Improvements in Button Blank Cutting Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Button Blank Cutting Machines.
A communication by WILLIAM ALLEN PENDRY, of 65, Farnsworth Avenue,
Detroit, County of Wayne, and State of Michigan, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., Agent for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil 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 is designed to provide certain new and useful improvements in
a button blank cutting machine, and it consists of the mechanism hereinafter
described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which―
Figure 1. is a side elevation.
Fig. 2 is a rear elevation.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section through portions of the device, and on a somewhat
enlarged scale.
Fig. 4 is a plan view.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of certain cams employed.
Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the clutch mechanism."
Fig. 9 is a front elevation.
Fig. 10 is a detail view of one of the bell cranks.
Fig. 11 is
vertical section of a portion of the table and adjacent parts.
Fig. 12 is a detail view of the basket.
Fig. 13 is a view in horizontal section on the line X-X, Figure 3.
Fig. 14 is a detail view of the key h².
Fig. 15 is a detail view of the connecting rod and adjacent parts.
My invention has in view more particularly, certain improvements in an
automatic button blank cutting machine of superior efficiency and utility.
Accordingly, I carry out my invention as follows:
A represents any suitable support, provided with a flange a.
A denotes por-
tions of the supporting frame-work provided with a flange a united to the
flange a of the support.
B denotes a driving shaft, preferably provided with cone driving pulleys,
indicated at B¹. Said pulleys may be belted with a counter shaft, not shown,
in a well known manner.
C denotes a feed shaft, preferably provided with cone pulleys C, which may
be belted to a counter shaft, in any customary manner. The shaft C is con-
structed with a worm, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, at C2, meshing
with a worm gear C upon a shaft C. The shaft C is provided with a cam D
designed to actuate a mandrel F, and also a cam E designed to actuate a push

page_text: bar G. The mandrel F is made rotatable and reciprocatory in boxes A³ of the
frame-work A².
Within the mandrel is located a plunger H carrying at its lower end a tubular
saw J. At the lower end of the mandrel is a chuck r¹ provided with jaws f
and a cap f. The jaws f have a wedge-shaped engagement against the adjacent
inner face of the mandrel and bear against the saw. It is evident that by
screwing the cap upon the mandrel any suitable tension can be given to said
jaws of the clutch upon the jaw. To prevent injury to the saw and. too great a
tension being applied thereto, I provide a plug J within the saw, said plug
provided with an orifice through which the push bar G is reciprocated.
To rotate the mandrel, it is provided with a gear F3 meshing with a pinion 12
on the driving shaft B. To permit the reciprocation of the mandrel, it is con-
structed with an elongated orifice or key way, indicated at f³, into which projects
a screw or pin f passing through the hub F of the gear F
Upon the frame-work A2 is fulcrumed, as shown at k, a bell crank K engaged
at one extremity with the mandrel, and at the opposite extremity provided with
a wiper, as at K', to ride upon the cam D, and by which cam said bell crank is
actuated. It will be obvious that when the wiper is raised by the can, the
mandrel will be forced downward.
L is an additional bell crank fulcrumed, as indicated at 1, upon the frame-
work A2, one end being connected by a yoke M engaged with the upper end of
the push rod G.
N is an additional bell crank fulcrumed upon the frame-work, as upon the
pink and provided with a wiper at n riding upon the cam E. The bell crank N
is united to the bell crank L by a connecting rod N₁ threaded through a block n'
connected with the lever L in such a manner that it can oscillate freely upon
its axis, said rod being connected also to the lever N by a similar block n² bored
to receive the end of the rod, in such a manner that the rod may rotate without
longitudinal travel in said latter block, thus forming an adjustable connecting
rod uniting the levers N and L. It will be obvious that as the wiper ascends,
the yoke M carrying the push rod G will be forced downward. The yoke M
is jointedly connected with the adjacent end of the bell crank L, as at 11. A
nut G¹ is preferably provided at the upper end of the push rod G to hold the
push rod in engagement with the yoke. By unscrewing said nut from the yoke
the push rod may be withdrawn, when the yoke may be thrown to one side per-
mitting the removal of the plunger from the mandrel whenever it may be desired
to sharpen or to renew the same.
Any desired friction clutch P may be employed to engage the feed pulley Ct,
said clutch being actuated by a foot lever P₁ suitably connected therewith.
The frame A is constructed with a bracket A¹ extending downward below the
top of the support A. A is a movable bed provided with a downwardly pro-
jecting bracket a³, which is gibbed to the bracket A', as shown at a³. By means
of screws a, the movable bed A may be adjusted transversely, as may be
required. The movable bed A6 is preferably provided with upwardly projecting
flanges, indicated at a, upon which is located a movable bed or table A7 pro-
vided with a tubular die a mounted upon a hollow support a' engaged upon
the bed A and preferably made integral therewith, as shown. The bed or
table A has a longitudinal movement upon the flanges as to permit the die being
removed from beneath the saw, when required, to enable the operator to get
more conveniently at the saw. The table A may be gibbed in a customary
manner upon the flanges a of the movable bed A. The saw is made to recipro-
cate through the die a6 and its support a. The blank is cut upon said die, and
is forced out from the tubular saw and through said die and its support by means
of the push rod G.
To better support the blank when it is being cut, I provide a back peg R
carried upon a lever R¹ fulcrumed upon the table A7, as indicated at r, so that
when the table A7 is moved, the lever will be carried therewith.
This back peg

page_text: is arranged to be dropped out of the way before the push rod pushes the blank
out of the saw and then is made returnable to normal position immediately,
ready to receive and support the next blank.
The lever R¹ is provided with an arm R³, the lever and the arm being pre-
ferably cast upon the same hub through which the lever is fulcrumed. The
fulcrum r is preferably on or about a level with the top of the die aº.
Upon the shaft C* is located an additional cam, shown in detail in Figure 7,
at V. The periphery of this cam is made concentric with the exception of a
notch, indicated at V₁.
W indicates a bell crank fulcrumed upon the frame A2, as shown at w having
a wiper W in contact with the cam V. The lower arm of the bell crank W is
provided with a slot, indicated at w¹³, the slot being always vertical when the
wiper is on the dead line of the corresponding cam.
The arm R2 of the lever R¹ is provided with a block 1 supported upon a
pin passed through the upper arm of the said lever, said block riding in the
slot w¹, the block being permitted to oscillate on the pin 2. It will be evident
that when the wiper drops into the notch or recess V₁ of the cam, the upper end
of the bell crank W will move upward, thereby throwing the lower arm of said
bell crank forward carrying with it the arm R of the lever R' toward the front
of the machine, and thereby dropping the back peg out of normal position. As
the wiper rides onto the dead line of the cam again, the back peg will be thrown
upward into normal position, and so held until the wiper again enters the notch
or recess V1 of said camı. I prefer to make the lever R₁ of sufficient weight to
cause the wiper to recede into the notch of the cam V when opposite said notch,
but any other suitable structure or means may be employed to effect the same
result.
The numeral 1 denotes a lever fulcrumed, as at 2, preferably to the body A,
said lever being also pivotally connected to the bracket a², as indicated at 3.
A threaded rod 4 preferably provided with a hand wheel 5 is employed to actuate
the lever 1. The rod 4 preferably has threaded connection with the block 65
engaged to the lever 1, as indicated at 6. The rod 4 runs through an extension
or bracket 7 projecting from the flange a' upon the frame A². By means of the
lever 1 and its connections, the movable bed A may be vertically adjusted,
together with the devices supported thereupon to adjust the vertical position of
the die, as may be required.
The bell crank W being provided with the slot u vertical when in working
position always insures the back peg being kept in proper working position
whatever may be the vertical elevation of the table A6. The lever R¹ being
fulcrumed upon the table A7 and movable therewith is thus free to adjust itself
vertically in the slot w¹ to secure the desired result. The table A is moved
upon the flanges a by hand when desired, and any suitable means may be
employed to hold it in position.
The push rod, in this instance, I prefer to make hollow, the same being
opened at both extremities thereof, the nut G¹ being preferably made funnel-
shaped, or of such form as to permit the engagement of a hose pipe therewith,
the idea being to construct the push rod to permit water flowing therethrough.
By providing for the passage of water through the push rod, the saw may be
kept cool, while at the same time dust may be prevented. Furthermore, the
water will also prevent the burning of the pearl. The water being inside the
saw is prevented from splashing and being thrown over the operator. The water
being discharged from the base of the push rod on the work may be lead from
the machine as may be desired.
In the support A, I prefer to locate a wire basket, indicated at R³, the upper
extremity of the basket being provided with a rim R fitting snugly into the
support A, the basket being removable by opening a door A provided for that
purpose upon the support. My invention contemplates the discharge of water
into this wire basket or receptacle R³ in any suitable manner, as by means of a

page_text: pipe R to wash the dust, chips, and any other foreign matter from the button
blanks.
More or less air may also, obviously, be admitted through the opening in the
die. Beneath the basket R is an exhaust pipe T, which is preferably provided
with a funnel-shaped top. It will be understood that it is designed to make the
wire basket of such mesh as to permit the dust and chips dropping therethrough
while the button blanks are retained therein. By this means the blanks may be
efficiently separated from the chips and dust without any hand labor, either by
means of the air or by means of the water, as may be preferred. The basket
should be so fitted within the support A that the air, if employed, will be com-
pelled to pass through the basket.
While I have shown automatic devices for forcing the saw and the push rod
to the work, I would have it understood that I do not limit myself solely
thereto.
My present invention contemplates the employment of a long plunger and the
use of a long tubular saw engaged therewith, made adjustable in the mandrel
and removable from its upper end. It will be apparent that by the use of a long
tubular saw, the saw may be fed to the work as it wears, thereby preventing
waste heretofore common in the use of saws, inasmuch as it is impracticable to
use a saw after it has been worn down to within a given distance from its upper
extremities. The location of the plunger may be controlled as to distance in any
suitable manner. The plunger is threaded on its exterior, as shown more
particularly in Figure 3 at h. The plunger is also constructed with a longitudinal
slot or spline h¹, as shown in Figure 13. A bolt or pin F2 is provided to engage
the threads of said plunger when it is desired to prevent the longitudinal move-
ment of the plunger. This pin is preferably threaded into the upper end of the
mandrel F. By means of said pin and the threads upon the plunger, the plunger
may be adjusted in the mandrel, as may be desired. In said spline is located a
removable key h², shown in detail in Figure 13. When it is desired to vertically
adjust the plunger, the key h² is withdrawn when the plunger may be given a
quarter turn to bring the spline h¹ opposite the pin F2, then the plunger may be
moved vertically, as may be required, after which the plunger is rotated back
into normal position, and the key 2 is again inserted into place. When it is
desired to remove the plunger from the mandrel with its saw, the pin F³ is
released from the threads of the plunger. It will be obvious that in feeding the
shell from which the blanks are to be cut to the saw, the shell may not always be
fed in just the desired position, and it will hence be desirable to prevent the
descent of the mandrel and of the push rod, thereby giving opportunity to change
the position of the shell.
I provide for this by the construction and operation of the friction clutch P,
shown more particularly in Figure 8, by which the operator is enabled to stop
the descent of the saw. When the saw is operated upon a thick portion of the
shell, it is liable to be choked up by the refuse in cutting rendering it at times
necessary to retract the saw to clean it and the kerf in the shell of the refuse.
This may be effected by making the shaft 0 reciprocatory in its bearing c, so
as to carry the cams D and E out from under the corresponding wipers. This
may be done in any suitable manner, as by means of a bell crank Q, fulcrumed
as at q, said bell crank being connected in any suitable manner with a foot
lever Q. The bell crank Q and consequently the shaft C may be automatically
retracted in any suitable manner, as by a spring Q2 The mandrel and push rod
may also be retracted automatically in any suitable manner, as by springs K³
and M³. I prefer to make various parts of the device self-retracting in any
proper manner. The foot lever P¹ may be retracted by a spring P³.
I would have it understood that either an exhaust of air or water alone may
be used to clear the blanks of refuse matter, either air or water being exhausted
in the pipe T.
The mandrel and the plunger carried thereby are reciprocated to carry the

page_text: saw through the shell by means of the mechanism above described. The push
rod is carried simultaneously until the saw has cut through the shell. The
mandrel then stops its downward movement. The back peg is then moved out
of normal position by the mechanism already described, and the push rod is
then given a further downward movement to eject the blanks. The mandrel
with the plunger, the push rod, and the back peg are then restored to normal
position.
:
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 cutting button blanks, the application of a support, a
rotatable mandrel, an adjustable plunger within the mandrel, a tubular saw
carried by the plunger, means to simultaneously actuate the mandrel and plunger
a hollow push bar within the plunger, means to actuate said push bar, a die
beneath the mandrel, and a support for the die, substantially as described.
2. In a machine for cutting button blanks, a support, a movable table upon
said support, a hollow die carried upon said table, a back peg to project upward
within said die, an oscillatory lever fulcrumed to said table and movable there-
with to carry said back peg, means to actuate said lever having an adjustable
connection therewith, and means for cutting a button blank upon said die, sub-
stantially as described.
3. In a machine for cutting button blanks, the application of a support, a
rotatable mandrel, an adjustable plunger within the mandrel, a saw carried by
the plunger, a hollow push bar within the plunger, means to actuate the mandrel
and plunger, means to actuate the push bar, a movable table, a hollow die
carried upon said table, a back peg to project upward within said die, and an
oscillatory lever fulcrumed to said table and movable therewith to carry said
back peg, and means to actuate said lever, substantially as described.
4. In a machine. for cutting button blanks, the application of a support pro-
vided with a bed thereupon, a rotatable mandrel, an adjustable plunger within
the mandrel, a saw carried by the plunger, a hollow push bar within the plunger,
a movable table upon said bed, a hollow die carried by said table, a lever ful-
crumed to said table and movable therewith provided with a back peg to project
upward within said die, a bell crank to actuate said lever, and means to actuate
said bell crank, said lever having an adjustable connection with the bell crank,
substantially as described.
5. In a machine for cutting button blanks, the application of a support, a
rotatable mandrel sleeved through a portion of the support, a plunger within
the mandrel and carried thereby, means to simultaneously reciprocate the mandrel
and plunger, a tubular saw carried by the plunger within said mandrel, a hollow
push bar within the plunger open at its extremities, means to reciprocate the push
bar, a hollow die, a support therefor, a movable back peg to project within said
die, a shaft, and a bell crank adjustably engaged with said lever actuated by
said shaft to move said back peg into and out of normal position, substantially
as described.
6. In a machine for cutting button blanks, the application of a support, a
rotatable mandrel, a plunger within the mandrel and carried thereby, a push
bar within the plunger, a tubular saw carried by the plunger, a rotatable shaft,
cams mounted upon the shaft to actuate the mandrel and push bar, a hollow
die, a support therefor, a back peg to project within the die, a lever to carry
said back peg, a bell crank to actuate said lever, an additional cam upon said
shaft to actuate the bell crank, and means to throw said cams into and out of
operation, substantially as described.
7. In a machine for cutting button blanks, the application of a support, a
rotatable mandrel, a plunger within the mandrel and carried thereby, a saw
carried by said plunger, a push bar within the plunger, a bell crank to actuate

page_text: the mandrel and the plunger, an additional bell crank to actuate the push bar.
means to actuate said bell cranks, an adjustable device connecting said bell
cranks, a hollow die, a movable support for said die, a back peg to project within
the die, means to remove the back peg from the die before the push rod forces
the blank out of the saw, and to restore the back peg to normal position, and
whereby the back peg will be kept in proper working position whatever may be
the position of its support, a receptacle in the support beneath said die to receive
the blanks, and an inlet pipe discharging into said receptacle, substantially
as described.
T) : 1 : 11
1
1000
:
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.;
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.