Machines for Turning Buttons and like Artioles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Machines for Turning Buttons and like Artioles.
I, DILMAN BRUBACHER SHANTZ, of Queen Street, in the Town of Berlin, in
the County of Waterloo, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, Manufacturer, 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:-
My invention relates to improvemonts in machines for turning buttons and like
articles patented to me in Great Britain under Numbor 9985 on the 18th May, 1893, and
the object of my present invention is-first-to produce a perfect button from a blank
of roughly shaped vegetable ivory in such a manner that tho loss of material or
blanks in turning tho button will be reduced to a minimum and consequently time
will not bo wasted in useless turning and furthermore to turn the button with a
minimum amount of wear to the tools and secondly-to provide a simple means for
automatically feeding tho button into the chucks and it consists essentially-first-of
two sets of cutter spindles which are journalled upon one frame in juxtaposition and
are designed to co-act with a rotating disc provided with suitable chucks, the one set
of spindles being provided with coarse tools to roughly shape out the blank and the
other set with fine tools to finish it previous to it being bored and secondly-of a
chute which is held in proximity to the coarse tools of the cutter spindles, the chute
being designed to he filled with blanks, such blanks being deposited temporarily
between curved extension fingers at the bottom of the chute from which they are
carried by lateral gripping fingers into the chucks on the rotating disc, such gripping
fingers being operated by peculiar mechanism connected to a co-acting cage and cam
by which one of the cutter spindles is given its longitudinal adjustment as described
in my former patent, the parts being otherwise constructed and arranged in detail as
hereinafter more particularly oxplained.
Fig. 1, is a general perspective view of my machine showing tho central and lower
right hand portion of the view the parts more particularly involved in my invention.
Fig. 2, is a skeleton view showing the disc but with the spindles and upper portion
and frano of the machine removed.
Fig. 3, is a perspective view of a portion of the disc and the chuto and parts
operating on the blank to placo in position in the chucks of the disc.
Fig. 4, is a sectional perspective view of portion of the spindle and spring actuated
block for separating one of the gripping fingers from its follow.
Fig. 5, is a sectional detail of the ends of the gripping fingers.
In the drawings liko letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in cach
figure.
It may be stated as a premise to this specification that this machine is intended to
finish a blank such as shown in Fig. 5, such blank having been previously formed in
a machine in which it is cut out circularly and with faco cuts in the form shown in
this figure.
The main driving shaft, the worms, worm geurs, cutter spindles, means for driving
the cutter spindles, the disc, the cages and tho cams are practically identical with
thoso shown and described in detail in my former patent. The cutter spindles F F
and G G' derive reciprocating motion from the main shaft 18 by means of the worms
on the main shaft, worm wheels 20, rotating cams 21 enclosing cages 22 and pivoted
levers 23 as in my former patent. The disc A is rotated by means of double worms 24¹

page_text: on the arbors D D¹ and toothed wheels 25 upon the supporting shaft a of the disc A
also as in my former patent. It is, therefore, unnecessary in this specification to refer
to such parts any moro fully than above to understand my invention.
F and Garo one set of cutter spindles, which are suitably driven and are provided
with tools f and 9, which are preferably made heavier, coarser and therefore necessarily
stronger, so as to circularly rough hew the blank shown in cross section in Fig. 5,
into the cross sectional form indicated by the dotted lines in the same figure. Fi
and G¹are a second set of cutter spindles which are provided with finer tools f¹ and g',
which are designed to finish the rough hown button proviously acted upon by the
tools and g.
A is a rotablo disc, which is secured on the end of the spindle a and is provided
with suitable stationary gripping jaws B provided with an opon circular end & serrated
around the edge as shown. 00C are a series of movable gripping lovers, which are
pivoted at c on the bracket A' forming part of the disc A. There are a sories of theso
Bets of levers CC Cand each lever in each set lies in juxtaposition, the outer lovers CC
having arc-shaped ends c with serrated inner edges. The uppermost lever as to
direction of rotation has the arc-shaped end e turned backwardly so as to admit of
the shank end of tho blank being passed down into position. The inner end is
roughened as indicated. The end of the central portion of the lever C¹ has a
roughened end also.
are hooked stems, which extend through the outer gripping levers C and tlie
dise A. The ends which extend through the dise A have hooks formed on them, which
"extend into the looped ends of the springs o, the other ends of which are securely
fastened in the disc.
It will thus be seen that the normal tendency of the springs and stems is to hold
the gripping levers CC, so that their jaw-shaped ends are in close proximity to the
serrated ends of the open stationary jaw b. e is a hooked stein, which extends
through the central gripping lever C. The hooked ond, which extends through the
disc A is inserted into the loop-shaped end of the spring co, the other end of which is
securely held in the disc. The normal tendency of the spring e, is for a similar
purposo as the spring c³.
In order to hold an uneven blank in position during the period that it is being held
by the jaws b and c' and is being turned I provide the following mechanism.
D is one of the cam arbors and D' is the other as referred to in my former patent.
24 is a cam on the arbor D'. The cam 24 is mostly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,
which I particularly wish to refor to. E is an arm, which is pivoted on a lug E
forming a portion of the frame and bas journalled in its lower forked end a friction
roller e, which is designed to co-act with the cam 24. is a supplemental aru,
which is pivotally connected by jaws formed on its end to the arm E and is pivotally
connected intermediately to a hanger E', which is suspended from a portion of the
frame as indicatod, the frame being nocessarily mostly broken away. 15 aro two
outer levers and 15 the intermediate lever, which uro pivoted at 15' on a portion of
the frame. The upper ends of the levers are curved as shown and are designed to
come in contact with three gripping levers CCC. The lower portion of tho lovers
are connected by springs 17 and 17 to a portion of the frame. Beneath the pivoted
point the outmost levers have preferably bosses 15 formed on them, which aro
designed to come in contact with the widened end of the supplemental arm E.
It will thus be seen that the normal tendency of the springs is to control each lever
separately, so that whon the pieces or blanks having inequalities of surface are placed
between the jaws b and c as hereinafter described such springs will serve by their
pressure to hold the gripping levers CC and C against the blank no matter what
inequality of surface it may bo.
When the mechanism for separating the gripping levers from the jaws hereinbefore
referred to operates, the cam 24 slightly before this period will operate upon the
friction rollere, thereby throwing the supplemental arm E' against the lovers 15 15'15,
so as to tilt them on their pivot and throw the holding curved ends of such levers back
from contact with the gripping lovers and thus permit of the blank dropping. This

page_text: releasing of the Diank only takes place after it has been cut by th
of tools.
I shall now describe the mechanism whereby the blanks are fed between the
fora mentioned gripping jaws and lovers as the disc is caused to revolve. His n
bracket secured to the front of the machine. The upper end H' of the bracket H
extends inwardly to a point nearly radially opposite the gripping jaw and levers.
I is a chute, which is in interior cross sectional form, the same as the cross section of
the blank which is designed to be placed therein. The chute I is secured to the
end H' of the brackot H and is designed to come directly opposite the centre of the
open ends of the jaws and gripping levers. J are curved oxtousion fingers, which are
designed to receive the button after it leaves tho chute and to hold it temporarily
previous to its being deposited between the upper ends of the jaws aud gripping
levers as presently explained.
KK' are curved gripping fingers with circular ends kk. The end ¹, however, is
peculiarly formed in that it has a socket with a conical recess into which is designed
to fit the button blank as indicated in Fig. 5. The shank end of the button blank fits
within such socket and touches the outer edge of the socket circumferentially only.
By this means the blank is centralized so as to be in propor position to be deposited
between the gripping jaws and levers.
LL' are two rods, which extend through holes in an enlargement in the bracket II
and holes in the end of the arın H. The rods L L' are designed to be moved together
longitudinally and for this purpose are connected together by the double collar L'
having set screws and, which extend through the collar into or against the
rols Land L respectively. The end of the rod L has a jaw l' formed on it, which
is connected by a link to a jaw at the outer end of one of the cages, which aro
operated by the cams as described in my former patent.
K2 is a lever, to which the curved finger K is attached. The lever K' has a circular
opening, which fits on a circular boss A through which the rod I extends, such boss
forming part of the bracket II. A is a lug formed on the bracket II and ³ is a lug
formed on a circular portion of the lever K. is a set screw, which extends through
the lug and is designed to come in contact with the lug are jaws on the outer
end of the lover K. Kare guiding jaws extending laterally from the lever K* inside
of its pivot. K is a spiral spring connected at the bottom of the lever K' to the
bracket H.
I is a roller, which is pivoted in hangers 2, attached to or forming part of the
lover K. 3 is a longitudinal projection having one ond inclined and the remainder of
such projection parallel. The roller 2 is designed to raise and lower the lever K² as it
rises and falls from the projection 3 during the period that the arm L is deriving a
longitudinal movement. K is a lever to which the curved gripping finger Kis
attached. The lever K is pivoted at 4 on the lug & and has a circular enlargement K
intermediate of its length, so as to admit of it having a free swinging movement on
the rod L, which extends through such enlargement." The outer end of the lever K
is provided with a lateral extension K' in which is pivoted a roller 5, which is
designed to come in contact with and ride upon the block 6. Tho block 6 extends
through a slot 7 in the rod L and is provided with extension ends 88, which rest
upon the ledges 99 of the recess 10. The block 6 has a depression 11 at the inner
end thereof and a pin 12 which extends across the recess 10 through such depres-
sion 11. 13 is a flat spring, which is secured to the onds 88 of the block 6, the
central portion of such spring extending underneath the pin 12. 14 14 aro L-shaped
slots extending directly across the block 6 in the ends 88. 15 15 are pins, which
extend through such recesses 14 14.
M is a spiral tension spring, which is designed to hold the fingers K K' together.
N is an arm, which is secured to the bracket H and has an aro-shaped recess
formed in its outer end, which is designed to extend slightly underneath the jaws b
and c', so as to prevent the blank from dropping down further than into its proper
position between these jaws. O is a piu provided with an enlarged end O', which
is of sufficient diameter so as to press against the three levors CC C. The pin O

page_text: extends through the disc A radially to the inside of each gripping jaw b. P is a
spring, which is suitably secured to the frame at ono end and is twisted at P', so
as to prosent a flat inclined surface incliuing from the bottom bend towards the
disc at the top bend in order that when the disc passes around in the direction
indicatod.by arrow tho pins O as they come on to the portion P will gradually force
the gripping lovers CO outwardly until tho ends of tho pins pass the bent upper
end of the portion P'. The spring P has a forwardly extending end P from the
portion P, which projects outwardly to underneath and in close proximity with
the rod L. is a lug secured on the rod L. The lag 5 as the rod is causod
to be moved longitudinally in the opposito direction to that indicated by arrow presses
upon the outwardly extending ond p of the spring P and forces it down, so as to
throw the end P' downwardly and thereby permit of the gripping levers and jaws to
securely grasp and hold the blank in position as indicated in Fig. 5.
Having now particularly described the principal parts involved in my invention I
shall briefly describe the operation. The blanks are placed in tho chute I and as they
pass down through such chuto they pass into the fingers J. As each blank is
deposited between these spring fingers the rods L and Laro caused to move in the
direction indicated by arrow by reason of their connection to the cago and cum at the
right hand side of Fig. 1. The rods L and L' are coupled together as described. As
tho rod L moves in the direction iudicatod by arrow the roller 5 moves upwardly upon
the block 6, which is thrown to the opposite side of the recess 10 shown in Fig. 4, so
that the pins 15 are within the narrow portion of the slot 14. The consequence is
that the roller 5 will rise upon the block 6 and tilt the lover K on its pivot, thereby
throwing the end and apart, so that the button nay readily be received between
them.
When the end of the block 6 has been passed by the roller 5 the tension of the
spring M serves to draw the ends and kl together and hold the blank between the
recessed end and the flat end k. During the period that the roller is being
operated by the block 6 to swing the lever K as described the rod L' of course being
coupled to tho rod L moves also forward bringing the roller 2 at the bottom of the
lever K upon the top of the projection 3 thereby serving to hold the curved gripping
fingers K and K in proper position, so that the ends and como opposito the
centre between the arc-shaped gripping fingers J J. Upon the rods Land L' boing
given their backward movement by the cage operated through the camus as described
in my former patent and as referred to in Fig. 1, the block 6 is thrown towards the
end of the recess 10 shown in Fig. 4, the rosult boing that the block becomes a
yielding block, the pins 15 being permitted to pass downwardly in the widened end of
the slot 14. The result of this is that the lever K will not be effected during the
backward movoment of the rods L and L neither will the position of the gripping
fingers K K' be effected until the roller 2 reaches the end of the projection 3, there-
upon such roller being relieved the spring K will draw down upon the combined
levers K' and K, so as to bring with them thoir end gripping fingers K and K¹
and carry the blank down into the position between the jaws e of the gripping
levers CCC on the one side and the jaw b on the opposite side. The curved arc
shaped end of the arm N now serves as a stop for the blank to prevent it going down
any farthor. At this period the roller 5 has again started to ascend upon the block 6,
which is now hold rigid, so that the gripping end kk' are separated and the blank left
in position. Those gripping ends now remain open monientarily until the roller 2
has ascended upon the projection 8 and the block 6 passes the end of such roller
whereupon the blank is gripped again and tho oporation herein before described
repeated.
When the blank is carried down between the jaws, the disc A in rotating brings
the plunger O against the obliquely set spring P. The portion P' of such spring is
nearer at the top to the disc than at the bottom, consequently as the end of the
plunger O travels up the face of the spring Pas the disc A rotates the plunger O is
gradually driven rearwardly against the spring-held jaws CCO pivoted at c, thus
forcing them away from the stationary jaw B. When the plunger O' has reached tho

page_text: end of the portion P of the spring P the stationary jaw B is on one side of tho
blank and pivoted jaws OO C'are on the other side of the blank, which is held in
the spring fingors KK. Upon the plunger O being released by the projection /³
coming in contact with the portion P of the spring P the pivoted jaws CC Care
brought against the blank by the springs ou the disc A connected with the
jaws CCC, so as to clamp the blank against the stationary jaw B.
As the disc with the hold blank reaches the position shown by one of the gripping
jaws in the dotted lines at the top of Fig. 2, the levers E are brought so that
each individual lever presses against its corresponding lover and thereby holds the
blank no matter how inequal in surface in position during the period that it is
being turned.
In order to ensure the gripping jaws being entiroly relieved from the blank or
any portions thereof, which might stick therein aftor the button is turned I extend
the arm N down into a curved finger n', which us the disc revolves in the direction
indicated by arrow servos to free the space between the gripping levers and jaws as
they rise up to their proper position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the samo is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a machine for turning buttons and like articles, in combination a pair of
rovolving spindles, rough-hewing tools secured in their ends, a supplemental pair
of revolving spindles located in proximity theroto and finishing tools secured in
their ends, means for automatically reciprocating the cutting tools, a set of trans-
ferring grips designed to carry the blank from between the set of rough-hewing
tools to botween the set of finishing tools and a placing grip operated to feed tho
blank into the transforring holding grip as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a machine for turning huttons and like articles, in combination a pair of
revolving spindles, rough-hewing tools secured in their onds, a supplemental pair
of revolving spindles, located in proximity thereto and finishing tools secured in
their ends, means for automatically reciprocating the cutting tools, a set of trans-
forring grips designed to carry the blank from between the set of rough-hewing
tools to between the set of finishing tools, a placing grip operated to feed the
blank into the transferring holding grip and a feeding chute extending over the
placing grip and designed to hold a plurality of buttons in alignment ns and for
the purpose specified.
3. In a machine for turning buttons and like articles in combination a pair of
revolving spindles, rough-hewing tools scoured in their ends, a supplemental pair
of revolving spindles located in proximity thereto and finishing tools secured in
their onds, means for automatically reciprocating the cutting tools, a set of traus-
ferring grips designed to carry the blank from between tho set of rough-howing
tools to between the set of finishing tools, a placing grip automatically operated to
feed the blank into the transferring holding grip, a feeding chute extending over the
placing grip and designed to hold a plurality of buttons in alignment and means at
the bottom of the feeding chute for retaining the button temporarily in position
until it is carried away from the placing grip as and for the purpose specified.
4. In a machine for turning buttons and like articles, in combination a pair of
revolving spindles, rough-hewing tools secured in their ends, a supplemental pair
of revolving spindles located in proximity thereto, and finishing tools securel in
their ends, means for automatically reciprocating the cutting tools, a disc a series
of stationary open jaws secured to the disc at equal distances apart circumferentially,
three spring-hold adjacent gripping levers, pins extending through the disc designed
to span the width of the gripping lovers, a spring having au incline from bottom to
top towards the diso and means for throwing such spring down at the top to relieve
the pin to close the jaws as and for the purpose specified.
5. In a machine for turning buttons and liko articlos, in combination a pair of
revolving spindles rough-hewing tools secured in their ends, a supplemental pair

page_text: of revolving spindles located in proximity thereto and finishing tools secured in
their ends, means for automatically reciprocating the cutting tools, a disc, a sories
of stationary open jaws secured to the disc at equal distances apart circumferentially,
three spring-held adjacent gripping levers, pins extending through the disc designed
to span the width of the
levers, a spring having an inclino from bottom to
top towards the disc, an outwardly extending portion to the spring designed to come
in contact with a projection on a longitudinally reciprocating rod as and for the
purpose specified.
6. In combination with the disc, the stationary jaws secured thereto and set at equal
distances circumferentially, the movable gripping levers and means for opening and
closing them and a receiving support for the blank designed to extend below the spaco
between the jaws ns and for the purpose specified.
7. The combination with the gripping jaw and gripping levers, of the gripping
placing fingers designed to grasp the face of the blank and means for carrying such
fingers down into the open gripping jaws as and the purpose specified.
8. The combination with the gripping jaw and gripping levers having the sides
open, of the gripping placing fingers, one finger of which is flut and the opposite
finger of which is provided with a socket having a conical recess and automatic means
for operating the fingers as and for the purpose specified.
9. The combination with tho gripping jaw and gripping levers having the sides
open, of the gripping placing fingers, one finger of which is flat and the opposito
finger of which is provided with a socket having a conical recess and automatic means
for operating the fingers and a chute suitably held in position and depending curved
spring fingers extending down from the sides of the chute as and for the purpose
specified.
10. The combination with the disc and stationary jaw and three adjacent gripping
lovers having the ends of the jaw formed on the ends thereof, of three levors suitably
pivoted and provided each with a soparate spring to hold them independently against
thio respective lover and uncans for relioving the three lovers sinultaneously as and for
the purpose specified.
11. In combination the disc, tho stationary jaws secured to the disc having open
sidos, the co-acting gripping levers provided with open sides, a chute, the brackot
supporting the chute, the curved gripping fingers connected together by a spiral
tension spring and means for forcing the levers together against the tension of such
spring as and for the purpose specified.
12. In combination, the disc, the stationary jaws secured to the disc having open
sides, the co-acting gripping lovers provided with open sides, a chute, the bracket
supporting the chute, the curved gripping fingers connected together by a spiral
tension spring, a longitudinal adjustablo rod extending through the bracket, an
outward extension lover to which one of the gripping fingers is connected and means
between the lever and the longitudinally adjustable rod for throwing one gripping
finger away from its fellow as and for the purpose specified.
18. In combination, the disc, the stationary jaws secured to the disc having open
sides, the co-acting levers provided with open sides, a chute, the bracket supporting
the chute, the curved gripping fingers connected together by a spiral tension spring, a
longitudinally adjustable rod extending through the bracket, an outward extension
lever to which one of the gripping fingers is connected, an enlarged opening in the
ond of the lever through which the longitudinal adjustablo rod extends, a pivot to the
outside of such opening and a right angular extension provided with a friction roller
designed to have a rolling contact against a block extending through the rod and
collapsible when moved in its recess in one direction and non-collapsible when moved
in the other direction through contact with the roller as and for the purpose
specified.
14. The combination with the gripping placing fingers, and the lovers to which they
are connected, of a right angular extension to one lever, a longitudinally adjustable
rod and the block 6 fitting in a recess 10 in such rod, the slots 14, pins 15, pin 12, and
spring 13 all arranged as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 15. The combination with the gripping fingors and levers to which they are
connected held so as to swing together and a spiral spring connecting them to a
suitablo portion of the frame and having a normal tendency to pull downwards upon
thom, of means whereby the lovers with their fingers are raised against the tension of
such spring as and for the purposo specified.
16. The combination with the gripping fingers and levers to which they are
connected held so as to swing together and a spiral spring connecting them to a
suitable portion of the frame and having a normal tendency to pull downwards upon
them, of a roller journalled in suitable hearings attached to one of the lovers and a
longitudinally reciprocating rod and a block ou such rod designed to co-act with such
rollor as and for the purpose specified.
17. The combination with the gripping fingers and levers to which they are
connected hold so as to swing together and moans for normally exorting a downward
pressure upon such levers as and for the purpose specified.
18. The combination with the gripping fingers and levors to which they aro
connected, hold so as to swing together and woans for normally exerting a downward
pressure upon such levers of limiting moans for controlling the extent of the
downward throw of the gripping fingers and levers as and for the purpose specified.
19. In combination the gripping fingers, lovers attached to or forming part of the
same, the spiral spring connected to the levers and to portion of the frame to normally
exert a downward pressure upon such lever, a pivotal connection betweon the levers
at their outer end, longitudinal rods extending through and supported upon suitable
brackets, openings in the bracket and levers for the passage of the rods and means
between the rods and levers whereby the levers are separated, closed together and
carried upwardly by the longitudinal adjustment of the rods as and for the purpose
specified.
20. In combination the gripping fingers, lovers attached to or forming part of the
same, the spiral spring connected to the levers and to portion of the frame to normally
exert a downward pressure upon such lovers, a pivotal connection between the levers
at thoir outer ond, longitudinal rods extending through and supported upon suitable
brackets, openings in the bracket and levers for the passage of the rods and moans
between the rods and levers whoreby the levers aro soparatod, closed together and
carried upwardly, a binding connection for the rods and the case, cam and link
connecting the ends of the rods to the cage as and for the purpose specified.
21. In combination the gripping jaw and gripping lovers, the gripping placing
fingers designed to grasp the face of the blank, a worm gear and worm and means
driven froin such gearing to carry the fingers down into the opon gripping jaws as
and for the purpose specified.
22. In combination the revolving tools, the gripping jaw and gripping levers, the
worm gear, means for opening the gripping lovers operated from the worm goar and
means for transferring the blank from the chute or temporary receptacle to between
the gripping jaws and gripping lever as and for the purpose specified.
23. In combination the cutter spindles, the cutting tools, the gripping jaws and
means below the gripping jaws for supporting the prepared blank preparatory to its
being gripped by the jaws as and for the purpose specified.
24. In combination with the disc, the stationary jaws, secured thereto and set at
equal distances circumferentially, the movable gripping lovers and a finger designed
to pass through tho open jaws as they rise to their position to grip the blank as and
for the purpose specifiod.
25. In combination, the diso, the stationary jaw secured thereto, the movable
gripping levors having an inward pressure exerted upon them by suitable springs and
the placing fingers designed to carry the blank into position between the jaws
and gripping lovers as and for the purpose specified.
26. In combination the disc, the stationary jaw secured thereto, the movable
gripping levers having an inward pressure exerted upon them by suitable springs, tho
pin extending through the disc with its head abutting the gripping fingers, the
spring P designed to be operated so as to release the pin before the revolving plate

page_text: begins to move and the placing fingers dosigned to carry the blank into position
between the jaws and gripping levers as and for the purpose specified.
Dated the 17th day of August 1896.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.