Improvements in Stamping and Embossing Machines for Button Backs and other Small Artioles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1396-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1996
[Communicated from abroad-by-FRANK-JAMES LUDINGTON, of Waterbury,
County of New Haven, State of Connecticut, United States of America,
Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Stamping and Embossing Machines for Button
Backs and other Small Artioles.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 machines for making button backs and is illustrated in
the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1, represents a view in side elevation of a button-back machine embodying
my invention.
Figure 2, a similar view from the opposite side of the machine.
Figure 3, a plan view of the bed of the machine and the parts connected there-
with, the upper portion of the machine being broken away.
Figure 4, a partial view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of the
machine, showing the carrier, the embossing die, the combined lifter and prick
punch, the cutting and drawing die, the cutter, the drawing-punch, the heading or
upsetting punch, and the jaws of the eye-forming mechanism, as well as other
related parts.
Figure 5, a view partly in section and partly in elevation, of the carrier and the
means employed for vertically reciprocating and horizontally oscillating it.
My invention relates to an improved machine designed with particular reference
to making button-backs, but also adapted to be used in the production from sheet-
metal of a variety of small stamped articles; the object being to produce a
machine having a large capacity for accurate work.
With these ends in view, my invention consists in the combination with the other
instrumentalities of the machine, of a horizontally oscillating and vertically
reciprocating carrier. My invention further consists in the combination, with a
punch and a die, of a carrier, a stationary embossing die located below the said die
and punch, and a lifter located below the embossing die and rising through the
same to lift the objects embossed therein into the carrier, which conveys them
away to another point. My invention further consists in certain details of
construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and pointed
out in the claims.
For the illustration and description of my invention, 1 have chosen to show it as
embodied in a double-acting press designed for the production of embossed sheet-
metal button-backs provided with wire eyes, but I would have it understood that
my invention is not limited to embodiment in such a machine, as it obviously may
be used in machines designed for the production of other small sheet-metal articles,
whether provided with eyes, or embossed, or not. For instance, I may embody
my invention, or features of it, in a machine designed to produce either plain or
embossed collets, such as are used in making buttous, and are in fact eyeless
button-backs, or I may embody my invention, or features of it in a machine
designed to produce small embossed sheet-metal caps for bottle-corks.

page_text: Inasmuch as the construction of double-acting presses of the character shown in
the accompanying drawings is perfectly well known to those familiar with the art
of working in sheet-metal, I shall not describe the press further than necessary for
an understanding of the parts to which my invention more directly relates. Nor
shall I, at this time, give a detailed description of the construction and operation
of the eye-forming mechanism, as that is not claimed by me except in combination.
1 would further have it understood that my horizontally oscillating and vertically
reciprocating carrier is not limited to use in combination with an eye-forming
mechanism, nor with a stationary embossing die and lifter; nor are the embossing
die and lifter necessarily used in conjunction with an eye-forming mechanism, nor
with a vertically movable carrier.
As herein shown, the horizontally oscillating and vertically reciprocating
carrier A, is mounted upon a vertically arranged, rotatable and vertically movable
shaft B, having its upper end constructed with a hemispherical recess B', to
receive a ball C, formed at the lower end of a bolt C¹, mounted in the forward arm
of a two-armed lever C 2, the said ball being held within the said recess by means
of a nut-like cap B2, applied to the threaded upper end of the shaft B. Nuts C 3
and C4 bearing upon the upper and lower faces of the forward arm of the lever C2,
and mounted on the bolt C, are provided for adjusting the same vertically, and
firinly securing it in its adjusted positions. The lever C2 is hung on a horizontal
stul C5, mounted in the frame 1 of the press, the rear arm of the lever being
furnished with an anti-friction roll 'e traveling upon a cam c, mounted upon the
main driving-shatt E of the press. The action of this cam upon the lever is to
periodically depress the forward and lift the rear end thereof, so as to lift the
shaft B, and hence the carrier, which thus derives its upward vertical movement.
For the downward vertical movement of the carrier, a spring c 2 (Fig. 2) is secured
at its lower end to the rear arm of the lever, and at its upper end to a fixed point,
such as the frame of the machine, the said spring exerting a constant effort to lift
the rear and depress the forward arm of the lever, and to hold the said anti-friction
roll cagainst the said cam el, so that as soon as the rod drops off, the lift of the
cam, the spring acts to lift the rear arm of the lever and depress the forward arın
thereof, and hence the carrier. The shaft B has bearing in a bushing B 3, located
in the bed D' of the press, the projecting lower end of the shaft being furnished
with a crank-arm F, adjustably connected by means of a bolt F' with the forward
end of an operating lever F 2, containing a longitudinal slot F 3, through which
passes a vertical shatt F 4 in gear with the horizontal driving-shaft E.
Anti-
friction rolls ff mounted upon the operating lever F2, and respectively located
upon the upper and lower faces thereof, engage with two cams fj, corresponding
to each other and mounted upon the vertical shaft F 4, on opposite sides of the
lever F 2. The fulcrum for the said operating lever is formed by a stud 2
depending from the bed of the machine and passing through a segmental slot 3
formed in the lever, which has a combined oscillating and endwise movement, and
provides for the horizontal oscillation of the carrier, the shaft B whereof turns
independently of the bolt C under the action of the said lever F2. It
will be understood, therefore, that the character of the connection between
the shaft Baud the lever (2 by which it is vertically reciprocated, makes
the reciprocating and escillating movements of the shaft quite independent of each
other.
I may mention in this connection that the particular means employed for
vertically reciprocating the shaft, as well as those employed for oscillating
it, may be widely varied without departing from my invention; and further, that
different modes than these shown might be employed for connecting the upper end
of the shaft with the reciprocating mechanism, so as to permit the shaft to be
rotated without departure from my invention.
The carrier is provided at its inner end with an adjustable plate A', containing
at its forward end a circular opening a, corresponding in diameter to the diameter
of the sheet metal articles to be produced. The rear end of the carrier is split,

page_text: and furnished with a clamping-screw A 2, whereby the carrier may be moved
up and down the shaft B as required in setting it to properly do its work.
A bracket a', mounted in the bed D' of the press, is provided with a screw-stop a 2,
the projecting inner end of which is engaged by the forward end of the carrier for
limiting the forward movement of the carrier-plate A'. A similar bracket a 3
mounted upon the bed of the press, is provided with an adjustable screw-stop a 4,
the projecting inner end of which is engaged by the rear end of the carrier for
limiting the rearward oscillating movement of the said plate. A vertically
arranged screw-stop a 5, mounted in the rear end of the carrier, is provided for the
close adjustment of the downward movement of the carrier and prevent the same
from being lowered more than desired on account of some lash or lost motion in its
operating connections. I may say here, however, that I do not limit myself to
constructing the carrier itself as herein shown and described, as the details of its
construction may be varied.
In its horizontal oscillating movement the carrier swings into and out of a deep
horizontal recess G, opening inward and formed in a die-block G', bolted to the
bed D' of the press. The upper portion of the said block receives a cutting and
drawing die G 2, containing a cutting edge 9 and a drawing shoulder g', of any
approved construction. An annular cutting punch G3 co-operates with the cutting
edge g, while a cylindrical punch G 4 located within the annular punch, co-operates
with the drawing shoulder . The said punch and cutter are mounted in a gate-
head G 5, and each has its own operating connections so that they operate
differentially, which is to say, so that the cutter descends and cuts the metal prior
to the descent of the punch, which follows the cutter and forces the blank cut
downward against the drawing shoulder g' and through the die. The particular
instrumentalities for differentially reciprocating the cutter and punch I will not
describe, inasmuch as they are very well known to those familiar with double action
presses. Directly below the cutting and drawing die G2, I locate an embossing
die H, which is stationarily mounted in the lower portion of the die-block G.
The said embossing die will, of course, vary widely in its character according to
the work which it has to do, but it will be shaped so as to be acted upon by the
punch G 4. As herein shown, it contains a central cavity h, corresponding in:
diameter to the diameter of the punch, and having its bottom cut to do the
embossing required. It is also constructed with a vertical opening or bore h',
centrally intersecting the bottom of the cavity h, and provided for the playing up
and down through the die of a combined lifter and prick punch I, mounted in a
plunger I', the lower end of which is connected by a pin I 2 with the inner end of a
crank-arm 13, secured at its opposite end to a horizontal shaft 14, also carrying
a crank-arm 15, connected with the lower end of an operating lever I 6, actuated by a
cam 17 on the shaft E, whereby the said combined lifter and punch is vertically
reciprocated through the embossing die. It will be understood that the punch G4
has a depression or recess formed in its face to accommodate the pointed end of the
prick-punch I. This depression or recess is old, and not therefore shown.
Although the described carrier, embossing die and lifter may be used in other
connections than in combination with an eye-forming mechanism, it is thought that
it will be most convenient to describe their use in that connection, before
proceeding to a description of their operation.
As before stated, the eye-forming mechanism of the machine illustrated is
constructed in accordance with a known form of mechanism. I will not therefore
describe the said mechanism further than the identification of some of its main
features. It comprises two corresponding pivotal jaws J J, hung upon stuls JJ,
mounted in a block J 2, connected by a crank J 8 with the driving-shaft E. The
lower ends of the jaws are connected by means of a spring J 6, which tends to
draw their lower ends together and separate their upper ends, while their reverse
movement is effected by means of a wedge J 7 operated through the lever J4,
which is connected with the wedge by means of a stud J 3 and operated through a
crank J 5 by the said driving-shaft E. The upper ends of the jaws are provided

page_text: with dies j, over which the wire is fed, and by the upward movement of one of
which the wire is cut off. After this the jaws rise and fold the short length of
wire around a forming-pin, leaving the ends of the wire standing upright above
the faces of the dies and the eye proper within the dies. The means for feeding
and guiding the wire do not require attention. Directly above the dies there is
located an upsetting punch K, mounted in a plunger K', secured at its upper end
to one arm of the bell-crank lever K 2, also actuated from the driving-shaft E.
An ejector plate L (Fig. 3) passing over the forming pin j¹ is mounted upon an
ejector-rod L, which is reciprocated as required to eject the formed eyes from the
pin. Other eye-forming mechanism might, of course be employed in the place of
what has been shown and briefly described.
Having now described in detail the construction of a button-back machine
embodying my invention, I will proceed to set forth the operation of the machine,
to which sheet metal in strips and wire are fed. The operation of the machine will
be understood by describing the formation of one button-back.
The machine having been properly timed, the cutter G 3 descends and cuts a
circular blank from the sheet-metal strip upon the cutting edge g of the cutting
and drawing die G 2. While the cutter lifts the punch G 4 descends and forces
the blank down upon the drawing shoulder g' of the die and presses the blank
beyond the said shoulder, whereby it is drawn into a shallow cup-like form. The
continued downward movement of the punch G4 forces the blank out of the die
and through the carrier-plate of the carrier and into the embossing die, where the
blank is embossed by the downward pressure of the punch upon the cut bottom
of the recess in the embossing die. At the same time that the blank is being
embossed, it is having a small central opening formed in it by means of the
combined prick punch and lifter I, which at this time is in a stationary position,
with its prick pin standing above the bottom of the recess of the embossing die.
The blank having now been formed, embossed and punched, and being held
between the punch and combined lifter and prick punch, the two parts rise together
and lift the back into the center of the circular opening in the carrier-plate. The
drawing punch now rises, and the combined lifter and prick punch descends so as
to free the carrier and leave the button-back in the carrier-plate, wherein it is
retained by the friction of its edges upon the walls of the circular opening thereof.
The carrier-plate is now with the carrier, swung over the jaws of the eye-forming
mechanism and stopped, with the perforation of the button-back carried by it in
line with the projecting ends of the wire of an eye which is held by the jaws.
The carrier is now allowed to descend, so as to bring the button-back directly or
very nearly into engagement with the said ends of the eye, after which the
upsetting punch comes down and causes the ends to pass through the button-back
and spreads them upon the inside thereof. The ejector now acts to strip the eye
and hence the button-back, from the forming pin, and the operations above set
forth are repeated. It will be noted that the carrier is swung back into the dic-
block before the next button-back is cut and embossed, so as to be in readiness to
receive it after it has been embossed and punched. I should also note that the
carrier is vertically lifted directly after the upsetting punch retires, so that it is in
its lifted position when it is swung back into the die-block.
By providing for the vertical movement of the carrier in addition to its oscillating
movement, I am euabled to bring the button-back into closer relations with the
eye preparatory to the action of the upsetting punch, which combines the eye and
back. By thus reducing the distance between the eye and back when they are
united, 1 secure greater accuracy of work than is possible' in machines in which
the carrier is not so moved, while by employing an embossing die and lifter in
connection with the cutting and drawing die, I an enabled to emboss the button-
backs at the same time they are formed, instead of doing the embossing work in
another machine, as has long been customary, and with obvious economy.
In a machine utilizing my invention for the production of plain or embossed
collets, or perforated eyeless button-backs, the. eye-forming mechanism shown

page_text: herein would be replaced by a punch and die for perforating the blanks, but the
ejector or stripper would be retained for ejecting the .collets from the punch and
die. On the other hand in a machine adapted to the production of sheet-metal
caps for bottle-corks, the eye-forming mechanism would of course be dispensed
with, nor would the caps be punched, but they, would be embossed. In such a
machine it would not be necessary to provide for the vertical movement of the
carrier, which would, however, co-operate with the cutting, drawing and embossing
dies in the manner set forth, and require the use of a lifter for lifting the embossed
caps into the carrier, which would then convey them to one side for their
ejection from the machine.
I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact
construction and combination of parts herein shown and described, but hold
myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the
spirit and scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :.
1. The combination with a punch and die, of a stationary embossing die, a lifter
rising through the said embossing die, and a horizontally oscillating carrier into
which the parts produced by the action of the punch and dies are lifted by the
said lifter for conveyance by the said carrier to another point, substantially as set
forth.
.
2. The combination with a punch and die, and an independent eye-forming
mechanism, of a vertically reciprocating horizontally oscillating carrier consisting
of an arm which swings under the die and conveys the parts formed by the die
and punch to the said mechanism for their combination with the eyes formed
therein, means for swinging the said carrier arm horizontally between the punch
and die and the said mechanism, and for raising and lowering it with reference to
the said mechanism when it is at the limit of its movement with reference to the
same, substantially as described.
3. In a button-back machine, the combination with a vertically reciprocating,
horizontally oscillating carrier, of a heading or upsetting punch which forces the
parts out of said carrier into position to be combined with a previously formed
eye, and means for oscillating the carrier and for raising and lowering it with
respect to the said eye, substantially as set forth.
4. In a button-back machine, the combination with a punch and die, of a
stationary embossing die located below the said die, a lifter arranged to move
up and down in the embossing die, a vertically reciprocating horizontally oscillating
carrier, which receives the parts produced by the punch and dies and conveys
them to another point, an eye-forming mechanism, and a heading punch, which
forces the said parts out of the carrier into position to be combined with a
previously formed eye in the said mechanism, substantially as set forth.
5. In a button-back machine, the combination with a punch and die, of a
horizontally oscillating, vertically reciprocating carrier, arranged to swing under
the die to receive the parts produced therein, an eye-forming mechanism for
working up wire into eyes for buttons, an upsetting or heading punch for uniting
the eyes produced in the mechanism and the button parts produced in the die, and
means for oscillating and reciprocating the carrier, which is swung back and
forth between the die and méchanism and raised and lowered over the latter,
substantially as set forth.
6. In a button-back machine, the combination with a punch and die, of a
stationary embossing die located below the said die, a lifter arranged to nove up
and down in the embossing die, a horizontally oscillating carrier, which swings
under the die and over the embossing die, and receives the parts produced by the
punch and dies which are lifted into it from the embossing die by the lifter,
substantially as described.

page_text: 7. The combination with a punch and die, of a horizontally oscillating and
vertically reciprocating carrier arranged to swing under the die to receive the
parts produced by the action of the punch and die, a shaft upon which the said
carrier is mounted, means for oscillating the shaft, and means for lifting the
shaft vertically, including a vertically adjustable bolt having ball and socket
connection with the upper end of the shaft, which is thereby adjusted vertically
to change the vertical position of the shaft, and hence the carrier, substantially as
described.
Dated this 28th day of July 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.