WO1979000777A1

WO1979000777A1 - Method to fasten elements as buttons to a textile material and an apparatus for carrying out the method

Info

Publication number: WO1979000777A1
Application number: PCT/SE1979/000055
Authority: WO
Inventors: B Petersson
Original assignee: Petersson New Prod Bengt
Priority date: 1978-03-16
Filing date: 1979-03-13
Publication date: 1979-10-18
Also published as: SE416612B; JPS55500459A; DE2943217T1; GB2045058B; SE7803025L; DE2943217C2; GB2045058A; JPS6143443B2

Abstract

A method to fasten an element as buttons to a textile material, which element (76) is made of plastic material and comprises a main body (77) intended to be positioned on the one side of the textile material (79) and a projection (78) which at least partly shall extend through the textile material and be deformed to a deformation head on the opposite of the textile material relative to the side, where said main portion is positioned. The method is characterized by the deformation head being formed by means of a tool (60) subjected to oscillations in the ultrasonic range being pressed against the end of the projection (78) in such a way that the material of the same by yielding forms the deformation head, and by the projection in at least the inner portion which occupies a position between the deformation head formed and the main portion of the object being designed with a smoothly developing profile without any abrupt sectional changes and with a rounded passage blending into the main portion. The invention also relates an apparatus for performing a form of he method by application of buttons 76) to pieces of garment and similar, which buttons are arranged in a group of a determined formation, the piece of garment being provided with button openings, as for example button holes (81) in a corresponding formation, together with which button holes the buttons are buttoned up when the method is carried out in the apparatus.

Description

Title:

Method to fasten elements as buttons to a textile material and an apparatus for carrying out the method

Technical field:

The present invention relates to a method to fasten elements as buttons to a textile material, which element is made of plastic mate¬ rial and comprises a main body intended to be positioned on the one side of the textile material and a projection, which at least partly shall extend through the textile material and be deformed to a defor¬ mation head on the opposite side of the textile material relative to the side, where the main portion is positioned. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Background:

The conventional method to fasten elements as for example but- ^" tons, hooks, eyes and similar to cloth or possibly plastic foil by se¬ wing has many obvious drawbacks . Thus, the sewing operation is comparatively complicated and requires in modern serial manufacturing production almost unacceptably long working moment. Also when se¬ wing by hand, the fastening of buttons is a tedious and time con¬ suming moment. A lot of attempts have also been made in order to find out other ways to fasten buttons and similar elements than by a sewing operation . Accordingly, it is known to make the button or the other element in question in two parts , which are joined by means of a ste extending through the cloth . A button of this kind is evi¬ dent from for example the U. S . patent No. 3,360,835.

However, in connection with buttons of this kind it is shown that it is difficult to obtain a rational and simple working process because of the difficulties to position the two parts of the button in the right position relative to each other on the two sides of the cloth . The means holding the two parts together also results in a drawback resulting in an expensive manufacturing cost and a confinement with respect to size and design. Buttons and objects of this known type have therefore only got a limited application in the garment industry and only in connection with heavy articles of garments such as work clothes . In order to obtain a simpler and smaller button, it has as an alternative been suggested to design a button of plastic material pro¬ vided with a stem, which is made to perforate the cloth and thereaf¬ ter is deformed to a head. See for example the Swiss patent specif i- cation No. 411 427 or the British patent specification No. 1 229 119. As a method for deformation of the stem, deformation by means of heat and mechanical pressure respectively has been suggested. How¬ ever, when resorting to these methods of deformation, certain diffi¬ culties arise. Thus, in connection with deformation by heat there is a risk of overheating and consequently melting or transformation of the plastic material, so that ruptures will result. When plastics melt there is moreover the risk that it will adhere to the deformation tool, and the head, which was supposed to be deformed, would result in¬ complete. A mechanical deformation can lead to the plastics being crushed so that the rivet head wul be incomplete. It is also known that the "memory" of the plastics can lead to that the plastics part at least partially reverts to its original shape after some time. Most articles of garment are provided with a number of buttons, which are arranged in a determined formation, by way of example in connection with shirts, in a long row, and are intended to be but¬ toned up with a portion of the garment piece provided with button holes positioned in a corresponding formation. In this connection the expression button holes does not comprise slits made in the cloth material only, but also for example eyes or loops protruding at a border, which sometimes are used.

Such a buttoning arrangement because of the work involved represents a considerable part of the price of the garment piece. The required work in fact in addition to the button holes includes the fastening of the buttons in determined positions in a determined formation and the buttoning up of the garment piece, as, because of several reasons, articles of garment usually are delivered in but¬ toned up condition .

Technical problem: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method by means of which a button or similar, which can be designed as a sing¬ le unit, can be fastened to a cloth or a foil after having been broug

_OMPI in contact with one side thereof, with a projection . or a stem, which is deformed and which method does not exhibit the drawbacks men¬ tioned in connection with the known methods described.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for the fastening of buttons to pieces of garment in groups in a de¬ termined formation and in such a manner that the buttons will occu¬ py a buttoned up position a ter the fastening procedure without any special buttoning up need be made after the fastening operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a button or cor- responding element, which is of a design well fitted to its purpose in order to be used in connection with the method according to the invention .

The solution : The objects of the invention are obtained by carrying out the method in that way that the forming of the deformation head is made by means of a tool subjected to oscillations in the ultrasonic range, pressed against the end of the projection of the button in such a way that the material of the same by yielding action forms the defor- mation head, and by the projection in at least the inner portion, which occupies a position between the deformation head formed and the main portion of the object being provided with a smoothly de¬ veloping profile without any abrupt sectional changes and with a rounded passage blending into the main portion. According to a certain form of the invention the buttons are fastened to a piece of garment in the formation, in which they are intended to be at the finished piece of garment and in that way that the piece of garment will be buttoned up when the process is carried through . Thereby the apparatus for carrying out of said form of the me¬ thod comprises a holding device for the buttons in the intended for¬ mation, a device for stretching of the portion of the piece of garment, in which button openings are located and arranged to hold down the portion of the piece of garment provided with the button openings above the projections of the buttons in such a position that the pro¬ jections extend through the button openings , a device for stretching of the portion of the piece of garment, where the buttons shall be fastened, a device which presses the stretched portion of the piece of garment, where the buttons shall be positioned against the projec tions of the buttons extending through the button openings, so that the projections penetrate said portion of the piece of garment, and a device with one or several bodies which are coupled to a power means arranged to transform oscillations to the buttons in the ultra¬ sonic range, which bodies are arranged to be pressed against the projections, so that these are provided with widened heads provided to attach the buttons .

Brief description of drawings:

In the accompanying drawings the method will be obvious by showing the fastening of buttons, with the buttons shown in three different embodiments . In addition the means for carrying out the method is shown in one embodiment.

Thereby in the figures a button is shown in its original form and in attached form and also an apparatus ^"for the attachment of buttons, thus the means for the performance of the method is shown. Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a button according to a first embodiment, Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a button according to a second embodiment, Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a button according to a third example of embodiment, and Fig. 4 shows the same button in front view. The buttons illustrated in Figs . 1 - 4 are in their original condition unattached, Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the button according to the first embodiment in Fig. 1 in fastened condition, and Fig. 6 is a view of the same. Fig. 7 shows the button according to the first example of embodiment also in fas¬ tened condition, a variant of the method having been used. Fig. 8 is a front view of the apparatus, and Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the same . Fig. 10 is a view of a partial cross-section of a detail of the apparatus in a first variant, and Fig. 11 shows a secon variant of the same detail. Fig. 12 shows a portion of the apparatus in perspective view, and Fig. 13 shows another portion.

Best mode of carrying out the invention:

As deformation means in connection with the present invention ultrasonic treatment is proposed. Ultrasonics have previously been used in order to join together details of plastics material. By the material being exposed to the ultrasonic oscillations a welding together of the surfaces of the material to each other is obtained. However, it is shown that a deformation, thus a materials flow in order to make it acquire another shape, can be provided by pressing a vibrating tool against a plastics body. This method does not show the risks mentioned of melting and sticking. On the other hand, if the method is not carried out in the correct manner, there is a risk of the mate¬ rial being transformed in such a way that it exhibits cracks. However, if the ultrasonic treatment is carried out correctly, it yields an ex¬ cellent result with good formation of the material without any risk that it will revert to its original shape.

The method substantially means that the button or any other suitable element is provided with a pointed extension or stem which is partly threaded through the textile material, whereafter the por¬ tion penetrating through the same is deformed. This will be made by pressing the tool against the point of the penetrating part at the same time as the main portion of the button or the other element is subjected to a counter-pressure from a comparatively great surface adapted to the shape of the button . The tool is made of steel or other hard material and has its end shaped according to the desired shape of the deformation head. During the pressure operation the tool is subjected to ultrasonic oscillations of the frequency of 18000 - 30000 Hertz. The surface, against which the main portion of the button or the element is resting must have said shape providing a great contact surface, as otherwise there will be a risk that the main portion is deformed by the ultrasonic oscillations . Said surface for the counter- pressure must be made of a material, which will not be deformed or adhering to the object. Also in this connection a metallic material is preferable.

It has turned out that the shape of the button and the object respectively is of great importance for the rational and correct app¬ lication of the method. In this connection the shape of the stem is of essential importance. Thus, it is shown that the following requisites as to the shape of the stem in connection with the invention should be fulfilled. 1. The stem shall be provided with a point, so that it can perforate the textile material.

2. The stem should contain sufficient material in its outer portion intended to be deformed in order to shape a suffi- ciently large deformation head.

3. The stem shall exhibit such an increasing dimension and if necessary cutting edges, so that a penetration of the textile material by means of the stem to a desired depth of penetration results in a tearing off of threads of the textile material. This is not entirely necessary, especially not in connection with soft fluffy materials, but it can quite considerably improve the holding property in connec¬ tion with non-elastic thin fabrics as for example fabrics for shirts. 4. The stem shall not exhibit any abrupt changes of dimen¬ sions, at least not with regard to the inner portion, which is not going to be deformed but is intended to shape the portion which will hold the button on a distance from the cloth. Thus , the stem has to be made with a smooth conne tion to the main body of the object and must not exhibit cuts or relieves . As regards the last mentioned point it is a known fact that a button and usually not either any other similar element should be fastened tight to the textile material, but a "neck" has to be provi- ded in order to give a certain movability of the object and provide a possibility to button up the buttons. A material, in which the but¬ ton hole is made, shall have space to occupy a position between the button and the material, to which the button is fastened. It is ob¬ vious to provide a spacer means against the textile material in order to secure an adjusted -depth of penetration of the stem. Thereby it will be obvious to provide^' a shoulder on the stem or a flange projec¬ ting from the same. The button according to the previously mentione British patent specification has a stem provided with a groove, in which the textile material shall penetrate. Thus the groove at its outside shows a widening conical section and a shoulder in the inwar direction towards the main part of the button. It is the purpose of the arrangement that the textile material shall extend into the groov after it has passed the conical portion. _OMPI However, in connection with the invention it is shown that such abrupt changes in the sections of the stem can give rise to the risk of breakage. Thus, a shoulder as well as a cut will cause risks of cracks, which after some time of use lead to breakage. It is there- 5 fore important to avoid said abrupt changes of section and to find other methods in order to secure a suitable length of the "neck" . Said factors have been taken into consideration in connection with the buttons illustrated in Figs. 1 - 4. Thus, a button 1 with a main portion 2 and a stem 3 is illustrated in Fig. 1. The stem 3 ex- 0 hibits a point 4 succeeded by a conically widening section blending into a portion exhibiting a radius 5 of great dimension and constitu¬ ting the main part 2. Thus the stem 3 is completely smooth and does not exhibit any spacer means for application against the cloth. If such a spacer means should be a desired feature, it shall be separa- 5 ted from the stem for example shaped as a collar 6 which is separa¬ ted from the stem 3 and is hinted with dashed and dotted lines in the figure. A button 7 also with a main portion 8 and a stem 9 is ^""""" shown in Fig. 2. The stem exhibits a point 10 and at the connection to the main portion 8 a large radius 11. The stem has a conical shape 0 but differing from the stem 3 it exhibits a passage 12 from a narrow portion 13 to a portion 14 with ^'larger diameter. However, the passage 12 shall not be located inside the position for the textile material after a deformation head will have been formed. This position is hin¬ ted by a dashed and dotted line 15 in Fig. 2. 5 The button 16 illustrated in Figs . 3 and 4 also exhibits a main portion 17 and a stem 18. The stem 18 is provided with a point 19 and at the connection 10 the main portion 17 a large radius 20. The outer portion of the stem 18 is provided with a triangular portion 22 with cutting edges 23 just outside of the space 21, which is hin- 0 ted with dashed and dotted lines and where the textile material shall be positioned after the fastening of the button . Inside of the portion 22 the stem 18 is designed with a conical portion 23 of round cross - section .

The different examples of embodiments of the button shall be 5 made of a plastics, an acetaldehyde resin having proved to be a sui¬ table material. Only buttons have been shown as examples of embodi¬ ment. However, the main portion 2, 8 and 17 respectively can also by way of example be designed as a hook, an eye or a press fastene The required design of the "neck" can then differ from the one pre¬ viously indicated. However, this is of no great significance in the design of the stem. If a "neck" is not at all required, a spacer body like the collar 6 shall of course be omitted.

The method according to the invention comprises the following successive moments: a. Application of the main portion of the button of the object against a tool of the previously mentioned design provided to exert a counter-pressure, b. During the period that the textile material' is firmly held in place moving of the point of the stem towards the tex¬ tile so that the point penetrates the textile until the same is brought to the desired position on the stem (see the lines 15 and 21 in Figs . 2 and 3 respectively) . c. Application of a tool subjected to ultrasonic oscillations against the point of the stem and application of a pressure until because of the pressure and the oscillations a head has been shaped on the side of the material facing away from the main portion. By this arrangement the button or the object is secured to the textile material. The point b is of great interest. Assuming that the material is woven or knitted, its threads will be moved aside when the point penetrates the textile material, so that the stem can penetrate throug the same. However, it has turned out that in connection with non- elastic hard fabrics as by shirt cloth and blouse cloth of cotton and/ or synthetic material the penetration of the tapering stem also results in that certain threads are torn off so that free ends of threads are formed on the side of the material facing the point of the stem . The tearing off of threads can be facilitated and the pressure for the penetration of the material can be reduced if the stem is given cut¬ ting properties as has been shown in Figs . 3 and 4 where the cut¬ ting edges 23 of the portion 22 cause a direct cutting off of certain threads . In connection with said non-yielding materials such a design of the stem is as a rule not necessary, but it can be of advantage in connection with textile materials of a structure which is looser either because of a looser connection between the threads for example obtained by knitting or on account of elastic and/or fluffy threads .

O R E; As a matter of fact the formation of free ends of the threads has turned out to be of great importance for the fastening operation. When using ultrasonics for the deformation, such a flow of the plas¬ tics material takes place that the threads penetrate into the deformed head and are fastened to the plastic material. If the deformation head only should form a body on the surface of the textile material, this body would fairly easily be drawn through the textile material by further widening of the hole, through which the stem is led. The risk of extraction of a button, which is not fastened by sewing, is in fact a principal problem in connection with such buttons . In said British specification of patent one can also observe that measures have been taken in order to pinch the textile material in said groove, whereby one is not confined to rely upon the contact surface of the deformation head only but also obtains a certain fastening by friction. However, also a fastening by friction has turned out to be of scant reliability especially after the piece of garment has been used for some time, which has resulted in the threads round the hole having been worn or displaced due to movements between the button and the material. An additional drawback in connection with buttons with a free deformation head is the absence of something that impedes the neck from being pressed into the material, which can cause dif¬ ficulties in connection with the buttoning up operation . Therefore, one must provide some kind of spacer element, which according to the British specification of patent comprises a shoulder. However, this makes it necessary to dimension the neck with a big cross-sec¬ tion, which produces a not so secure and moreover ugly buttoning, as the cloth round the button hole will wrinkle round the wide neck. The manner described involving the integration of threads of the textile material into the material of the deformation head therefore signifies a great improvement and a solution of a difficult problem in connection with "riveted" buttons .

This type of fastening is especially important in connection with fluffy cloth, which is not at all capable of resisting a penetration of the deformation head. As also a fastening by friction is not very reliable, one has had to abandon the use of buttons not fastened by sewing in connection with such materials . However, the present me¬ thod can be adapted also to this case, for one thing by providing that one or several threads will be cut off by a suitable design of the stem, see by way of examples Figs. 3, 4 or for another thing in connection with the use of the suggested deformation by means of ultrasonics by integrating projecting fibres of fluffy threads into the deformation head.

An important feature in connection with point b is also the for¬ mation of the best longitudinal dimension of the "neck", thus the limited penetration of the stem into the textile material. If this can take place by means of a spacer body, by means of example the col- lar 6 according to Fig. 1 or possibly a separate spacer element, the formation of a suitable length of the "neck" does not present any problems during the fastening operation itself apart from the fact that a loose distance element can cause problems . However, the colla mentioned or a loose part, which widens the neck, is inconvenient when buttoning up the button and must therefore be avoided. How¬ ever, other solutions are at hand. Thus, an angle of the cone well adapted to the widening property of the material in connection with a certain force results in a certain penetration of the stem. When the stem is designed according to Fig. 2 and to some extent, when it is designed according to Fig. 3, a momentaneously increased force of insertion is obtained by the passage from the narrow portion 13 and the triangular portion 22 respectively, which can give a fairly accentuated position 15 and 21 respectively for the textile material. It should be noted that the stem anyhow must penetrate so far that the rapid changes of dimension will not be in the non-deformed por¬ tion. Moreover, factors depending upon the time can be used in ord to form a suitable length of the neck. Thus, a certain time is requi¬ red for the penetration, and if the operation time is adjusted in the correct way a well adapted length of the neck can be obtained. The textile material can further be guided by way of example by means of a holder ring round the button position, on a certain distance from the main portion. Another method signifies that the machine for performing the fastening operation is provided with spacer mean which are introduced between the main portion and the textile mate- rial and remain there during the fastening operation. However, it is important to see to it that these spacer means do not damage the button during the ultrasonic treatment.

CM PI Fig. 5 illustrates a button 25 in fastened condition. The textile material has been indicated 26, a holding-up tool has been indicated 27 and the deformation tool 28. The button 25 is provided with a stem 29, of which a part has been formed into a deformation head 30 by pressure and treatment with ultrasonic oscillations by means of the tool 28. The original appearance of the stem can be according to what is known in Figs^*. 1, 2 and 3. The choice is strongly depen¬ dent upon which type of textile material that is used. Thus, the design according to Fig. 1 with a sharp point and an even flowing contour of the stem is well adapted for hard materials . Fig. 2 shows a design, which is suitable in connection with somewhat looser mate¬ rial. Finally the design according to Fig.3 is suitable for still looser material.

In Fig. 6 a view of the deformation head 30 is shown. Here it is hinted how a number of ends 31 of threads have been integrated into the deformation head 30.

A somewhat different design of the tool, here indicated 32, is shown in Fig. 7. In this case the end surface of the tool has been designed as a recess 33 of toroidal shape with a point 34 in the midd- le. In this design the material can be more easily distributed in side- wise direction. This design is suitable in connection with plastics, which are difficult to bring to yield, or where one desires an espe¬ cially large deformation head. The deformation head gets the shape of the recess 33 of the tool, see at 35 in Fig. 7. By the shape of the tool according to Fig. 7 it is not suitable to let the stem end in a point. The method can however be modified so that if the method is based on the shape according to Fig. 1 the point 4 of the stem, after the penetration of the textile material will be cut off in a tool, which works in the same machine, in which the fastening operation takes place. A cutting surface is thereby obtained, which by way of example is level to the line 36 in Fig. 1. As is easi¬ ly understood it is not suitable to shape, the stem from the beginning with such a steep surface because of the fact that difficulties will then arise in connection with the penetration of the textile material. According to Figs . 8 and 9 the apparatus exhibits a frame 41 with a foot 42. A housing 43 is suspended in the frame, said housing being divided up in a box 44 containing an ultrasonics generator, thus an electric generator producing an alternating voltage withing the ultrasonic range of 18000 - 30000 Hertz, and a covered rack 45 for the mechanical portion of the ultrasonic generator. Said mechani¬ cal portion comprises a number of magnetic devices 46 (partly illustra- ted in Figs . 10, 11) with bodies 47, which are put into vibration within said range of frequency by means of a magnetic device be¬ longing thereto.

To the underside of the rack 45 protruding below the housing 44 five profiled rods 48 have been attached, which appear in all of the figures in view and cross-section . These rods debouch with an open end at the front of the rack 45 and terminate behind the frame 41 in a feeding device 49, which will be described later. A stop plate 50, which can be operated by means of a preferably pneumatic power cylinder 51, can be lowered down in front of the open ends of the rods 48. Two yokes, an inner one 52 and an outer one 53, extend along the front side of the rack 45 and around to its short sides . The two yokes 52 and^" 53 can be displaced in vertical direction by means of power cylinders 54 and 55 respectively. At the lower edge of its lateral pieces the yokes 52 and 53 are provided with grooves. A shaft 57 is journalled in the frame 41 by means of two bearing brackets and supports two arms 58 and 59. These arms at their ex¬ treme ends support a bar 60. The arm 59 is double-sided and at its rear end supports a counterweight 61. Two power cylinders 62 and 63 coupled in series with each other extend between the arm 58 and the foot 42 of the frame 41.

The different parts are arranged in such a manner in between them that a magnetic device coupled to the ultrasonic generator is above each one of the rods 48, so that its body 47 extends inside the rod close to its front end. This is evident from Figs . 10 and 11. The bar 60 is arranged in such a manner that if it is pivoted in direction towards the rods 48 it will be right in front of a space close to the front edge of the rods . Of the two power cylinders 62 and 63 the power cylinder 62 can be adjusted with respect to its stroke, which is determined in a manner, which shall be described later. The cylinder 63 on the other 'hand is arranged to be set for a certain pressure by way of example by being coupled to an adjus¬ table pressure reducing valve. All of the power cylinders are for the rest coupled to an operative system, which can be actuated by means of foot pedals 64 in the foot 42 of the frame.

The interior of the feeding device is shown in Fig. 12. In this figure it is shown how the rod 48 at its rear end exhibits a steplike termination, the long portion exhibiting a recess 65. Right in front of the rod an arc shaped feeding element 67 is pivotably journalled on a shaft 66, one end of said feeding element exhibiting a steplike recess 68 with a space, which is open in direction to the end of the feeding element and is communicating with the periphery of the fee- ding element by means of an opening 69. The feeding element 67 is provided to pivot backwards and forwards slightly more than 180° between a position immediately close to the rod 48 and a position with the recess 68 pointing in downwards direction. The feeding ele¬ ment 67 moves in a cylindric drum. There is one feeding element 67 for each rod 48, and the feeding elements can be axially displaced in order to form the necessary space.

In Fig. 13 it is illustrated more in detail how the grooves in the yokes 52 and 53 are arranged. The inner yoke 52 thus exhibits a groove 70 pointing in backwards direction . The outer yoke 53 ex- liibits two grooves , a wide one 71 pointing in backwards direction, within which groove the groove 70 has its range of movement, and a narrow groove 72 pointing in forwards direction. In the bottom position of the yokes 52 and 53 the groove 70 is right below the low edge of the rack 45, and the groove 71 is in the same relative posi- tion as is shown in Fig. 13. When the yokes are pulled up by means of the power cylinders 54 and 55, the grooves 70 and 72 are some¬ what above the lower edge of the rack 45.

According to Fig. 10 the bar 60 of a first variant can be solid. According to Fig. 11 a second variant can exhibit pins 73 and one additional rod 74 with holes 75, through which the pins 73 can ex¬ tend. The rod 74 by means of a power cylinder, not shown, can be displaced between two positions, in which the bar lies directly against the bar 60 with the pins 73 extending through the holes 75, and another position outside of the pins 73, as is shown in Fig. 11. Industrial applicability:

When the apparatus is used, it is the intention that buttons 76 with a head 77 and a stem 78 shall be fastened with the stem 78 to a piece of garment in a portion 79 of the same. After the fastening, the stem 78 shall extend through a second portion 80 of the piece of garment, so that the head 77 will be on an opposite side of the portion 80 relative to the portion 79. The stem 78 then shall extend through a button hole 81 of the portion 80. In connection with a shirt, a blouse or similar the buttons, thus, with their stems 78 shall be fastened to the under-piece of the front corresponding to the portion 79, while the stems 78 are extended through button holes 81 in the over-piece of the front corresponding to the portion 80, so that the button heads are at the outside of the over-piece. As the fastening takes place at the extreme ends of the respective rods 48, buttons 76, thus , shall be positioned at these ends with their stems

78 extending outwards downwards from the rods 48. The rods are fed from their rear end by means of the feeding element 67. The cylindric drums mentioned, in which the feeding elements 67 move, shall partly be filled with buttons 76, in which button heaps the feeding element is moving backwards and forwards. While the feeding element is performing a number of strokes it will by chance hit such buttons, which are in such position that they have been caught by the recess 68 in the outer end portion of the feeding element and the buttons occupy the position illustrated in Fig. 12. Buttons, which are not in such a position that they can be caught in this manner will be pushed aside, and the feeding element makes an idling stroke. Therefore the feeding elments must move a sufficiently great number of times relative to the consumption of buttons, so that the feed by chance will be sufficiently great in order to keep the rods 48 filled. When the feeding elements 67 are in their upper extreme endposition, and a button is broght along, this button will be blown out of the feeding element and into the rod 48 by means of an air jet hitting the button from the inside, as air is supplied from a nozzle 42, which is placed approximately right in front of the opening 69, when the end portion of the feeding element with the recess 68 is in its upper position. By the inclination of the rod 48 the buttons in the intro¬ duced position will be transported in forwards direction towards the

C PI outer end of the rods. This transportation can be facilitated by means of additional jets of compressed air or by the rails 48 being vibrated.

At the outer ends of the rails the buttons 76 are stopped by the stop plate 50 moved down words in its normal position. In the normal position, thus before a fastening operation is started, also the yokes 52 and 53 are in their lower positions with the groove be¬ low the edge of the rack 45.

When a row of buttons shall be fastened the portion 80, thus the over-piece of garment, on a shirt or a blouse thus the collar portion and the lower portion respectively, is brought with its outer ends into the grooves 70 of the lateral portions of the yoke 52. There¬ after one of the pedals 64 is pressed down, which actuates the power cylinder 54 in such a manner that the yoke 52 will move upwards , and the piece of garment 80 is pinched between the rack and the yoke at the edges of the groove 70. The piece¹ of garment is then held in place and stretched . If it has been introduced in the correct postion the stem 78 and the buttons 76 will penetrate through the button holes 81. Suitably it is checked using the hand before the next step is undertaken. This step consists in the portion 79 of the ^"piece of garment, thus the under-piece is introduced into the groove 72 of the yoke 53 which still is occupying a position below the edge of the rack 45. Thereafter the second pedal 64 is subjected to pres¬ sure, whereby the power cylinder 55 is actuated pulling up the outer yoke 53, so that the portion 79 is locked by the grooves 72. When the fastening operation is taking place, the piece of garment with the portion 79 shall have been brought round the bar 60, so that the piece of garment when the fastened position is finished extends round the same.

Now follows the fastening moment itself . This can be triggered in series by programming means when the power cylinder 15 is actu¬ ated. As a measure of safety it is advisable to have additional opera¬ ting means , preferably in the form a dual-grip releasing mechanism, which has to be operated wiht both hands simultaneously, which eli¬ minates the possibility that these are in such a position that injury by pinching or similar can occur. Irrespective of the manner in which the subsequent operation takes place, it anyhow signifies that the cylinder 62 is activated, which results in the bar 60 being pivoted upwards to bear against the point of the stem of the button 76, so that this point penetrates the portion 79. The next step in the pro¬ gram will now be the starting of the ultrasonics oscillator, which produces oscillations in the bars 77 and a simultaneous activation of the cylinder 63, so that the bar 60 with a certain pressure rests against the points of the stems . This leads to the material of the stem 78, which is made of plastics , preferably an acetaldehyde resin, starts to yield forming a head on the outside of the portion 79, whic in Fig. 11 is pointing downwards . Hereby the button is fastened to the portion 79. When the stem 78 is deformed, the material can reach such a condition that it amalgamates with the textile^" material of the portion 79, compare Fig. 6. In order to prevent that this takes place too far out on the stem, so that this will be too long and the rivet head on the back-side of the material will not be sufficiently large, it may be desirable to press the stem through the portion 79, as was first described. This can take place by means of the bar 74, which before^" starting of the ultrasonics procedure is moved for a distance from the bar 60 and presses the stem 78 through the portion 79, as is evident from Fig. 12. Thereafter the riveting operation of the stem starts by means of the ultrasound.

When all buttons 76 have been fastened, which, thus , takes place in one single working moment in the intended formation, the yokes 52 and 53 are moved downwards , so that the piece of garment will be free, while the stop plate 50 is lifted upwards , so that the ends of the rods 78 are opened up . Thereafter the buttons are ex¬ tracted from the rods and the stop plate 50 is again moved downward in order to catch the next batch of buttons . When the piece of gar¬ ment is removed, the bar 60 shall be lowered, and the now buttoned up piece of garment can be taken off the bar via its free end. These operations , which take place after the fastening operation, are pro¬ grammed to be performed in a suitable sequence.

Thus, the method to fasten the button comprises the following principal moments after the piece of garment has been finished by sewing and the button holes have been made: I Placing the buttons in the intended formation in a holder with said projections extending in outwards direction from the holder; II placing the one portion of the piece of garment, which is provided with the button openings, on the holder in such a manner that the projections of the buttons are extending out through the button openings and with the respective main portions of the buttons placed on the same side of said portion of the piece of garment as they are intended to occupy in a buttoned up piece of garment;

III joining of the projections of the buttons with the portion of the piece of garment, to which the buttons shall be fas- tened with the portion provided with button openings bet¬ ween the main portion of the buttons and said portion, where the buttons are fastened. See the points a-c in the foregoing; and

IV removal of the piece of garment from the apparatus . In the foregoing it has been described how these moments shall be carried out by means of the apparatus . In that connection the principal function of the apparatus has been evident. However, this principal function can also be reached in other ways than the one described. Thus , a great many types of feeding devices for small objects are known, by means of which devices the parts , in this case the buttons , can be brought right in front of a working position in a predetermined position. In a type of the prior art a vibrating chute is utilized, in which the small parts in a random manner are given a forward feed by vibration and thereby meet certain traps , which move aside such parts, which do not occupy the correct pos¬ ture. Such a device can be used instead of the feeding device illu¬ strated in Fig. 12. Also the means for holding the piece of garment in place can be designed in many ways . However, it should prefer¬ ably comprise some kind of pinching means and some kind of stret- ching means . The apparatus can of course be enlarged to permit the fastening of several rows of buttons at the same time, its func¬ tion substantially being the same as has been described.

Claims

Claims:

1. Method to fasten an element as buttons to a textile material, which element (1/7/16/76) is made of plastic material and comprises a main body (2/8/17/77), intended to be positioned on the one side of the textile material (26/79) , and a projection (3/9/18/78), which at least partly shall extend through the textile material and be de¬ formed to a deformation head (30/35) on the opposite side of the textile material relative to the side, where said main portion is posi¬ tioned, CHARACTERIZED BY the forming of the deformation head being made by means of a tool (28/32/60) subjected to oscillations in the ultrasonic range being pressed against the end of the projection (3/9/18/78) in such a way that the material of the same by yielding forms the deformation head (30/35), and by the projection (3/9/18/7 in at least the inner portion, which occupies a position between the deformation head formed and the main portion (2/8/17/77) of the ob¬ ject being designed with a smoothly developing profile without any abrupt sectional changes and with a rounded passage (5/11/20) blen¬ ding into the main portion.

2. Method according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY the projec- tion (9) being provided with an outer portion (13) , which occupies a position outside of said inner portion, which outer portion exhibits a narrower profile than the inner portion and blends into the same with a shoulder (12) .

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, CHARACTERIZED BY loose ends of threads being formed in the hole in connection with the pro¬ jection (3/9/18/78) is pressed through the textile material (26) which ends can be integrated into the deformation head (30/35) .

4. Method according to claim 3, CHARACTERIZED BY the projec¬ tion (3/9/18/78) being provided and adapted in such a manner rela- tive to the existing textile material (26/79) and to the force of inser tion that it is obtained that at least some thread of the material is torn, so that the ends of the thread can be integrated into the de¬ formation head (30/35) .

5. Method according to claim 4, CHARACTERIZED BY the projec- tion (18) exhibiting an outer portion (22) positioned outside of said inner portion (23) , which outer portion exhibits a sharp-cornered cross-section, which forms cutting edges (24) .

^"BU RE T

6. Method according to any one of the claims 1 - 5, especially for application of elements like buttons to pieces of garment and similar, which buttons are arranged on the piece of garment in a group of a determined formation, the piece of garment being provided with but- ton openings as for example button holes (81) in a corresponding formation, which button openings are intended to be buttoned up with the buttons , CHARACTERIZED BY the following moments in suc¬ cession:

- preparation of the piece of garment so that at least the por- tions (79/80) which shall exhibit the buttons (76) and the corresponding button openings (81) are connected with each other;

- preparation of the button openings (81) in the intended for¬ mation; - application of the buttons (76) in the intended formation in a holding means (48) with said projections (78) extending in outwards direction from the holding means ;

- application of the portion (80) of the piece of garment, which is provided with the button openings (81) to the holder (48) in such a manner that the projections (78) of the buttons

(76) extend through the button openings and with the respec¬ tive main portions (77) of the buttons occupying a position on the same side of said portion (80) of the piece of garment, where they are intended to be located, when the piece of garment is buttoned up , and

- connection of the projections (78) of the buttons with the portion of the piece of garment (79) to which the buttons shall be fastened with the portion (80) provided with button openings positioned between the main portion (77) of the buttons and said portion (79) , where the buttons (76) are fastened .

7. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 6 for the fastening of objects like buttons to pieces of garment and similar, which buttons (76) are of the kind, which on the side, which in fastened condition of the button is facing the portion (79) of the piece of garment, to which the buttons are fastened, exhibit a thin projection (78) , by means of which the respective button is fastened to the piece of garment, and which buttons on the piece of garmen are arranged in a group in a determined formation, the piece of ga ment being provided with openings like button holes (81) in a corre ponding formation, which openings are intended to be buttoned u with the buttons or corresponding objects, CHARACTERIZED B said apparatus in combination comprising the following elements :

- a holding device (48) for the buttons in the intended forma tion;

- a device (52) for stretching of the portion (80) of the piec of garment, in which button openings (81) are located an arranged to hold down the portion of the piece of garmen provided with the button openings against the projections (78) of the buttons (76) in such a position that the projec¬ tions extend through the button openings; - a device (53) for stretching of the portion (79) of the piece of garment, where the buttons (76) shall be fastened;

- a device (60) , which presses the stretched portion (79) of the piece of garment, where the buttons (76) shall be posi¬ tioned against the projections of the buttons extending thro the button openings, so that the projections penetrate said portion of the piece of garment, and

- a device (46, 47) with one or several bodies (47) which are coupled to a power means (46) arranged to transform oscilla tions to the buttons in the ultrasonic range, which bodies are arranged to be pressed against the projections (78) , so that these are provided with widened heads provided to atta the buttons (76) .

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, CHARACTERIZED BY the hol¬ ding device (48) for the buttons (76) in the intended formation bein connected with a feeding device (49) for the forwards feed of the buttons to the holding device (48) .

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, CHARACTERIZED BY the hol¬ ding device being formed by a number of profile rods (48) with por tions, which are positioned in said formation and arranged to retai the respective buttons (76) during the fastening operation, and whi rods are arranged for the forwards transportation of the button from the feeding device (49) .

-p U RE ^•L *-PI