Improvements in Machines for Punching Holes for Eyelets, and for Inserting and Closing Eyelets.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 14th Apr.,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Punching Holes for Eyelets, and for
Inserting and Closing Eyelets.
I WALTER TOм EGGLESTOx of No. 20 Watson Street Manchester in the
County of Lancaster Show Card Maker do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to combine the processes of punching the holes for
eyelets and of closing or clenching the eyelet in position, and is applicable to the
performance of these operations for all purposes for which such eyelets are used as
for example for lace-holes for boots for suspension holes for show cards for corsets
and other purposes.
Seperate machines have hitherto been used for each of the two processes of
punching and closing and I am aware that an automatic machine has been made in
which one tool performs the first operation and the other the second simultaneously
on seperate holes. By my invention these two operations are performed on the same
hole and eyelet in one stroke or cycle of the machine thus allowing the pitch
or position of the holes to be varied to any extent and increasing the rapidity of
the operations.
I employ an ordinary descending solid punch working over a table on which the
work is placed. A portion of the top of the said table consists of or holds two
plates capable of sliding horizontally in such a way as to recede from or approach
one another.
When closed with their edges together their line of contact is immediately under
the before mentioned punch and their edges are formed with a semicircular recess
extending through each plate forming a circular hole when together, which hole
serves as the die to receive the decending punch. When the sliding plates recede
they retire to a sufficient distance to allow a clenching tool to ascend from below.
The said clenching tool is capable of sliding vertically in guides and is situated
directly below the upper descending punch and on the same centre line. It is
hollow and is provided with an internal needle projecting out of the upper end and
capable of being pushed within the hollow tool against the resistance of a spring
acting on its lower end which is preferably formed with a head to limit the needles
travel and to fix its uppermost position relatively to the tool.
The motions of the upper and lower tools and of the sliding plates of the table
are obtained by any suitable mechanism. I employ preferably cams actuating the
moving parts either directly or by means of levers and the rotating cam shafts may
be operated by a treadle and crank or by power or hand. In another form I
dispense with continuous rotary motion and work the sliding parts by link connections
with a hand or foot lever. In all cases the motion is controlled in such a way that
the following actions are obtained within each cycle.
The lower tool being in its lower position and the table plates together the upper
punch makes one stroke downwards and remains in its lower position while the table
plates recede and an eyelet having been threaded automatically or otherwise upon
the projecting needle of the lower tool an upstroke is made by this tool. As soon
as, the needle comes in contact with the punch it remains stationary and the
continuing upward stroke of the tool threads the eyelet upon the upper punch
carrying it into position and closes or clenches it in the ordinary way against the
shoulder of the punch.
The upper punch then rises while the lower tool descends
and then the slides on the table come together which completes the cycle.

page_text: It will be seen that it is only necessary to assume the previous placing of the
material, leather, cardboard, or other in position on the table and the action by
which the hole is punched the eyelet carried into position and then closed will be
understood.
I prefer to use an automatic feeding arrangement to deliver the eyelets
successively upon the needle of the lower tool and for this purpose I employ any of
the already known appliances attaching a holder for it to the frame of the machine
and operating it by suitable motions obtained from the moving parts. The bed or
lower part of the machine is formed to receive the trough or slide by which the
eyelets are conducted into position.
When the punch descends the displaced piece falls against the lower tool and a
groove is formed to conduct these pieces away in order that they shall not interfere
with the action of the said tool.
The cam shafts actuating the levers of the top punch and lower tool can be
conveniently driven by gearing from a first motion-shaft on which the cams for
operating the horizontal table slides can also be mounted.
Dated this Twelfth day of September 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Punching Holes for Eyelets, and for
Inserting and Closing Eyelets.
I WALTER TOм EGGLESTON of No. 20 Watson Street Manchester in the
County of Lancaster Show Card Maker 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: -
The object of my invention is to combine the processes of punching the holes
for eyelets and of closing and clenching the eyelets in position and is applicable
to the performance of these operations for all purposes for which eyelets are
used as for example for lace-holes for boots for suspension holes for show and other
cards for corsets and other purposes.
Separate machines have hitherto been used for each of the two processes of
punching and closing and I am aware that an automatic machine has been made in
which one tool performs the first operation and the other the second simultaneously
on separate holes. By my invention these two operations are performed on the
same hole and eyelet in one stroke or cycle of the machine thus allowing the pitch
or position of the holes to be varied to any extent and increasing the rapidity of
the operations.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a front elevation and Fig. 3 a plan view
of a punching and eyeletting machine constructed in accordance with my
invention.
A is an ordinary descending solid punch working over a table B on which the
work is placed. The two plates bb slide horizontally in the table B forming the
upper working surface of it. When closed together their line of contact is
centrally under the punch A. Their contact edges are formed each with a semi-
circular recess 6 1 forming a circular hole when together which hole serves as the
die to receive the descending punch. The clenching tool C slides vertically below
the table. It is shown in its uppermost position in Fig. 1 and in its lowermost
position in Fig. 2. It is guided in its guide d of the main frame D centrally below
the punch A. The tool C is hollow and is provided with an internal needle c
projecting slightly out of the upper end of C when not in contact with the
punch A and capable of being pushed within C against the resistance of a spring E

page_text: acting against its lower end which is preferably formed with a head c¹ to limit the
travel of the needle..
The requisite motions of the upper and lower tools and of the sliding plates or
split dies are obtained by any suitable mechanism.
The drawings shew cam motions which I believe to be the most suitable
mechanism. On the shaft F all the cams for the various movements are mounted.
The punch A is actuated by the cam G through the medium of the levers and
roller g' contact being maintained and the upstroke ensured by the spring g². The
lower or clenching tool C is operated by the cam H through the medium of the
levers and roller contact being maintained and the downstroke ensured by
the spring. The plates are actuated by the cams II by the medium of the
sliding bars i having rollers mounted at one end and being angled as shewn at /
Fig. 3 at the other end. Contact is maintained and the return stroke ensured by
the springs.kkkk are the guides for the bars ii. The plates are formed
with forked and angled projections be'ow shewn at b**Fig. 2 and dotted in Fig. 3.
The ends of the bars i enter the forks back-lash being taken up by the small.
screws. The bar ends being free to slide in the forks cause the plates bb to.
traverse by reason of the inclined plane when the bars are moved longitudinally.
The top of the plates are provided with separate adjustable surface plates
secured. by the screws passing through the slot in and set up by the adjusting-
screws. The rotary motion of the shaft F is imparted by the crank M and pedal
rod m opposed by the spring N attached to lever a when only partial revolution is
required to complete a cycle by a single stroke of the pedal. In Fig. 2 the moving-
parts are shown in the positions assumed when the pedal is at the top of its stroke
and in Fig. 1 when at the bottom of its stroke. The eyelet supply box O with its
shoot o mounted on parallel swing levers pp and oscillated by the cam Q and
roller q is of ordinary construction and forms no part of my present invention..
The action is as follows:
The lower tool C being in its lower position the upper punch in its upper position
and the table slides together the work is placed upon the table. The upper punch
now descends punching out the required hole and the piece of punched out material
falls on to the lower tool and rebounding falls clear away. The punch A remaining
in its lower position shewn in Fig. 1. the table plates recede and an eyelet having
beeu automatically threaded upon the needle c of the lower tool the latter makes
an upstroke. As soon as the needle c comes into contact with the punch A it
remains stationary and the continuing upward stroke of the tool C threads the
eyelet upon the punch A carrying it at the same time into position in the work
and closes or clenches it in the ordinary way against the shoulder of the punch..
The upper punch then rises while the lower tool descends and the slides having
come together again the cycle is completed.
The adjustable and removable distance peg R is adjusted by the screw ? and is
for the purpose of securing equally pitched work of any desired variety of pitch.
The screws and lock-nuts S on lever and T on the bottom of lower tool C are for
the purpose of obtaining accurate adjustment of these tools.
y
When it is desired to drive the machine by a continuous motion such as a belt.
the crank M rod m spring N and lever n are dispensed with and a belt pulley or
spur-wheel can be mounted on the shaft F but in this case I prefer to drive through
the medium of any of the well known clutch devices which when disconnected will
cause the shaft Falways to stop in a desired position namely in this case the
position shown in Fig. 2.
I do not bind myself to mount the machine with the punches in the vertical
position shown but can arrange the machine to work at any desired angle or even
horizontally.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and the manner in which it is to be performed what I claim is.
1. In machines for punching eyelet-holes and inserting and closing eyelets the

page_text: two receding slides forming a split die or table-top-operated by mechanism
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. "
2. The combined top punch and lower clenching tool having an internal needle
controlled by a spring and operating to insert and close eyelets substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The combined top punch and lower clenching tool operating as herein
described in combination with the receding slides or split dies substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
4. In punching and eyeletting machines the arrangement of cams on one shaft
operating levers which actuate the punching and clenching tools and operating
sliding bars which actuate the sliding plates or split dies substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 15th day of February 1894.
EDGAR CONISTON MILLS,
Agent to the Applicant.