A Machine for Turning Buttons and like Articles from Blanks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Machine for Turning Buttons and like Articles from Blanks.
I, DILMAN BRUBAOHER SHANTZ, of Queen Street, in the Town of Berlin, ia
the County of Waterloo, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, Manufacturer,
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 improvements in a machine for turning buttons and like
articles from blanks and the object of the invention is to provide a simple arrange-
ment whereby the blanks may be fed in position before the entters, without the
danger consequent to the attendant feeding such blanks into position by hand and
also the consequent loss of time occasioned thereby and a circular blank produced.
from which the button may with facility be readily bored and it consists essentially
of peculiarly formed swinging gripping jaws, which are designed to be tilted up
from opposite the cutting tools and opened to receive the blank, such gripping
jaws being given the desired movement through an arrangement of cams and levers
and the machine being otherwise constructed to hold the blauk fast during cutting.
as hereinafter more particularly explained.
Fig. 1, is a perspective view of a button blank preparing machine provided
with my improvements.
Fig. 2, is a sectional perspective view through the machine.
Fig. 3, is a side elevation of the preferred form of cams.
Fig. 4, is a sectional perspective detail of the opening portion of the gripping
jaws.
Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective details of the holding ends of the gripping rods.
Fig. 7, is a detail of the blank showing in dotted lines the portion cut out
preparatory to boring.
Fig. 8, is a perspective detail of the portion cut out preparatory to boring.
Fig. 9, is a perspective view of an alternative form of machine in which
the block is turned down and finally finished preparatory to the holes being
bored in it.
Fig. 10, is an enlarged sectional perspective detail of the central portion of
the machine showing the cutting tools and peculiarly formed grips adopted in
this form of machine.
Fig. 11, is a detail of the preferred form of cams and levers.
Fig. 12, is a detail of the rough block used in this form of machine.
Fig. 13, is a sectional perspective detail of the blank as finally turned preparatory
to boring.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each
figure.
A is the bed-plate of the machine, B B the bearing standards for one turning
epindle and B'B' the bearing standards for the opposite. C C¹ are the cutter;
spindles and c c are the cutting tools, which are secured at the inner end of the
cutter apindle. D D are the driving tools, which are secured to the cutter
spindles CC respectively and E E' are the driving belts. F F are the gripping
rode, which extend through the centre of the cutter spindles and cutting tools, the
jawLeing enlarged as shown, concaved at its extreme end and provided with a
serrated circular edge. The rod F' has its onter end threaded and such eud

page_text: extends through a cross bar F, which is supported on the rods F. The rods F
are secured at their inner end in the outer bearing standard B' and the other ends
of the rods are threaded and are provided with nuts at each side of the cross
bar , so as to securely hold such cross bar in position.
It will be readily seen by the construction above described that the jaw f
of the gripping rod 1 may be adjusted in relation to the jaw f of the gripping
rod F.
G is the blank carriage, which is substantially U-shaped in cross section and
pivoted at g on the innermost standard B. g is a longitudinal opening made
through the top of the carriage through which extends a pair of fingurs gg, the
joner ends of which are bent downwardly and spoon-shaped. Each of the
fingers are held in a forward position by the spiral spring 90 connected at one end
to the carriage and at the other to the finger. 9 are detents, which are pivoted
on the pin 9 extending between the upright supporting lug G' attached to or
forming part of the rear portion of the carriage G. The upper ends of the
detent are curved as shown and the lower ends are narrowed and extend into
recesses G G in the outer ends of the fingers ggare rocking detents
pivoted on the pin in the upper ends of the brackets . The detents & hang
loosely and have an inclined straight lower side and a curved rear side, which is
designed to come in contact with the stop pin extending between the brackets &
when the carriage G is thrown up as hereinafter described and the detents g g
come in contact with the lower inclined straight side. When the carriage Gis
thrown up the effect of the detent g' coming in contact with the lower side of the
detent is to throw the fingers g' rearwardly.
Gare arms supported and held in the lugs G G and G G on each side of
the carriage G. The arms G are provided with enlarged holes G G through
which and the lugs G and G extend the pine g and '. G are the curved
forward ends of the arms G. The ends G extend in front of and in proximity
to the ends g g of the fingers g' g' and are held flexibly in relation to such fingers
by the laterally extending springs g attached to the arm G and the carriage G
and the longitudinal extending springs g g connected at oue end to the arms G
and at the other end to the lugs G. G.
When the carriage is raised and the fiugers 9 g thrown back in the manner,
hereinbolore described the blank 2, such as ehown in Fig. 7, in full lines and
dotted lines by the oblique cut may be placed in position between the ends g g of
the fingers and the curved ends G of the arms G
The means, whereby the carriage is raised and lowered I shall now describe.
His a rod, which is supported in the off-sets B' forming portion of the standards B'.
l'is a collar secured to the rod H by means of a set screw i. J is a link pivotally
connected to one rear end of the carriage G. The other end of the link J is
provided with a slot j. is a pin, which extends through lugs made in the top
of the collar I and the slut in the link J. is a spiral spring, which extends
between the pin and the end of the slot j. The tension of the spring, is adjusted
by the set screw. K is an arm supported on the rod H and H' is a collar, which
is secured on the end of the rod Houtside of the arm K. His a spiral spring,
which encircles the rod H and extends between the arm K and the off-set B.
His a rod, which is pivotally connected at one end to a boss h on the rod H..
The other end of, the rod His pivotally connected to the forked upper end of the
lever L, which is provided with a friction roller 1. L' is a wing, which is secured
to the rod H and is designed to co-act with the cam M secured, on the cross
shaft 3. The cam M revolving in the direction indicated by arrow serves with
the spring when its greatest dinmeter comes in contact with. tho wing L' to throw
the rod in the direction indicated by arrow and consequently the carriage down
with the fingers and arms opposite the cutting tools (see Figs. 1 and 2).
In order to throw the carriage up I provide a cam M, which is designed to
co-act with the roller 1 on the lever L and throw the rod H and rod H in the
opposite direction to that indicated by arrow and thereby by the link connection

page_text: between the rod H and the carriage G to tilt the carriage and throw it upwardly
to operate in the manner herein before described.
This upward and downward swinging movement of the carriage is repeated
regularly, so that the blank may be fod in position. In order to limit the down-
ward movement of the carriage I provide a vertical stop h', which extends
underneath one side of the carriage G.
In order to provide for the longitudinal movement of the cutter spindle and
consequently the cutting tools, so as to bring them into operative position in
relation to the blank I provide the following mechanism.
In the end of the cutter spindle C I make a circular groove c'. To the arm K,
I secure a plate having a forked end, which extends into the groove. The
upper end of the arm K is supported by and has movement upon the gripping
rod F. The arm K as herein before described is located on the rod Ef and
Consequently when the rod H derives its longitudinal movement to raise the
carriage the cutter spindle is brought forwardly by reason of the connection
between the plate k and aunular groove c' to operate upon the blank, which would
now be held between the ends of the gripping rods. Upon the rod H being moved
in the opposite direction to lower the carriage G the cutting tools would be
carried back.
The cutting spindle C' is provided with an annular groove c' into which extends
the forked end of the plate secured to the arm K. The gripping rod F¹ extends
through the upper end of the arm K' and the rod H extends through the lower
end of the arm K' and is provided with a collar to the outside of such arm.
The rod H extends through the off-sets B B forming part of the bearing
standards B' B. is a collar secured in the rod H' and is a spiral spring
extending between the collar and the off-sets B. N is an arm secured to the
rod Hand O is a rod pivotally connected to the end of the arm N and to the end
of the lever P, which is provided with a friction roller p designed to como in
contact with the cam Q R is a wing secured to the rod O and designed to co-act
with the cam Q secured on the cross shaft 3.
Upon each upward movement of the carriage G the gripping jawa having
previously grasped the blank the cam Q co-acting with the friction roller p sorves
to throw the cutters forward to operate upon the blank. Upon the carriage G
being caused to swing down the spring and the wing R co-acting with the
cam R¹ serves to throw the cutter spindle outwardly and the cutting tools from
engagement with the blank, the cams being suitably arranged to give the requisite
movement.
I have hereinbefore described the manner in which the gripping rod F¹ is held
stationary and in any desired position. The gripping rod F, however, is adjustable
so as to grip the blank upon its hoing released from the fingera g' and the ends G³
of the arms G and I shall now describe the means whereby the longitudinal
movement of the gripping bars to effect this purpose is accomplished. The outer
end of the gripping rod is provided with a flattened end having preferably a
series of holes fo. S is a double metal strap which is pivotally connected by the
pins s to the sleeve T. The sleeve T fits loosely on the rod U. is a stiff sleeve,
which is screwed on the rod U. The rod O is let into the frame and extends
outwardly and is provided at its end with a collar U between which and the
sleeve T upon such rod U is located the spiral spring U. The top of the double
strap is pivotally connected by the pin or bolt to the flat end of the gripping
rod F. The bottom of the double strap is pivotally connected to the bar V, which
is pivotally connected to the lever V, pivoted on the frame and having a friction
roller on its upper end designed to rido upon the periphery of the oam V' attached
to the cross shaft 3 and held upon it by the spring U. The cam is so arranged
on the shaft that before the carriage G is caused to rise such cam operates upon
its longer diameter and throws by reason of its connection to the gripping rod FHS
hereinbefore described, such gripping rod forward, so as to grip the blank and hold
it securely in position before and during the period that the cutter operates upon

page_text: .
such blank. The spring Us hereinbefore mentioned serves to relieve any undue
concussion caused by the bringing of the jaw f of the gripping rod against
the blank.
In Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 I show the alternative form of machine and the
style of blank turned out by such machine. In this case I use no central gripping
bar but provide instead stationary gripping jaws W concaved on the inside for the
passage of the cutting tool and each provided with a rocess to for the upward
passage of the fingers g, which in this case are slightly differently shaped than
those herein before described. The pair of jaws W W are secured to an upwardly
extending projection W forming portion of the frame and have serrated gripping
portions WW. The movable jaws which I use in this case are made in centrally
divided portions XX preferably divided vertically centrally and having serrated
outwardly extending portions XX.
In this form it will be seen that the cutter spindle will have no holes made
through them as described in reference to Figs. 1 and 2, but such cutters will
operate within the diameter of the gripping jaws instead of to the outside of them
as hereinbefore referred to. The gripping jaws X X are in this case the adjustable
ones and they are supported upon the standards YY by the pins yy extending
through slots y y' in such standards Y Y. The pius y extend into the ends of
the levers Z, which are pivoted at 22 on the frame and are connected at the bottom
to the frame by the spiral springs a 2. The holding arms G³ referred to in the
former figures are slightly differently curved at their inner ends.
The operation of the jaws X X is practically identical to the jaw, the lever
being operated through the rod, lever a, rod, lover 2 provided with friction
roller designed to co-act with the cam on the cross shaft 3. The essential
difference in this machine, however, lies in the fact that the blank is turned out as
shown in Fig. 13, that is to say the cutters must be of different shape, so that they
will operate and cut out the blank complete from the periphery of the centre of
the face, which would of course be impossible to do in the form described
particularly in Figs. 1 and 2.
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. In a machine for turning buttous and like articles, in combination the revolving
cutter spindles, the stationary jaws, and the movable jaws, extra gripping fingers
and means for raising and lowering them iuto position between the cutting tools
during the period that the cutting tools are working on the article previously
placed in position as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a machine for turning buttous and like articles, in combination the
revolving cutter spindles, the stationary movable gripping fingers and arms and
means for throwing them upwardly, the cutting tools and independent recessed or
hollowed jaws working longitudinally and parallelly with the cutting tools, non-
rotatable, and designed to hold the blank firmly in position while being operated
upon as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a machine for turning buttons and like articles, in combination the cutter
spindles and tools, suitable grips to hold the article while being operated upon by
the cutting tools, the adjustable fingers and arms designed to open to receive the
blank to be placed by the attendant and to hold such blauk during the period
that the tools are working upon the article held in position as and for the purpose
specified.
4. In a machine for turning buttons and like articles, in combination the cutter
spindles and toule, suitable grips to hold the article while being operated upon by
the cutting tools and adjustable fingers and arins designed to open to receive the
blauk to be placed by the attendant and to hold such blank during the period that
the tools are working upon the article held in position and means by which the
temporary holding fingers and arms are moved into their proper position holding

page_text: the blank until such blank is received and held in position by the gripping jaws
as and for the purpose specified.
5. In a machine for turning buttons and like articles, in combination, the
cutter spindles and tools, suitable gripping jaws to hold the article while being
operated upon by the cutting tools, adjustable fingers and arms held upon a
suitable carriage pivoted upon the bearing standard and means for tilting such
carriage as and for the purpose specified.
6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the gripping jaws
one of which is adjustable lengthwise to and from the other, of a carriage pivoted
on the frame of the machine, adjustable holding fingers to place the blank in
position, means for raising the carriago and a stop for limiting its downward
movement as and for the purpose specified.
7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the gripping jaws
one of which is adjustable lengthwise to and from the other, of a carriage pivoted
on the frame of the machine, longitudinal fingers supported in a guide-way in the
top of the carriage and having bent lower euds, arms extending out from the
carriage in front of the bent ends of the fingers and meaus for drawing the bent
ends of the fingers back upon the carriage being raised as and for the purpose
spocified.
8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the gripping jaws
one of which is adjustable lengthwise to and from the other, of a carriage pivoted
on the frame of the machine, longitudinal fingers supported in a guide-way in the
top of the carriage and having bent lower euds, arms extending out from the
carriage in front of the bent ends of the fingers, rocking detents suitably pivoted
at the rear of the carriage and having their lower ends engaging with recesses in
the outer ends of the fingers and means for self-tilting such detents on their pivots
when the carriage is raised as and for the purpose specified.
9. In a carriage of the class described, the combination with the gripping jaws
one of which is adjustable lengthwise to and from the other, of a carriage pivoted
on the frame of the machine, longitudinal fingers supported in a guide-way in the
top of the carriage and having bent lower ends, arms extending out from the
carriage in front of the bent ends of the fingers, rocking detents suitably pivoted
at the rear of the carriage aud having their lower ends engaging with recesses in
the outer ends of the fingers and an engaging detent pivotally supported upon
brackets secured to the top of the standard and having a limited movement as and
for the purpose specified.
10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the gripping jaws
one of which is adjustable lengthwise to and from the other, of a carriage pivoted
on the frame of the machine, longitudinally adjustable holding fingers supported
in suitable guide-ways and co-acting flexibly held arms having their outer ends
extending beyond the ends of the longitudinally adjustable fingers as and for the
purpose specified.
11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the gripping jaws
oue of which is adjustable lengthwise to and from the other, of a carriage pivoted
on the frame of the machine, longitudinally adjustable holding fingers supported
in suitable guide-ways and co-acting arms having curved outer ends extending
beyond the longitudinal adjustable fingers, lugs for supporting such arma, pios
extending through the enlarged holes in the arms and into the lugs and laterally
and longitudiually connecting springs to each arm and the carriage as and for the
purpose specified.
12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the gripping jaws
one of which is adjustable lengthwise to and from the other, of a carriage pivoted
on the frame of the machine, co-acting fingers and arms, means for adjusting them
to and from each other, a rod supported in suitable bearings in the standards, a
link flexibly connecting such rod to an arm extending behind the pivot point of
the carriage and means for imparting a longitudinal reciprocating movement to
such rod as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the gripping jaws
one of which is adjustable lengthwise to and from the other, of a carriage pivoted
on the frame of the machine, co-acting fingers and arms, means for adjusting
them to and from each other a rod supported in suitable bearings in the standard,
a collar on the rod provided with upwardly extending lugs, link pivotally
connected to one end, an arm extending bebiud the pivot point of the carriage,
a slot at the other end of such link through which a pin in the lugs extend, a
spring located in such slot and means for imparting a longitudinal reciprocating
movement to such rod as-and for the purpose specified.
14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the gripping jaws
one of which is adjustable lengthwise to aud from the other, of a carriage pivoted
on the frame of the machine co-acting fingers and arms, means for adjusting them
to and from each other, a rod supported in suitable bearings in the standards,
means for flexibly connecting the rod to the carriage, a spring situated on the rod
between one of the bearings and a fixed collar on the rod and means for
imparting a longitudinal reciprocating movement to such rod in the opposite
direction to that in which the spring forces the rod as and for the purpose
specified.
15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the gripping jaws
one of which is adjustable lengthwise to and from the other, of a carriage pivoted
on the frame of the machine, co-acting fingers and arms, means for adjusting them
to and from each other, a rod supported in suitable bearings in the standards,
means for flexibly connecting the rod to the carriage, a spring situated on the
rod between one of the bearings and a fixed collar on the rod and the rod H
pivotally connected to the rod H, the lever L, the roller 1, the cam M' all
arranged as aud for the purpose specified.
16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the gripping jaws
one of which is adjustable lengthwise to and from the other, of a carriage pivoted
on the frame of the machine, co-acting fingers and arms, means for adjusting them
to and from each other, a rod supported in suitable bearings in the standards,
means for flexibly connecting the rod to the carriage, a spring situated on the rod
hetween one of the bearings and a fixed collar on the rod and the rod H pivotally
connected to the rod H, the lever L, the rollor 1, the cam M', and the wing L' and
cam M all arranged as and for the purpose specified.
17. In combination the cutter spindles C'suitably journalled and provided with
an annular groove c³, the arm K, the plate & secured thereto nud having jaws
extending into the auuular groove c', the rod H, collar H', spring H', rod H',
lever L, roller 1, cam M', wing L' and cam M all arranged as and for the purpose
*pecified.
h³
18. In combination the cutter spindles C provided with suitable cutting tools
and having an annular groove at the outer end, the arm K', plate, having
jaws extending into the annular groove, the rod H supported in suitablo
bearings, the collar h, the spiral spring extending between the collar and one
of the bearings of the rod H, and rod O pivotally connected to the arm N, the
lever P, the roller p, cam Q, wing R and cam R all arranged as and for the
purpose specified.
19. In a machine of the class described, the combination with one cutter spindles
and its co-acting gripping jaw, of the opposite cutter spindle and its co-acting
gripping jaw suitably supported and means for imparting a backward and forward
movement to such gripping jaw parallelly to the cutter spindle to and from the
blank as and for the purpose specified.
20. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the cutter spindle
and its co-acting gripping jaw, of the opposite cutter spindle and its co-acting
gripping jaw suitably supported, a rearward extension to such jaw, a double lever
connected to the end of such rearward extension and suitably pivoted, a spring
connecting such lever to the frame, a cam on the main driving arbor, a lever and
friction roller co-acting with such can and a rod connecting the cam lever to

page_text: the lever connected to the rearward extension of the movable jaw as and for the
purpose specified.
21. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the cutter spindle
and its co-acting gripping jaw, of the opposite cutter spindle and its co-acting
gripping jaw suitably supportod, a rearward extension to such jaw, the double
lever S, the rod U secured to the frame, the threaded sleeve T secured on the
rod, the sleeve T upon which the lever S is pivoted, the collar U, spiral
spring U, rod V, lever V₁ and cam V all arranged as and for the purpose
specified.
22. In combination the stationary gripping jaws made in two parts separated
for the passage of the cutter and having inward extensions to grip the blank, the
adjustable jaw made in two parts having inward extensions to grip the blank and
hollow from end to end for the passage of the cutter, independent springs to control.
the position of each part upon the blank and means for throwing the jaws backward
as and for the purpose specified.
23. In a machine of the class described, in combination the cutter spindles and
tools, suitable grips to hold the article while being operated upon by the cutting
tools, suitably supported fingers and springs to press them forward to temporarily
grip the blank as and for the purpose specified.
Dated 17th J
1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant..