Improvements in Apparatus for Coating Eyelets with Plastio Material.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 18th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1996
[Communicated from abroad by THE FLORENCE MANUFACTURING CO., of
No. 200 Pine Street, Northampton, in the County of Hampshire,
Massachusetts, United States of America.]
Improvements in Apparatus for Coating Eyelets with Plastio
Material.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltiue, Lake & Co. Patont
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for applying heads or coverings to eyelets.
In the manufacture of covered eyelets, I employ, for the purpose of moulding
heads or coverings of plastic material upon the flanged ends of the eyelets, a
pair of mould-plates or die-plates, one of such plates, being provided with solid
or undivided dies which are formed with holes for the reception of the bodies
or barrels of the eyelets, which are to have heads or coverings of plastic material
moulded thereon, and into which holes the barrels of the eyelets are entered by
longitudinal movement of the eyelets. The second plate is provided with a series
of dies, each having a circular recess corresponding in conformation with the head
or covering to be moulded upon the flanged end of an eyelet, each die also being
provided with a pin at the centre of the said recess to extend into the central
opening through the eyelet and effect the moulding of the portion of the said
head or covering which is applied to the inner surface of the barrel or body of
the eyelet. Preliminary to the moulding operation the plastic material is applied
in the form of a washer to the pin. The steady-pins on the second plate pass
through holes in the first mould plate and cause the two plates to register properly
with each other.
One part of my present invention has for its object to enable the eyelets, prior
to and during the moulding operation, to be held securely in the holes of the
first mould-plate or die-plate, the said eyelets being held in the said holes with
sufficient firmness so that when the mould plates are separated from each other at
the conclusion of the moulding operation the eyelets will remain in the said holes
and the heads or coverings which have been applied thereto will be detached from
the recesses, and pins of the second plate. It always has been a difficult problem
to effect this holding in the case of a solid or undivided die. Various devices have
been suggested and employed hitherto for accomplishing this result. These prior
devices have been objectionable so far as known to ine, either because they were
more or less unreliable in operation, or because they were of such a character as to
interfere with the operations necessary in moulding the coverings or heads on the
eyelets, or because they rendered difficult the removal of the eyelets after the
completion of the moulding operation, or for other important reasons.
enabled to accomplish the bolding of the eyelets as aforesaid by the means herein-
after described while at the same time I avoid the objections which have been
raised to the devices hitherto employed.
I am
In accordance with my present invention I dispense entirely with the spring-
acting gripping devices which heretofore have been employed in connection with
the plate for the purpose of holding the eyelets in the holes and I form each of the
said holes slightly tapering, that is, slightly less in diameter at or near the inner

page_text: or reverse end thereof than it is at the mouth or entering end thereof. The
tapering hole is of slightly less diameter than the exterior diameter of the barrel
of the eyelet, so that when an eyelet is forced into the hole the eyelet will be held
securely in the hole by the friction of the exterior of the barrel thoreof with the
inner surface of the die. As previously described, the first plate is one of a pair
of mould-plates and when the eyelets are in position in the tapering holes of the
said plate they are in readiness to have their flanged ends covered with moulded
coverings of plastic material by bringing the second mould-plate or dis-plate which
latter previously has been supplied with covering material to cover the flanged end
of each eyelet. After the moulding operation is completed, the first mould-plate
or die-plate is withdrawn from the second-mould-plate or die-plate, the eyelets
being so securely held in the tapered holes that they will remain therein while the
moulded coverings are being detached from the second die-plate.
After the separation of the plates with the eyelets remaining in the holes of the
first plate, it becomes necessary to eject or remove the eyelets from the said holes.
Inspection of the eyelets subsequent to such ejection or removal to discover
dainaged and defective ones is necessary, also.
Another part of my invention has for its object to facilitate these operations,
and, in addition, to obviate all necessity for contact of the hands of the work-
people with the eyelets after they have the heads or coverings moulded thereon, as
well as to provide properly for the counting and packing of the covered eyelets.
These operations have involved several handlings of the covered cyclets, from
which it has resulted that the coverings have lost more or less of their freshness
and gloss, and those of the more delicate colours have become faded. 1 provide
as follows: After the separation of the plates I place the first plate above the
inspection and counting plate, the said counting plate being equipped with a series
of short pins, which are fitted to pass into the openings of the eyelets whon the
latter are forced from the holes of the first mould p'ato. The said pins are
arranged on the inspection and counting plate to register properly with the holes,
and the projecting portions thereof are of approximately the same length as the
finished eyelets, or may be shorter if desired, it being necessary only that they
be made long enough to ensure the eyelets remaining in place after having
been caused to pass onto the same. 1 employ suitable ineans to space the first
mould plate and the inspection and counting plate apart so as to hold the said
monld plate at a sufficient distance from the said inspection and counting plate to
permit the eyelets being discharged from first mould plate. Pins project the
requisite distance upwardly from the counting plate, they receiving the first mould
plate upon their upper ends and supporting it. Since in practice a considerable
number of plates corresponding with the inspection and counting plate will bo
employed in a factory, and will be used successively with eyelets which are
ejected from the first mould-plate, I prefer to attach a series of the pins to a third
plate, and to form the counting plate with a corresponding series of holes through
which the said pine may pass. This enables me to reduce expense by saving the
cost of applying a separate set of pins to every counting plate. It secures also
greater convenience in the bandling of the said plate after the eyelets have been
transferred from the holes of the first mould plate to the pins of the said counting
plate.
To provide for the said transfer I use an ejector plate baving pins or projections.
Each die has a countersink or recess at the inner end of the hole and the depth of
hole, that is to say, the vertical length of its walls from its lower end to the
countersink or recess, is less than the length of the barrel of an eyelet, so that
when the eyelet is forced bome into the hole the end of the barrel will project
beyond said hole into the countersink or recess. The said pius or projectious are
intended to pass into the countersinks or recesses from above, and to act against the
inner ends of the eyelets, so that when the ejector-plate is pressed downwardly the
eyelets will be discharged from the holes and onto the pins. Holes in the ejector
plate receive the steady-pins, of the third plate, which pins also pass through holes

page_text: in counting plate and the holes in the first mould plate. The pins are so short that
they neither obstruct the view of the eyelets which are mounted thereon nor cast
shadows upon the said eyelets. While the eyelets remain upon the pins all the
portions thereof which are not in contact with the upper surface of the counting
plate are exposed to view, so that inspection of such portions may be performed
perfectly.
The pins or projections with which the said ejector-plate is provided are each
either equal in diameter with the small ends of the eyelets or slightly greater.
When the ejector-plate is applied to the first mould-plate in the manner above
described, the ends of the projections enter the countersinks or recesses, and come
into contact with the ends of the eyelets which project into the said countersinks
or recesses, so that on pressure being applied the eyelets will be started out of the
tapered holes, and discharged from the said mould-plate or die-plate without in any
way becoming marred or injured.
It will be understood that the devices are constructed and arranged to operato
on any desired number of eyelets at a time. In practice I contemplate constructing
the mould-plates or die-plates, and also the ejector-plate, to act on a large number
of eyelets at a time. That is to say, the mould-plates or die-plates will be formed
to receive a considerable number of eyelets, and to mould the heads or coverings of
plastic material upon the entire series at one operation. Also the ejector-plate
will be constructed to simultaneously discharge or eject from the first mould-plate,
the entire series of eyolets which are contained in the holes made through the same,
I bave described the ejoctor-plate as provided with projections each of which is
slightly greater in diameter than a single eyelet, and entoring recesses at the inner
or reverse ends of holes. As will be obvious, instead of a separate recess around
the reverse end of each of the holes, the barrels of a number of eyelets may project
into a single recess in the back of the first mould-plate or dic-plate and in this case
the projection which acts upon the ends of such barrels may be of a size and shape
to enable it to act upon a number of eyelets at one time.
I have pointed out in the course of this specification that the hole is of such
relative diameter that when the barrel of an eyelet is driven into the said hole it
binds and is held by the friction. From this it results that when the moulding
operation is completed, and the mould-plates or die-plates are separated from each
other, the barrels of the eyelets will be held in the holes of the first mould-plate
with sufficient firmness to pull the moulded heads or coverings of the flanged ends
of the eyelets out of the recesses of the second mould-plate. In order to assure
that the eyelets always shall be retained by the first mould-plate at the time of
separating the two mould-plates, notwithstanding the fact that the barrels of the
eyelets sometimes vary in size from one another, it is necessary that in practice the
holes, should be made small enough in diameter to engage firmly with the barrels
of smallest diameter that are encountered in the eyelets which are to be provided
with moulded beads or coverings. As will be perceived, if the said holes are small
enough to bind and hold frictionally the barrels of smallest diameter which aro
inserted into the same, those barrels which are of the larger diameter will be
gripped with still greater firmness and will requiro the expenditure of an increased
amount of force in order to effect their ejection or discharge. With the object in
view of obviating injury to the barrels of the eyelets in consequence of the exertiou
of excessive pressure upon the inner ends thereof by the ojector-device, or injury
in placing the eyelets in the holes aforesaid, I provide as follows:-Instead of
forming the holes truly circular in cross-section so as to conform to the circular
exterior of the barrel of the eyelet, I form the interior of the die with separated
longitudinally-disposed prominent portions which contact with the exterior of the
said barrel as the latter is inserted into the same, and with intermediate relatively
depressed portions which are not intended to contact with the exterior of the
barrel. The prominent portious aforesaid compress the barrel at the places, where
they contact with the exterior thereof, while the intermedinte depressions allow the

page_text: elasticity of the material of the barrel to come into play somewhat. The frictional
hold of the die upon the barrel is lessened somewhat through the formation of such
depressions. The result is that although the eyelet is held with ample security in
the die at the time of effecting the separation of the mould-plates, yet, when the
ojector-plate is caused to act against the inner ends of the eyelets, the latter are
dislodged with comparative readiness and without becoming crushed or injured by
the action of the ejector-device.
It frequently happens that the edge of the moulded head or covering of an
eyelet does not leave the moulding dies in a smooth and finished condition, but is
slightly rough, and also has projecting therefrom in some cases a small irregularly
shaped mass of the material of which the moulded head is composed. This
irregular projection or "flash," which frequently results from the operation of
moulding, is undesirable. It has been proposed, heretofore, to remove this flash by
tumbling the covered eyelets after they leave tho dics, but this is objectionable in
that the glossy surface of the covering.is deadened by the tumbling operation, and
thereby the eyelets are rendered less desirable.
With the object in view of speedily and economically removing the flash from
the covered eyelete, without in any way interfering with the glossy appearance of
the covering or otherwise impairing the eyelet I provide as follows: The moulding
operation is supposed to be completed, and the companion or second mould-plate or
die-plate and by which the rounded or convex portions of the heads or coverings
are shaped, is supposed to have been removed.
A finishing or stripping dio-plate is provided having holes therethrough, these
holes corresponding closely in diameter with the moulded heads of the eyelets, so
as just to permit heads to pass through the samo that are perfectly formed; that
is to say, which have no projecting flash. The holes correspond in arrangement
with the holes of the first mould-plate and when the finishing or stripping die-
plate is placed in position, the holes therein register with the said holes of the first
mould plate. The holes are counterbored, at the reverse side of the die-plate to
afford clearance to the eyelets after they have passed down into and partly through
the said holes. Another inspection and counting-plate is provided having pins
thereon, which pins, when the plate is placed beneath the stripping die-plate,
project centrally into the holes in said die-plate. The parts having been assembled
the action of the discharging plate and its projections, when said plate is pressed
downward, causes the heads of the eyelets to pass down into the holes of the
finishing or stripping-die-plate, the pins of the inspection and counting plate
entering the central holes through the eyelets. Such of the eyelets as are formed
without projecting flashes, or the like, pass on down into the holes, being retained
in place on the pins of counting-plate. Such as bave projecting flashes are arrested
thereby from passing into the holes und will remain seated in inverted position in
the mouths of the corresponding holes. The firet mould-plote or die-plate and
discharge-plate having been removed, the punch-plate is applied. The said punch-
plate is provided with annular punches which engage by their ends with the flat
under faces of the moulded heads or coverings. On pressure being applied to the
punch-plate the punches force the eyelets downwardly through the holes and
co-operate with the edges of such holes to shear or break off the flash. By this
means the edges of the moulded heads or coverings are trimmed smoothly and
evenly, leaving the eyelets of perfectly uniform size and finished appearance. As
the punches descend the pins pass into the central holes thereof.
After the removal of the plate from the finishing devices, the eyelets are exposed
to view on the pins thereof, in position to be inspected. The number of pins upon
the said plate being known, it will of course be apparent how many eyelets have
been treated, and thus the plate and its pius serves for counting. From the said
plate the eyelets may be discharged into the receptacles which aro intended
therefor.
As will be evident, no contact of the hands with the moulded coverings or heads

page_text: of the eyelets is necessary at any time during the herein described operations in
the manipulation of the eyelets.
Dated this 1st day of September 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Coating Eyelets with Plastic
Material.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lako & Co. Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manuer the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to apparatus for applying heads or coverings to eyelets
and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 of the drawings shows in longitudinal section a pair of mould-plates or
die-plates such as it has been proposed heretofore to employ in the manufacture of
covered eyclots, the said figure also showing eyelets applied to one of the said
mould-plates or die-plates, and covering material applied to the other thereof in
readiness to be moulded upon the flanged ends of the said eyelets.
Fig. 2 is a view of the upper mould-plate or die-plate looking at the under side
thereof, the eyelets being removed. Fig. 3 is a view in similar section showing
the upper mould-plate or die-plate of Fig. 1, and also showing devices for
discharging the eyelets therefrom, and devices for receiving the eyelets as
discharged and retaining them in position to be inspected subsequently for the
purpose of picking out defective eyelets. Portions are broken out in this figure in
order to show more clearly the spacing devices which are described hereinafter.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the inspecting and counting plate, with eyelets on
the pins thereof.
Fig. 5 is an edge view of the bottom plate in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a view thereof
in plan, showing the arrangement of the pins which are applied thereto.
Fig. 7 is a view showing in section one of the mould-plates or die-plates, the ejector-
plate applied thereto, a finishing or stripping die-plate applied in position to
receive the eyelets as they are discharged from the said mould-plate or die-plate,
and an inspection and counting plate. Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the said
finishing or stripping die-plate and eyelet inspection and counting plate, and, in
addition, the punch-plate which co-operates with the said die-plate in stripping or
finishing the eyelots. Fig. 9 is a similar view showing detached the inspection and
counting plate of Figs. 7 and 8, with a series of oyelets thercon.
In the manufacture of covered eyelets, I employ, for the purpose of moulding
licads or coverings of plastic material upon the flanged ends of the eyelets, a pair
of mould-plates or die-plates such as those which are shown in Fig. 1, one of such
plates, namely, that which is designated 1 in the raid figure, it being shown
separately in Fig. 2, being provided with solid or undivided dies 111, 111, which
are formed with holes 2, 2, for the reception of the bodies or barrels of the
eyelets 3, 3, which are to have heads or coverings of plastic material moulded
thereon, and into which holes the barrels of the eyelets are entered by longitudinal
movement of the eyelets. The other plate, namely that designated 4 in Fig. 1,
is provided with a ser es of dies 22, 22, each having a circular recess 6 corresponding
in conformation with the head or covering to be moulded' upon the flanged end
of an eyelet, each die 22 also being provided with a piu 6 at the center of the

page_text: said recess to extend into the central opening through the eyelet and effect the
moulding of the portion of the said bead or covering which is applied to the inner
surface of the barrel or body of the eyelet. Preliminary to the moulding operation
the plastic material is applied in the form of a washer 61 to the pin 6. The
stendy-pins 7, 7, on the plate 4 pass through holes 8, 8, in plate 1, and cause the
two plates to register properly with each other.
One part.of my present invention has for its object to enable the eyelets, prior
to and during the moulding operation, to be held securely in the holes 2, 2, of
the mould-plate or die-plate 1, the said eyelets being held in the said holes with
sufficient firmness so that when the plates 1 and 4 are separated from each other
at the conclusion of the moulding operation the eyelets will remain in said holes
and the heads or coverings which have been applied thereto will be detached
from the recesses 5, 5, and pins 6, 6, of plate 4. It always has been a difficult
problem to effect this holding in the case of a solid or undivided die. Various
devices have been suggested and employed hitherto for accomplishing this result.
These prior devices have been objectionable, so far as known to me, either because
they were more or less unreliable in operation, or because they were of such a
character as to interfere with the operations necessary in moulding the coverings
or heads on the eyelete, or because they rendered difficult the removal of the
eyelets after the completion of the moulding operation, or for other important
reasons. I am enabled to accomplish the holding of the eyelets as aforesaid by
the means hereinafter described, while at the same time I avoid the objections
which have been raised to the devices hitberto employed.
In accordance with my present invention dispense entirely with the spring-
acting gripping devices which heretofore have been employed in connection with
the plate 1 for the purpose of holding the eyelets in the holes 2, 2, and I form each
of the said holes slightly tapering, that is, slightly less iu diaincter at or near the
inner or reverse end thereof than it is at the mouth or entering end thereof, as
shown in the drawing. The tapering hole 2 is of slightly less diameter than the
exterior diameter of the barrel of the cyclet, so that when an eyelet is forced into
the hole the eyelet will be held securely in the hole by the friction of the exterior
of the barrel thereof with the inner surface of the die 111. As previously described,
the plate 1 is one of a pair of mould-plates, and when the eyelets are in position
in the tapering holes of the plate 1 they are in readiness to have their flanged
euds covered with moulded coverings of plastic material by bringing the mould-
plate or die-plate 1 into contact with the mould-plate or die plate 4, which latter
previously has been supplied with covering material 61 to cover the flanged end
of each eyelet. After the moulding operation is completed, the mould-plate or
die plate 1 is withdrawn from the mould-plate or die-plate 4, the eyelets being so
securely held in the tapered holes 2, 2, that they will remain therein while the
monlded coveringe are being detached from the dio-plate 4.
After the separation of the plates 1 and 4 with the eyelets remaining in the
boles 2, 2, of plate 1, it becomes necessary to eject or remove the eyelets from the
said holes. Inspection of the eyelets subsequent to such ejection or removal to
discover damaged and defective ones is necessary, also.
Another part of my invention has for its object to facilitate these operations
and, in addition, to obviate all necessity for contact of the hands of the work-
people with the eyelets after they have the heads or coverings moulded thereon,
as well as to provide properly for the counting and packing of the covered eyelets.
These operations have involved several handlings of the covered eyelets, from
which it has resulted that the coverings have lost more or less of their freshness
and gloss, and those of the more delicate colors have become soiled. I provide as
follows; After the separation of the plates 1 and 4, I place the plate 1 above the
inspection and counting plate 9, Fig. 3, as shown in the latter figure, the said
plate 9 being equipped with a series of short pins 12, 12, which are fitted to pass
into the openings of the eyelets when the latter are forced from the holes 2, 2, of
the plate 1. Tho said pins are arranged on the inspection aud counting plate 9

page_text: to register properly with the holes 2, 2, and the projecting portions thereof are of
approximately the same length as the finished eyelets, or inay be shorter if
desired, it being necessary only that they be made long enough to ensure the
eyelets remaining in place after having been caused to pass on to the same..
I employ suitable means to space the plates 1 and 9 apart so as to hold the plate 1
at a sufficient distance from the plate 0 to permit the eyelets being discharged
from plate 1. Pins 13, 13, projecting the requisite distance upwardly from the
plate 9 are shown in Fig. 3, they receiving the plate 1 upon their upper ends and
supporting it. Since in practice a considerable number of plates corresponding
with that which is designated 9 will be employed in a factory, and will be used
successively with eyelets which are ejected from the mould-plate 1, I prefer to
attach a series of the pins 13, 13, to a plate 14, and to form the plate 9 with a
corresponding series of holes 15, 15, through which the said pins may pass. This
enables me to reduce expense by saving the cost of applying a soparate set of
the pins 13, 13, to every plate 9. It secures also greater convenience in the
bandling of the plate 9 after the eyelets have been transferred from the holes 2, 2,.
of plate 1 to the pius 12, 12 of the said plate 9.
To provide for the said transfer I use a plate 16 having pins or projections 17, 17.
Each die 111 has a countersink or recess 25 at the inner end of the hole 2, and
the depth of hole 2, that is to say, the vertical length of its walls from its lower
end to the countersink or recess 25, is less than the length of the barrel of an
eyelet, eo tint when the eyelet is forced home into hole 2 the end of the barrel
will project beyond hole 2 into the countersink or recess 25 as shown. The said
pins or projections are intended to pass into the countersinks or recesses 25 from
above as shown in Fig. 3, and to act against the inner ends of the eyelets as
indicated in said figure, so that when the ejector-plate 16 is pressed downwardly
in Fig. 3 the eyelets will be discharged from the holes 2, 2, and onto the pins 12, 12.
Holes 18, 18, in the plate 16 receive the steady-pins 10, 10, of plate 14, which
pius also pass through holes 19, 19 in plate 9, and the holes 8, 8, in plate 1.
The pins 12, 12, are so short that they neither obstruct the view of the eyelets
which are mounted thereon nor cast shadows upon the said eyelets. While the
eyelets remain upon the pius 12, 12, all the portions thereof which are not in
contact with the upper surface of plate 9 are exposed to view, so that inspection
of such portions may be performed perfectly.
The pins or projections 17, 17 with which the said ejector-plate is provided are
each either equal in diameter with the small ends of the eyelets or slightly greater.
When the ejector-plate 16 is applied to the mould-plate 1 in the manner above
described, the ends of the projections 17 enter the countersinks or recesses 25, 25,
and come into contact with the ends of the eyelets which project into the said
countersinks or recesses, so that ou pressure being applied the eyelets will be
Blurted out of the tapered holes 2, 2, and discharged from the said mould-plate or
die-plate 1 without in any way becoming marred or injured.
In the drawings I have shown the devices as constructed and arranged to operato
on three eyelets at a time. It will be understood that this is for convenience in
illustration and description simply. In practice, I contemplate constructing the
mould-plates or die-plates, and also the ejector-plate, to act on a large number of
eyelets at a time. That is to say, the mould-plates or die-plates will be formed to
receive a considerable number of eyelets, and to mould the heads or coverings of
plastic material upon the entire series at one operation. Also, the ejector-plate
will be constructed to simultaneously discharge or eject from the mould-plate 1
the entire series of eyelets which are contained in the holes made through the
same. I have shown the ejector-plate as provided with projections each of which
is slightly greater in diameter than a single eyelet, and entering recesses at the
inner or reverse ends of holes 2, 2. As will be obvious, instead of a separate
recess around the reverse end of each of the holes 2, 2, the barrels of a number of
eyelets may project into a single recess in the back of the mould-plate or die
plate 1, and in this case the projection which acts upon the ends of such barrels

page_text: may be of a size and shape to enable it to act upon a number of eyelets at one
time.
I have pointed out in the course of this specification that the hole 2 is of such
relative diameter that when the barrel of an eyelet is driven into the said hole it
binds aud is hold by the friction. From this it results that when the moulding
operation is completed, and the mould-plates or die-plates 1 and 4 are separated
from each other, the barrels of the eyelets will be held in the holes 2, 2 of mould-
plate with sufficient firmness to pull the moulded heads or coverings of the
Hanged ends of the eyelets out of the recesses of the mould-plate 4. In order to
assure that the eyelets always shall be retained by mould-plate I at the time of
separating the two mould-plates, notwithstanding the fact that the barrels of the
eyeleta sometimes vary in size from one another, it is necessary that in practice
the holes 2, 2, should be made small enough in diameter to engage firmly with the
barrels of sinallest diameter that are encountered in the eyelets which are to be
provided with moulded heads or coverings. As will be perceived, if the said holes
are small enough to bind and hold frictionally the barrels of smallest diameter
which are inserted into the saine, those barrels which are of the larger diameter
will be gripped with still greater firmness and will require the expenditure of an
increased amount of force in order to effect their ejection or discharge.
With the object in view of obvinting injury to the barrels of the eyelets in
consequence of the exertion of excessive pressure upon the inner ends thereof by the
ejector-device, or injury in placing the eyelets in the boles aforesaid, I provide as
follows: Instead of forming the holes 2 truly circular in cross-section so as to
conform to the circular exterior of the barrel of the eyelet, I form the interior of
the die 111 with separated longitudinally-disposed prominent portions which
contact with the exterior of the said barrel as the latter is inserted into the same,
and with intermediate relatively depressed portions which are not intended to
contact with the exterior of the barrel. The prominent portions aforesaid compress
the barrel at the places where they contact with the exterior thereof, while the
intermediate depressions allow the elasticity of the material of the barrel to come
into play somewhat. The frictional hold of the die upon the barrel is lessened
Bomewhat through the formation of such depressions. The result is that although
the eyelet is held with ample security in the die 111 at the time of effecting the
Beparation of the mould-plates, yet, when the ejector-plate is caused to act against
the inner ends of the eyelets, the latter are dislodged with comparative readiness
and without becoming crushed or injured by the action of the ejector-device.
A convenient mode of forming the die to secure the prominent surfaces and inter-
mediate depressions, aforesaid, is illustrated fully in Fig. 2, wherein the inner
eurface of the die 111 is shown formed with a number of faces or planes 32, 32 and
entrant angles 33, 33.
It frequently happens that the edge of the moulded hend or covering of an
eyelet does not leave the moulding dies in a smooth and finished condition, but is
slightly rough and also has projecting therefrom in some cases a small irregularly
shaped mass of the material of which the moulded head is composed. This
irregular projection or "flash" which frequently results from the operation of
moulding, is undesirable. It has been proposed, heretoforo, to remove this flash
by tumbling the covered eyelets after they leave the dies, but this is objectionable
in that the glossy surface of the covering is deadened by the tumbling operation,
and thereby the eyelets are rendered less desirable.
With the object in view of speedily and economically removing the flash from
the covered eyelets, without in any way interfering with the glossy appearance of
the covering or otherwise impairing the eyelet I provide as follows: reference
being had to Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings. In Fig. 7 the moulding operation
is supposed to be completed, and the companion mould-plate or die-plate shown at 4
in Fig. 1, and by which the rounded or convex portions of the heads or coverings
are shaped, is supposed to have been removed.
Fig. 7 shows a finishing or stripping die-plate 28 having holes 29, 29, there-

page_text: through, these holes corresponding closely in diameter with the moulded heads of
the eyelets, so as just to permit heads to pass through the same that are perfectly
formed; that is to say, which have no projecting flash. The holes 29, 29, corre-.
spond in arrangement with the holes 2, 2, of the mould-plate 1 and when the
finishing or stripping die-plate 28 is placed in position, as in Fig. 7, the said
boles 29, 29 register with the said holes 2, 2. The holes 29, 29 are counterbored,.
as shown, at the reverse side of the die-plate 28, to afford clearance to the eyelets
after they have passed down into and partly through the holes 29, 29. 210 is an
inspection and counting-plate having pins 211, 211, thereon, which pins, when
plate 210 is placed beneath die-plate 28, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, project centrally
into the holes 29, 29. The parts having been assembled as in Fig. 7, the action of
the discharging plate and its projections, when said plate is pressed downward,
causes the heads of the eyelets to pass down into the holes 29, 29, of the finishing
or stripping die-plate, the pins 211, 211, entering the central holes through the
eyelets. Such as of the eyelets as are formed, without projecting flashes, or the
like, pass on down into the boles 29, 29, being retained in place on the pins 211, 211
of counting-plate 210. Such as have projecting flashes are arrested thereby
from passing into the holes 29, 29, and will remain seated in inverted position in
the mouths of the corresponding holes 29, 29. The mould-plate or die-plate 1 and
discharge-plate 16 having been removed, the punch-plate 212 is applied as indicated
in Fig. 8. The said punch-plate is provided with annular punches 213, 213, which
engage by their ends with the flat under faces of the moulded heads or coverings,
the said faces being shown uppermost in Fig. 8. On pressure being applied to the
punch-plate the punches force the eyelets downwardly through the holes 29, 29 and
co-operate with the edges of such holes to shear or break off the flash. By this
means the edges of the moulded heads or coverings are trimmed smoothly and
evenly, leaving the eyelets of perfectly uniform size and finished appearance. As
the punches descend the pins 211, 211 pass into the central holes thereof.
After the removal of the plate 210 from the finishing devices, the eyelets are
exposed to view on the pins 211, 211, thereof, in position to be inspected. The
number of pins upon the said plate being known, it will of course be apparent how
many eyelets have been treated, and thus the plate 210 and its pius 211, 211 serves
for counting. From the plate 210 the eyelets may be discharged into the receptacles
which are intended therefor.
As will be evident, no contact of the hands with the moulded coverings or heads
of the eyelets is necessary at any time during the herein described operations in
the manipulation of the eyelets.
Having now particularly ascertained and described the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, na communicated to mo
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is;
1. A pair of moulds for applying heads or coverings of plastic material to
eyelets, one of the said moulds being undivided and having a hole of less diameter
than the barrels of the eyelets to be covered, whereby the barrel of an eyelet
forced into said hole will be compressed and securely held until after the operation
of moulding and the separation of the moulds, substantially as described.
2. A pair of moulds for applying heads or coverings of plastic material to
eyelets, one of the said moulds being undivided and having a hole of less diameter
than the barrel of an eyelet to be covered, the said hole having longitudinally
disposed relatively prominent portions to engage with the exterior of the barrel of
an eyelet forced into said hole and intermedinte relatively depressed portions,
substantially as described.
3. The combination with a mould provided with a hole which is tapered and is
less in length than the barrel of the oyelet to be covered, of an ejector-plate to
engage with the projecting end of the eyelet at the reverse end of said hole and
discharge the eyelet from the hole substantially as described.
4. The combination with a mould-plate which has applied thereto a series of

page_text: eyelets or other articles and assists in moulding heads or coverings of plastic
material upon the same, and means to discharge the said series from the said mould-
plate after the moulding operation, of an inspection and counting plate constructed
to receive the said sories as it is discharged from the mould-plate and hold the
same in position, substantially as described.
5. Devices for finishing the edges of the beads of covered eyelets, comprising
the die baving an opening equal in diameter to the diameter of the head of a
finished eyelet, and the means to force the eyelet through the said opening, whereby
to remove a flash or projecting portion from the edge of the head, combined with
the inspection and counting plate to receive the eyelets as they descend and retain
them in position for being inspected and counted, substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of September 1896
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.