Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1886.
Complete Left, 20th May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 19th Aug., 1887.
RESERVE
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57 Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to machines which are chiefly designed for perforating
leather, cloth or other material, inserting eyelets therein and rivetting or clinching
the said eyelets, but which are also applicable for similar purposes, such as the
securing of rivets in the said materials.
An important object of my said invention is to provide for piercing or punching
the leather, cloth or other material by the same movement that effects the insertion
of the eyelet or eyelets therein. For this purpose, when the material is to be
pierced without removing or cutting pieces therefrom, I employ pointed pins or
studs, upon which the eyelets are to be placed, and upon which the leather, cloth or
other material is pushed by suitable tubes or tubular dies. These tubes or dies are
moved down over the said pins or studs, and force the said material closely against
the flanges of the eyelets. The said pointed pins or studs are more especially.
advantageous for porforating and inserting eyelets in cloth or other woven fabrics, as,
by these means, the said eyelets can be inserted without liability to injury of the
threads and consequent weakening of the said fabrics.
When pieces are to be cut or punched out of the material to admit the eyelets, I
substitute for the said pointed pins or studs tubular punches adapted to enter the
aforesaid tubes or dios.
Another object of my said invention is to provide for the simultaneous insertion of
two or more eyelets in any desired relative positions, and also for the simultaneous
rivetting or clinching of such eyelets. For this purpose, I arrange the said pins,
studs or punches and the aforesaid tubes or dies in groups as required; and I arrange
the devices for clinching or rivetting the eyelets in similar groups.
My said invention, moreover, comprises an adjustable gauge for regulating the
distance between the eyelets or groups of eyelets inserted in the leather, cloth or
other material. It also comprises means for facilitating the removal of the said

page_text: material with the eyelets therein from the said pins, studs or punches; and it further
comprises various other improvements hereinafter set forth.
My said invention is conveniently and advantageously carried into practice as
hereinafter described, that is to say :-I provide a suitable standard or post which
may be secured to the floor of a room or to any other suitable support. At the
upper end of this standard I arrange a disc or head, which is suitably supported
upon the said standard, and which is capable of rotation upon or about its axis, so
that it may be adjusted to any desired position for the purpose hereinafter specified.
The pins, studs or punches or groups of the same upon which the eyelets are to be
placed are fixed in this disc or head in any convenient manner.
A vertical rod or shaft is fitted to slide in a hole in the centre of the said disc or
head, but is. prevented from rotation independently thereof. Another disc is fixed
upon the upper end of the said rod or shaft and carries the aforesaid tubes or tubular
dies for forcing the material upon the said pins, studs or punches, to perforate the
said material and insert the eyelets therein. These tubes or tubular dies are some-
times slit so that, as they are forced down upon the said pointed pins or studs and
the eyelets, they will expand; they will, therefore, at all times during their move-
ment upon the said pins or studs, fit closely around the same and will, consequently,
effectually press the material down against the flanges of the eyelets. The aforesaid
vertical rod or shaft is coupled, at its lower end, by means of suitable rods and links
with a treadle, whereby the upper disc may be brought down to insert the eyelets or
to rivet or clinch the same. One or more springs are provided for raising the treadle
and the upper disc, when the said treadle is released. A spring catch or other
suitable device is so arranged in combination with the lower disc or head that it will
facilitate the adjustment of the discs and will retain them in any desired position.
A plate is fitted upon the aforesaid pins, studs or punches and is supported by
springs, which, in the operation of piercing or punching the material and insorting
the eyelets therein, are compressed so that the plate slides downward upon the said
pins, studs or punches, and which, when the upper disc is raised, react to force the
eyelets upward upon the said pins, studs or punches, so that they may be easily
removed therefrom. A catch or other suitable device is sometimes provided for
holding down the said plate while the upper disc is repeatedly moved up and down,
if necessary, to force the material properly upon the eyelets.
An adjustable gauge is sometimes attached to the said plate for the purpose above
specified. This gauge may consist of a plate secured by means of screws passing
through slots therein, so that it can be adjusted towards or away from the aforesaid
pins, studs, or punches; and provided with one or more pins or studs in such a
position that, when one eyelet or group of cyclets has been inserted in the material,
the said ovelet or eyelets can be placed upon the said pins or studs and the material
will then be in the proper position to receive the next cyclet or group of eyelets.
To prevent the sticking of the material upon the aforesaid tubes or tubular dies, I
provide a plate or guard, which is carried by the upper disc, and is held down by
springs so that it will yield in the operations of piercing or perforating the material
and inserting the eyelets therein, and will then, by the reaction of its springs, be
caused to force the material away from or off the said tubes or dies.
The lower disc is provided with pins or studs and anvils upon which the eyelets,
which have been inserted in the material as above described, are to be placed; and the
upper disc is provided with corresponding dies for rivetting or clinching the eyelets.
The rivetting or clinching devices are, in some instancos, arranged at an angle of
ninety degrees to the piercing and eyelet-inserting devices, so that, after the eyelets
have been inserted, the said dises can be turned through an angle of ninety degrees to
bring the rivetting and clinching devices into suitable proximity to the operator to
enable him to readily place the eyelets upon the said pins or studs and anvils.
The eyelets may be placed upon the aforesaid pins, studs or punches by hand or by
well-known or suitable feeding apparatus for eyeletting-machines.
any
In some instances, I so construct the machine that the rivetting or clinching of one
eyelet or group of eyelets will be effected simultaneously with the insertion of another

page_text: eyelet or group of eyelets. The pins or studs of the rivetting or clinching devices, in
this case, serve as the gauge for regulating the length of the spaces between the eyelets
or groups of eyelets, and may be fixed in an adjustable plate or slide, if desired. The
aforesaid adjustable gauge is then dispensed with, and the perforators or punches and
the rivetting or clinching devices are, if desired, so arranged that they will not rotate
upon or about the axis of the central shaft.
My improved machine is especially advantageous where strips of leather, canvas,
cloth or other material have to be secured together at regular intervals by groups of
two or more eyelets, either with or without stiffening plates or strips of metal or other
material.
When two strips of material are to be secured by groups of eyelets and metal
stiffening plates at intervals, the eyelets are first placed upon the aforesaid pointed
pins or studs and the metal plate is placed thereon, the cloth or other material is then
laid upon the said pins or studs and the treadle is depressed to perforate the material
and insert the eyelets. Another metal plate is sometimes placed upon the eyelets
before rivetting or clinching the same.
The said machine is also applicable in cases where single eyelets are to be inserted
in leather, or other materials. It inay, morcover, by somewhat modifying its con-
struction, be adapted for use for inserting and securing small rivets in such materials.
It is not essential that the perforating and rivetting or clinching devices should be
carried by discs as above described. They may, if desired, be otherwise suitably
arranged for the purposes of my invention.
Dated this 20th day of An 1986
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57" Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer, 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 which are chiefly designed for perforating cloth,
leather or other materials, inserting eyelets therein and rivetting or clinching the
suid eyelets. My improved machines are, however applicable for similar purposes,
such as the socuring of rivets in leather or other materials.
One object of my said invention is to provide for piercing or punching the cloth,
leather or other material and inserting an eyelet or group of eyelets therein by one
operation. For this purpose, when the material is to be pierced without removing or
cutting pieces therefrom, I employ pointed pins or studs upon which the eyelets are
to be placed, and tubes or tubular dies which slide upon the said pins or studs and
force the cloth, leather or other material thereon, pressing it closely against the flanges
of the said eyelets. These pointed pins or studs are very advantageous for perforating
cloth or other woven fabrics, as they effect this operation without liability to injury of
the threads and consequent weakening of the said fabrics.
When pieces are to be cut or punched out of the material to admit the eyelets,
I substitute for the said pointed pins or studs, tubular punches adapted to enter the
aforesaid tubes or dios.
Another object of my said invention is to provide for the simultaneous insertion of
two or more eyelets in any desired relative positions. For this purpose, I arrange
two or more of the said pins, studs or punches and tubes or dies in groups as
required, and provide means for operating the same simultaneously as hereinafter
set forth. I also provide for simultaneously rivetting or clinching two or more
eyelets.
My said invention, moreover, comprises an adjustable gauge for regulating the
distance between the eyelets or groups of eyelets inserted in the cloth or other
material. It also comprises various other improvements hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and
Figure 2 a rear elevation of one form of my improved machine.
Figure 3 is a vertical central section on the line x, x, Figure 1, and
Figure 4 a vertical central section on the line a¹, zl, Figure 2, both drawn to an
enlarged scale, showing a portion of the said machine.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line ³, ³, Figures 3 and 4, and
Figure 6 is a vertical section on the line ³, ³, Figures 4 and 5.
A is a standard or post which is to be secured to the floor of a room or to any
other suitable support. B is a disc or head which is supported upon the top of the

page_text: said standard. C is a vertical rod or shaft which has a tube D fitted thereon and hold
in place by means of a collar C secured upon the rod or shaft C by a pin C* passing
through the same and through the said tube, so that, although the said tube is capable
of rotation upon the said shaft, it will participate in any endwise movement thereof.
The rod or shaft C and tube D are arranged to slide up and down in the projecting
part or boss A' of the standard A, and in the disc or head B. E is another disc or
head which is screwed upon the upper end of the tube D and is securely held
in place thereon by means of the nut C. The vertical rod or shaft C is coupled
at its lower end, by means of a link F, to a forked lever or treadle G, which is
pivotted at G¹ to the standard or post A, the two parts of the forked end of the said
lover passing through slots A² in the said standard. By means of the said lever
or treadle, the upper disc E may be moved downward to insert the eyelets or to
rivet or clinch the same as hereinafter described. A pin or rod E¹ is fixed in the
disc E and works in a hole B¹ in the disc B, so that, although the disc E is free to
move towards and away from the disc B, it will rotate therewith, as, and for the
purpose, hereinafter specified. The shaft C is provided with a spring H for raising
the same and the disc E, when the treadle G is released.
These
I, I are the pointed pins or studs for piercing the cloth or other material.
pins or studs are fixed in the disc B in a radial line equidistant from each other.
K, K are the tubes or tubular dies for forcing the material upon the said pins or
studs I and upon the eyelets placed thereon. These tubes or tubular dies are fixed in
the disc E above the pins or studs I. The said tubes or dies are slit longitudinally so
that they will expand when forced down upon the said pins or studs and upon the
eyelets thereon; they will, therefore, at all times during their movement upon the
said pins or studs, fit closely around the same or around the eyelets thereon, and
will, consequently, act very efficiently in pressing the material down against the
flanges of the said eyelets. The lower ends of the said tubes or dies are preferably
serrated or roughened, as shown, to increase their hold upon the material.
Lis a plate in which are fixed two pins or rods L'. These rods are fitted to slide
vertically in holes in the disc B, in which they are retained by means of collars I'
secured upon them by means of screws L. Two springs L' are inserted in recesses
or cavities B in the disc B, so that they support the plate L in the position shown.
The said plate is made with holes L' through which extend the pins or studs I. The
object of this spring plate is to push the material with the eyelets therein off the
said pins or studs as soon as the treadle G is released.
M is an adjustable gauge which is attached to the plate L for the purpose
hereinafter specified. This gauge is secured to the said plate by means of screws M'
passing through slots M³ therein, so that it can be adjusted towards or away from the
pins or studs I. The said gauge consists of a plate provided with pins or studs M³ so
situated that, when the cloth or other material has been perforated and a group of
eyelets inserted therein, the said eyelets can be placed upon the said pins or studs M*
and the material will then be in the proper position to be again perforated and to
have another group of eyelets inserted therein. By these means, the insertion of
the groups of eyelets at regular intervals or at equal distances apart is effectually
ensured.
To prevent the lifting of the material off the eyelets by the tubes or tubular dies K
in their upward or return movement, a spring plate or guard N is attached to the
upper disc E substantially in the manner above described with reference to the
plate Land lower disc B. The said plate N is held in the position shown by
means of springs N¹; these springs will yield in the operation of piercing or
perforating the material and inserting the eyelets therein, and will then, by their
reaction, cause the plate N to force the material away from the said tubes or dies K.
The plate N is made with holes N' through which the said tubes or dies will pass in
the operation of the machine.
0,0 are anvils which are firmly secured in the outer ends of recesses or cavities B³
in the lower disc B, and through which extend pins or rods 0' provided with heads
or flanges 0. Springs 0 are placed in the recesses or cavities B³, which springs

page_text: hold the said pins or rods in the position shown. P, P are dies which are firmly
fixed in the upper disc E, and are provided with pins or studs P₁ adapted to enter
the central holes in the anvils O, as, and for the purpose, hereinafter specified.
Q, R are other anvils fixed in the lower disc B; and S, T are dies or hammers for
operating in combination with the said anvils as, and for the purposes, hereinafter
specified.
In the apparatus shown in the drawings, the different sets of tools for perforating
the material and inserting the eyelets therein and for rivetting or clinching the said
eyelets are arranged radially, each set being at right angles to the adjacent sets.
Therefore, by rotating the discs B, E upon the shaft C through an angle of ninety
degrees, after the material has been perforated and a group of eyelets inserted
therein, the next set of tools for rivetting or clinching the eyelets may be brought
into suitable proximity to the operator to enable him to readily subject the eyelets to
the action of the said tools.
A spring catch is preferably arranged in combination with the lower disc or head B
to facilitate the adjustment of the discs B, E, and to retain them in any desired
position. This catch may consist of a forked rod U carrying an antifriction
roller and fitted to slide in a tube or tubular casing U* secured in a recess or
cavity in the table or platform V, which is supported upon the standard A and
encircles the disc B. A spring Us is placed in the tube or casing U2 and acts
upon the roller U so that, when the said disc is in either of its operative positions,
the said spring will cause the roller U¹ to enter the corresponding notch B* in the
disc B.
A circunferential groove B is formed in the disc B, and a guide-piece W is
secured to the standard A. and projects into the said groove, so that, although the said
disc. is free to rotate yet upward movement thereof is prevented, thus obviating
any liability to lifting of the said disc should the dies K stick upon the pins or
studs I.
Y is a spring catch for holding down the plate L while the upper disc E is
repeatedly moved up and down to force the material properly upon the eyelets.
This catch Y is pivotted at Y¹ upon a screw fixed in the table V, and is acted upon by
a spring Y' whereby it is held in the position shown. It has an inclined surfaco
at Y so that, when the plate L is depressed, it will force the said catch outward, and
the said catch will then spring over the top of the said plate L and will hold
down the same. The said catch is provided with a handle Y whereby it may be
disengaged from the plate L when required. This catch is not in all cases necessary,
and may be dispensed with if desired.
In this
The operation of the improved machine above described is as follows, that is to
sayThe discs B, E are first so adjusted that the perforators or punches I aro next
the operator. Eyelets are then placed upon the said perforators, and the cloth or
other material is placed in the desired position thereon. The treadle G is then
rapidly depressed by the foot so as to move the disc E downward.
downward movement, the dies K force the material upon the perforators or studs I
and upon the eyelets thereon, the springs N' yielding to permit the necessary
upward movement of the plate N relatively to the disc E, and the springs L
yielding to permit the depression of the plate L.
The catch Y then engages
with the said plate and holds the same down, so that the treadle may, if necessary,
be operated repeatedly to drive the material home upon the eyelets.
When the treadle is released, the spring H, by its reaction, raises the disc E,
and, when the catch Y is disengaged from the plate L, the springs L* react and
cause the said plate to rise and force the eyelets upward upon the said pins or
studs 1, so that the material with the eyelets therein may be easily removed from the
said pins or studs. The material with the eyelets therein is then lifted, and the
discs B, E are rotated through an angle of ninety degrees to bring the anvils and
dies P next the operator. The eyelets are then placed upon the pins or rods O¹
and the disc E is again depressed by means of the treadle G. In this downward
movement of the said disc, the pins or studs P¹ come in contact with the pins or

page_text: rods O', push the said pins or rods downward and enter the holes in the anvils O;
the eyelets are then clinched or rivetted by pressure or by impact between the dies P
and the anvils O.
In some instances, the cloth or other material is driven home or compressed upon
the eyelets by means of the anvils R and the dies T, and the said eyelets are partially
clinched by means of the anvils Q and the dies or hammers S; and the eyelets are
then subjected to the action of the anvils O and dies P to complete the clinching or
rivetting of the said eyelets.
I sometimes so construct the machine that the rivetting or clinching of one eyelet
or group of eyelets will be effected simultaneously with the insertion of another
eyelet or group of eyelets. In this case, the various tools or sets of tools, instead of
being arranged radially at right angles to each other, are arranged parallel to each other
in a straight row or series at equal distances apart, and the heads in which the said
tools are fixed do not rotate. The adjustable gauge above described is not required,
as the pins or projections of the rivetting or clinching tools serve as a gauge for
ensuring the uniform spacing of the eyelets or groups of eyelets. The said rivetting
or clinching tools are sometimes fixed in adjustable plates so that the length of the
spaces between the eyelets or groups of eyelets may be increased or diminished.
When two or more strips of material are to be united by means of groups of eyelets
and stiffening plates or strips of metal or other suitable material placed thereon, the
eyelets are first placed upon the aforesaid pointed pins or studs and the metal plate or
strip is placed thereon, the cloth or other material is then laid upon the said pins or
studs and the upper disc or head is depressed to perforate the material and forco the
same upon the eyelets. Another metal plate or strip is sometimes placed upon the
cyelets before rivetting or clinching the same.
My improved machine is especially advantageous where strips of leather, canvas,
cloth or other material have to be secured together at regular intervals by groups of
two or more eyelets, either with or without stiffening plates or strips of metal or other
material.
The said machine is, moreover, useful in cases where single eyelets are to be inserted
in leather or other materials; and, by insorting suitable tools in the aforesaid discs or
heads, it may be readily adapted for inserting and securing small rivets in such
materials.
It is not essential that the perforating and rivetting or clinching devices should be
carried by discs as above described. They may, if desired, be otherwise suitably
arranged for the purposes of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that I claim :—
First. An eyeletting or rivetting machine wherein provision is made for piercing
or punching the cloth or other material and inserting an eyelet or rivet or a group of
eyelets or rivets therein by one operation, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. An eyeletting or rivetting machine wherein provision is made for inserting
or for clinching or rivetting two or more eyelets or rivets simultaneously, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
Third. The employment of rotating discs or heads in which are fixed the tools or
devices for perforating or punching the material and for rivetting or clinching the
eyelets or rivets, one of which discs is movable towards and away from the other disc,
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Fourth. An eyeletting or rivetting machine which is so constructed that the
insertion of one eyelet or rivet or group of eyelets or rivets and the clinching or
rivetting of another eyelet or rivet or group of eyelets or rivets will be effected by
one operation, substantially as herein before described.
Fifth. The combination, with devices for perforating or punching cloth or other
material and inserting eyelets or rivets therein, of an adjustable gauge for regulating
the distance between the said eyelets or rivets or between the groups of the same,
substantially as hereinbefore described.

page_text: Sixth. The employment of a spring plate in combination with the perforating studs
or punches or with the tubular dies, for removing the cloth or other material from the
said studs, punches or dies, substantially as herein before described.
Seventh. The employment, in combination with a punch or perforating stud, of a
tubular die which is slit longitudinally, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Eighth. The combination, with the lower disc or head, the perforating studs or
punches fixed therein, and the spring plate for pushing the material off the said studs
or punches, of means for holding down tho said plate while the upper disc or head is
repeatedly operated, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Ninth. The combination of parts comprising the anvils O, the pins or rods 0', the
springs 03, and the dies P provided with the pins or studs P₁, substantially as described,
whereby provide for clinching or rivetting the eyelets as above specified.
Tenth. The improved machine consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings and operating
as, and for the purposes, specified.