Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Buttons.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1893-Accepted, 1st June, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Buttons.
I, AUGUST DENK, of VII Seidengasse 33, Vienna, in the Empire of Austria,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed. to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
Hitherto buttons and button-forms have been made of metal, mother-of-pearl,
horn, wood, and the like some of which have been eventually covered with
cloth.
My invention relates to buttons and button forms covered with thin plates of
celluloid, xylonite or ebonite, transparent or opaque, coloured or otherwise and to a
process for manufacturing the same.
According to my said invention, a small plate of celluloid, xylonite or ebonite is
cut or stamped and pressed into the shape of a calotte or cap, the said calotte or
cap is placed upon the button or form and pressed down upon the latter, so as to
make it adhere closely to the outer surface of the said button or form.
In consequence of this operation, the rims of the cap are bent downwards and
around so that the covering thus formed cannot detach itself from the button.
The apparatus for manufacturing these buttons may be arranged in any suitable
manner.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a view partly in section of my apparatus for shaping the forms.
Figure 2 is a modified form of the same.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of cap drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figures 4 and 5 are views partly in section showing the method of pressing the
caps over the button or forms and
Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the button or form provided with the cap of
celluloid, xylonite or ebonite, before the second operation.
The apparatus shown in Figure 1 consists of a matrix a, hollowed out to corre-
spond to the shape of the cap which it is desired to obtain, and a die b the under
part of which is covered with a thin layer of leather c.
The matrix a is provided on its upper face with a recess a¹ in order to facilitate
the setting in of the celluloid plate d before pressing.
When the die bis lowered,
the plate d of celluloid, xylonite or ebonite is driven within the central recess
of the matrix a consequently receiving the shape of a cap.
In order to prevent the rims of the cap d forming any folds or creases, the matrix
is heated from beneath by gas or other suitable means.
In the apparatus shown in Figure 2, the recess of the matrix a is provided with
an anvil a upon which a hollow die b presses the celluloid plate.
The cap having been shaped is placed upon the button or form e, (see Figure 6)
these two parts are pressed together in order that the cap d may adhere closely all
over the said button or form.
This operation may be effected by means of the apparatus shown in Figures 4
and 5.
In the apparatus shown in Figure 4 the matrix is intended to receive the button
or form e, with the cap d placed upon it. The said matrix having the lower part
of the recess f¹ dished in such a manner that, when the die g is lowered, the rims of
the cap are forciby bent inwards and close tightly around the button or form e.
This die has its under face shaped to correspond to the form of the finished
button with its celluloid covering; in the apparatus shown the die is somewhat
hollowed out, is an ejector actuated by a spring to facilitate the placing of the
button in the matrix ƒ and also to cause the button to be ejected after the pressing

page_text: operation. My apparatus can be modified in such a manner that the die may
cause the folding down of the rims of the cap and the closing of the said rims
around the button or form.
In this case, the two working parts of the apparatus receive the form shown in
Figure 5.
The recess of the matrix f is preferably arranged to splay out upwards in
order that the edge of the die g may easily pass between the cap and the inner
wall of the recess f¹, and consequently effect the folding down of the rim of
the cap.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. As a new article of manufacture, buttons and button forms covered with
celluloid, xylonite or ebonite, substantially as described and shown.
2. The herein described process consisting in pressing, between a heated
matrix a and a die b, small plates of celluloid xylonite or ebonite so as to give
them the shape of calottes or caps (Figure 6) and in placing these caps over the
button forms and finally in submitting the caps and forms to pressure in order to
make them adhere closely to one another in such a manner that the form is grasped
by the rims of the cap, which are doubled over, substantially as described and
shown.
Doted this 30th den of M1002
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.