Improvements in Apparatus for Use in the Manufacture of Buttons.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 15th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 5th May, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Use in the Manufacture of Buttons.
I, JOSEPH LECOMTE, of 66, Rue d'Angouleme, Paris, in the Republic of France
Manufacturer of Buttons, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
s follows:-
This invention relates to a machine for cutting out cloth covering for buttons
and generally for manufacturing buttons.
My invention will be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings of which the following is a description.
Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on the line A B of Figure 2 of the
complete machine.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line C D of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a detail view of the cutting tool.
Figure 4 shows the final stage in the manufacture of buttons.
Figure 5 shows the second and
Figure 6 shows the third stage.
Figure 7 shows the clamping-on or fastening together of the parts of a
button.
Figure 8 shows the device for ejecting the finished button from the matrix.
Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on the line E F of Figure 10, and
Figure 10 is a plan of a modified arrangement of centring device.
In all the figures the same reference letters are used to denote the corre
sponding parts.
In the drawings I have shown, by way of an example, a hand machine with
double swing-arm the stem of which is fitted with a punch secured in
position by a screw Figure 5.
The stem a terminates in a disc & Figures 1 and 3 adapted to press upon the
cutting tool or hollow punch e (Figure 3) by operating the fly-lever or handle a
and so cut the cloth for the like.
The fabric which it is desired to cut is placed upon a support or block g.
The disc of cloth f, for use in the manufacture of buttons, is placed in a
matrix Figure 4 and it is held by a washer or centring disc i centrally upon
which is placed the upper plate k.
The matrix is arranged centrally with the punch 6 by adjusting it by means
of a
screw Figure 2 acting in conjunction with the piece m with guide
pins n the latter being adjusted by the screw o.
The adjustment of the matrix may also be effected by the contrivance shown
at Figures 9 and 10. This is in form of claw-chucks p moving in slots in the
stationary plate q. A convenient construction is to provide the chucks with
studs which move in curved slots s formed in a rotary disc which latter may
After having placed the matrix on the plate 7 the
be operated by a handle w.
handle u swung round so as to move the chucks towards the centre and so
grip the matrix between them and hold it firmly in position by setting the nose
of the lever against the edge of the stationary plate q.

page_text: The fabric and the disc being thus placed in position see Figure 4, the
handle is operated so as to lower the punch 6 which thereby causes the fabric
and disc to descend into the hollow of the matrix as shown at Figure 5. Or
if desired the fabric may be pushed into the matrix by any convenient means,
such as a rod, without requiring the punch.
The tool for clamping or fastening the parts is now inserted in the matrix
after previously providing it with the pad forming the back of the button.
This tool consists of a sleeve y which has for object to rebate the edges of the
fabric inwardly over the disc as shown at Figure 6.
In the interior of this sleeve is disposed the real clamping tool = provided
with a cork packing ring 1 so as to obtain a smooth or soft friction and prevent
the tool from moving downwards at the moment of introducing the sleeve into
the matrix by holding it by its milled flange 2.
By now rotating the handle the punch at the end of the stem a presses upon
the clamping tool and thereby secures the back portion a and finishes the
button as shown at Figure 7.
The finished button is ejected by operating the lever 3 the movable stud 5 of
which raises and presses against the plate 5 loosely inserted in the matrix and
so carries the button to the top of the matrix as shown at Figure 8.
These are broadly the improvements which I have devised in connection with
machines for use in the manufacturing buttons.
These improvements comprise more particularly:
1. The manner of adjusting the matrix.
2. The manner of centring the parts of the button.
3. The arrangement of cork packing in connection with the clamping tool.
4. The arrangement of a flange or shoulder for holding the sleeve without
displacing the tool proper.
5. The manner of ejecting the button from the mould or matrix.
Obviously the form, sizes, and details, accessories and materials employed in
the construction of my apparatus may be varied without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
Dated this 30th day of June 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Use in the Manufacture of Buttons.
I, JOSEPH LECOMTE, of 66, Rue d'Angouleme, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Manufacturer of Buttons, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a machine for cutting out cloth covering for buttons
and generally for manufacturing buttons.
My invention will be clearly understood by reference to the drawings accom-
panying my Provisional Specification of which the following is a description.
Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on the line A B of Figure 2 of the
complete machine.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line C D of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a detail view of the cutting tool.
Figure 4 shows the final stage in the manufacture of buttons.

page_text: 0
50
55
FiguresOWS
Figure shows the clamping-on or fastening together of the parts
button.
Figure 8 shows the device for ejecting the finished button from the matrix.
Figure 9 is a vertical section taken ou the line E F of Figure 10, and
Figure 10 is a plan of a modified arrangement of centring device.
In all the figures the same reference letters are used to denote the corre-
sponding parts.
In the drawings I have shown, by way of an example, a hand machine with
double swing-arm the stem a of which is fitted with a punch b secured in
position by a screw c Figure 5.
The stem a terminates in a disc d Figures L and 3 adapted to press upon the
cutting tool or hollow punch e (Figure 3) by operating the fly-lever or handle r
and so cut the cloth for the like.
The fabric which it is desired to cut is placed upon a support or block g.
The disc. of cloth f, for use in the manufacture of buttons, is placed in a
matrix Figure 4 and it is held by a washer or centring disc i centrally upon
which is placed upon the upper plate k.
The matrix his arranged centrally with the punch 6 by adjusting it by means
of a screw Figure 2 acting in conjunction with the piece m with guide
pins n the latter being adjusted by the screw o.
The adjustment of the matrix may also be effected by the contrivance shown
at Figures 9 and 10. This is in form of claw-chucks. moving in slots in the
stationary plate q. A convenient construction is to provide the chucks with
studs which move in curved slots & formed in a rotary disc t which latter may
be operated by a handle u. After having placed the matrix on the plate g the
handle u is swung around so as to move the chucks towards the centre and so
grip the matrix between them and hold it firmly in position by setting the nose
of the lever against the edge of the stationary plate q.
The fabric and the disc & being thus placed in position see Figure 4, the
handle is operated so as to lower the punch which thereby causes the fabric
and disc to descend into the hollow of the matrix as shown at Figure 5. Or
if desired the fabric may be pushed into the matrix by any convenient means,
such as a rod, without requiring the punch.
The tool for clamping or fastening the parts is now inserted in the matrix
after previously providing it with the pad forming the back of the button.
This tool consists of a sleeve y which has for object to rebate the edges of the
fabric inwardly over the disc as shown at Figure 6.
In the interior of this sleeve is disposed the real clamping tool = provided
with a cork packing ring 1 so as to obtain a smooth or soft friction and prevent
the tool from moving downwards at the moment of introducing the sleeve
the matrix by holding it by its milled flange 2.
y
into
By now rotating the handle the punch at the end of the stem a presses upon
the clamping tool z and thereby secures the back portion and finishes the
button as shown at Figure 7.
The finished button is ejected by operating the lever 3 the movable stud 5 of
which raises and presses against the plate 5 loosely inserted in the matrix and
so carries the button to the top of the matrix as shown at Figure S.
These are broadly the improvements which I have devised in connection with
machines for use in manufacturing buttons.
These improvements comprise more particularly:
1. The manner of adjusting the matrix.
2. The manner of centring the parts of the button.
3. The arrangement of cork packing in connection with the clamping tool.
4. The arrangement of a flange or shoulder for holding the sleeve without
displacing the tool proper.

page_text: 5. The manner of ejecting the button from the mould or matrix.
Obviously the form, sizes, and details, accessories and materials employed in
the construction of my apparatus may be varied without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a machine for manufacturing buttons, the manner of adjusting the
matrix by means of screws 7 and o acting in conjunction with the parts m which
is guided by pins n, substantially as described.
2. In a machine for manufacturing buttons in which the adjustment of the
matrix is effected by the means described in Claim 1, the method and means for
ejecting the finished buttons consisting in a lever 3 acting by its pin 4 against
a disc 5, substantially as described.
3. In a machine for manufacturing buttons the method and means for centring,
consisting of a centring disc i for holding the cloth or other covering upon the
matrix and receiving the upper plate or disc of the button, substantially as
described.
4. In a machine for manufacturing buttons, the method of and means for
providing smooth and soft friction for the clamping tool in the sleeve y so as
to prevent the former slipping while placing the latter into the matrix in holding
it by its collar or flange 2, substantially as described.
5. A machine for manufacturing buttons, constructed arranged and operating,
substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying
drawings and for the purpose specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.