US838991A - Button-cleaning machine. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED DEC. 18, 1906.

0. e. HELLER. BUTTON CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.2, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOH (Y/zarla; JfeZZef W/ TNE SSE S:

Wra-

A TTOHNEYS 1n: mm'ms PETERS cm, WASHINGYON, u, c

PATENTED DEG. 18, 1906.

G. G. HELLER. BUTTON CLEANING MACHINE;

APPLIOATION IILED JAN.2,,1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

46 iii J5 J0 WITNESSES.

ATTORNEYS CHARLES G. HELLER, OF

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

-BUTTON-CLEANING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1

Application filed January 2, 1906. $erial No. 294,128.

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES G. HELLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Button-Cleaning Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a very simple, durable, and economic machine for cleaning and polishing buttons, especially collar-buttons, made of a composition material and to so construct the machine that the fins which are formed on the buttons in the mold and which remain thereon when the buttons are removed from the mold will be completely removed from the rims and posts or shanks of the buttons and such surfaces be rendered smooth.

Another purpose of the invention is to construct a machine to which buttons may be readily fed and which will as rapidly clean and discharge the buttons.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the friction-plate for the revolving head of the machine. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken at an angle to the section shown in Fig. 2 and practically on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section taken practically on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an inner face view of one of the post-shavers. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a button to be cleaned, showing the appearance of the button when it leaves the mold; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a button which has been passed through the machine.

A represents a table which is provided. with a central circular opening 10 of desired diameter, and the table is supported by legs 11 or by equivalent means, and at one side of the front of the table, preferably at the left-hand side of the center, a recess 12 is produced in the wall of the opening 10, while to the right of the front central portion of the 1 table a horizontal slot 12 is produced in the upperportion of the table extending nearly through to its bottom surface, as is shown in Fig. 2. At each side of this slot 12 guide bars or plates 13 are-secured to the table, which guide bars or plates extend out beyond the front of the table a predetermined distance, and the space between the guide-bars 13 is just sufficient to receive the shank or post sections of collar-buttons B. When the collar-buttons are placed in the space between the said plates 13, the front faces of their backs have bearing upon the upper faces of the guide-plates 13, as is shown in both Figs. 1 and 2.

A frame C, preferably U-shaped in crosssection, is secured to the under face of the table A by bolts 14 or like devices, and the said frame C is provided with an upper cross-bar 15, as is shown in Fig. 2. The said cross-bar 15 has a bearing 16 formed therein, and the lower member of the said frame is provided with a corresponding bearing 16*. A main shaft 17 is journaled in bearings 16 and 16 and on this shaft, within the frame C, a driving-pulley 18 is secured, and a pinion 19 is fastened to the lower end of the said shaft 17 outside of the frame C. The pinion 19 meshes with a large gear 20, which is likewise outside of the frame 0 and is secured upon the lower end of a driven shaft 21, which shaft is mounted to turn in a bearin 22 on the cross-bar 15 and a bearing 23 at t e bot tom portion\ of the frame C. A pinion 24 is secured to the shaft 21, and this pinion meshes with a large gear 25. The said gear 25 is secured to a tubular shaft 26, which shaft is mounted to turn loosely on the main drive-shaft 17, and the said tubular shaft is likewise mounted to turn in the upper bearing 16 of the frame.

The hub 27 of a disk-carrier D is secured, by means of a set-screw 27 or the like, to the upper portion of the tubular shaft 26, and the said disk-carrier is of such diameter that it can turn in the opening 10 in the table, and when so turning a space intervenes between the wall of the opening 10 and the peripheral surface of the disk-carrier.

As is particularly shown in Fig. 1, the diskcarrier D is provided with an upwardly-ere tending peripheral rib or flange 28, and from this flange spurs 29 are carried horizontally outward, the spurs being an equal distance apart, and the spaces 30 between the spurs constitute pockets for the reception of the of gearing described the main drive-shaft 17 may be rapidly revolved, while the tubular shaft 26 is turned but slowly.

In connection with the table A three or more post-shavers E are employed and one trimmer E, the post-shavers E being adapt- 31 is provided with ed to clean the posts of the buttons as the disk-carrier revolves, while the trimmer E is adapted to remove all fins or projections from the rimsof the buttons. These cleaning devices are arranged in a chain around the opening 10 in the table, the trimmer E being at the right of the guide-plates 13 and the forward shaver E at the left of the opening 12, through which openings the cleaned buttons are adapted to drop into any suitable receptacle.

The post-shavers E are made of metal and v comprise a body 31 and a flange extending back of the body at the top. The said body a conveXed smooth outer face and aconcaved inner face, which inner face 33 is a file-face, the teeth being made more or less coarse, as is shown in Fig. 6, and

when the post-shaver is in position in the table the body 31 of the shaver is fitted in a suitable recess in the wall of the opening 10, while the flange 32 rests upon the upper face of the table. Each shaver, and likewise the trimmer, is preferably provided at each end with a recess 34, and the recessed portions of the'various cleaners receive triangular spacing-blocks 35, as is best shown in Fig. 1.

All of the cleaning devices E and E are adjustable to and from the disk-carrier D to a greater or lesser extent, and to that end a spring 36, preferably a bow-spring, is provided for each cleaning device, and the ends of the springs are made to enter slots in the backs of the devices. Each spring is made to fit into an angular bracket 37, and said brackets are secured to the table A in any roved manner. Each bracket 37 is provided with an adjusting-screw 38, which has bearing against the spring 36, passed through the bracket, and the adjusting-screw 38 of each bracket is engaged by a set-screw 39, passed downward from the top of the bracket, as is best shown in Fig. 4. The 1 buttontrimmer E rests upon a similarly-shaped block 40, fitted in a recess 40 in the table A at the central 0 ening 10, as is shown in Fig. 4, wherein it wi 1 be observed that a plate of suitable length and breadth is provided, the inner face whereof is concaved and is given a file-surface 42 to be engaged by the rim of the back of abutton as it is carried around by the disk-carrier D, and in front of the filesurface 42 of the trimmer a flange 41 is formed upon the upper inner edge of the block 40, upon which that portion of the back being cleaned has bearing, and the inner face of the block is recessed to accommodate the head of the button, while the block 40 is held up to its work by a spring 41', as is best shown in Fig. 4. y

In order that a button having its rim cleaned shall not rise, a guard 43 is provided, curved similarly to the inner face of the trimmer E, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and this guard 43 is adjustably supported above the flange 41 of the block 40 by means of angular arms 44, secured to the guard and ad justably attached to the table A, preferably by means of screws or bolts 45, passed through slots in the said bracket.

The main drive-shaft 17 extends some distance above the table, and the hub 48 of a revolving head F is secured to the upper end of the said shaft by means of a set-screw 49 or the like. In the interest of lightness the body portion 47 of the said head, which is circular, is made quite thin, but the peripheral portion 50 of the head is quite thick, and in the under face of the head at its margin an annular recess 51 is produced.

The revolving head F is of slightly greater diameter than the disk-carrier D, and in the thick portion 50 of the said head adjacent to its periphery an annular chamber 52 is made, extending from the recess 51 nearly to the. upper face of the head, as is shown in Fig. 4. A rubber band 53 is fitted in this chamber, which band extends out at the bottom of the chamber a sufficient distance to have bearing upon the backs of the buttons in the diskcarrier, as is also shown in Fig. 4, preventing the buttons from working up while being operated upon, yet permitting the buttons to turn in their pockets. The band 53 may be placed under more or less tension through adjusting-screws 54, located in the head and having bearing upon a hard ring 55, which in its turn has bearing upon the upper edge of the soft band 53. A circular friction-plate 56 is attached to the under face of the head by means of screws 57 or the like, which plate is of less diameter than the diameter of the head, but of sufficient diameter to eX- tend partly under the soft band, 53, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The friction-plate 56 is more or less beveled u on its upper face at its periphery, and said eveled surface is roughened, as shown at 58 in Fig. 3.

A cleaning-plate 46 is secured to the table A to the left of the guardlate 13, the inner end 46 of which enters fhe space between the disk-carrier D and the soft band 53 of the revolving head F for the purpose of keeping said space free from partlcles removed from the buttons. When the buttons B are laced head down in the pockets 30 of the -carrier D, the front face of their back members will rest at their bottom portions upon the roughened surface 58 of the friction-disk 56, being so held by the pressure of the band 53. Thus as the disk-carrier D turns slowly and the head F is rapidly revolved the said head through its frictional engagement with the buttons will cause said buttons to constantly turn during the entire period they are held by the disk-carrier D.

In the complete operation of the machine the buttons are fed between the guideways i0 and are automatically picked up by the disk-carrier D, and as the carrier revolves with a button the rim of the button is brought in engagement with the file-face of the trimmer E and that portion of the button is thoroughly cleaned from all fins or projections that may be formed thereon. As the carrier continues to revolve the shanks or posts of the revolving buttons will be carried in engagemnt with the various shavers E until when the forward end of the last shaver is reached the shank or post of the button will have been completely cleaned, as shown in Fig. 8, the button having been placed in the machine in the condition shown in Fig. 7 and when the cleaned button reaches the opening 12 in the table the discharge-plate 46 will remove the button from its pocket and it will drop into any receptacle placed to receive it.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a machine for cleaning buttons, a revolving-carrier having pockets for the buttons, a head mounted to revolve above the said carrier and arranged for frictional engagement with the buttons to turn the same in their bearings, and means for rotating the head at a higher rate of speed than that of the carrier.

2. In a machine for cleaning buttons, a revoluble carrier provided with a series of pockets, each adapted to receive a button, a head mounted to revolve above the said carrier, having a member arranged for frictional engagement with the buttons to turn the same in their pockets, cleaning devices 10- cated around the peripheral portion'of the said carrier, one following the other and some disposed for engagement with the rims of the buttons and others for engagement with the posts of the buttons, and a twospeed driving mechanism whereby to impart a slow movement to the carrier and a rapid movement to the head.

3. In a machine for cleaning buttons, a carrier mounted to revolve, provided with marginal pockets for the reception ofbuttons a head mounted to revolve above the carrier, the said head being provided with a roughened surface for engagement with the under face of the back of the buttons and a cushioned face for engagement with the upper surface of the back of the buttons when in said carrier, a button-trimmer, and a series of shavers located in a chain around the marginal portion of the carrier in consecutive order, the inner faces of each of said parts being concaved and provided with a file-surface, and means for simultaneously driving the head and the carrier, imparting a rapid movement to the head and a slow movement to the carrier.

4. In a machine for cleaning buttons, a table having an opening therein, a disk-carrier mounted to turn in the opening of the table, said carrier being provided with series of marginal pockets, each pocket being adapted to loosely receive a button, a head mounted to revolve above the said table, which head is provided with a roughened lower marginal section for engagement with the front faces of the back members of the buttons, and an adjustable elastic band arranged for engagement with the back faces of the back members of said buttons, a trimmer, a series of shavers arranged in chainlike order around said opening, each of the said parts having a concaved inner face pro vided with a file-surface, tension devices for the trimmer and the shavers, and means for simultaneously turning the carrier and the head in the same direction but at different rates of speed.

In'testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificationin the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES G. HELLER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. B. DUNCAN, HOWARD VAN HISE.

Images