AN IMPROVED MACHINE for MAKING BUTTONS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adolphe Lambermont, of Cureghem, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MACHINE for
MAKING BUTTONS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adolphe Lambermont at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th June 1879.
ADOLPHE LAMBERMONT, of Cureghem, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Manufacturer.
"AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR MAKING BUTTONS.'
The object of this Invention is to manufacture buttons of horn, india rubber,
gutta percha, or other plastic material with great rapidity, and to lift them from
the dies with ease.
The machine is composed of an endless screw moved by power and belts by
two pullies fixed on the transmitting axle; one of the belts is crossed, the other
straight. The one pulley turns to the right, the other to the left. By a clutch on
the axle of the endless screw the latter is by the two pullies brought into motion in
either direction. The screw acts on a horizontal wheel cut into a screw thread on
its circumference; this wheel, again, keyed on to a vertical screw supported in a
suitable standard, gives the force required to press the buttons into shape in suitable
dies. By the arrangement of the pullies and the clutch the vertical screw is lifted
or depressed at the will of the workman by a handle attached to the clutch. The
back of the endless screw is fitted with a regulating screw by which the pressure of
the screw can be regulated, due to the friction against the pullies and the clutch, so
that the screw or gearing can not be broken by application of too great force.
To the bottom of the press screw is fitted a socket holder which slides against the
frame of the press. The socket holder takes the piece or die holder in which the
upper dies for the buttons are fixed; the bed of the press is recessed and fitted with
screws to hold and adjust the bed plate containing the lower dies for the buttons.
In the centre of each lower die a small pin is inserted projecting through the bottom
of the lower die holder or bed of dies; these projecting pins project downwards into
a bed plate recessed to receive them beneath the die holder, or the recesses may be
made in the bed of the machine.

page_text: When the buttons are formed the press screw and the upper dies are raised, and
the lower die holder or bed of dies is removed; it is then pushed down on a level
surface, and each pin being thus thrust upward ejects all the formed buttons from
the dies. The number of buttons formed at once may vary according to the size of
the press. The punches can also be made to pierce the holes for the thread for the
buttons to be sewn on with.
Figure 2, transverse section.
Figure 3, a plan.
Figure 4, a vertical section through the dies and punches.
This machine with an endless screw is moved by any power by bands by means
of two pulleys fixed on the driving axle, the one pulley crossed, the other straight.
The pulley A turns thus to the right, whilst the other B turns to the left.
By the combination of the sleeve D, which serves to drive the axle C on which it
is keyed between the two pulleys, these are rendered fixed or moveable at will
The handle E serves to connect the pulley A, and the disconnection is done
automatically, as is shown by the Drawings hereto annexed. The machine works
by pressure.
When the desired pressure has been given the machine disconnects itself auto-
matically between the pulleys, which continue to turn, the sleeve being rendered
free either by any known means or by the aid of the handle E.
The central screw F remains fixed during the time necessary to give the pressure
wanted.
The screw receives its ascending and descending movement from an intermediate
cog wheel G, which gears and which is commanded by the endless screw H fixed on
the axle C. I is the counter point with regulating screw, against which turns the
endless screw to prevent too strong a pressure being exercised on the supports of
the axle C, which supports are fixed to the frame J. At the bottom of the screw F
is fixed a piece K provided with a groove intended to receive the dovetail portion
of the punch carriers L.
The pieces L, M, N, O, P, shown in half of its natural size, Figure 4, and which
constitute the principal parts of my improved machine, can be furnished with guides
at the four corners, if necessary, to better hold the punches in the position required.
By this mechanical combination the work is considerably shortened.
The working of the machine is done as follows:-
The material intended to form the buttons being placed in the dies the engine or

page_text: power is put in motion: The required pressure being obtained, and the screw F
lifted up with the punch carrier, the dies can be taken away out of the machine; it
is only necessary then to rest these on the shank N in order that the buttons formed.
shall come out all at once from their dies without the workman touching them
with his fingers, which avoids them being, damaged and tarnished. It is one of
the industrial advantages of the new machine which has never been obtained
until now.
It is to be remarked that the top of the shank N prevents the horn or other
material for making buttons from penetrating into the joint formed between the dio
and the shank itself. At the moment of the pressure the material rests on the head
of the shank, and thus forms an hermetic joint.
The head N of the pieces or punches P can receive the designs and shapes
appropriate to the forms of the buttons to be made. One series of these pieces of
exchange allows the manufacture with the same die of buttons of a great variety of
designs and forms.
The head N, in place of being solid with the piece P, can be attached to it by a
screw or other appliance, so that it can be easily taken away and replaced when
other designs and forms of buttons are desired to be manufactured.
The screw X fixed to the lower part of the shank N keeps this one in its place,
but leaves it with the necessary play to take out the buttons, as has just been said.
The head N of the pieces or punches P varies necessarily in shape according to
the design of the button. If required I fix in the punches P small punches intended
to form in the buttons at the moment of pressure the necessary holes for sewing,
and thus avoid the use of a special machine for perforating these holes.
By this new machine that I have just described I have been able to obtain the
following results:
--
1st. An extraordinary amount of buttons, knobs, etc., and a produce incomparably
superior to all that has been done hitherto.
2nd. An easier work and much less fatigue to the workman. The machine may
be made of any size convenient, and the number and the form of the dies and the
punches may be varied in accordance with the buttons to be made.
Modifications may be made as follows:-
=
1st. In the form of the punches P, in which the shank with a bolt may be
replaced with a stronger shank with a pin Q, and the head N may be enlarged and
rounded off so that it may be engraved, chased, or turned to form nearly by itself
the die, that is to say; the greater part of the design of the buttons; in effect, the
little outside border is thus alone formed in the piece M by a hollow which serves
at the same time to let escape the material in excess submitted to the pressure.
2nd. In replacing the press described for any other mode of pressure, notably by
a hydraulic press with constant action, the mechanical combination of which is well
known.
The Drawings show the changes which may be made in the system as before
described.
No. 1 is a view in plan of the die box, allowing an infinite variety of different
patterns of buttons of the same size.
No. 2. Counterpunch intended to compress the material of which the buttons are
made, principally horn and all other matter, generally plastic.
No. 3 represents the die box L view in section, with the punches P; the buttons
are thus under pressure under the counter punches of the piece No. 2.
No. 4. Engraved punches, chased or turned, serving to form the design of the
buttons, and which may be changed at will, according to the design of the buttons
to be made.
Qare the pins replacing the bolts previously described, and preventing the
punches 4 from coming out of their seats R made as stops in the die box..
No. 5. Grating which serves to support the punches No. 4 to prevent these
resting on the bottom.

page_text: Nos. 6, 7, 8, and 9 represent several punches of varied patterns for the manufac
ture of buttons of different designs and forms.
The materials to be operated upon may be horu, caoutchouc, gutta percha, or
other plastic material, and there is none of the difficulty of the old method in lifting
the buttons from the mould, and the work turned out by this machine is much
greater, perhaps eight or ten times greater, than the machines actually in use, all
the buttons being lifted from the whole of the dies employed at once.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would it understood that what
I claim is,
First. The improved machinery, and more particularly the combination represented
by the Figure 4 in the Drawings, substantially as described.
Secondly. I claim the system of manufacture of buttons by the mechanism sub-
stantially as described by the employment of any convenient pressure, whether by
the screw machinery as described, whether by hydraulic pressure, or by any other
suitable means.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adolphe Lambermont, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.