Improvements in Button Attaching Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Button Attaching Machines.
I REGINALD HADDAN of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of 18 Buckingham
Street, Strand W.C. London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, a communication to me from abroad by William E. Elliott, of Grand
Rapids, State of Michigan, United States of America, Manufacturer and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The nature of this invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in
button attaching machines, and more particularly to that class of machines which
passes a wire through the eye of a button, severs a section of such wire, bends the
same into a staple and attaches the button by means of a staple so formed upon
any suitable fabric or material.
The objects of this invention are,
First. To produce a button fastening machine adapted to feed buttons from a
hopper automatically through a button raceway, to feed a wire from a continuous
coil through the button eye, to sever a piece of wire and shape the same into a
staple, and by suitable mechanism to attach the button by means of the staple so
severed to the fabric.
Second. To furnish mechanism whereby a button can automatically be fed by
means of an adjustable finger from the button raceway, to a pre-determined
position and to hold the said button in such position for the reception of the staple
wire.
Third. To supply a stop attachment operated from the button feeding
mechanism, and adapted to cut out the staple wire feed whenever the button
feeding mechanism fails to deliver a button in position to receive the wire through
its eye.
Fourth. To furnish a stop mechanism operated from the button feeding
mechanism for detaching the registering mechanism, thereby preventing the
registering of a staple whenever a button is not placed in position to receive the
staple wire.
Fifth. To combine with the button feeding mechanism, a wire feeding mechanism,
a staple forming and setting mechanism and a register adapted to register the
staples made from the continuous wire coil.
Sixth. To combine with a button feeding mechanism, the staple forming
mechanism, and button setting mechanism of the trip dog for preventing a partial
stroke either backward or forward, whereby the operator must continue the stroke
when it has been partially made in either direction.
Seventh. To combine with a button setting mechanism a staple former containing
a wire guide whereby the wire is directed to the button eye.
Eighth. To combine with the button raceway the automatically moving blade
for moving forward the buttons in series, or moving a plurality of buttons at once
by a single movement of the automatically moving blade, and means whereby the
blade in its reverse stroke is lifted over the buttons.
Ninth. The combination with suitable cam moving mechanism of a button
setting and staple cutting and bending machine whereby the buttons are moved
forward one at a time, the wire is fed through the eye of each button, and the
staple formed and button attached to the fabric, all by a single forward stroke of
the machine.
Terth. The use in combination in a button setting machine, or a driver, a staple

page_text: cutter and former, mechanism for placing the buttons upon the former, and
retaining the same in position to receive the wire, said former having a rocking
motion..
Eleventh. The combination with a button attaching machine of a friction wire
feed, whereby the wire if it fails to enter the eye of the button, will arrest the
operation of the feed.
Twelfth. The combination with a button setting machine of an automatic fabric
feed for feeding the fabric and spacing the buttons.
Thirteenth. To combine with a button attaching mechanism a power feed with
attaching and detaching device, whereby the operator is enabled to attach one
button at each stroke of the button setting machine, and to control the same at
will.
Fourteenth. Various other objects particularly pointed out and claimed
hereafter.
These objects I accomplish by means of the mechanism illustrated in the
accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine which is designed to be used in
connection with some suitable power besides foot power, the button setting
machine proper being mounted upon a suitable table, which table is cut away in
order to show a treadle disconnecting mechanism.
Figure 2. is a horizontal sectional view on line X X of Fig. 1 showing the
clutch mechanism for connecting and disconnecting from the working parts of the
machine.
Figure 3 is a plan view of a sliding sleeve, which forms one part of the clutch
attachment.
Figure 4 is a pitman attachment connecting the power communicating shaft
with the staple making and button setting part of the machine.
Figure 5 is a plan view of the staple making and button setting machine
without the supporting table.
Figure 6 is a plan view of the same parts as shown in Fig. 5 with the button
hopper, button raceway and top plate removed in order to disclose the internal
structure of the machine.
Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view on line Y Y of Fig. 5.
Figure 8 is a side view of the staple making and button setting parts of the
machine with the plate and case removed.
Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view on line Z Z of Fig. 5 looking towards the
feed finger and button raceway.
Figure 10 is an inverted plan view of the staple registering device, showing the
ratchet and pawl mechanism for operating the same.
Figure 11 is a plan view of the wire feeding mechanism with a portion of the
cam which operates the same.
Figure 12. is a side elevation of the fabric feeding and spacing mechanism.
Figure 13 is a plan view of the foot or presser of the fabric feeding and spacing
mechanism.
Figure 14. is a side elevation of a piroted arm and mechanism which auto-
matically lifts the button feed finger over the button in its reverse stroke or
movement; and
Figure 15 is a sectional view showing the centre of the wire feed and adjunctive
parts on the plane of the movement of the driver, and wire feed guide.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
A represents the outer case or shell of what I shall term the machine head,
which machine head contains substantially all the mechanism excepting the power
feed hereinafter described. B is a supporting frame which is used in connection
with a continuous power through a pulley or shaft as shown in Fig. 1. C is a
supporting bench or frame constructed in any suitable shape or form, and of any
suitable material. D is a band pulley receiving the power from any suitable source
and transmitting the same through the shaft E to the various parts of the machine.

page_text: F is a hub on the pulley D, and is provided with holes G G which holes engage
the pins II on the sliding clutch sleeve H. The sleeve H is supported by and
has a sliding movement upon the shaft E, and the sleeve H with its pins I, together
with the hub F with its holes G, form a clutch by means of which the pulley D
may be attached and detached as hereinafter described.
The sleeve H is provided with a cam groove J and with a friction stop or
depression K with which friction depression the break pin L engages in order to
stop the movement of the sleeve H as soon as it shall have been detached from the
hub F by means hereinafter described.
M is a spring adapted to press the break pin L into operative contact with the
friction depression. N is a pin adapted to engage with the cam J and so with-
draw and withheld the sleeve H out of engagement with the hub F. The sleeve H
is pressed into and held in engagement with the hub F by means of a spring O as
soon as the pin N is withdrawn from its locking position. P is a spline or key,
which attaches the sleeve to the shaft E in such a manner as to allow the said
sleeve to move longitudinally along the shaft for the purpose of attachment with
the hub H and detachment therefrom. The spline or key P is so attached to the
sleeve H that it will always revolve with its shaft E notwithstanding its longi-
tudinal movement thereon.
Qis a crank on the shaft E, attaching said shaft through the connection U to
the machine head. R is a crank pin for the crank Q. S is a journal box for the
crank piu R and is preferably adjusted by means of a screw. T is an adjustable
screw used in adjusting the connections between the power and the machine head.
U is a connecting joint and it is provided with a slot V in order to allow a sliding
movement of the crank pin thereby providing for an adjustment of the machine
to fabrics of different thicknesses.
W is a bell crank connected to pin N and is connected by the draw rod X to
the adjustable sleeve Y, which sleeve Y allows the treadle and mechanism below
the treadle to be adjusted for connection with the machinery above the table in
case tables are of different heights. The draw rod X, which is made in two parts
is connected to the intermediate lever Z by a suitable pivot or other attachment.
Intermediate lever Z is pivoted to the foot treadle 1 and is provided with a
suitably constructed free end 5 which engages with the swinging catch 2, which
swinging catch 2 is pivoted to the foot lever at 3 and is provided with a notch
which automatically engages with the end 5 of the intermediate lever Z, and with
an elbow 6 which, when the foot treadle is lowered, comes in contact with the
base 7 and releases the swinging catch from the intermediate lever Z.
A spring 4 is adapted to engage the intermediate lever with the swinging catch,
and thereby to the foot treadle as soon as the foot has been released from
downward pressure upon the treadle.
The operation of this invention is as follows:-
When the treadle is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the connection extends from
the treadle to the pin N, (Fig. 1), and the power pulley is running idly upon the
shaft E; placing the foot upon the treadle 1 depresses the same, and with it the
connecting rod X, turning bell crank W, drawing out the connecting pin N and
spring O, (Fig. 2) will move the sleeve H until the clutch pin I engages with one
of the holes G in the hub F, thus completing the connection between the machine:
head, and the shaft E, setting the machine in motion, which motion will continue
during one revolution of the shaft E. As the treadle is still further depressed
by the continued action of the foot of the operator, the elbow (6) of the swinging
catch 2 comes in contact with the base 7, oscillating or turning the swinging catch 2
on its pivot or fulcrum, disconnecting said catch from the intermediate lever Z
when the spring 4 at once acting through its connecting mechanism, returns the
pin to its normal position, and the revolution of the sleeve H swings the cam J
into engagement with pin N, thereby retracting sleeve H and disconnecting the
sleeve H from the hub F.
The object of the mechanism above described is to make one staple and set one

page_text: button by a single revolution of the sleeve H, and to enable the operator at will to
control the speed of the machine in setting buttons.
When the pin I is withdrawn from the hub F, the break pin L engages with the
depression K of sleeve H and arrests its movement and the operative parts of the
machine head. I have referred to the machine head by which term I designate all
that part of the machine which is used in making and driving staples, feeding
buttons and registering staples cut from wire and which operation I will now
proceed to describe :-
A yoke 8 (Figs. 6 and 8) is attached to U and the bell cranks 9 and 10; to the
bell cranks 9 and 10 are attached the connecting bars 11 and 12 which connect the
the cranks to the sliding cam 13, and also to the cam 14, which said cam 14 moves
with the sliding cam 13. The cam 14 operates the wire feeding mechanism as
hereinafter described. The screw 15 is preferably used to connect cam 13 to the
connecting bars 11 and 12 and also to the wire operating cam 14. The bell
cranks 9 and 10 oscillate upon the main shaft 16 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) which shaft 16
is supported in the case A. The sliding cam 13 is supported and maintained in
position within the case by means of the shaft 16 and the shaft 17, the shaft 16
having a roller 18, and the shaft 17 having a roller 19. (Fig. 8). The roller 18 is
supported in the groove 20, and roller 19 is supported in the groove 21. The
parts of the cam grooves 20 and 21, which support the rollers 18 and 19 are
parallel so that the reciprocal movement of the cam 13 is limited to a movement
in a straight line. The staple driver 22 is rigidly attached to the cam 13 and moves
with it at all times.
The staple bender 23 which also forms the staple cut-off and guide is connected
to bell cranks 24 and 25, by the connections 26 and 27 (Figs. 6 and 8); these bell
cranks 26 and 27 rock or oscillate on the main shaft 16, and are each provided with
a stud 28, and preferably with a roller 29, the roller 29 moving in the lower or
front part of the cam groove 20. The roller 29 is attached by means of suitable
connections to the staple bender and cut-off and guide and operate the same; and
the movement of the roller 29 and its attached mechanism, is caused by the sliding
cam 13 in the following manner. Let the roller rest in the lower end of that part
of the cam marked 30, and then move the sliding cam 13 downwards by any suitable
power, the roller will at first move along in the groove 30 until it passes the
respective cam surfaces 31, 32 and 33 on the downward stroke of the cam slide 12
and on the upward movement or stroke of the cam slide 13, the roller will pass
respective cam surfaces 34, 35 and 36.
These cam surfaces above described give the requisite movement to the staple
bender cut-off and guide in its upward and downward movement. In order to adapt
the machine to set buttons on both thick and thin fabric, it becomes desirable to
have the staple bender press upon the fabric with an elastic pressure, and I have
provided for this by means of the cam surface 37, which is supported by a spring 38
(Fig. 7). When the lower end of the staple bender comes in contact with the
fabric, the roller 29 is in contact with the spring surface 37 and a further downward
pressure of the staple bender bring into use the tension of the spring 38, thus
grasping the fabric by a yielding grasp between the lower end of the staple bender
and the anvil.
The staple cut-off and bender 23 is provided with an angle corner 39 (Figs. 5
and 15) which in its downward movement, severs a section of wire of sufficient
length to make a staple, such wire having first passed through the feed screw 40,
and also through the button eye and reached its proper position to be bent in to the
form of a staple by the staple bender. The staple bender and cut-off is provided
with an opening 41 for the reception of the staple former 42 (Figs. 7 and 8) and is
preferably provided with a button guide groove 43. In order to hold the severed
section of wire in place as it is bent upon the staple former into the staple, I
provide guide grooves 44, 44, which extend up a short distance from the lower end,
of the staple bender and cut-off, and which receive the legs of the bent staple after
the wire has been bent over the former. The former 42 is pivotally connected to

page_text: the frame A by means of shaft or pivot 45 (Figs. 7 and 8). The former has a
rock motion upon this pivot 45 and is operated by contact with the staple driver 22,
said former having sufficient length to be rocked in one direction by the lower end
of the driver, and in the opposite direction by the other end of the driver, the staple
driver having a bevel or incline at either end, the upper end of the bevel adapted
to drive back the upper end of the former in the upward motion of the driver
thereby swinging forward the lower end of the staple former in position to receive
and form the wire into a staple. The reverse movement of the driver retracts the
lower end of the staple former allowing the driver to pass downward, carrying with
it the staple and button in order to attach the same to the fabric. The staple
former proper is provided with a notch 91, which serves the purpose of retaining
the button eye, and consequently the button, in proper position to receive the wire
from the wire feed. The former also has a shoulder 47 which serves as a wire
guide, lifting the end of the wire, and directing the same into the button eye.
48 is a bevel or incline upon the upper end of the driver, which rocks the former.
so as to bring its lower end in proper position to receive the wire; and 49 represents
the bevel or incline on the lower end of the driver, which retracts the lower end of
the former when the staple has been completed. The wire is fed from the spool or
from any suitable supply. 50 represents the wire which has passed through the
feed lever 51, which feed lever is provided with a wire grip composed of a jaw 52,,
which jaw is operated by a spring 53. (Fig. 6); the wire then passes through a
second grip, composed of a jaw 54, and operative spring 55, also screw 56, the wire
also passes through the cut off screw 40 (Fig. 15) and over the end of the staple
former 42 when it is in position to be cut off or severed from the main body of wire,
in order to form a staple.
The feed lever 51 is preferably fulcrumed on a screw or bolt 57 and is operated.
in its backward movement by a cam 14 and is returned to its forward or normal
position by the spring 58, the wire is fed by the spring tension which prevents the '
ending or buckling of the wire in case the end of the wire meets with any obstruc-
tion or obstacle. 59 is a pivoted lever adapted to cut out or check the wire feed.
nd it is controlled by the button feeding mechanism. 60 is a stop, preferably
adjustable, and is adapted to come in contact with the feed jaw 52 when the same
is retracted by the feed lever 51 and is shown in Fig. 11. The button feed
finger 61 is adapted to feed the button, as hereinafter described, and is provided
with a pin or projection 62 which comes in contact with the end of the pivoted
lever 59 whenever the finger carries no button, and when it comes in contact with
said lever 59 it swings the lever upon its pivot and cuts out the wire feed.
The object of this construction is to prevent the feeding of the wire or the
making of a staple when no button has been brought down by the feed finger in.
position to receive the staple wire. The buttons are preferably fed from a button
hopper 63.
The hopper as shown in the drawings is cylindrical in form and is
provided with a curved or circular groove 64 opening from the hopper or raceway 65.
A feed brush 66 is revolved intermittently within the hopper. The feed brush
turns upon a central shaft or pivot 67, which pivot extends through the hopper and
is provided with a ratchet wheel 68; the ratchet wheel is actuated by double
pawls 69 through pivotal connections or arms 70, 70, and which connections are
pivoted to the cam 14, by which connection the ratchet wheel and consequently the
feed brushes are moved in the same direction both by a downward and return.
movement of the cam 14, the buttons being placed in the hopper are carried by
the brush around or beneath the projections 71, and the buttons with their eyes
turned downward in the groove pass downward in the raceway 65 until the
forward button meets the pivoted-button-retaining-hooks 72; the retaining
hooks 72 are pivoted to the raceway 65, and are provided with actuating
springs 74, which holds said retaining hooks in normal position, and also the
buttons until the button is removed therefrom by the button feed finger 61, said
buttons being removed one at a time, and one at each downward stroke of
the button setting mechanism.
:

page_text: The brush moving within the hopper, as above described, has a tendency to
place the buttons in proper position with their eyes in the groove 64 but not
all the buttons will be so placed, and as the buttons are moved around the
stationary brush 75 removes the greater part of the misplaced buttons from
the groove. In case, however a misplaced button passes beyond the stationary
brush 75, such button is carried along until it comes in contact with a ledge 71,
and is there retained until it is removed from its position over or in proximity
to the groove by the button feeder 76, and this allows the following button,
which has its eye properly placed in the groove to be fed into the button
raceway.
The bottom of the hopper is provided with a depression 73, which also assists
in removing misplaced buttons from the groove 64; the button feed 76 has a
scalloped or serrated side which comes in contact with the top or upper part of
the buttons (Figs. 7 and 8) and feeds, or assists in feeding the buttons into the
buttonway. The button feed 76 is supported and receives its reciprocal move-
ment from the feed carrier 77. The feed 76 is provided with cam grooves 78
and passing through these grooves are the stationary pins 79; the said cam feed
is also provided with screws 80 forming a connection between the button feed 76
and the button feed carrier 77; the button feed carrier being provided with
slots 81 which support the said carrier upon the pin 79. The front end of the
carrier 77 is provided with a notch 82, the said notch being provided with a
shoulder 83, and the rear end of the carrier is provided with a notch 84 as shown
in the drawings; the carrier and the connecting parts are operated from the rod or
bar 85, which bar 85 is provided with a projection 86, held in place by locknuts 87,
.or other suitable means." This projection 86 comes in contact alternately with the
projections or arms 88 and 89 of the feeder 77. Above the button feed 76 is an
adjustable spring 90, which presses against the button feed 76 and holds it in
contact with the buttons when lowered by the spring pressure. The movement of
the button feed is as follows:-
The bolts 79-79 rest in the cam grooves 78-78 in the position shown in Fig. 7
when the button feed is at the upper part of the up stroke; in passing forward in
the down stroke the bolts pass up into the angle part of the cam grooves, allowing
the button feed to lower and rest upon the buttons at or about the middle of the
stroke, this carries forward the buttons in the button raceway, several buttons
being carried forward at a time; after passing the buttons beyond the middle of its
downward stroke, the feed is lifted from the buttons by the upper incline of the
cam grooves, and continues its movement until it has reached the limit of the
-downward stroke.
The
The return movement differs from the downward stroke in this respect.
pin 80 in the lower end of the button-feeder 76 at the initial movement of the
return stroke comes in contact with the stop or shoulder 83 of the carrier 77 and
the lower end of the button feed is held up and away from the buttons during the
entire return stroke, while the upper end of the button feed has precisely the same
movement on its return stroke that it had on its downward stroke and it acts upon
the buttons in the hopper as a button picker. The notches 82 and 84 are of
sufficient width to allow of a small amount of longitudinal movement to the button
feed independent of the button feed carrier 77; the buttons are thus fed to the
button raceway, and the lower button rests against the retaining hook 72, from
whence it is carried by the feed finger 61 to the former 42, and there securely held
in position until it received the wire feed through the button eye, as above
described. The button feed finger is adapted to receive the buttons from the button
raceway, carry said button and place it against the staple former with the button
eye resting in the slot 91 (Figs. 7 and 8) of the former, and to retain it there until
the staple wire has been fed through the button eye, cut off and bent into a staple.
The button feeder 76 is held down in contact with the button by means of a
spring 90 (Fig. 7). The feed finger 61 is provided with a slot 95 and a cam
surface 94; the lever 92 is provided with an arm or lateral projection 97, which

page_text: passes through the slot 95 of the feed finger and forms a pivot upon which the:
feed finger turns and slides for the purpose of obtaining an automatic adjustment
for holding buttons of various sizes and shapes. A pivoted guide 93, having for
its pivotal connection the arm 97, supports the feed finger from either side, said
guide being provided with a bearing pin which is held in contact with the cam
surface 94 by means of the spring 96.
The supporting lever 92 is preferably rigid with the bell crank 98, one part of
which bell crank passes through the case of the machine head forming the fulcrum ;
the other end of said bell crank 98 is provided with a roller 99 (Fig. 7) which:
roller 99 moves in the rear part of the cam groove 21.
The movement of the feed finger, and its adjunctive mechanism is as follows:
In Figs. 7 and 8 the finger is shown at the up stroke of the machine, with a.
button held by the feed finger against the former 42, in position to receive the wire
from the wire feeding mechanism. When the eye of the button strikes the
former 42, the finger slides or moves backward upon a pivotal bolt 97 thereby
adjusting the finger to the size of the button, and holding the said button under
spring tension; the spring 96 holding the guide 93 with its bolt 100 in contact
with the cam surface of the feed finger, retaining it securely upon the button; the
downward stroke moves the feed finger as follows:-The roller 99 moving from
the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8, as the sliding cam 13 moves forward and
downward, passes into the inclined upper part of the cam groove 21 turning the
bell crank of the lever 92 upon its fulcrum, thus retreating the upper end of
the lever 92, carrying with it the feed finger to the position shown in Fig. 5..
The pin 62 (Fig. 11) moves along a guide 101 (Figs. 7, 11 and 14) which holds the
end of the feed-finger above the raceway. In order to lift the feed finger over the
ends of the following buttons I provide a forked lever 102 (Fig. 14) pivoted at 103
to the frame and provided with two pins or stops 104, and 104; bearing upon
these stops is a lever 105 pivoted at 106 and held in contact with the stops or pins
by the spring 107. As the feed finger moves upwardly, the pin 62 engages with
the forked lever 102, which is turned upon its pivot or fulcrum 103, and which
thereby raises the feed finger and carries it in the direction shown by the dotted
lines in Fig. 14.
When the feed finger reaches a given point in its upward movement, the pin 62
escapes from the fork of the lever 102 and the spring returns the lever to its
normal position. The downward movement of the feed finger merely pushes the
lever 102 out of its road and passes by the same into a position to again be lifted
by the lever when said finger is again carried upwards.
It will be noticed that the feed finger is moved upwards by the downward
stroke of the machine.
The staple register is operated by the movement of the wire feed lever 51 ; a
shaft 108 (Figs. 9 & 11) is brought in contact with the pivoted lever 109 (Fig. 10);.
this lever 109 is preferably provided with a slot 110, or some similar device, which
serves as a stop by coming in contact with the shaft 111 of the ratchet wheel 112.
The pivoted fever 109 is provided with a pawl 113 which is operated by a
spring 114. This pawl engages with the teeth on the ratchet wheel 112 thereby
giving it its rotary motion; a stationary pawl 115 with its operative spring 116.
serves to retain the forward or rotary motion given by the pawl 113. In order to
prevent the pawl 113 from moving the ratchet wheel more than one notch at a
time, provide a cam 141 which lifts the pawl from the engagement with the
ratchet wheel so that it can take but one tooth at each forward movement, or move
the ratchet wheel one notch at a time. This construction is rendered desirable
for the reason that the length of the strokes made by the lever 51 is not uniform.
The register consists of gears arranged upon two parallel shafts with cylindrical
faces adapted to contain a suitable numbering. Inasmuch as the form of these
gears are old, it is unnecessary to describe them in detail.
In order to prevent injury by a partial stroke of the button setting and staple-
forming device, I provide a double acting trip dog shown by 117 (Figs. 6 and 7).

page_text: .
In using this invention it is desirable that when the machine is put in operation,
that each downward stroke is completely finished, and each upward stroke
completely finished, otherwise, a staple might be cut from the wire, and before the
same was formed into a staple and set upon the fabric, another section of wire
might be severed and in that way the machine would be injured; and it frequently
happens that persons not acquainted with the machine will set the same in operation
without understanding the nature of the machine; and in order to prevent injury
by a partial stroke of the staple making and button setting devices, I have provided
a double acting trip-dog, which is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 by 117. This trip-dog
is pivoted at 118 to the sliding cam 13 and is provided with a V shaped cam 119,
and is operated by means of a pivoted lever 120, which lever is pivoted at 121
(Fig. 7) and is held in its operative position on the cam 119 by means of the
spring 122 said lever 120 has a face of suitable shape to correspond with the
V shaped cam by means of which it assists in operating the said trip dog 117.
Said dog 117 is, at its ends, constructed so as to engage with notches on the under
side of the button raceway the lower notch being shown by 123 and the upper
notch by 124, the dog being received at or near cach end of the stroke by a
stud 125. The operation of the said dog is as follows:-
Let the cam slide 13 stand in the position shown in Fig. 7 with the upper end of
the dog 117 at its upper point, as the slide 13 is passed downwards it carries the
dog with it in its downward stroke, and the upper end of the dog passes into the
notch 124, and after passing said notch cannot be passed backwards or upwards, or
given its backward stroke for the reason that the dog will engage with said
notch 124, but by continuing its downwards stroke the dog comes in contact with
stud 125, and is thereby reversed; thus, the upper end of the dog is depressed and
the lower end is raised, leaving the dog in position not to engage with the returning
cam 13. On the return stroke, the lower end of the dog 117 having been carried
beyond the notch 123, this end of the dog will engage with said notch.if a down-
ward stroke is attempted before the cam 13 is carried beyond the trip pin 125,
thereby again reversing the dog.
I will now describe the fabric feed and button spacing attachment which may be
used in connection with the mechanism above described.
arm 138.
A sleeve 127 is attached to the upper end of the anvil supporting post 132,
shown in Figs. 7 and 12, the sleeve has at its respective ends two parallel
plates 128 and 129, provided with openings or slots near their lower sides in which
slots is placed a laterally movable slide 130. This slide is provided with teeth or
roughened surfaces which engage with and move the fabric held in contact therewith
by means of a pressure plate 137, which pressure plate is provided with a spring
This spring arm is forced back by means of a pivoted lever 139 in order
to lift said pressure plate. When the fabric is placed in position to receive the
buttons from the button setting device, the slide 130 is moved by means of a
pivoted arm 134 which is moved to the right on the back stroke by a spring 133,
and is moved forwards by means of an adjustable wedge or cam 136 which wedge
is placed on the rod 135 and moved by means of suitable connections from
the main cam 13. The upper end of the lever 134 engages an inclined slot 140;
in the slide 130 and engages its respective ends in the forward and back stroke
whereby the slide is retracted from the fabric as the lever moves to the end of the
slot nearest the same to make the backward stroke. To effect such movement of
the arm 134 in the slot 140, a spring 131 engages the slide 130 and prevents its
moving too freely in the plates 128 and 129.
The operation of this invention in making a staple, setting a button and
registering the same is briefly as follows:-
As the machine stands, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the wire has been fed through
the eye of the button, and the sliding cam 13 is at the upper end of the stroke
if the sliding cam is now started on its downward stroke by the foot, or any suitable
power, it carries with it the wire cam 14, giving the backward movement to the
wire-feed-lever 51 to a point where it can again grasp the wire for the next

page_text: following staple. As the cam 13 is carried further, the roller 29 meets cam-face 31
(Fig. 7) moving forward the cutter and bender 23 severing a piece of wire of
suitable length for a staple, bending into a staple around the staple former 42.
The movement of the bender is now arrested by the cam 32 and the staple driver 22
is carried forward, and the bevel end 49 retracts the staple former 42, and the
driver continues its downward movement meeting the crown of the staple. At
this point the roller 29 comes in contact with the cam groove 33 (Fig. 7), and the
staple bender 23, and driver 22 are carried downward together to the clinching
die or anvil 126, the fabric which is to receive the button and staple having been
placed upon said die. In order to adjust the stroke to fabric of different thicknesses,
the staple bender when it meets the fabric is arrested by the yielding pressure
thereon, and to prevent the injury from this pressure a spring lever tension 37
allows the bender to adjust itself automatically to any required thickness of fabric.
After the staple bender 33 has reached its lowest point, the sliding cam 13 continués
the downward movement of the driver 22 until it clinches the staple with the
button attached upon the fabric. The downward stroke above described revolves
the hopper brush 66, as described above, and returns the feed finger 61 to the
position shown in Fig. 5. The return of the sliding cam 13 brings the roller 29
in contact with cam groove 34 (Fig. 7) which carries the cutter and bender 23 to
the first part of its upward stroke where it remains stationary while the roller 27
remains on cam surface 35, at this time the upper. end 48 of the driver 22 meetš
the upper end of the former 42 and returns the lower end of said former to the
position to receive the eye of the button and wire. After the former is in the
position last described, the feed finger 61 receives and carries the button from
the raceway and places it with its eye in groove 91 of the former 42, and by its
spring adjustment adjusts itself to hold the button securely in position. The
roller 29 comes in contact with the cam 36 (Fig. 7) and returns the cutter and
bender to the position as described. The wire is now carried or fed through the
eye of the button by the spring 58, and registered by the registering mechanism
above described. . It will be noted that when the end of the feed finger is held by
the button which is stopped by the former, the button prevents the stud 62 on the
button-feed-finger from coming in contact with the pivoted lever 59 which hold's
the wire to be fed into the button eye by the wire feeding mechanism.
If by accident or otherwise, the button is not brought down against the staple
former by the button feed finger, the stud 62 meets the pivoted lever 52, locking
the wire feed lever 51 so that no wire is fed to the machine and the registering
device fails to operate. By this contrivance no staples are registered, excepting
such as are fed through the eye of the button and attached to the fabric.
The other parts of this invention have been sufficiently described above and a
description need not be given here.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is- °
1. In the button fastening machine, the combination of the automatic feeding
mechanism, ada ed to feed the button singly to the wire threading mechanism,
the wire feed adapted to feed wire through the eye of the button from continuous
wire, a staple mechanism adapted to sever a section of the wire to form a staple, a
staple bending mechanism, a mechanism for clinching a staple and button to the
fabric by a single stroke of the button setting mechanism.
2. In combination with the button race-way, a feed finger adapted to receive
the button from the button race-way and convey the same to the point to receive
the wire feed, a wire feeding mechanism adapted to feed the wire to the button
eye, a staple cutting and bending mechanism, a yielding pressure upon said feed
finger, a staple mechanism for attaching the staple and button to the fabric.
3. The combination with the button race-way and feed finger, provided with a
B

page_text: yielding pressure thrust, a wire feeding mechanism, a staple former and mechanism
for attaching the staple and button upon the fabric.
4. The combination of the button lever, a button race-way, a feed finger, a
yielding button pressure thrust upon said finger, a staple former provided with a
groove to receive the button eye, an automatic wire feed, staple cutter and bender,
staple setting plunger moving within the button cutter, and a yielding pressure
device acting upon said staple cutting bar.
5. The combination with the staple cutting and bending bar, a yielding pressure
spring, a staple setting bar moving within the staple bending and cutting bar, a
button feed finger and an anvil receiving the staple cutting bar with a yielding
pressure, substantially as described.
6. The combination of an automatic adjustable button feed finger adapted to
receive the button from the button race-way, a button race way adapted to deliver
the buttons singly to said feed finger, a wire feeding inechanism, a staple cutting
and bending bar and a plunger or setting bar adapted to attach the staple and
button to the fabric substantially as described.
7. The combination of the automatically adjustable button feed finger and button
race-way, a staple former, a staple cutting and bending bar, a yielding pressure
wire feeding mechanism substantially as described.
8. In combination with a staple cutting and bending bar, staple setting bar,
staple former and an automatic trip-dog operated by the setting bar substantially
as described.
9. The combination with the button feed finger and staple cutting and
bending bar of a staple setting bar and a trip dog substantially as described.
10. The combination of the staple cutting and bending bar, staple driving bar,
a double tripping dog, a cam mechanism for operating said driving bar and said
staple cutting and bending bar substantially as described.
11. The combination of a button hopper, and button raceway, a button feed
finger adapted to receive the button from the raceway and deliver the same in
position to receive the wire from the wire feeding mechanism, a yielding button
pressure upon said button feed finger adapted to adjust the feed finger to the
button and suitable mechanism for bending and setting the staples with the button
to the fabric.
12. In the button attaching machine, the combination of button feeding
mechanism, wire feeding mechanism, and a stop adapted to cut out the wire feed,
whenever the button is not fed into position to receive the staple wire through
the eye of the button.
13. The combination of a staple registering mechanism, wire feeding mechanism,
a button feeding mechanism, and a stop operating from the button feeding
mechanism and adapted to stop the advance of the wire feeding and registering
mechanism whenever the button is not fed.
14. The combination with a button feeding mechanism, a wire and staple
.feeding mechanism, staple making and setting mechanism and a staple register
mechanism, whereby every staple cut from the wire coil is correctly registered.
15. In combination with a button feed finger, a button race-way, a lever, and a
yielding spring operating said lever to return the same to normal position
after said lever has carried the feed finger over the button substantially as
described.
16. The combination of the button raceway, and a button feed finger, a staple
former adapted to stop the button brought down by the button feed finger, a
button held by the finger and -staple in such a manuer as to prevent the button
feed finger from cutting off the wire feed, substantially as described.
17. In combination with the button feed finger a forked lever as 102 provided
with pins as 104, 104, a spring arm as 105, and an operating spring for the purpose
specified.
18. In combination with a driving bar, a staple bender and an anvil of the

page_text: fabric feeding foot adapted to move forward or advance the fabric a predetermined
distance after the attachment of each button substantially as described.
19. In a button attaching machine, a combination of a button feeding mechanism,
a staple cutter and bender, a staple former, a staple driver and anvil, a fabric
feed foot, connecting mechanism between the fabric feed foot and the staple making
and driving mechanism.
20. The combination of a button hopper, a brush within said hopper having
a shaft, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a pair of pawls supported on arms, a
reciprocating slide connected to the pawl arms and operating said pawl arms,
ratchet wheel and brush for giving the reciprocating movement of the slide
substantially as described.
21. The combination of a reciprocating sliding frame, a cam surface thereon, a
lever having a pin or projection at one end engaging with said cam surface of the
sliding frame in its downward movement whereby the lever is carried through its
backward movement turning on a pivot intermediate its ends, a wire grip adapted
to grip the wire to be fed, and a spring adapted to carry the wire gripping end of
the lever forward in feeding the wire to the staple cutter and bender.
22. In combination with a staple bending mechanism, a yielding wire feeding
grip jaw, a lever carrying said yielding grip jaw and a sliding frame with the cam
adapted to give the backward stroke to the lever, a wire grip jaw and a spring
adapted to give the forward or feeding movement to the jaw substantially as
described.
23. In combination with the staple cutting and bending bar, a yielding wire grip
jaw having a reciprocating motion, a staple mechanism for closing said jaw upon
the wire in its forward movement in feeding the wire and loosening the grip of the
jaws on the backward stroke, and a spring for producing the yielding grip, substan-
tially as described.
a
24. The combination of a reciprocating slide, a cam thereon, a lever having
pivot intermediate its ends, a pin with which said cam surface engages in giving
the backward stroke to the lever, a wire grip at the outer end of said lever, a
locking lever turning on a pivot, a stop on one end of said lever and a button feed
finger adapted to engage with said stop on the locking lever and to cut out the
wire feed when no button is fed to receive the wire, substantially as described.
'
25. In combination with a reciprocating slide, a wire feeding mechanism operated
from said slide, a button hopper and revolving brush, suitable connecting mechanism
between brush and slide for operating the same, a button race-way, a button feed
finger, a staple driver, a staple cutting and bending bar, a cam giving movement to
said staple cutting and bending bar operated from suitable cam surfaces on said
slide, a wire feeding mechanism, a staple former provided with a notch or groove
for the reception of the eye of the button, cam surfaces for presenting the staple
former in position to receive and bend the wire into a staple and for retracting said
staple former as the driver descends in setting the staple, and an anvil or die for
clinching said staple substantially as described.
26. The combination of a sliding cam, a wire feed lever having a post or
projection and a registering mechanisın, said register being advanced one notch by
each forward movement of the wire feed lever substantially as described.
27. In a button attaching machine, the combination of a button driver, a staple
cutting and bending bar, and a tripping dog adapted to arrest and prevent a partial
stroke of the driving bar in either direction.
28. The combination of the button feed finger, staple driver, and suitable
mechanism for attaching the staple and button to the fabric.
29. In a button attaching machine the combination of automatic mechanism for
feeding the buttons automatic wire feeding mechanism, a suitable mechanism for
preventing partial stroke of the machine.
30. In a button attaching machine the combination of a button feed finger, a
button race-way and mechanism for lifting the feed finger over the button on its
return stroke.

page_text: 31. The combination of a hopper, a brush with a hopper, and mechanism for
giving the brush a rotary movement in one direction.
32. In a button attaching machine the combination of a button hopper and a
race-way provided with a yielding button retaining stop, substantially as described.
33. The combination of a button hopper, a raceway and suitable automatic
feeding mechanism whereby the buttons are fed in column.
34. The combination of button hopper, a button feed mechanism provided with
an automatic adjustment for different sizes of buttons and adapted to feed the
button to a predetermined position and to hold the button in position to receive
the wire.
35. In a button attaching machine the combination of a button hopper, a button
race-way or chute and an automatic adjustable button feed for feeding the buttons
from the raceway to the predetermined position substantially as described.
36. In a button attaching machine the combination of a button hopper, a button
race-way provided with a button retaining stop, automatic feed for feeding the
buttons in the raceway, and mechanism for carrying the buttons from the race-way
to a predetermined position substantially as described.
37. In a button attaching machine, the combination of a button hopper, a button
race-way provided with a button retaining stop, automatic feed for feeding the
buttons in raceway, mechanism for carrying the buttons from the raceway to a
predetermined position and an automatic wire feeding mechanism.
38. In a button attaching machine the combination of a button hopper provided
with a groove for the reception of the button eye, a brush within said hopper and
a raceway provided with a button retaining stop substantially as described.
39. In a button attaching machine the combination of a button hopper provided
with a groove for the reception of the button eye, a brush within said hopper a
raceway provided with a sliding blade adapted to carry the buttons forward in a
column.
40. In a button attaching machine the combination of a button hopper provided
with a groove for the reception of the button eye, a brush within said hopper and
a depression whereby the buttons are prevented from clogging substantially as
described.
41. In a button attaching machine the combination of the button hopper, a
raceway provided with button retaining stop, an automatic feeder for feeding the
buttons in the raceway, a feed finger adapted to carry the buttons from said
race-way substantially as described.
42. In a button attaching machine the combination of a button hopper, an
automatic adjustable hutton feeding mechanism and an automatic wire feeding
mechanism substantially as described.
43. In a button attaching machine the combination of a race-way provided with
button retaining stops, a feed finger provided with means for automatic adjustment
of different sizes of buttons substantially as described.
44. In a button attaching machine the combination of a race way provided with a
button retaining stop and a yielding feed finger for feeding the buttons from said
raceway, substantially as described.
45. In a button attaching machine the combination of a race-way provided with
retaining stop and an automatic feed mechanism for feeding the buttons in the
raceway to the stop, substantially as described.
46. In a button attaching machine the combination of a button race-way provided
with an automatic feeding mechanism and a yielding feed finger for feeding the
buttons to a predetermined position.
47. In a button attaching machine the combination of a button raceway, a button
feed provided with automatic means for adjusting the different sizes of buttons and
adapted to feed the buttons from the race way, a former provided with a notch for
the reception of the button eye when fed by the button feeding mechanism,
substantially as described.
48. In a button attaching machine the combination of a button raceway, a button

page_text: feed finger adapted to feed the buttons from the raceway and an automatic staple
making and clinching mechanism substantially as described.
49. In a button attaching machine the combination of an automatic wire feed
mechanism and mechanism for feeding buttons in column in the race-way.
-
50. In a button attaching machine the combination of a button hopper, a
race way provided with automatic feed mechanism, a feed finger adapted to feed the
buttons from the race-way, and an automatic feeding mechanism, substantially as
described.
51. In a button attaching machine the combination of a race-way provided with
a feed blade, an automatic wire feeding mechanism, an automatic button feeding
mechanism, and an automatic staple making and clinching mechanism.
52. In a button attaching machine the combination of a raceway provided with
an automatic feed mechanism, and automatic wire and button feeding mechanism,
substantially as described.
53. In a button attaching machine the combination of a yielding feed finger, a
yielding button feed, a former to receive the button feed, and an automatic wire
feed mechanism, substantially as described.
54. In a button attaching machine the combination of an automatic staple
making mechanism and an automatic button feed whereby the buttons are fed
singly to a point to receive the wire.
55. In a button attaching machine the combination of a yielding button feed, an
automatic staple making and clinching mechanism and a wire feeding mechanism
operated by a yielding feed pressure.
56. In a button attaching machine provided with an automatic wire feeding
mechanism a rocking former, provided with a slot for the reception of a button eye
and an automatic yielding button feed substantially as described.
57. In a button attaching machine the combination of an automatic button and
wire feeding mechanism and a former provided with a wire guide, substantially as
described.
58. In a button attaching machine the combination of an automatic button and
wire feeding nechanism and a rocking former provided with a groove for the
reception of the button eye, a wire guide operated by a staple making and clinching
mechanism.
59. In a button attaching machine the combination of an automatic button and
wire feeding mechanism and a plunger or staple driver provided with a notch for
the reception of a button shank substantially as described.
60. In a button attaching machine the combination of an automatic button and
wire feeding mechanism and a staple bender and cutter provided with grooves for
the reception of staple legs and button shanks.
61. In a button attaching machine the combination of an automatic button and
wire feed mechanism, an automatic staple making and clinching mechanism and an
angle frame, substantially as described.
62. In a button attaching machine the combination of a wire feeding mechanism
operated by yielding pressure feed and a yielding button feed, substantially as
described.
63. In a button attaching machine the combination of an automatic staple
making and clinching mechanism, and a wire feed operated by a yielding feed,
substantially as described.
64. In a button attaching machine the combination of a button attaching
mechanism provided with an automatic button and wire feeding mechanism, an
automatic staple making and clinching mechanism, and an automatic stop or clutch
for regulating the full stroke of the machine.
65. In a button attaching machine the combination of an automatic button feed
and a stop or clutch for regulating the full stroke of the machine.
66. In a button attaching machine the combination of an automatic button feed
provided with mechanism for regulating and feeding different sizes of buttons and
.... 1.2.

page_text: adapted to feed the buttons to a predetermined position and hold them in said
position to receive the wire.
67. In a button attaching machine the combination of an automatic staple
making and clinching mechanism, automatic wire feeding mechanism operated by
yielding pressure feed and a former over which the wire is bent provided with a
groove for the reception of the button eye substantially as described.
68. In a button attaching machine the combination of an automatic button and
wire feeding mechanism and mechanism whereby the wire is automatically arrested
when the button feed mechanism fails to feed the button.
69. In a button attaching machine the combination of a rocking former, a staple
driver or plunger adapted to operate the former and automatic button feeding
mechanism, substantially as described.
70. In a button attaching machine the combination of a former or anvil, a staple
driver or plunger provided with a groove for the button eye and a staple bender
and cutter provided with grooves for the reception of the staple legs and the button
:shank.
71. In a button attaching machine the combination of a former or anvil provided
with a slot adapted to receive eye shanked buttons.
72. In a button attaching machine, an anvil or former provided with a slot
adapted to receive eye shanked buttons and also a wire guide substantially as
.described.
73. In a button attaching machine the combination of a plunger or staple driver
provided with a notch for the reception of the button shank and a former for the
reception of the button eye, substantially as described.
74. In a button attaching machine the combination of a staple driver or plunger
provided with a notch for the reception of the button shank and a staple bender or
plunger provided with grooves for the reception of the staple legs and the button
shanks, substantially as described.
75. In a button attaching machine, the combination of a plunger or staple driver
provided with a notch for the reception of the button shank, a staple bender and
-cutter provided with grooves for the reception of the staple legs and button shanks,
and a former over which the wire is bent, substantially as described.
76. In a button attaching machine, the combination of button setting mechanism
and a gauge adapted to indicate the location or the point where the machine will
attach the button.
77. In a button attaching machine, the combination of automatic button and
wire feeding mechanism, automatic staple making and clinching mechanism and
means for regulating the full stroke of the machine, substantially as described.
78. In a button attaching machine the combination of an automatic wire feeding
mechanism and a double acting trip-dog adapted to compel the full stroke of the
machine in either direction substantially as described.
79. In a button attaching machine, the combination of a button hopper and a
brush within said hopper, and mechanism for giving a continuous motion in one
direction to the brush, substantially as described.
80. In a button attaching machine, the combination of an automatic button and
wire feeding mechanisin, an automatic fabric feed provided with an adjustment for
regulating the space of the button, substantially as described.
81. In a button attaching machine the combination of a plunger or staple driver,
a cutting or bending bar, and a yielding adjustment for different thicknesses of
fabric, substantially as described.
82. In a button attaching machine, the combination of an automatic wire feeding
mechanism operated by a yielding feed pressure and a lever (59) adapted to cut
-out or stop the feeding of the wire substantially as described.
83. In a button attaching machine, the combination of a yielding button feed
finger, an automatic wire feeding mechanism, and a lever for stopping the wire
feeding mechanism.

page_text: 84. In a button attaching machine, the combination of an automatic button and
wire feeding mechanism automatic staple making and clinching mechanism, the
pulley D and the sliding sleeve H adapted to connect the machine with the
pulley and provided with an automatic trip whereby the sleeve is connected and
disconnected at the option of the operator.
85. In a power machine the combination of a sliding. sleeve H provided with a
cam operated by the pin N substantially as described.
86. In a power machine, the combination of a sliding sleeve H provided with a
cam and the spring O, operated by the pin N substantially as described.
87. In a power machine, a sliding sleeve H provided with a cam and friction
depression, the pin N and the brake pin L, substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of January 1894.
R. HADDAN.