Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Buttons.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Buttons.
We, CARL FRIEDRICH PÜSCHNER, and FRANZ PÜSCHNER, of the Firn of
F. A. Püschner, of Tyssa, near Bodenbach, Bohemia, Factory Owners, 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:-
This invention relates to a machine for manufacturing button-eyes and rivetting
the latter to the button-bottom plate, and it is intended to supersede by machine-
work all the hand-work hitherto indispensable for this purpose.
The machine consists of
1) A wire feed apparatus,
2) A wire cutting apparatus, which at the same time suitably bends the piece of
wire cut off;
(3) An apparatus for closing up by pressing together the free ends of the cut-off
piece of wire already bent round a mandrel in its centre.
4) An apparatus for bringing into position the lower part of the button or
button-bottom plate.
5) An apparatus, in conjunction with the last named, for inserting the pressed
ends of the wire shank into the button-bottom; and
6) An apparatus for rivetting.
In the accompanying drawings will be found illustrations of all these several
parts of the button-eye making and rivetting machine above mentioned.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of such a machine constructed to be operated by the
foot ;
Figure 2 is a corresponding front elevation;
Figure 3 the plan of the same;
Figure 1 represents various button-bottoms with their eyes;
Figure 4 (Sheet 2) is a side elevation of the eccentric disc operating the various
apparatus by foot-power;
Figure 5 is a plan of the same; while
Figure 4 shows how such as eccentric disc is to be constructed and arranged
for rotary driving motion (e.g. if driven by power).
Figure 6 is a plan of the apparatus for pressing together the free ends of the
bent and severed piece of wire;
Figure 7 comprises two elevations and a cross-section of the wire-cutting and
bending apparatus ;
Figure 8 represents a lever (hereinafter described) to which is affixed the
mandrel around which the severed piece of wire is bent to form the eye, and on
which it is held fast to be rivetted to the button-bottom;
Figure 9 is a side elevation and plan of the apparatus for affixing and rivetting
the button-bottom to the button;
Figure 10 shows in plau and elevation a button bottom-plate to which the
wire-eye is to be rivetted.
Figures 11 to 15 show various positions assumed by the working parts during
the process of making an eye.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the description.
The eccentric disc A as arranged for use with foot-power, is adapted to rotate

page_text: upon the bolt a carried in bearings in the frame of the machine, and is prolonged
in the form of a lever A¹ from the projecting end of which a connecting rod B
leads to the pedal C, and thus transmits the oscillating movement of the latter to
the eccentric disc A.
The disc A is provided with two slots and 2; in the upper slot b' when the
disc is set in motion the stud c is arranged to travel secured to one end of the
lever D which is pivotted at d and connected at its other or forward end linkwise
to the wire-cutting apparatus and permitting the backward rotation of the wire-
feed rollers and the small movements of the mandrel in the manner hereinafter to
be described.
In the lower slot two studs and c³ are arranged to travel, is connected to
the lever E carrying the apparatus for placing the button bottoms in position and
pivotted at e, while c is connected to the lever E also pivotted at e (see Figures 1
and 9).
Besides these slots 'the eccentric disc A. has pyramidal projections similarly
placed on both sides by which the pressing together of the free ends of the wire-
eyes is effected in the following manner (Figure 5). Two levers F pivotted on
vertical pins g (Figs. 1 and 6 one such lever-arrangement only being shown in
Figure 6, as the second is identical therewith) are by means of blade-springs F
kept with their rearward ends constantly pressed against the opposite sides of the
eccentric-dise A. The rearward end of each lever F is split for the reception of a
pyramidal pawl g₁ fixed therein in such manner that it can be pushed back (in the
direction indicated by the arrow 1 in Figure 6,) but is normally maintained in the
position shown in Figure 6 by the spring secured to the lever F its displacement
in the opposite direction being rendered impossible by a suitable projection g³ on
the end of F.
Thus when the treadle rises (and with it the eccentric disc) and the projection f
strikes the pawl g', the working surfaces of these two parts, coming in contact, will
slide over each other, whereby the two levers F are displaced in the direction
indicated by the arrow 2 (Figure 6). The forward ends of the levers F are
thereby also caused to approach each other (Fig. 6) in such manner that they press
together the free ends of the severed wires which are at the moment to be found
between them.
On the backward motion of the eccentric disc, when the projections fand g¹
encounter each other, the pawl g' is displaced in the direction indicated by the
arrow 1 without bringing about any movement of the levers F.
The eccentric disc (Figure 4A) as arranged to be driven by power has cam
grooves b₁₁ and 6', instead of the slots b, and b.
It is evident that in this arrangement the pawl or projection gl of lever F may
be entirely dispensed with as of course no backward motion of the eccentric disc
takes place, its motion being continuous, not alternating.
The wire feed rollers G, G, (Figures 1 and 2) are set in backward rotation by
the lever D; and this takes place in manner following ;-
On the lever D is secured, by means of a bolt or pin h a rod h₁ (Figures 1, 2
and 3) carrying at its lower end a stud h, which by means of a sleeve h, and arm h
is connected with the sleeve h, which is mounted so as to rotate upon the spindle i
of the small ratchet wheel J. The stud h, carries a pawl H, mounted loosely and
engaging by its own weight with the ratchet wheel J. On the spindle i of the
ratchet wheel is fixed the toothed wheel k, as well as one of the feed rollers G₁;
the lower feed-roller G, being driven by the toothed wheel k, which gears with the
toothed wheel k₁.
When the forward end of the lever D is raised, the rod h and simultaneously the
pawl H is also raised, whereby the ratchet wheel J is turned round to the extent
of a single tooth, so that the feed-rollers are similarly rotated and the wire between
them is fed forward to a distance which suffices for the length required to form the
button-eye. On the downward stroke of the lever D the pawl H slides over the

page_text: next following tooth of the ratchet wheel, without causing a backward rotation of
the latter. The requisite length of wire is unwound and drawn off a roller W,
carried by a fixed arm so as to rotate freely, on which roller an adequate quantity
of wire has previously been wound for this purpose.
The two feed-rollers G₁ and G, may be pressed together and the geared
wheels kk, may be engaged, in manner following;-
The lower feed-wheel &, and the toothed wheel ka are journalled on a bell-crank
lever i pivoted at j, the free end of this bell-crank lever can be pressed outwards,
as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, by means of a cam 4 pivoting on 7 and provided
with a handle, whereby the engagement of the geared wheels kyk, is brought about,
the feed-rollers G, and G, are brought closer together.
The wire, already pushed forward in the manner above described, is brought
under the cutting off apparatus consisting of a plunger L, movable in the vertical
direction (Fig. 7) which, by means of the two levers m is suspended on the bolt or
pin of the lever D. When the forward end of the latter (D) is depressed the
plunger L is driven downwards whereby the following operation is effected ;-
The wire lies underneath the plunger L, as shown in Fig. 11 simultaneously,
when the plunger I commences its downward descent, the mandrel or head n
secured to the lever M (Figure 8) is brought under the wire. This lever Mis
pivoted at and is actuated by means of a stud n,, on the forward end of lever D,
working in the slot ", provided for the purpose in one end of the lever M, in such
manner that this latter oscillates to and fro over a short distance. After the
mandrel or head n has come into position beneath the wire, the plunger L cuts off
a length of wire and bends it downwards over the mandrel n by means of the
notch L, (as shown in Fig. 12). When this work is effected, the apparatus already
described, for pressing together the loose ends of the wire, comes into operation
namely the levers F which thus close the ends of the wire that makes the eye
(Fig. 13).
At the same time, the shoulder of the mandrel or head n presses against the
formed eye and holds it fast so as to prevent any unsteadiness or shaking. There-
upon, the forward end of the lever E, moves upwards, presses the button-bottom
up against the closed wire-ends of the eye, which are thereby forced through it
(Fig. 14) and at this moment, by the rivetting apparatus, the projecting ends are
opened out and bent back on each side. For this purpose the lever E, rises and
the pointed extremity of the pin o drives the wire-ends apart pressing them down
upon and against the bottom of the button. When this is effected the levers E₁ E,
are moved away downwards.
The eye remains on the mandrel, being still held fast by its shoulder, until the
machine has completed its return-stroke, and commenced a repetition of the first
step of the operation riz. feeding forward a fresh length of wire. Not till then is
the mandrel or head n withdrawn (in a forward direction) from the recently
rivetted eye, which thereupon being deprived of its support, drops by its own
weight.
It only now remains to describe the method of placing the button-bottom in
position which is accomplished as follows;-
;-
Above the lever E₁, a double-lever p (Fig. 9) is mounted having its two ends
connected with two rods. One of these rods 91 slides with its free end against a
cam-shaped enlargement r on the eccentric disc A, while the free end of the other
rod 9, on the backward motion of the rod 91 (which is brought about by the action
of a spring) is pushed forward and places the button-bottom in position, as shown
in Figs. 14 and 15. When the rod qi moves forward (which is brought about by
the cam-enlargement r) the rod g, is withdrawn from the button-bottom, setting it
free, as at that moment the eye is rivetted to it in the manner above described, so
that it can be lifted up and a fresh button-bottom can be laid in place.
The line (Fig. 1) represents the level of a table on which a supply of button-
bottoms to be provided with eyes, can be set out.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is ;-
1. A machine for making and rivetting button eyes having a cutting and bending
apparatus consisting of a plunger such as L in combination with a mandrel or head
such as n arranged on a lever such as M so as to cut off a piece of suitable length
from a wire fed forward by feed-rollers such as G₁ G, and simultaneously bend the
severed piece of wire round the mandrel or head (n) levers such as F which serve
to press together the free ends of the piece of wire forming the eye and levers such
as E, E, which effect the insertion of the ends of the eye thus brought together
while held fast by means of a shoulder on the mandrel (n) in the button-bottom
suitably placed in position therefor and the rivetting of the wire-eye-ends to the
button-bottom substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. In a machine for making and rivetting button-eyes a plunger such as L
suspended on the bolt-pin by means of the two links m and provided with a
notch L, for the purpose of cutting off a piece of wire and bending it round the
maudrel substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a machine for making and rivetting button-eyes the arrangement of a
mandrel or head such as n on lever such as M pivotted at n, and operated by means
of the bolt or pin n, and slot n, which mandrel or head presses upon the wire-eye
carried by it so as to maintain it steady holding it fast until it is rivetted where-
upon the finished eye liberated by the withdrawal of the mandrel n drops
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a machine for making and rivetting button-eyes the arrangement of a bell-
crank lever such as j carrying a feed-roller G2 in such manner that by the action
of a cam such as the two feed-rollers G₁ G, can either be brought closer together
or removed further apart while at the same time the toothed wheels k₁ k₁ are
thrown into or out of gear substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete machine
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of October 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.