CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MANUFACTURING BUTTONS.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Adrien Bonneville, of the British and Foreign
Patent Offices, 18, Rue de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, France, and 6, Piccadilly,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of " CERTAIN
NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MANUFACTURING BUTTONS.".
A communication from Charles Radcliffe, of the City of Newark, in the County
and State of New Jersey, United States of America.
aled the 13th March 1877, and dated the 6th January 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henri Adrien Bonneville at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th January 1877.
HENRI ADRIEN BONNEVILLE, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 18, Rue
de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, France, and 6, Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
MANUFACTURING BUTTONS." Communicated by Charles Radcliffe, a person residing
at the City of Newark, in the County and State of New Jersey, United States of
America.
This Invention has been applied in the manufacture of suspender buttons. These
buttons have a metal face or faces with a filling or body of paper or other
substance.
Heretofore in making such buttons the faces of the buttons have been stamped
out of metal of a round form with the edge turned up all round, and the faces or
filling of the body or paper also stamped in round form to go within the metal,
have been put together or in juxtaposition by hand, and then the pieces so put
together are carried to a machine where they are stamped, the edges of the faces
clinched or pressed down so as to enclose the paper filling, and then pressed into
form and punched with the necessary holes.
This Invention enables all of the operations of manufacture to be performed after
the stamping out of the parts automatically by machinery which is herein-after
described.
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings comprising 13
Figures which will be referred to as the description progresses.
Upon a suitable standard A and operated by suitable mechanical means, is
.

page_text: provided a horizontal table consisting of an under solid plate B immediately above
it, and turning in contact with it a rotating plate C having near its outer edge a
series of holes c, c, c, of the size or slightly larger than the button to be made; and
above this second plate a ring D of the same size as the two circular plates which
is held stationary, but is perforated with holes corresponding with those in the
second plate. The base of the holes in the plate C being closed by the lower
stationary plate form a series of depressions in which the buttons are to be formed.
The plate Ċ is caused to revolve with an alternate motion by a suitable cam or
ratchet wheel, the movements being timed to correspond with the action of the
other parts hereafter described. At one side of this table and above it, in the line
where the said holes or depressions c, c, c, revolve, is placed a vertical tube E
terminating above in a hopper F. In this hopper there are placed the fillings for
the buttons stamped or cut of the proper size. A brush fis arranged by suitable
connections shown in the Drawings, to vibrate backwards and forwards in said
hopper over the mouth of the vertical tube E among the fillings, the effect of which
is after the tube is full of fillings to keep it always just full, and lay the fillings in
position flat in the said tube, so that they may fall down the same one after the
other. The base of said tube is closed, but a slot is arranged 'in one side at the base
just large enough to permit the exit of one filling at a time; and by a reciprocating
bar G which is caused to enter the opposite side of the base of said tube, the fillings
are pushed out of the slot one after another, so as to fall successively through the
holes in the upper ring 1) into the holes or depressions c, c, c, of the revolving plate
C as it turns with its alternating motion beneath said tube. The action of the
reciprocating bar G is timed so as to push a filling into each successive hole c as it
comes in position at the side of the base of the vertical tube E. A little beyond
said tube of fillings is arranged a hopper H for the metal faces of the buttons.
These metal faces as shown in Fig. 11 and 12 are round and have the edges
turned, the corners where the edge is turned being slightly rounded, as shown in
the Drawing. These metal faces so formed are placed in the hopper H, the bottom
of which may be flat, but is preferably inclined towards the centre from each end,
as shown in section in Fig. 9. In the centre of the bottom is a slot-shaped
depression h¹ running across the hopper in the direction towards the revolving plate
which turns beside it. This depression is but little larger than the metal faces, and
just deep enough to allow the faces to catch and rest in it. The hopper is connected
with suitable machinery which causes it to tilt first in one direction and then in
the other, causing the metal faces in it to slide backward and forward over the slot-
like depression in its bottom. The machinery for causing the tilting shown in the
Drawings is a cam wheel P, which operates in opposition to a spring (not shown)
against a roller p on the end of a connection with an arm fastened to the hopper,
and projecting below the point at which it is pivoted so as to tilt.
Owing to the fact that the edges of the faces are turned, thereby causing the
turned edges to present a sharp line on the side of the button towards which they
are turned, and owing to the fact that the opposite side of the faces from which the
edges are turned have a rounded corner, the said faces in sliding backward and
forward in the hopper will only catch and rest in the slot-like depression when the
turned edges are downward. The result is that by each tilting motion of the
hopper the slot-like depression is filled or partly filled with metal faces, all of which
have their turned edges downwards.
In the Drawing (Fig. 9) one of the metal faces is shown in section resting in the
slot-like depression in this position. In the hopper is arranged a vibrating brush
or pad I, which is actuated to swing or vibrate by means of the arm i pivoted at
the pin passing through an elongated slot in i (see Figs. 1 and 8). The
lower surface of this brush or pad comes in close contact with the bottom of
the hopper, and operates to sweep off from the slot-like depression any of the
metal faces which are not lying flat and in proper position in such depression.
On the side of the slot-like depression h¹ towards the revolving plate there is a
slot (Fig. 8) in the side of the hopper H, through which slot the metal faces pass

page_text: when they are arranged as before mentioned in the slot-like depression. After each
tilting motion the hopper pauses in a level position, owing to the shape of the cam
wheel P which operates it, and the vibrating brush I being then also immediately
over the slot-like depression, and the metal faces being lightly held in their position,
they are pressed out of it by a reciprocating bar K through the slot k on the surface
of the revolving plate, where they all lie with their turned edges downward.
While the hopper is tilting the slot in the side may be kept closed by a spring (not
shown in the Drawings) or other suitable contrivance, which may also be arranged
to lift or open the slot when the hopper comes to a level position. The recipro-
cating bar K is shown in the Drawings (Fig. 2) actuated by a lever M pivoted
at m, motion being given in one direction by the cam wheel P having projecting
cams at proper points on its face, which bear upon a roller O in the end of a
connection with the lever M. Motion in the opposite direction is given to the lever
by a spring N.
Instead af a tilting hopper with its slot-like depression and the reciprocating bar
a hopper similar to the hopper F may be used if desired, and metal faces may be
placed in it, or in the mouth of a vertical tube descending from it with their edges
all turned in the same direction, and from it being delivered into the holes in the
revolving plate by a mechanism similar to that by which the fillings are delivered.
But as this arrangement would necessitate the adjustment of the edges of the faces
all in one direction by hand it is preferable to use a tilting hopper, as herein-before
described.
As the revolving plate turns, these metal faces are brought underneath a revolving
brush L, standing above said plate and turning on a vertical shaft arranged in a
suitable bearing connected with the frame of the machine. The revolving motion of
the brush L may be given by cords or belts from wheels . The. operation of the
brush L is to sweep the metal faces into a guide Q on the surface of the revolving
plate (Fig. 4) which by the motion of the revolving plate conducts them one by one
to the holes or depressions in the upper surface of such plate into which the paper
fillings have already been put as herein-before described. By this means into cach
of the holes or depressions in the upper surface of the revolving plate there is placed
a paper filling, and immediately over it one of the metal faces with its edge turned
down, so as to embrace the sides of the paper filling. In case the revolving brush
brings the metal faces to the entrance of the guide, which conducts them to the
depressions in the revolving plate more rapidly than the guide delivers them, the
surplus metal faces pass off by the side of the guide and are carried around by the
turning or revolving plate to the opposite side of the machine where they are swept
off into a receptacle, or may be guided off by the guide R (Fig. 4) and may then
be placed again in the hopper H.
Each depression in the revolving plate carrying the paper filling with the metal
face thus placed above it is next carried by the revolution of the plate under a
punch, the location of which is indicated in the Drawing (Fig. 3) at S, which is
arranged by suitable reciprocating machinery to descend into each depression as it
comes beneath said punch, and the punch by a touch adjusts the metal face over the
paper, so that the edges of the metal will enclose the paper filling. Immediately
adjoining this punch is another punch T also arranged to reciprocate by suitable
machinery and by the descent of which as successive depressions containing the
fillings and faces fall beneath it, each metal face is firmly pressed down into the.
depression over the metal face and its edges clinched around the paper filling.
By the shape of the same punch any desired configuration such as a central
depression may be given to the button thus formed by clinching the metal face
around the paper filling. Immediately adjoining this second punch, is arranged a
third punch U having at its extremity one, two, three, or more pointed instruments
(not shown) which is also caused to reciprocate by suitable machinery, and which
descends into each depression in the circular turning plate, as such depression comes
beneath it, and by the sharp points on its end, punches the necessary holes through
each button.

page_text: The punches should be arranged at the same distance apart as the holes c, c, c, in
the revolving plate, and may be caused to descend and rise by being attached to a
frame or frames sliding in ways V, and operated by a knuckle-joint W, moved by
connections with the crank shaft X.
The button, by the operation of the punch last mentioned, is finished except
japanning; and after being carried a little further by the revolving plate, is dropped
through a hole in the under stationary plate into a receptacle beneath the machine,
or it may be driven down through the hole in the plate B, by a pin Y, operated by
a sliding frame, the same as, or similar to that which operates the punches. A
compact arrangement for operating the several parts of the machine herein-before
described, is shown in the Drawings; the vibrating brush f, the reciprocating bar G
for expelling the fillings from the bottom of the tube E, the punches and the pin Y
being all operated by the frame sliding in the ways V. The same cam wheel P also
causes the tilting of the hopper H, and moves the reciprocating bar K.'
The machine is operated by a crank or by power applied to the crank shaft X,
and motion may be given to the revolving plate or table, and to the cam wheel P,
and from it to other parts of the machine through pinion wheels connecting with
the main crank shaft X. When it is desired to make buttons with two metal faces,
an upper and lower one with a filling of paper or other material between them, the
arrangement and combination is modified so as to introduce a second hopper for
holding the under metal faces. Both metal faces have turned edges, as before
described, and one is made slightly smaller than the other, so as to go within the
edges of the other. The fillings are made of a proper size to go within the smallest
of the metal faces.
The hopper already described feeds to the machine metal faces with their turned
edges downward, and a similar hopper is arranged by the side of the revolving plate
in case two faces are to be used which will conduct into each depression in the re-
volving plate (prior to the operation of dropping the paper filling into each depres-
sion as heretofore described) a metal face with its edge turned upwards. The location
of the hopper for fillings and that for the upper metal faces will be modified in case
of the introduction of this hopper for lower metal faces.
The arrangement by which the metal faces to be first dropped into the depressions
in the turning plate or table are caused to have their edges turned upward instead
of downward as previously described is as follows:--The tilting hopper for holding
these under faces is the same as previously described for holding the upper metal
faces. It has also in its bottom a slot-like depression, and the method of passing
the faces arranged in the slot-like depression through the side of the hopper
towards the revolving plate is the same. These metal faces as they arrange them-
selves in said slot-like depression in the hopper all have their turned edges down-
ward, and in order to deliver them from the hopper on to the revolving plate and
into the holes c, c, c, they are caused to pass through a screw-formed channel Z
(Fig. 10) the arrangement of which in connection with the hopper will be readily
understood which turns them once over and so delivers them upon the upper surface.
of the revolving plate with their turned edges upward. From this position they may
be conducted by means of a revolving brush and guide similar to that previously
described one by one into the holes or depressions near the outside edge of the re-
volving plate. The paper fillings are then dropped on each one of them in such
holes or depressions as before described, and the upper metal faces are also placed in
each hole or depression as before described. The pieces so placed in such depres-
sions are adjusted in position, the edges clinched, the form given to the button, and
the holes punched by punches as previously mentioned. The edges of the holes in
the buttons being rough from the punching may be smoothed, and any orna-
mentation or shape may be given to the button by any of the ordinary means
known.
Having thus described the nature of the said improvements and the manner of
carrying them into effect, what I claim and wish to secure by Royal Letters

page_text: 1. The combination of a hopper F, tube E, and vibrating brush f, substantially as
herein-before described.
2. The tilting hopper H arranged with a depression in and extending across the
bottom for receiving and arranging simultaneously a series of metal faces for buttons
or similar articles substantially as herein described.
"
3. The combination of a hopper F, vertical tube E, vibrating brush f, and the re-
volving plate substantially as herein-before described.
4. The combination of a tilting hopper with its slot-like depression, the recipro-
cating bar K, and the revolving plate, substantially as herein-before described.
5. The combination of the revolving plate and revolving brush and guide for con-
ducting articles to be stamped or punched to depressions in the edge of said revolving
plate substantially as herein-before described.
6. The combination of the tilting hopper, revolving plate, rotating brush and
guide, substantially as herein-before described.
7. The combination of the hopper F, the tilting hopper H, and a revolving plate,
substantially as herein-before described.
8. The combination of the hopper F, vibrating brush f, tilting hopper H, vibrating
brush I, reciprocating bar K, and revolving plate, substantially as herein-before
described.
9. The combination of the tilting hopper, reciprocating bar, revolving plate, and
one or more punches, substantially as herein-before described.
10. The combination of the tilting hopper, reciprocating bar, revolving plate, re-
volving brush, and one or more punches, substantially as herein-before described.
11. The combination of the hopper F, tilting hopper H, revolving plate, revolving
brush, and one or more punches, substantially as herein-before described..
12. The combination of one or more vertical tubes for conveying fillings or faces,
the revolving plate, and one or more punches, substantially as herein-before
described.
13. The combination of the vibrating brush f, reciprocating bar K, and punches,
all operated from the same sliding frame, substantially as herein-before described.
14. The combination of the tilting hopper and reciprocating bar operated by the
same cam wheel as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
TT
TT
H. BONNEVILLE
(L.S.)