IMPROVED METHODS OF AND MACHINERY FOR ORNAMENTING AND FINISHING BUTTONS AND OTHER LIKE ÅRTICLES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Doctor of Laws, for the
Invention of "IMPROVED METHODS OF AND MACHINERY FOR ORNAMENTING
AND FINISHING BUTTONS AND OTHER LIKE ÅRTICLES."-A communication
from abroad by Robert Harris Isbell, of New Milford, Connecticut,
United States of America, Manufacturer.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Haseltine at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 8th May 1874, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton
Buildings, London, Doctor of Laws, send greeting.

page_text: 1
ARTICLES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for
the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Robert Harris Isbell, of New Milford,
Connecticut, United States of America, Manufacturer.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings forming
a part of this Specification:-
This Invention relates more particularly to buttons and similar articles
of horn, bone, vegetable ivory, wood, or equivalent substances.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I, in some cases, subject
the buttons to frictional contact with prepared chalk, so called pulverized
charcoal, or equivalent fine cutting material mingled with spirits of
turpentine, naphtha, or similar liquid that unlike water will not "raise
the grain" of the substance of which the buttons or other articles are
made, such articles being by this means brought in a few hours to a
better finish than is possible with that method of smoothing by abrasion
hitherto in use, even when this last named or ordinary method is con-
tinued during several days.
In other cases, especially when it is designed to ornament the buttons
by "lining" or forming upon them sharply defined annular lines, I
subject them to the frictional contact under pressure of a die having an
axial movement, whereby in addition to securing the requisite smooth
surface the color of any dies previously applied to the articles is rendered
more vivid and bright and the " " lines or sharp annular projections very
commonly desired on the faces of said articles are made without that
raggedness of contour which results from the use of a cutting tool in
their formation.
In carrying this Invention into practice I use certain novel mechanical
combinations, or combinations of parts, which constitute a portion of
my said Invention and enable me to polish "line" or finish the surfaces
of articles of the character indicated in a superior manner, and with
speed and economy.

page_text: In those cases where it is desired to give the buttons a colored orna-
mental surface, I check, mark, or ornament them by placing them in
regular rows or series, covering portions of their surfaces with threads,
and then by spraying or "spattering" distributing the coloring matter in
particles upon the exposed portions of the aforesaid surfaces which
enables a tasteful, symmetrical, and well defined design to be given to the
colored ornamentation at a very moderate cost, and with very great
facility and convenience; my said Invention embracing also certain
novel mechanical combinations or combinations of parts whereby this
ornamentation in color may be successfully performed.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of
the mechanism used in polishing or polishing and "lining" buttons and
similar articles by the frictional action under pressure of a die having an
axial movement, the said view being on the line x, x, Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the aforesaid mechanism on
the line y, y, of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a front view of the same.
Figure 4 is a side view of the apparatus used in the ornamentation of
buttons and the like in color, and Figure 5 is a plan view of the same.
In carrying into practice the feature of this Invention first herein set
forth I take the buttons or other articles (for instance checker men, so
called and the like) either as they come from the turning mechanism, or
when colored as they come from the dye, or color suitably applied and
allowed to become dried or fixed upon them, and mingle any desired
quantity of the articles by volume with, say, twice its measure of pre-
pared chalk, or of pulverized charcoal, or of any other material possessed
of similar fine cutting, smoothing, or abrading properties. I then add
to the whole any desired quantity of spirits of turpentine, or of naptha,
or of any like liquid, which when brought into contact with the material
of which the articles are formed will not as it is technically termed "raise
the grain" thereof. The proportions of the chalk or its equivalent, and
also of the liquid may be varied within wide limits without affecting the
principle of my Invention. The mass thus formed is placed within a
common "tumbling box or rotating vessel of any ordinary or suitable
construction, and the said tumbling box is caused to revolve during a
space of several hours (the time required varying somewhat according
"

page_text: to the material of which the articles are made, the character of the
abrading substance used, and the speed at which the tumbling box is
rotated) until the frictional action exerted upon the articles by the
abrading material in the presence of the liquid have reduced the
surfaces to the requisite smoothness.
When preferred in lieu of a tight tumbling box wholly retaining the
contents one perforated or made of cloth or fibrous material may be
used, provided it be run in a trough to retain upon or in contact with
the articles and with the abrading substances the spirits of turpentine,
naphtha, or other liquid essential to the proper operation of the abrading 1
substance. In the absence of the liquids just particularly specified
alcohol or kerosene may be used but with inferior results.
It will be understood that in place of the tumbling box of either kind
herein-before indicated; any other mechanical appliance may be used
whereby the buttons may be subjected to friction in contact with fine 1
cutting material and a liquid possessed of the essential properties set
forth.
· In Figures 1, 2, and 3, which shew the mechanism used in the
polishing, facing, and "lining" of buttons, and the like by the frictional
action of a die under pressure upon the forward end of a suitable bed 2
or frame A is provided a flat circular disc or carrier plate B furnished at
its periphery with radial teeth a, and (concentric with its axis) with an
annular series of holes b, these holes having a diameter and circum-
ferential form corresponding to those of the buttons or articles to be
finished or polished, and extending quite through the carrier plate. The 2
carrier plate itself is furnished with a downwardly projecting axial
shaft c which works in a bearing formed in the fixed plate C; the latter,
except as herein-after stated, closes the lower ends of the holes 6 in the
carrier plate. At the back of the plate C is a vertical guide a¹ in which
works a lifter D. Upon the upper end of this lifter and within the
guide rests the die E. Around the upper portion of the guide is provided
a steam chamber 61 furnished with steam pipes d connecting with a
suitable steam generator and designed by the circulation of steam through
it, the said chamber, to heat the die E.
Arranged vertically coincident with the lifter D and die E is a 3
rotating die F working in bearings provided in the lower part of the

page_text: sliding head G, which moves in suitable guides A¹ fixed upon the
frame A. This head carries an upright shaft G¹, upon the upper
extremity of which are fast and loose pulleys C¹ and B¹, and which
carries at its lower end a pinion D' gearing into a spur wheel F¹ on the
rotating die F. The pulleys B¹, C¹, have a belt G* running to a suitably
provided shaft or countershaft. The position of the two discs E, F, is
such that as the carrier plate B is intermittently rotated the holes b
thereof will pass in succession immediately between the dies to permit
the upper or rotating die to pass through the holes to act in conjunction
with the other or lower die, which latter remains fixed, except when
lifted to discharge the finished articles, as herein-after explained.
Formed in the plate C coincident with the adjacent portion of the
series of holes in the carrier plate above is a slot, indicated in dotted
outline at e in Figure 2, below which is an outlet chute or spout f, as
represented in Figures 1 and 2. The lower extremity of the lifter D is
slotted to allow a lever g to pass through it, one end of which lever is
pivoted at one side a" of the frame A, while the other end is curved
upward to rest upon a cam m on a shaft H extending along the opposite
side of the said frame, as indicated more fully in Figure 2. The shaft H
has at its forward end a spiral disc or cam h which gives an intermittent
rotary movement to the carrier plate insuring the retention in succession
of each hole & above the die E and below the dic F for a certain definite
time

page_text: the downward stroke of the crank m* by the striking of the stud m¹¹ of
the elbow lever L upon the arm 2 of the bellows sends a puff of air
through its nozzle ¹¹ to blow away any dust which may have accumu-
lated upon or in the neighbourhood of the dies.
The operation of this Invention is as follows:-The buttons or other a
like articles are placed singly in the holes b, and by the herein-before
described movement of the carrier plate are brought under the rotating
die F. This done and the movement of the carrier for the moment
intermitted the sliding head G is brought downward with great force by
the straightening of the toggle joint, the die F carried by said head
being meanwhile rapidly rotated by the action of the belt on the fast
pulley C¹ of the shaft G¹. As a consequence the button is subjected
simultaneously to great pressure and to frictional contact of the die F
upon its upper or outer surface, the face of this die corresponding in
contour to that of the just indicated surface of the button. This
effectually burnishes such surface, rendering it smooth and polished,
giving brightness and distinctness to the color, and sharpening, without
crumbling, the outlines, grooves, and ridges, which as experience has
shown cannot be formed with a cutting tool without leaving a certain
raggedness which materially deteriorates from the finish of the article.
It will of course be understood that the face of the lower die E corre-
sponds to the contour of the lower side or back of the button. The
button having been acted upon as just set forth the continued operation
of the machine lifts the head G and consequently the die F. Imme-
diately succeeding this the cam m raises the lever g which moves
upward, the lifter D forcing upward the lower die until its top is level
with the upper surface of the plate C. This done the action of the cam
or spiral disc h on the teeth a of the carrier plate B turns the latter
until the hole b containing the button is brought over the slot e in the
plate C, whereupon the button falls by its own weight through the slot e
upon the chute f, by which it is conducted away from the machines.
The same movement which thus brings the finished button into a
position to be discharged from the carrier plate B brings the succeeding
hole b into proper position with reference to the dies to insure upon its
contained button the action of the said dies to polish or finish the same in
the manner herein previously set forth, the buttons being placed in the
holes at the front edge of the carrier plate and carried in succession to

page_text: the dies and thence discharged through the slot e and chute f, as just
herein described. In this way not only buttons but checker men, orna-
mental nail heads, and similar articles of horn, vegetable ivory, bone, or
other material may be finely polished and at a slight expense.
It is of course manifest that the operation of the die F will produce
the same result if its movement be alternately in opposite directions
about its axis, a frictional action under pressure being exerted upon the
surface under treatment, which corresponds in a measure to that exerted
by the rotation or continuous movement in one direction of the aforesaid
die.
Having reference to Figures 4 and 5, which relate to the apparatus
or mechanism used in giving a colored ornamentation to the buttons or
other articles, N is the supporting framework of the machine, furnished
at top with two longitudinal guides a*, upon which runs a carriage P.
This carriage has at each end an upright cleat 6*. From one to the other
of these cleats is extended a series of parallel threads i, the threads
being at a distance apart corresponding to the space desired between
the color markings on the ornamental button or the like. These
threads are drawn to a moderate tightness or tension by any suitable
or desired means. In the bottom of the carriage P is a disc, flat on top,
but spiral on the under side, and fitting into a seat in the carriage bottom
in such manner that when turned by rotating the thumb piece c* of
the shaft fit will raise the aforesaid disc, which constitutes a cam c*
for lifting the board R placed upon it, as shewn in Figure 1. This board
is indented in its upper surface with numerous cavities v, which receive
the buttons to be ornamented, and retain them with their upper surfaces
projecting somewhat above the corresponding surface of the board R,
as indicated at n¹¹ in Figure 4. By turning the disc or cam c*, as just
herein-before explained, the board is lifted until the buttons are brought
up snugly against the threads i, sustained by suitable bearings in the
standards; W is the shaft P* of the cylindrical brush R*, upon the
outer end of which shaft is a pulley a* furnished with a crank 6³.
Upon a frame N below are two pulleys e*,f*. At the outer end of
the carriage P is a pulley 9*, and at the inner or opposite end a hori-
zontal arm h*, which carries a pulley *. An endless band k passes
over these. pulleys, as shewn in Figure 1, and upon the extremity of
the arm * a cam lever j', by which on occasion the band may be

page_text: .
gripped against the pulley i*, thereby attaching for the time being
the carriage to a definite point or portion of the band . Under this
condition the rotation of the crank in the direction by the arrow causes
the carriage to be drawn inward, passing underneath the brush, and at
a speed bearing a proper proportion to that of the rotation of the 5
brush.
Behind the brush is a trough C* containing in liquid from the
coloring matter to be applied to the buttons; and rotating in this
trough is a feed roller D* working in contact with the brush, and
supplying color thereto; E* is a scraper arranged behind the feed 1
roller, and regulating the thickness of the film or coating of color
thereon as it comes in contact with the brush. The roller is rotated by
gear wheels w*, v*, or, when preferred, by a band running on pulleys
provided on the shafts of the roller and the brush.
In front of the brush, parallel and in snug or forcible contact 1
therewith is a trough-shaped check or spattering bar F*, below
which, with its edge projecting somewhat farther back, is a secondary
through f².
In the operation of the machine the carriage is drawn back toward
and under the brush simultaneous with the rotation of the said brush, 2
as herein-before explained, the brush being charged with liquid color
from the feed roller, and its bristles striking forcibly against the check
or spattering bar F*, the color "spatters" in fine drops upon the
surface of the buttons (carried on the board R, as herein-before set
forth) not protected by the threads i lying in snug contact therewith. 2
As a consequence when the buttons (after the carriage has been run
back to the rear of the frame N) are removed from beneath the threads i
the portions of their surfaces protected by the threads retains their
original or primitive color, while the intervening portions are colored or
dyed by the coloring material deposited upon them as aforesaid.
By turning the board one half around and repeating the operation the
pattern may be made in checks, instead of bands or lines; and by
modifying in other ways the position of the buttons with reference to
the threads variously modified patterns may be produced.
30
In order to change the position of the board in the carriage, or to 31
permit its removal therefrom it is only necessary to turn the cam c* to

page_text: Seventh. The combination of the chute with the carrier plate
provided to convey the finished buttons from the dies, substantially as
and for the purpose. set forth.
Eighth. The combination with the lifter of the lever g and cam m
on the shaft H, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Ninth. The combination with the carrier plate, arranged as described,
with reference to the dies of the series of teeth a and the cam h, acting
in unison with the sliding head, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Tenth. The combination of the steam chamber with the fixed die,
substantially as and forth the purpose set forth.
Eleventh. The within described method of checking, marking, or
ornamenting buttons, by placing them in regular rows or series,
covering portions of their surfaces with threads, and distrituting the
color upon the unprotected portions of said surfaces by spraying or 1
spattering, substantially as herein set forth.
Twelfth. The carriage, provided with the system of threads and
constructed for the reception of the buttons in rows or series, in com-
bination with the spattering brush, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination of the check bar with the spattering
brush and carriage, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourteenth. The combination of the trough C* with the spattering
brush, the check bar, and the carriage carrying the system of threads,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifteenth. The combination of the button board R with the carriage
carrying the system of threads, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Sixteenth. The combination of a lifting device with the button board
and the carriage carrying the system of threads, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
Seventeenth. The combination with the carriage and the spattering
brush of the pulleys a*, e*f*, b*, g*, clutching devices j, i*, and the
E

page_text: band, the whole arranged for operation, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
Witness,
H. J. NOONE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.S.)