Improvements in Machines for Making Buttons.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Buttons.
I, JOHN HORMBY, of 1013, Putnam Avenue, Brooklyn, City of New York,
County of Kings, and State of New York, one of the United States of North
America, Gentleman, 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 has for its object the manufacture of buttons which each have
a rounded projecting edge, a flat face and rounded back, with button holes drilled
through and countersunk from each side, in one mechanism and at one operation
from Hat slabs of vegetable ivory.
It has long been common to attempt to manufacture buttons from such
material by first making blanks of uniform size and shape, feeding the same
to a chuck or carrier, and bringing them successively to the action of sundry
tools. The operation of making such blanks is expensive and by means of my
invention the finished button can be produced with about the same expense and in
about the same time as has heretofore been required to produce the blanks alone.
Vegetable ivory is hard and brittle, but not uniformly so. It is therefore apt
to chip when first subjected to the action of a tool, and it needs to be firmly
held while being operated upon.
By means of my invention, which I have reduced to practice and embodied
in the mechanism about to be described, I save the expense of making uniform
sized blanks, and of constantly sharpening the tools, and I overcome the dis-
advantages inherent in the nature of the raw material.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation and partial section
of the mechanism embodying my invention. Figure 2, is a section of the same
taken on the plane of the line 2-2 in Figure 1, and a partial elevation looking
toward the left as the observer stands in front of the machine. Figure 3, is a
detail of one of the jaws and locking mechanism of the grip carrier. Figure 4
is an elevation of the backing tools, Figure 5 is a similar view of the facing
tools. Figure 6, is a plan detail view from above of the mechanism for locking
the multiple grip carrier in place while the tools are operating upon the button
slab. Figure 7 is a plan detail and partial section of the device which unlocks
the jaws of the grip carrier and permits the release of the waste piece after the
button is cut from the slab. Figure 8, is a rear elevation of the same.
In these drawings A, is a frame upon which the mechanism is supported, a is
the driving shaft suitably actuated from an external source of power and carrying
a pinion a which meshes into a gear all which is mounted upon a cam shaft B,
thereby causing it to rotate.
Mounted upon the cam shaft B is a dog b which meshes into a Geneva gear b
which is in turn mounted upon a shaft 6" to which it imparts an intermittent
rotary motion and which carries the multiple grip carrier C in suitable bearings.
On the cam shaft B are mounted also two cam wheels D and D¹, provided with
encircling grooves, or cam ways, d and d engaging with cam rolls E and E¹

page_text: adjustably secured to the beds of two carriages e and e', suitably mounted on
the frame A, and to which carriages there is thereby imparted an intermittent
reciprocating motion. These carry the spindle bearings upon which the operating
tools are mounted. Each of these bearings are adjustably secured in place in
a manner well known in the art, and which needs no detailed description.
The multiple grip carrier C mounted upon the shaft 6" consists of a central
disc c provided at regular intervals near its periphery with apertures suitably
bushed and adapted to receive the locking pin L hereafter to be described. It is
also provided at regular intervals, but intermediate the locking pin aperture c¹,
with an identical number of grips G in which the vegetable ivory slabs are
secured while being operated upon.
Each grip consists of two jaws J and J' each mounted upon the central disc c
and provided with means for opening and closing them, presently to be described.
The operating part of each jaw consists of an annular piece ; adapted to be
adjustably secured to the plate ¹ of the jaw and provided at its inner edge with
teeth projecting toward the similar toothed surface of the opposite jaw.
The annular opening, to allow access of the tools in operating upon the
ivory slab, I prefer to make conical and tapering outward from its toothed inner
edge, in order to permit of the easier escape of the shavings as they are formed.
The annular piece ; is secured in its jaw plate by the four set screws 111. Any
two opposite screws being loosened, a slight oscillation is thus permitted upon the
other two screws as a centre. Similarly when the latter screws are loosened and
the other pair tightened an oscillation is permitted in the other direction. By
this means a slab of the material is held firmly in place even if its sides are not
quite parallel.
The means which I provide for opening and closing the jaws is as follows:-
The left hand jaw J of each grip is detachably but rigidly secured to the central
disc c by any suitable means, for instance, the screws c¹¹. A threaded aperture cl
is cut through the central disc and into the left hand jaw. This aperture is
continued through the right hand jaw JI but is not threaded. Within this
aperture is placed a screw carrying on its outer extremity a pinion K which is
grooved to admit of the passage of a fork k secured to the right hand jaw plate.
In order to close the jaws against the slab placed between them, the pinion K is
caused to rotate. The means I employ for this purpose is a segmental gear h
provided with a handle H pivoted on a link h¹ pivotally mounted upon a
bracket projecting upward from the frame of the machine. The operator
standing in front of the machine places the ivory slab between the open jaws
of that grip of the multiple carrier opposite and nearest to him and presses the
handles H forward and downward. This causes the segmental gear to mesh
with the pinion K and to rotate. This rotation turns the screws c¹ and brings
the right jaw J¹ nearer to the left hand jaw J and tightly holds the slab in place.
Similarly the jaws are opened by reversing this operation. This construction
prevents any movement of the slab during the operation of the tools and insures
accuracy and uniformity of finish in the manufactured buttons.
The means which I employ automatically to open the jaws of the grip carrier G
after the button has been delivered are illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. K is the
actuating pinion of the jaw. As the grip carrier continues to rotate after the
button has been delivered, this waste annulus I, from which the button has been
cut, strikes the free end of a coiled spring M, the other end of which is secured
to a stud m which is rigidly fastened to the lower member n of a jointed link N 5
of which the upper member n' is provided at its outer extremity with a segmental
gear. The spring M being thus compressed throws the upper member n¹ of the
jointed link N upward and, as the rotation of the carrier continues, the pinion K
comes into mesh with this segmental gear, is caused to rotate, opens the jaw and
releases the waste annulus I. The oscillation of the link N is limited by a stop 5
pin and the shock of its downward motion is diminished by a cushion spring n
suitably mounted on the frame. After this jointed link N has performed its

page_text: function it is retracted into place by the action of a spring 11 secured to it and
to the frame.
The locking pin L, designed to hold the carrier more firmly in place during
the action of the tools, is a straight rod tapered at its outer extremity and loosely
supported in bearings and mounted on the frame underneath the reciprocating
carriages. At one point in its length it is embraced from beneath by the forks
of a stud, O, which is in turn supported by a bracket o pivoted in the frame
of the machine at o¹. At the opposite end of the bracket and dependent therefrom
is secured a cam roll P, to which is imparted a reciprocating motion by means
of the cam p, mounted upon the cam shaft B. Between the stud O and the
rear bearing, and encircling the locking pin is a coiled spring 11 adapted to
push it toward the grip carrier. The motion and position of the cam p are so
timed that when the carrier C in its rotation is brought to rest the locking
pin L is pushed forward into that aperture c then opposite to such pin. The cam
shaft B, however, continues to revolve and moves the cam roll P so that just
before the rotation of the carrier C is about to recommence the locking pin L
is moved rearwardly from the aperture in which it has been engaged.
The tools which I use to perform the sundry operations on the ivory slab I
have arranged in sets of three, viz.: Q, S and V, on one side of the carrier C,
and R, T and U on the other side thereof.
The right hand set of tools, viz.: R, T and U are mounted upon the reciprocat-
ing carriage e¹ and the left hand set Q, S and V upon the similar carriage e. Each
tool is mounted on a spindle for instance t, which is journalled in bearings, for
instance, F, which are detachably but firmly secured to the upper surface of
the carriage in the manner well understood by machinists. Each tool is also
supplied with means, as an adjusting screw, for instance, t¹ or s¹, for securing
a fine additional adjustment thereof. All of the bearings are interchangeable
on the carriages. Each spindle is actuated from a source of external power not
shown. In the particular mechanism illustrated, a pulley as sl or this rotated
by a belt. Four of the tools, diz.: Q, V, T and U, are cutting tools, while two
of them, viz. S and R, are drilling and countersinking tools. Tools Q and V
are what I term shaping tools. Their centres are in the same line, and they
are designed simultaneously to operate upon the same ivory slab from each side
thereof, and approximately cut it to shape by removing therefrom any portion
of the outer bark of the nut and the greater part of the waste material on each
side of the button to be made. They revolve in opposite directions and each
tool serves as a rest or support against the pressure exerted by the forward move-
ment of the other member of the pair.
Tools S and T are also arranged with their centres in the same line. T is a
fine cutting tool designed to finish the face of the button to be made, and S
is a drilling tool designed to drill the necessary holes in the slab about half way
through it so as not to come into contact with the finishing tool. It is of such
shape that it countersinks the holes at the same time. Tool R is also a drilling
tool designed to operate upon the face of the slab and to complete the holes
partly made by tool S from the opposite side thereof. Tool V is a finishing and
edging tool which operates upon the back of the slab and finally cuts out the
finished button, permitting it to drop into a receptacle all provided for the
purpose. Tools R and S are alike. Within the pulley s¹ is secured an internal
gear which meshes with four pinions made integral with four parallel spindles ¹
which are journalled in the bearing. Upon this bearing are mounted two
brackets f and f¹. The rear bracket f supports a series of independent longi-
tudinal adjusting screws, one for each spindle, by means of which the position
of the spindles may be independently fixed. At the forward end of each spindle
is mounted the drills, each one of which pass through a disc mounted on the
bracket and which are provided with tapered apertures for that purpose. The
rear end of each drill is secured to its spindle by a universal joint. The four
drills are mounted so that they converge toward their points of operation

page_text: and thereby drill the button-holes closer together than could be accomplished
when arranged horizontally. I usually make the drills of such shape that they
countersink the holes as well as drill them.
. I carry out my invention as follows: I first cause to be prepared a quantity of
slabs by slicing the nuts with a circular saw into pieces slightly thicker than the
buttons to be made, taking care to see that the slabs have approximately parallel
faces.
The operator stands in front of the machine looking at it as it is seen in
Figure 1, and on its left as it is shown in Figure 2. He then grasps the handle H
and pushing it upward and forward thus opens the jaws of the grip carrier
nearest to him. With his left hand he then places the ivory slab within the
jaws of the carrier and moving the handle downward with his right hand locks
the slab in place and then pulling the handle H toward him takes it out of mesh
with the grip pinion K. In the meantime the grip carrier C has been held at
rest through the operation of the Geneva gear and the locking pin L. The
locking pin being released and the multiple grip carrier C then starting to
rotate carries the grip in which the slab has been placed until it is opposite and
between the two shaping tools Q and R. The motions of the multiple carrier
and of the reciprocating carriage on which the tools are placed are such that
as the grip carrier comes to rest between the pair of tools and is locked in place
by the locking pin, the tools are brought forward to perform the first step of
the operation of manufacturing the buttons.
As soon as this cutting operation is completed, and the carriage starts back
from the multiple grip carrier, the latter again begins to rotate and carries
the slab between the next pair of tools, viz.: the drills operating on its back
and the finishing tool operating on its face. In the meantime, and while the
shaping tools were performing their work, the operator has placed a second slab
in the grip then nearest to him and when the first slab is brought between the
second pair of tools, the second slab is brought between the first pair of tools,
and while these two slabs are being operated upon, the operator places a third
slab in the next grip.
The multiple grip carrier continuing its rotation brings the first slab in front
of the drilling tool R which drills and countersinks the holes from the face of
the slab. While this is being done, the second slab is being finished from the
face and drilled from the back, and the third slab is being shaped on both
sides and a fourth slab is being placed in the next grip.
The multiple carrier. then continues its rotation and brings the first slab in
front of the back finishing and edging tool V, when, at the conclusion of the
operation, the button is delivered to its proper receptacle all In the meantime,
the second slab has been drilled from the face, the third slab has been finished
from the face and drilled from the back, and the fourth slab has been shaped,
and a fifth slab has been put into the next grip.
There is then left in the first grip the waste annulus surrounding the hole
left by the removal of the button, and, as the multiple carrier continues its
rotation the first grip is automatically opened and this waste discharged as has
been above described.
While this last operation is taking place, the second slab is being finished
from the back and its button cut out, the third slab is being drilled from the
face, the fourth slab is being finished from the face and drilled from the back,
the fifth slab is being shaped, and a sixth slab has been put into the next grip,
so that in the future operation of the machine one button is being delivered for
each slab which is being inserted, and a button is consequently being made each
time the multiple grip carrier comes to a rest, while five slabs are being simul-
taneously acted upon by the several tools employed.
The shavings from the cutting tools it will be observed, drip in one place,
the finished button is delivered in another, and the waste annulus in a third,

page_text: thus effecting a desirable separation between the large pieces of the waste, and
the shavings, and saving the expense of sieving the waste.
By means of the mechanisun above described, I secure certain important
results, viz. Operating from both sides of the slab simultaneously, I avoid the
dangers and difficulties which arise from presenting the work to a rapidly
revolving tool without any means of lessening the shock; I also neutralize the
strain upon the material by rotating the tools in opposite directions and I effect
a great saving of time in performing these operations simultaneously. I am
also able to countersink the button holes from both sides. By gripping the slab
from the sides I avoid the necessity for fashioning blanks of uniform size and
shape preliminary to the button making operations, and I save not only the
time and labor incident to such preparation, but I make the completed button
within the time which such preliminary operation would alone take.
By placing the tools on each side of the carrier and mounting them on the
same mechanism and actuating them from the same shaft, I secure a uniformity
of action and freedom from vibration heretofore unattainable.
I have described my invention with particular reference to the manufacture
of buttons from vegetable ivory. It is obvious, however, that it is equally
applicable to the same manufacture from other materials such as horn, capable
of similar treatment. Modifications in detail may likewise be made in my
invention without departing from the essential principles upon which it is based.
The size and shape of the tools may be varied, their successive positions in the
series of operations may be varied within limits, and other changes in the form,
proportion, or precise manner of operation are quite within the skill of the
constructive engineer without departing from the practice of the invention itself.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is―
1. In a machine for manufacturing buttons from slabs of vegetable ivory, or
the like, having an irregular outline but approximately parallel faces, a grip
carrier consisting of a pair of jaws for laterally holding the slabs during said
manufacture, each jaw being suitably apertured to give access to the operating
tools, one of said jaws being fixed to the carrier, and the other movable, means
for rigidly locking the movable jaw against the slab, means for automatically
opening said jaws, during the intermittent movement of the carrier, and means
for intermittently moving said carrier.
2. In a machine for manufacturing buttons from slabs having approximately
parallel faces, a multiple grip carrier consisting of a disc upon which is mounted
a plurality of grip carriers each consisting of a pair of jaws, one fixed in relation
to the disc and the other movable in relation thereto in a direction at right
angles to the faces of the slabs, and means for automatically opening and for
rigidly but not automatically closing said jaws, and means for intermittently
rotating the disc in a plane at right angles to the axes of the operating tools.
3. In a machine of the class described, a multiple grip carrier adapted to
laterally hold a series of slabs, and means for intermittently actuating the same,
in combination with a series of facing tools mounted on a carriage on one side
of said carrier and a series of backing tools mounted on a carriage on the other
side thereof, and means for simultaneously bringing the tools in operation
against opposite sides of the slabs held in said carrier, so that the tool on one
side of the slab serves as a support for that slab as against the pressure of the
tool on the opposite side thereof.
4. A machine for producing a completed button from a slab comprising a
moving carrier provided with grips and a series of tools for rough cutting and
finishing the front and back of the button, the said tools being placed in pairs
opposite each other, the component members of each pair rotating in opposite
directions and each of the sets of tools upon one side of the carrier being carried

page_text: upon the same carriage so that the slabs will be operated upon both sides
simultaneously with the minimum amount of strain.
5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a grip carrier con-
sisting of two jaws adapted to hold a slab of material during the operation of
suitable tools thereon, and means for closing said jaws, with means for automatic-
ally opening said jaws and discharging the waste material therefrom brought
into action through the waste, material itself.
6. The combination in one mechanism of a series of facing tools, consisting
of a rough shaping tool, a fine finishing tool and a drilling and countersinking
tool mounted on a carriage, a series of backing tools consisting of a rough
shaping tool, a drilling and countersinking tool and a finishing and cutting out
tool mounted on a carriage, means for actuating the tools and moving the carriages
and the tools to and from an intermittently moving carrier centrally placed
between the two series, whereby slabs of material, held in said carrier, are
successively operated upon first simultaneously by the two rough shaping tools,
second, simultaneously by the fine finishing facing tool and the drilling and
countersinking backing tool, third by the drilling and countersinking facing
tool, and fourth, by the finishing and cutting out backing tool.
7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a gang of parallel
spindles each carrying a pivotally mounted drill at its forward end, and means
for rotating the spindles, of independent means for longitudinally adjusting the
position of each spindle, in combination with a disc suitably mounted in front
of the spindles and provided with tapered apertures for the passage of the drills.
Datod this
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.