture over the shell. The treadle is now depressed by the foot of the operator, which permits the spring-actuated lug to shoot into the path of movement of the fixed lugs on the drive-wheel. As the drive-shaft is revolved the operating-rod through its intermediate connections will be drawn downward, lowering with it the head and the carrier. As the head and carrier are moving downwardly the shifter is in the position shown in Fig. 1 and in engagement with one of the notches or recesses in the carrier. The head and carrier continue to move downward until the guide-pins project into the apertures in the carrier and until the carrier rests upon the die-body. When the carrier reaches this point, a further downward movement of the head will bring it into contact with the carrier, and as the operating-rod continues to move downward the three partsnamely, the die-body, the carrier, and the headwill be lowered simultaneously and in unison until the die-body strikes the base or one of the bosses projecting upwardly therefrom. The downward movement of these parts causes the shell and its covering to be forced from their seats or apertures 20 in the die-body by the plunger '7 up into the aperture 25 of the carrier and immediately below the die in said aperture, where the edge of the disk or covering is turned under the edge of the shell. At the instant the die-body, carrier, and head come in contact in their downward movement the shifter swings from left to right and withits lower end occupies a position directly above the notch or. recess at the right. This movement of the shifter is effected by the continued downward movement of the head after it has contacted with the carrier, the transverse pin 48 coming in contact with the spring-arm 46. As above stated the blankiand its covering having been elevated from the aperture 20 in the die-body into the aperture 25 of the carrier the driveshaft continues to rotate, and after it has passed the dead'center the spring 18 elevates the die-body, the carrier, and the head, and the continued rotation of the shaft separates the die-body from the carrier and the carrier from the head. The continued rotation of the shaft swings the shifter from right to left and rotates the carrier a quarter of a revolution, bringing the aperture 28 into alinement with the aperture 20 of the die-body. The aperture 25 has moved from its first position to'a position immediately in front of the operating-rod. A cover-disk is now inserted in the aperture 20, and the operation of the machine is repeated, and the aperture 27 of the carrier is brought into alinement with the aperture 20 of the die-body, and the aperture 25 is brought into alinement with the aperture 8 in the base. As the head, carrier, and diebody move downward with the aperture of the carrier containing the covered shell in alinement with the aperture of the die-body containing the shank the lower end of the die 21 will contact against the boss 9 and will crimp the shank to the shell, leaving the completed button in the aperture 25 of the carrier. The completed button, as above stated, is now in the aperture 25 of the carrier, and as the carrier is shifted a quarter of a revolution this aperture is brought immediately into alinement with an ejector 65, secured to the under side of the head, so that in the depression of said head the ejector will project into the aperture 25 and force the completed button out through the same and permit it to fall into a receptacle conveniently placed to receive it. It is of course understood that upon each stroke of the machine a cover is placed into 4 the aperture 20 over a shell which has been fed into said aperture and that a shank is placed into the other aperture of said die-body, so that after the carrier has made a complete revolution it will discharge a complete button at each quarter of a revolution it makes. When it is desired to stop the rotation of the shaft, the operator removes his foot from the treadle and allows the trip-lever to be shot upward by its spring, with its tri -head in the path of movement of the hooked end of the springactuated lug. As the clutch member or disk rotates the hooked end of the lug will engage the inclined head of the trip-lever,thns drawing said lug laterally outward and removing its inner end'from engagement with the fixed lug carried by the spokes of the drive or band wheel.

That the shell-chute may be properly supplied With shells and said shells he delivered to the aperture 20 in proper position to be coveredthat is, with their con vex sides up I provide a novel form of hopper, which I will now proceed to describe. The hopper is fixed to a shaft 67, journaled in bearings 68 at the upper end of a standard 69, supported upon the table-top or shelf. The shaft 67 is provided with a sheave 70, around which passes a belt or cord 71, which also engages a sheave 72, carried by the crank shaft. Guide-pulleys 7 3 are seen red to the back edge of the table or bench to prevent the belt or cord from rubbing against said table. The hopper preferably consists of two shells 74 and 75, each of which is provided on its inner edges with inwardly-projecting annular fianges 76 and 77 and outwardly-projecting annular flanges 78 and 79. Both of these flanges are separated by studs 80, formed integral with one flange and projecting into contact with the contiguous fiange. The in wardly-projecting annular flanges 76 and 77 prevent the lodgment of numerous buttonshells over the annular slot formed by the spac ing apart of the hopper-shelves, thereby enabling said shells to more readily pass out of the hopper. The walls of the aperture 81, formed by the studs 80 and the contiguous faces of the flanges 76 and 77, correspond to the profile of the button-shell. This prevents the shell passing through the apertures 81 unless said shells are in such position as to be discharged from the chute into the aperture 20 of the die-body with its convex portion uppermost.

82 denotes a ring or band which surrounds the annular slot formed in the flanges of the hopper-shelves and is supported by arms 83, projecting from the standard 69. At a point in its periphery, preferably at the lowest point, the shell is formed with a throat with which the apertures 81 of the shell-hopper are adapted to be brought successively into register to discharge the button-shells. This throat has a longitudinal slot in its base,which is covered by a shell-check 84, which prefer ably consists of a spring-plate, the upper end of which is fixed to the upper end of the throat and the lower end of which is provided with a head 85, which is curved outwardly, as shown in Fig. 13.

When the shell-chute, which is supported to slide in a bracket 86, secured to the standard 69, is in its elevated position, its upper end forces the check outward and isin alinement with the lower end of the chute to receive the button-shells discharged therefrom and to conduct them to the aperture 20 in the die-body. When the shell-chute lowers in the downward movement of the die-body to which it is attached, the upper end of said chute is withdrawn from engagement with the check, which springs into the slot in said throat and prevents the discharge of the button-shells.

It is of course understood that while the drive-shaft is being rotated the movement of said shaft is imparted to the hopper to cause its rotation, and as the hopper rotates the button-shells which are placed within said hopper find their seats in the apertures 81, and when each aperture is brought into register with the throat the button-shell drops into said throat and from thence is delivered to the chute. The hopper, at some convenient point, is provided with an opening 87, covered by a plate or door 88.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of my improved button-machine will be read ily apparent without requiring an extended explanation. It will be seen that the device is simple of construction, that said construction permits of its manufacture at small cost, and that it is exceedingly well adapted for the purpose for which it is designed.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus fully described .my invention, what'is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a button-machine, the combination of a rotatable carrier having a plurality of openings therein, dies located in said openings and having a limited movement therein, a diebody having openings, a fixed plunger adapted to cooperate with one of said openings and with one of the openings in the carrier, a die located in the other opening of the die-body and having a limited movement therein to cooperate with one of the openings in the carrier, a verticallymovable plunger adapted to aline with the alined dies of the carrier and die-body, and an ejector moving with said plunger and adapted to eject the completed button from one of the openings in the carrier, substantially as set forth.

2. In a button-machine, the combination of a rotatable carrier having a plurality of openings therein,.dies located in said openings, a die-body having openings, a fixed plunger adapted to cooperate with one of said openings and one of the openings in the carrier, a die located in the other opening of the diebody and adapted to cooperate with one of the openings in the carrier,-and means for automatically shifting the carrier predetermined distances at regular intervals, substantially as set forth.

' In a button-machine, the combination of the reciprocatory operating-rod, a die-body loosely mounted thereon to have a sliding engagement therewith, a carrier loosely mounted on said rod and having a sliding engagement therewith, a head fixed to the upper end of said rod, a carrier-shifter, a pivoted lever by which the carrier-shifter is shifted, and means for imparting to the shifter-lever a rocking movement by the movement of the operating-rod, whereby the carrier is caused to rotate step by step at regular intervals, substantially as set forth.

4. In a button-machine, the combination of the reciprocatory operating-rod, a die-body loosely mounted thereon to have a sliding engagement therewith, a carrier loosely mounted on said rod and having a sliding engagement therewith, a head fixed to the upper end of said rod,.a carrier-shifter, a pivoted lever by which the carriershifter is shifted, and means for imparting to the shifter-lever a rocking movement by the movement of the operating-rod, whereby the carrier is caused to rotate step by step at regular intervals, said means comprising pins or studs projecting from said head and arms connected to the shifter-lever and projecting in the path of movement of the pins or studs, substantially as set forth.

In a button-machine, the combination of the reciprocatory operating-rod, a die-body loosely mounted thereon to have a sliding engagement therewith, a carrier loosely mounted on said rod and having a sliding engagement therewith, a head fixed to the upper end of said rod, a carrier-shifter, a pivoted lever by which the carrier-shifter is shifted, and means for imparting to the shifter-lever a rocking movement by the movement of the operating-rod, whereby the carrier is caused to rotate step by step at regular intervals, said means consisting of pins or studs connected to said head and spring-arms projecting in opposite directions and connected to said shifter-lever and projecting within the path of movement of the said pins or studs, substantially as set forth.

6. Ina button-machine, the combination of the base, standards projecting upwardly therefrom, a cross-piece connected to the upper end of the standards and provided with stop lugs, a reciprocatory rod projecting through the base, a die-body loosely mounted upon said rod, a carrier loosely mounted upon said rod and provided with recesses or notches in its edge, a head fixed to the upper end of said rod, ashifter pivoted to said crosspiece and being limited in its movement by said stop-lugs and adapted to engage the notches or recesses in the edge of the carrier, and a shifter-lever connected to said shifter and adapted to rock said shifter back and forth to rotate in one direction, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a button-assembling mechanism, of a shell-chute carried by said mechanism and movable therewith to convey a shell in proper position to be covered, a movable shell hopper having a dischargeopening adapted to register with and lead a shell to the chute, and means actuated by the movement of the chute to control the supply of shells from said hopper to said chute, substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a button-assembling mechanism, of a shell-chute carried by said mechanism and movable therewith to convey a shell in proper position to be covered, a rotary shell-hopper having a discharge-opening adapted to register with and lead a shell to the chute, and means actuated by the movement of the chute to control the supply of shells from said hopper to said chute, substantially as set forth.

9. In a button-machine, the combination of the base, a reciprocatory operating-rod, a die-body loosely mounted upon said rod to slide thereon, a spring confined between the base and said die-body, an adjustable stop for limiting the upward movement of the diebody under stress of the spring, a carrier loosely mounted to slide and rotate with respect to said rod, and a head secured to the upper end of said rod, substantially as set forth.

10. In a button-machine, the combination of a rotatable carrier having a plurality of openings therein, dies located in said openings and havinga limited movement therein, a die-body having openings, a fixed plunger adapted to cooperate with one of said openings and with one of the openings in the carrier, a die located in the other opening of the die-body and having a limited movement therein and adapted to cooperate with one of the openings in the carrier, and a vertically-movable and vertically-adjustable rod adapted to aline with the alined dies of the carrier and die-body, substantially as set forth.

11. In a button-machine, the combination of the base, a reciprocatory rod, a head, a carrier and a die-body adapted to be actuated by said rod, a drive-shaft, connection between the reciprocatory rod for converting the movement of the drive-shaft into a reciprocatory movement and imparting said reciprocatory movement to the operating-rod, and a clutch mechanism for disconnecting the drive-shaft from its source of power, substantially as set forth.

12. In a button-machine, the combination with the reciprocatory operatingrod, of a drive-sh aft provided with a crank, a link connecting the reciprocatory rod with the crank, a drive-wheel provided with fixed lugs which are mounted upon said shaft, a clutch member fixed to said shaft provided with a springactuated lug adapted normally to rotate within the path of movement of a fixed lug, and a trip-rod adapted to project into the path of movement of the spring-actuated lug to withdraw it and hold it from the path of movement of the spring-actuated lug, substantially as set forth.

13. In a machine of'the character described, the combination, with a button-assembling mechanism, of a shell-chute carried by said mechanism and movable therewith to convey a shell in proper position to be covered, a rotary shell-hopper having button-discharge openings adapted to be brought successively in register with the entrance end of said chute, a fixed band surrounding said hopper and covering said openings and provided with a throat in alinement with the entrance end of said chute and with which the dischargeopenings are adapted to successively register, and meansfor closing the said throat to prevent the discharge of shells therefrom when the chute is moved away from the throat, substantially as set forth.

14;. In a button-machine, the combination with a shell-chute to convey a shell to the machine, of a hopper having an opening, the walls of which conform to the profile of the button-shell when said shell is in a certain position, whereby the shell may pass through said opening into the chute when it is in the proper position to be delivered to the button- CORNELIUS WEYGANDT GARIS.

Witnesses:

PENNELL C. EVANS, H. T. BUOKLEY.

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