IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING METALLIC EYELETS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Asbury McKean, of Paris, in the Empire
of France, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING METALLIC EYELETS,"
-A communication from William Rudolphus Landfear, residing at
Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America.
Sealed the 29th January 1869, and dated the 1st August 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Asbury McKean
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st August 1868.
I, JAMES ASBURY MCKEAN, of Paris, in the Empire of France, now
of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING METALLIC
EYELETS," a communication, to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to machinery for manufacturing metallic eyelets
for stays, corsets, shoes, and other articles of clothing, for fastening
leather and rubber belting, for securing papers, and for other like: purposes,

page_text: and the said Invention consists chieny in the pecuniar
dies, punches, and cutters whereby the several operations which each
eyelet has to undergo are performed simultaneously in different sections
of the machine, so that any desired number of eyelets may be finished
in the same time that would be required to produce one single eyelet.
Reciprocating punches arranged in combination with a rotating cylinder
perforated with series of holes or dies give to the eyelets the required
form in the successive stages of their manufacture. The eyelets are
produced from strips or sheets of brass or other suitable metal, and each
strip is first subjected to the action of one series of dies and punches
and is then passed under the next series, and so on till brought to the
required form, while at the same time fresh strips introduced between
the first set of dies and punches follow the strip first introduced. Each
strip as it passes from the last series of dies is brought into contact with
a cutting cylinder which removes the ends of the eyelets. The strips
are annealed between the successive operations. Feeding and receiving
rollers or other equivalent mechanism may be arranged in combination
with the dies and punches. A shaft supported in bearings in the frame of
the machine is provided with eccentrics which through suitable connec-
tions give motion to a piece fitted to vibrate on centres attached to the
frame, or which may be made to slide in suitable guideways upon the
said frame. To this vibrating or sliding piece is secured a flat bar or
plate which carries the punches, and below this plate is a roller or
cylinder which is fitted to turn freely in bearings in the frame, and
which is perforated with holes or dies and divided into sections. The
holes in the first part or section are a trifle smaller than the flange of
the finished eyelet, the corresponding punches being made so much
smaller as to allow for the thickness of the metal. The said punches
may be rounded or curved at their extremities and are operated to force
the metal a slight distance into the holes, which are countersunk or
rounded at the entrance. After the descent of the punches into a row
of holes they are raised so as to allow the roller to revolve far enough
to bring the next row of holes under the punches by means of a ratchet
wheel and pawl, the latter being operated by a rod attached to an
eccentric pin on the driving shaft. The strip of metal is held by the
depressions or indentations formed by the punches, and as the rolle
revolves is fed forward. After the strip of metal has passed through the
machine it is annealed and placed over the second series of holes,
fresh strip being introduced over the first series. The holes in thi

page_text: second series may be of the same size as those in the first series, but the
punches are forced deeper into them. When these two strips have.
passed together through the machine they are annealed. The first strip.
is then introduced over the third serics of holes and the second strip
over the second series, while a third strip is placed over the first series.
The holes of the third series are slightly smaller than the other holes,
their diameter being about midway between that of the other holes and
the diameter of the eyelet tubes. The punches descend a little deeper
into these holes than into those of the second series. When the three
strips have passed through the machine they are annealed and again
placed over the perforated roller, each strip being advanced one series
of holes, and a new strip being placed over the first series. The holes of
the last series are of the size and shape of the finished eyelet. As the
strips leave the perforated roller after passing over the last series of holes
therein they meet with a revolving cylinder provided with sharp edges
or blades which remove the ends from the eyelet tubes, the latter being
pressed down into contact with the blades and kept true and round by a
row of pins with square or flat ends. The cutting cylinder receives
motion from the main shaft by means of a belt and pulleys. I prefer
to arrange the said cylinder so that when the eyelet tubes are brought
into contact with its surface pressure is exerted upon its supporting
piece, and the cylinder is thereby depressed against a spring which
insures its proper action upon the said tubes. As the strip travels
forward the eyelets are removed therefrom by means of a punch and die.
In combination with these rollers and punches I employ feeding
mechanism arranged in the following manner:-A roller fitted to turn
in suitable bearings behind the machine is supplied with the strips of
metal from which the eyelets are to be manufactured. One end of each
of these strips is secured to another roller arranged in front of the three
first sections or series of dies. This second roller is connected by a belt
and pulleys or other suitable means with the perforated cylinder, and
the strips are wound or coiled upon the said roller as they pass forward
during the operation of punching. Moveable collars or division plates
are placed upon the feed rollers to guide the strips properly through the
machine. The strips as they pass from the perforated cylinder are.
coiled upon the second roller, which is then raised from its bearings to
allow the said strips to be removed for the next operation. Instead
however of making the second or receiving roller to extend to three

page_text: divisions only of the perforated cylinder as above described the two feed
rollers may be made to extend the entire length of the said cylinder,
and may be constructed of such material as will allow the strips to be
annealed without removing them from the roller. The receiving roller
may then be made to take the place of the supply or feeding roller
which can be removed to the front to serve as the receiving roller, the
two rollers being made to change places as often as necessary. The
collars or guides can readily be adjusted to allow each strip to be moved
endwise on the rollers and leave a vacant space for the reception of the
fresh strips which are to pass over the first series of holes of the
perforated cylinder. If desired these supplying and receiving rollers
may be dispensed with, and other feeding mechanism of any ordinary
and suitable description adopted in their place.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Asbury McKean in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 1st February 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
ASBURY MCKEẠN, of Paris, in the Empire of France, now of No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Asbury McKean, Her special
licence that I, the said James Asbury M°Kean, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Asbury McKean, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY POR MANUFACTURING METALLIC
EYELETS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James

page_text: Asbury McKean, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
month's next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE that I, the said James Asbury M°Kean, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-
My Invention relates to machinery for manufacturing metallic eyelets
for stays, corsets, shoes, and other articles of clothing for fastening leather
and rubber belts for securing papers, and for other like purposes, and the
said Invention consists chiefly in the peculiar combination of dies and
punches and cutters, whereby the several operations which each cyclet
has to undergo are performed simultaneously in different sections of the
machine so that any desired number of eyelets may be finished in the
same time that would be required to produce one single eyelet. Recipro-
cating punches are arranged in combination with rotating cylinders
perforated with series of holes to give the eyelets the required form in
the successive stages of their manufacture. The eyelets are produced
from strips or sheets of brass or other suitable metal, and each strip is
first subjected to the action of one series of dies and punches and is
then passed under the next series and so on till brought to the required
form, while at the same time fresh strips introduced between the first set
of dies and punches follow the strip first introduced. Each strip as it
passes from the last series of dies is brought into contact with a cutting:
cylinder which removes the ends of the eyelets. The strips are annealed
between the successive operations. Feeding and receiving rollers or
other equivalent mechanism may be arranged in combination with the
dies and punches.

page_text: end elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section on
the line x, x, Figure 1; Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section on the
line y, y, Figure 3; Figure 5 is a plan of the lower part of the said
machine. Like letters indicate the same parts in each of the Figures.
sleeve at the
A is the frame of the machine of cast iron, in the uprights of which is
fitted in bearings the shaft B which is provided with two eccentrics C.
To these eccentrics are attached the connections D which through the
screws or pins F give motion to the piece E which is hung on centres
at S (see Figure 5). To the piece E is bolted the strip or plate I for
securing the pins or punches J. Beneath this plate I is a roll G fitted
in bearings in the frame A, and on the roll G are placed four sleeves H.
These rolls or sleeves are provided with holes at a proper distance apart
for the drawing of the tubes, and the holes serve for dies while the pins J
act as punches to draw down the metal into the dies. The roll G and
sleeves H may be made all in one piece if desired. When the machine
s to be operated a piece of brass or other metal about the width of one
of the sleeves is placed with the end resting on the
extremity of the machine and under the strip or bar K. The holes in
this sleeve are a trifle smaller than the flange of the eyelet when finished.
The punches, which are enough smaller to allow for the thickness of the
metal and are rounded on their lower ends, are made to press down the
brass as far as it will bear, that is to say, a little more than one-tenth of
an inch. All the holes are tunnelled or rounded a little at the top.
When the punches are raised by the action of the eccentrics the roll G
is made to revolve far enough to bring the next row of holes under the
pins or punches, this is accomplished by means of the ratchet wheel O,
lever N which bears the catch P, and the boss R of the axis of cylinder G
(see Figure 2). As the roll revolves the brass is fed forward in con-
sequence of the raised part of the former row being retained in the holes
of the cylinder. After the strip of brass has passed through the
machine it is annealed and placed over the next sleeve at the right while
a new strip is started in the place of the first one on the first sleeve.
The holes or dies of the second series are of the same size as the first but
the pins are caused to enter them more deeply. When these two strips
have passed through they are annealed, and the one which was over the
second sleeve is placed over the third, the one over the first is placed
over the second, and a new strip over the first sleeve. The holes in the

page_text: third series are a little smaller than the others, their size is about mid-
way between them and the size of the tube of the eyelet. Furthermore
the punches come down a little lower than the second row. When these
three strips have passed through they are all annealed and put in the
second series with a new strip on the first sleeve. The holes of the last
series are of the size and shape of the eyelet when finished. Thus four
operations are necessary to make the French "B long" eyelet and we
have four strips passing through at a time, the eyelets being made as fast
as they could be if only one operation was required. As the last strip
leaves the roll it meets with a revolving cylinder provided with acute
blades T, Figures 1 and 3. These blades act as a plane and take off
the ends of the tubes which project downward, a row of pins U being
provided for pressing them down and keeping them true and round.
The pins U are square at the ends instead of being rounded like the
others and are of the proper size to fit the inside of the eyelet. The
cutter T receives its motion by means of a round belt running on a
pulley on the main shaft. It would be advisable to have the cutter
so arranged that it might be pressed down about one-eighth of an inch
when the tubes are forced on its surface and there kept up by a spring
so that the tubes might be completely acted upon by the cutter. The
blades of the cutter should be very fine. As the strip passes along
the eyelets are removed therefrom by the punch V and die W. If
the cutter T has a spring under it of course it must not be pressed
directly by the pins (which are inside the eyelets) as it would cut off
the ends, but care ought to be taken to have the pressure exerted on
the piece to which the cutter would be attached.
This machine is capable of making at least from four to five thousand
eyelets per minute much thinner and more economically than any other
machine. We also effect a great saving by using wide strips of metal,
the wear and tear are infinitely less, the punches which cut the eyelets
only requiring a rather more frequent renewal, which can be effected
without difficulty. It is well understood that the machine might be
built in several different forms, and that the piece E which carries
the punch should slide if preferred instead of being hung as represented,
but this last arrangement is preferable, the slight circular motion thus
given to the punches being of no consequence.
Figure 5 represents an arrangement which would be advantageous

page_text: for working the strips of metal. The roll X placed behind the machine
receives the four strips of metal which are to pass simultaneously on
the four sleeves. H, while the other roll Y placed in front of the three
first sleeves receives and rolls around it the three strips of metal issuing
therefrom; when the strips come to the end the roll Y is taken from
its bearings to permit of taking off the strips of metal wound around
it to subject them to the next operation. A band connects the roll Y
by suitable pullies with the cylinder G so that the roll Y may follow
the step by step advancing motion of the cylinder. Moveable collars
are placed around the rolls when the strips of metal are in place in
order to guide them through the machine. The Drawing shows the
roll Y extending only to three divisions of the cylinder while the feeding
roller Xextends the whole length of the same, it may however be
advisable to give the whole length to the roller Y, and to make it
of a material and construction which will allow the stamped strips
wound around it to be annealed in the oven without being taken from
the roller, and so that after this operation the receiving roller Y may
take the place of the feeding roller, the feeding roller X being then
taken to the front for receiving the issuing strips and so on. It is
only required in that case to slacken the guides and to move the strips
one division further in order to make the space free for the fresh strip
which is to be fed to the first division of the machine.
It should be understood that the arrangement of the feeding and
receiving rollers is accessory, and that they may be dispensed with, or
that any other suitable arrangement may be adopted, we however find
the rollers useful.
I prefer to employ the flame of gas for annealing the metal strips
as they pass through the machine, the operation being thereby made
continuous.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
First. The dies, punches, and cutters constructed, combined, and
operating together in such a manner that the several operations required
to produce the eyelets are performed simultaneously in the several parts
or sections of the machine substantially as set forth.

page_text: Second. The combination with the said dies, punches, and cutters of
the mechanism for feeding, guiding, and receiving the metal strips sub-
stantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, the said James Asbury McKean, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of
January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-nine.
JAMES ASBURY MCKEAN. (L.8.)