Year: 1887

page_text: I CARL AUGUST PFENNING of Barmen-Rittershausen, Rhenish, Prussia in the
Empire of Germany, Button 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 and accompanying
drawings:
My said Invention relates to improved apparatus for use in the manufacture of
buttons, composed of an upper part covered with cloth and a cup shaped back formed
with an eye or admitting of a cloth or other tag for the purpose of securing the button
to the garment as is well understood.
In the accompanying drawings Sheets 1 to 4 contain illustrations of apparatus
suitable for carrying out the manufacture of buttons on a large scale, while the
drawings on Sheet 5 show a more simple apparatus for manufacture on a smaller
scale. Sheet 6 shows a machine suitable for the production of buttons such as are
referred to in the specification of Letters Patent No. 3809 of the year 1884, granted
to L. Niedermeyer. The apparatus in sheets 1 to 4 consists of a table A secured to a
bench or suitable surface by means of the lugs a. Upon the table A is pivotted a
cover or part B. The table A is bored at or about its centre to receive a block E
which is bored to the same diameter as that of the button intended to be made. The
bored block E is fitted with a ram C capable of sliding in the block E and actuated by
a cam D which is fixed on a shaft f and operated from a hand lever H, keyed on the
end of the shaft f. The hinged cover or part B is also bored to receive a block G.
When the part B is closed down upon the table A as clearly shown at Fig. 4 sheet 3,
the block G comes directly over the block E and the block G is formed at its lower
end with a projection 9 which accurately fits a similarly formed recess in the top of
TD 1 127

page_text: 0
the block E. The block G is bored to fit the stud S and the top of the stud is
connected to a lever F. A compressed spiral spring tends constantly to draw the
stud S into the block G and towards the button being made. The lower part of the
block G is bored to a diameter slightly less than that of the bore in the block E, and
the lower edge of the bore is chamfered as shown at g' (Figs. 1 2 and 4). The hinged
cover or part B carries also two attachments K and I which are shown separately at
Figs. 1 and 1b Sheet 2 of the drawings. The attachment K is for the purpose of
holding the cupped back of the button in the bore in the block G and to enable it to
do this it is provided with a needle k which engages with the eye in the lower part
of the button or with the tag when such is used and holds the button in position.
The function of the attachment L is to engage and hold the stud S against the
pressure of the spiral spring after the stud has been lifted by the lever F. This is
brought about by the pin / being brought to act as a support or stop to the strut M
which is connected to the lever F. The automatic pushing forward of the pin L is
effected through the action of a spring F¹ see Fig. 1. To operate the hinged part B
a handle knobb and a projection n on the part B enters a guiding recess, a pin
being passed through the walls of the recess to hold the hinged part B in position
when closed down on the table A. The pin o is pushed constantly inward by a
spring P. In order to pull the pin o out and so release the part B when it is to be
raised I provide that the turning of the handle H in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 5)
shall withdraw the pin. An inclined tonge U is fixed on the handle H and this
incline comes against a disc o¹ on the pin which is slowly pulled out as the handle is
turned. On the other side of the table is a quadrant Q having an inclined face and
which is fixed on the end of the shaft f (Figs. 1, 3 and 6). The object of this
quadrant is to draw out the attachments L and K at the times that the handle H is
returned in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Projections K'
and L' are formed on the attachments K and L and the inclined face of the quodrant
in turning, first comes against the projections K' and draws out the attachment K
and then against the projection L' drawing out the attachment L. A roller R is
situated beneath the table A the function of the said roller being to raise the stud S as
the hinged part B is thrown back. The free end of the lever F is inclined at the end
and rides on the roller R as the part B is thrown over on its hinge. The lever F is
thus raised lifting the stud S and compressing the spring S. The same operation
raises the strut M until it passes the end of the pin which is thereby released and
allowed to fly across the end of the strut M which is thus held in position-preventing
the stud S from being returned by the spring S until the proper time. The operation
of forming a button by means of the apparatus is as follows. The pin o having been
withdrawn and the part B thrown back on its hinge the hand lever H is brought into
the position shown at Figs. 2 and 3. A disc i of cloth of the proper size is then laid
in the enlargement at the top of the bore in the block E. The upper part M of the
button is then superposed both being then thrust down the bore either by the finger
of the operator or by a pusher T which may be hinged by an arm v to the table A
(Figs. 5 and 6). The pusher can be brought directly over the centre of the bore by
turning the arm v on its pivot, the traverse being limited by a pin projecting from the
pivot stud and working in a slot in the boss of the arm (see Fig. 6). By the
working of the handle H and the consequent rotation of the excentric D the ram C
has sunk to its lowest position. By being thrust down the bore the border of the
cloth disc has been folded over the periphery of the metallic part m. The lower
cupped half or back u of the button is placed in a recess in the enlarged bottom of the
stud S and is secured therein by the advance of the attachment K and the entering of
the needle k into the eye or tag of the part u. The part u cannot therefore fall out
when the hinged part B is turned on its hinge so as to lie on the table A. The hand
lever H is then turned into the position at Fig. 4, the pin o springing into its place to
lock the parts A and B together. At the same time the ram C is raised by the
excentric D so as to press the cloth disc i and the part m against the chamfer g¹
whereby the border of the cloth disc i is bent inward. In the meantime the inclined
face of the quodrant o has released the attachments K and L and has allowed the

page_text: needle to be withdrawn from the cupped under half u of the button which is laid
over the inwardly bent border of the cloth disc. Further operation of the hand
lever H also causes the pin / to be withdrawn from beneath the strut M thus allowing
the stud S to descend in obedience to the pressure of the springs and forcing the
cloth disc and upper and lower parts of the button into contact as shown in the detail
section Fig. 4". At this point of the operation the handle H occupies the position of
the dotted line H¹ Fig. 2. The clenching together of the parts of the button is
effected by completing the movement of the handle H that is to say by moving it into
the position shown at Fig. 4 whereby the ram C is raised by the excentric D and
forced upward so as to turn in the flanged periphery of the metallic part m and firmly
embrace both the folded in cloth disc and cupped back of the button as clearly seen at
Fig. 4 of the drawings. It will be evident that the final nipping or clenching must
to a certain extent be elastic as the stud S yeilds to the upward pressure of the ram C.
On returning the handle to its former position the hinged part B can be raised and
the completed button removed.
The views on Sheet illustrate the simple button forming apparatus herein before
referred to. The block E is mounted on a stud C which projects from a sole plate as
shown the block E being so arranged as that when turned upon the stud C it rises or
falls according to the direction of rotation. This rising and falling motion is obtained
by a screw formed slit e in the boss of the block E a fixed stud D entering the said
slit e.
The stud D is supported from the sole plate on a block as shown. The
block E which can be arranged to receive buttons of varying diameters has hinged
to it a cover B which is held in position when closed by a pin o. The said stud S in
the cover can be raised and lowered by turning it, a horizontal pin » from the stud
lying in an inclined path formed in the top of the cover. The top of the stud C
carries a bed (which is free to revolve on the stud so that when the halves of the
apparatus are turned against each other to clench the parts of the button together
the revolvable bed C will remain at rest and the cloth covering of the button will not
suffer from friction. To form a button with this apparatus, the upper part m of the
button and the cloth disc i are placed in the bore of the block E and on the top of the
bed C. The cupped back of the button is also placed in the opened cover B and
the parts E and B are closed together and held by the pin o. They are then
turned 011 the stud C and the parts A and E lowered on the stud C by
the action of the screw slit e so as to bring the folded over margin of the cloth
disc against the chamber g' on the lower part 9 of the cover E whereby it
is folded toward the centre. The stud S is then turned so as to allow the pin > to
descend to the bottom of the inclined path and permit the spring s to force the
recessed foot of the stud S with its contained cupped back into contact with the cloth i
and part m as clearly shown at Fig. 9 of the drawings. The final clenching of the
parts together is effected by further rotation of the parts E, B, so as to pull them
further down the stud (and jam the parts of the button together between the bed C
and foot of the spindle 8. The flange of the metallic part m is thus turned inward
over the periphery of the cupped back in the manner shown at Fig. 4 sheet 3 and
the button is complete and may be removed by raising the spindle S and opening the
cover B. In order to limit the first turn of the parts B, E, and to prevent the
rotation from exceeding a certain limit, I provide a spring stop Z see Figs. 11 and 12
projecting over the part of the slit e which gives the finishing or clenching pressure.
A flat spring acting on the free end Z' keeps the part Z constantly up against the boss
of the block E. It will be evident that when the first rotation of the block E is
effected the end of the arm Z will come against the head of the fixed screw D and
thus limit the rotation to the exact extent required. When the finishing or clenching
feed of the block E is wanted the spring stop Z is raised so as to clear the head of the
screw D and allow it to traverse the remainder of the screw slit e. The final clenching
pressure might also be given by applying an elevating screw beneath the bed C. In
case it should be found that for instance where very thick strong cloth is used the
spiral springs should be found insufficient to exercise the requisite force, I may use
the modification shown at Fig. 13 of the drawings. By this arrangement the

page_text: horizontal pin slides in two screw formed slits in the top of the cover B so that
by turning the pin r absolute pressure can be applied to force down the spindle S and
bring the parts into contact.
A modification of the apparatus shown in Sheets 1 to 4 of the drawings is illustrated
by Figs. 14 and 15 Sheet 6. This modification is intended to further the manufacture
of buttons similar to the sectional view Fig. 16 and which are composed of an upper
part o¹ covered cloth and a cupped back a¹, the parts of the button being secured
together by a cylindrical projection e¹ from the part o¹. The upper margin of this
cylindrical projection e' is clenched or expanded over the edge of the hole in the
cupped back a and holds the parts of the button firmly together. In the apparatus
the block G contains a screw spindle S¹ which can be rotated by the handle S2. The
stud S is held within this screw by a pin 1 the lower end of the stud S serving to
clench or expand the aforesaid cylindrical projection e¹ of the button. Beneath the
block G is a second block G¹ both being carried by the hinged cover or part B. The
part G is supported in position by a wire staple 2 see Fig. 15 the opposite arms of
which occupy a groove formed half in the cover B and half in the part G¹ as clearly
seen at Fig. 14. A projection is formed on the part G₁ occupying a similar recess in
the block E. In using the apparatus the cloth disc with the part o' are placed in
the bore of the block E and thrust down on the top of the spindle C. The cupped
back a¹ is then laid over the puckered in margin of the cloth disc. The cover B is
shut down and the lever H is actuated so as to raise the stud C and compress the parts
of the button against the chamfered lower edge of the part G. In this position the
cylindrical projection e¹ rises above the cupped back, so that when the screwed
spindle S¹ is turned by the handle S2 the nose of the spindle S expands and clenches
the upper edge of the projection e¹ and firmly secures all the parts of the button
together. On raising the spindle and returning the lever H to its former position the
cover B can be raised and the finished button removed. The blocks which must be used
to replace the block E or G₁ for making different sizes of buttons can be kept beneath
the table A on recessed shelves 3 carried by a hinged door 5 which is secured by a
hasp 4. The block E is secured in the table A by means of a pin 7 which is governed
by a spring 6, the rounded end of the pin snapping into a groove 8 turned in the
block E. To push out the part G' when required I secure two pins 9 and 10 to a
collar 11 which pins pass down to and rest upon the block G¹ so that when the
cover B is open it is only necessary to draw out the staple 2 and by knocking on the
collar 11 to dislodge the part G¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
(1) The general arrangement and construction for use in the manufacture of buttons
first as described with reference to sheets 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings,
second as described with reference to sheet 5 of the drawings and third as described
with reference to sheet 6 of the drawings.
(2) In apparatus for use in the manufacture of buttons the combination of the table A
containing a block E and sliding presser stud C with the hinged cover or part B
provided with the block G and sliding stud S together with the means for automatically
operating the stud C and the stud S, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown
in Sheets 1 to 4 of the drawings.
(3) In apparatus of the indicated description the cam D for operating the presser
stud C and the roller R and lever F working in combination to effect the drawing back,
retention and release of the stud S substantially as described and shown.
(4) The inclined tongue u for operating the pin o and the quodrant Q with inclined
face for operating the attachments K and L and the method of operating the same for
the purposes and substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
(5) In the button making apparatus hereinbefore described with reference to
Sheet 5 of the drawings the combinations of the parts E mounted on a stud C
and having a hinged cover B provided with a rotating and rising and falling presser

page_text: spindle S, and the movable table C¹ mounted on the stud C the boss of the part E
having a screw formed slit in which a fixed pin works all constructed and operating
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and illustrated.
(6) The spring stop Z for limiting and governing the rotation of the block E as
illustrated at Figs. 11 and 12 and the means for imparting positive downward traverse
to the spindle S by means of screw slits instead of the spiral spring S as shown at
Fig. 13 of the drawings.
(7) The modified arrangement of button making apparatus and the means for
stowing the change blocks for various sizes of buttons, substantially as described and
as illustrated on sheet 6 of the drawings.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester,
Agents.