Patent GB-190006763-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Button and Staple Setting Machines.
Inventor: THOMPSON WILLIAM PHILLIPS
Filed: 1900-04-10
Granted: 1900-06-02
Abstract: 6763. Thompson, W. P., [McKenney Button Fastening Co.]. April 10. Stapling.-Relates to machines for setting buttons, staples &c. Figs. 2, 7, and 11 show a form adapted to shoe buttons. The buttons and fasteners are contained in hoppers i, j, and are fed therefrom by rotating arms p on an axle o to run-ways m, n respectively, which lead them to the setting-device z. In the case of the button hopper, the rotating arms p consist of two plates, between which the shanks of the buttons rest. Any misplaced button is prevented from being fed to the run-way by a lug having an inclined face which engages it on its passage and returns it to the hopper. The arms p in the fastener hopper consist of single plates. Peripheral grooves 15 are formed in the hoppers, as shown in Fig. 2. The buttons and fasteners are prevented from jambing the run-ways by arms s, t provided with springs u and actuated by cams v, w on the axle o so to knock the buttons &c. on the upper part of the run-ways back into the hoppers. The shaft o is given a step-by-step rotation by means of a pawl on a connecting-rod 37, engaging a ratchet-wheel on the shaft o. The rod 37 is actuated by a disc on a shaft g driven from the main shaft b. A pawl engaging pins 39 on the cam w prevents the shaft from rotating except when the pawl is released by a lug on the rod 37. The buttons at the base of the run-way m are ejected one by one by a sliding piece 9 actuated by a bell-crank lever 11 so that, as the setting-device rises, the bottom button becomes gripped between a spring 7 on the punch carrying the setting-device x and the die z. A space 8 in the die z receives the head of the button. An additional spring may be provided to support the shank of the button. The die z is carried by a punch x sliding vertically in the frame and engaged by the end of a lever 100 actuated by a cam on the shaft b. The end of the lever 100 is connected by springs to the upper part of the punch to allow the lever end to rise higher than the punch, so that a spring which actuates the lever 11 in its forward motion can push the button into place. The lever 11 is pressed back by the downward movement of the lever 100 before the punch is actuated. The fasteners, which are all two-pronged, slide down the run-way n until engaged by a spring 68, which is periodically pressed back by an arm 29 actuated by an arm 33 on the lever 100 and by a spring 32 so as to allow the bottom fastener to fall with one prong on the arm 29. It then rotates through a right-angle and on the withdrawal of the arm 39 falls down guides 31 into the position shown at 20, Fig. 2. A sliding bar, actuated by a link 25 engaged by a cam e on the axle b, then pushes it forward through guides 21 to a seat 18, Fig. 11, where it is gripped by springs arms 26,27, which are pressed downwards and outwards by the descent of the setting-die z, but are afterwards closed up again by a spring 28, Fig. 2. The blades may be grooved to align properly the fastener, which, after passing through the fabric and button, is clinched over. A machine for setting buttons for pants &c. is shown in Figs. 16 and 18 ; the run-way m is fitted with spring catches 93, 99, which are adapted to grip the buttons, and are lifted alternately by means of a three-armed lever 95 actuated by an arm 101 on the lever 100 so as to feed the buttons one by one into a tube 48. At the base of this tube 48 is arranged an oscillating lever 50, Fig. 18, actuated from the shaft b and carrying a plate 74 formed with recesses 75, 76, as shown. The plate 74 is carried by the lever 50 between the lowest button and the upper ones until the lowest button is gripped between a recess 77, where it is held until the motion of the plate carries it under the setting- device. The lower button is properly aligned before being removed by an arm 83 on the lever 50 rotating the tube 48 until a spring fork 85 engages in the holes in the button. The fork 85 is moved to allow the plate 74 to enter by an arm 84 on the lever 50 engaging a bell-crank lever which forces back the fork.