Improvements in Button Sewing-on Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec.; 1892
Complete Specification Left, 13th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Button Sewing-on Machines.
1, WILLIAM FULTON FAIR, of 85, Highbury Quadrant, in the County of
London, Machine Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to machines for sewing on buttons and has for its object
to adapt the same for sewing on that class of buttons provided with eyes or
shanks.
In carrying out my invention I form the button holding foot with a fork or with
two arms between which the button shauk is passed so that it will lie horizontally,
the head of the button being in a vertical position, a spring blade or other suitable
device being provided to press against the button and to hold it stationary in the
clamp. As when the button is in this position the eye or shank is necessarily at
some distance above the oscillating platform or plate carrying the work according
to the size of the button head I provide upon the said oscillating platform a table
or projection of a beight suitable to the buttons to be applied, the material to which
the button is to be sewn lying upon this table so that it will be in proper proximity
to the eye or shank.
When I apply my improvements to a cross stitch or zig-zag machine my table is
fixed to or may be part of the needle plate and the button holder may be fixed to or
become part of the ordinary presser foot.
Dated the 23rd day of December 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Button Sewing-on Machines.
I, WILLIAM FULTON FAIR, of 85, Highbury Quadrant in the County of
London, Machine Agent, 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 :-
My invention relates to machines for sewing on buttons and has for its object to
adapt the same for sewing on buttons provided with eyes or shanks.
In carrying out my invention I provide the button holding foot with a fork or
with two arms between which the button shank is passed so that it will lie
horizontally, the head of the button being in a vertical position, a spring blade or
other suitable device being provided to press against the button and to hold it firmly
in position. As, when the button is in this position, the eye or shank is necessarily at
some distance above the oscillating platform or the needle-plate which usually
carries the work, I provide upon the said oscillating platform a table or projection
of a height suitable to the size of the heads of the buttons to be applied, the work
or material to which the button is to be sewn lying upon this table so that it will
be in proper proximity to the eye or shank.
When I apply my improvements to a cross stitch or zig-zag machine my table
is fixed to or may be part of the needle plate.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it can be
carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a front sectional elevation of a portion of a button sewing-on machine
provided with my improvements, the said machine being of the kind in which an
oscillating platform for carrying the work is employed.

page_text: Figure 2 is a sectional elevation at right angles to Figure 1, and,
Figure 3 is a sectional plan, the section being taken on the line 3-3, Figure 1.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are respectively a front elevation, a side elevation and a plan
of the button holding foot detached from the machine, and,
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively an elevation and a plan of the table or projection
for supporting the work (also detached from the machine).
Figure 9 is a front elevation of part of a cross-stitch or zig-zag button sewing-on
machine with my improvements applied thereto.
Figure 10 is a sectional elevation at right angles to Figure 9 the section being
taken on the crooked line 10-10, of Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a sectional plan, the section being taken on the line 11-11 of
Figure 9.
Figures 12, 13 and 14 are similar views to Figures 4, 5 and 6 respectively of the
button-holding foot, and,
Figures 15 and 16 are respectively an elevation and a plan of the fixed needle
plate with the table or projection formed integral therewith.
I will first describe my invention by reference to Figures 1 to 8.
A is the needle bar working in the head B, C the needle; D the oscillating foot
carrying bar; E the vertical presser-foot-bar to which the bar D is fixed and which
rocks in the head B; F the connecting rod which imparts the oscillating motion to
the bar D; G the needle plate and H the work table or plate all of which parts.
are of ordinary construction.
a is the button holding foot which I clamp to the oscillating bar D by a screw b
as heretofore but which I form with an opening in the front and a recess f to
allow the shank d of the button to be placed in position and the needle C to work
up and down.
g indicates the fork with which I provide the foot a, between which fork the
button shank d is passed so that it lies horizontally as shewn in Figures 1 and 3 the
head e being in a vertical position; is the spring blade for pressing against
the button to hold it firmly in position.
i is the table or projection with which I provide the oscillating platform ; which
usually carries the work or material, in order to bring the said material, to which
the button is to be sewn, into proper proximity to the eye or shank d. The table i is
formed with a slot k for the passage of the needle C and with a flange l, the
oscillating platform being made with a hole corresponding in shape with the
table and through which the table is passed, the flange bearing against
the underside of the platform.
The button having been placed in the position shewn and the material between
the foot a and table i and the machine set at work, as the platform j oscillates, with
the button and material, the needle and thread pass alternately through and on one
side of the button eye or shank d which thereby becomes sewn to the material.
In applying my improvements to a cross-stitch or zig-zag machine as illustrated
in Figures 9 to 16, (in which similar letters refer to like or corresponding parts in
Figures 1 to 8) the table i is formed or fixed on the needle plate G, because in
this kind of machine the needle is caused to oscillate as well as to vertically
reciprocate while the button and material remain stationary.
Where buttons are extra large I cut a recess or opening in the needle plate
and platform to receive the bottom edge of the button.
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. A button sewing-on machine having a button holding foot adapted to hold
buttons provided with eyes or shanks while being sewn on and a table or projection
for raising the work or material into proper proximity to the eye or shank,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a button sewing-on machine a button holding foot having a fork. or arms
4
5

page_text: adapted to receive and hold a button shank in a horizontal position while the head
of the button is in a vertical position, in combination with a device for pressing
against the button and holding it firmly in position, and a raised table for bringing
the work or material into proper proximity to the eye or shank of the button,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
.
3. The improved button sewing-ou machine hereinbefore described with reference
to Figures 1 to 8 and Figures 9 to 16 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 13th day of September 1893.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.