An Improved Apparatus for Forming Buttons, Knobs, Handles, and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 11th May, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Forming Buttons, Knobs, Handles,
and the like.
1, CARL VIETZE of 37 Iserlohnerstrasse Menden, Westphalia in the Empire of
Germany, Machine Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object an apparatus for forming buttons, knobs,
handles and the like from sheet metal shells or ferrules.
In this improved apparatus the article to be treated is secured with one end in a
ring chuck or the like and at the opposite end is retained in some suitable manner,
and then set in rapid rotation simultaneously with the holding devices and in the
same direction, whilst two or more jaws are simultaneously moved against the
article to be treated.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus;
Figure 2, a plan view of the right head-stock;
Figures 3-5 show a ring chuck with a shell or ferrule to be treated secured
therein; Figure 3 also showing the direction of movement of the pressing jaws.
Figure 6 shows a shell or ferrule, and
Figure 7, a finished button or knob formed therefrom.
Figure 8 is a separate view of a core to be used within the ring chuck.
Figure 9 shows the formed article gripped for finishing.
Two head-stocks arranged opposite one another, as shown in Figure 1, have
each a spindle a and b respectively, each provided with a belt pulley. The
spindle a carries the ring chuck hereinafter described, whilst the adjustable
spindle ò carries a centre or pin d see Figures 1 and 3.
The centre d has in front a form corresponding to the shape of the article to be
treated, and is pressed against the latter by means of a spring / or may be
removed from the article when finished, by means of a lever g, Figure 2. The
ring chuck, Figures 3 to 5 may be fixed on the spindle a by means of an
extension f. The tapered threaded part of the ring chuck is divided into spring
parts by means of several slots k, and may be pressed together by means of a
nut m in the usual manner..
According to requirements in each case, a core n is secured within the ring-
chuck, for instance, by means of the pin or extension n' inserted in the opening o
of the extension'. Between the removable core n and the internal periphery of
the hole or bore of the ring chuck there is left so much room that the article e
which is to be operated on, Figures 3, 4 and 6, may be inserted and clamped
firmly on the core by means of the spring parts. The centre d is then pressed
against the projecting end of the article to be operated on, and the spindles a and b
are set in rotation.
Between the ring-chuck, and the centre d there is a fixed device x, Figure 1, by
means of which the jaws p, Figures 1 and 3, may be moved from a point r evenly
towards the centre, or in other words may be pressed on the article to be
treated.
The desired form according to experiments made by the inventor is produced
without the formation of creases or any crushing of the shell or ferrule. The

page_text: ring chuck may be utilized after the core n has been removed for finishing the
formed button e¹ as shown in Figure 9.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
An improved apparatus for forming buttons, knobs, handles or the like from
sheet metal shells or ferrules, consisting in placing, the shell or ferrule between
two spindles (a and b) rotating in the same direction, and clamping it there
between a core (n) and a ring chuck or the like (f) on the one spindle (a), a
suitably shaped centre (d) on the other spindle (6) bearing against the shell
under spring impulsion, whilst two or more jaws or cheeks (p) are simultaneously
pressed against the same for the purpose of shaping the shell, substantially as
described and illustrated.
Dated this 18th day of March 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents.