Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus or Machinery for the Manufacture of Buttons from Horn and other Equivalent Substances or Materials.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus or Machinery
for the Manufacture of Buttons from Horn and other
Equivalent Substances or Materials.
I EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER of 33 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS OR MACHINERY
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BUTTONS FROM HORN AND OTHER EQUIVALENT
SUBSTANCES OR MATERIALS (a communication to me from abroad by Domenico
Robbiati of Milan, Italy) to be as follows:-
"
;
This invention refers to the method of and apparatus or machinery for the
manufacture of buttons by mechanical means while at the same time such moulds
are used as those generally employed in the manufacture of buttons by hand.
According to this invention there is arranged on the same axis a convenient or
suitable number of pairs of moulds each pair containing two blanks or washers
made of bone or other equivalent material capable of being pressed, and a bolt, the
ends of which are intended to stamp the internal faces of the two blanks or
washers. These couples or pairs of moulds are placed one against the other
together making a column capable of moving along its axis by sliding in the inside.
of a suitably arranged guide. At each end of the said column there is at least
a couple of moulds which are not held by the guide.
The column of moulds is pressed between a fixed surface on one side and on the
other side by a piston rod or plunger from a hydraulic press or by any other
mechanical means capable of exerting the necessary pressure. After a suitable
interval the pressure is stopped a couple of moulds is taken out at one of the ends
of the column, the two stamped buttons which it contains are taken out after
which the column is advanced to a distance corresponding with the height or
length of the two moulds, another couple of moulds previously heated and
containing the washers or blanks to be pressed are inserted at the other end of the
column. This is subjected afresh to the pressing action and the operation is
continued so that each pair of moulds is gradually passed from one end of the
гр...о

page_text: column to the other all being subjected to the same alternative periods of stamping
and of advancing as there are pairs of moulds in the column.
The column which is formed by the pairs of moulds in juxta-position to one
another is placed inside a guide, a bolt or spacing piece is always inserted between
each pair of moulds forming a couple.
Each couple of moulds containing the washers or blanks of bone or other
material is inserted at one end of the guide and a couple of moulds with a bolt
containing the stamped buttons which are about to come out of the apparatus is at
the other and opposite end of the guide and there is a piece the thickness of which
may vary according to circumstances, placed between the range of moulds and the
end or butt of the frame of the machine against which the moulds are pressed.
There is a shaft or rod extending the whole length of the side of the frame of the
apparatus. A crank handle is keyed on this shaft situated at the feed end or the
commencement of the movement of the advance of the moulds. At the opposite
end that at which the moulds are taken out after having been stamped the rod or
bar carries an arm which latter either because of its weight or by the effect of the
action of a spring, is kept from acting on the moulds at the delivery end of the
machine; this arm may however be caused to act against the said bolt by exerting
a pressure on the crank bandle at the other end of the machine. The shaft crank
handle and the arm are only given as an illustration of one of the many arrange-
ments which can be adopted for the taking out of the apparatus after the buttons
therein have been subjected to sufficient and necessary pressure; it is to be
understood that a number of different arrangements quite equivalent may be
substituted for this arrangement.
It can be also easily understood that a number of other different arrangements
of levers pivotted around a horizontal or vertical axis and worked by hand so as to
all advance together, at an interval equal to the height of a couple of moulds, all
the moulds composing the column regulating a pressure exerted on the face of the
mould when the moulds are not submitted to the action of pressure after the
couple had been taken out or removed.
The action of the levers which are employed for this purpose need not be further
described here owing to the great number of different arrangements which may be
employed.
'
On the extension of the frame fixed to the guide and just by the side where the
moulds are inserted is placed a body of a single acting pump, the axis of which
is situated on the prolongation of the axis of the guide and consequently in the
same axis as the row of moulds. The rod which is fixed to the piston of the body
of the pump is lengthened at the exterior for transmitting the pressure to the line
of moulds. The pump can be put in communication either by a tubular connection
or with an accumulator or a press or with a reservoir of water situated at a
sufficient height to exercise the necessary pressure for stamping. By means of
a three way tap placed within reach of the person who is looking after the lever
handle there can be established alternately a communication between the body of
the pump and the water under pressure or between the body of the pump and the
escape pipe. The piston rod is connected by weighted lever so as to force the
piston against the end of the body of the pump so soon as the pressure has
ceased to act on the inside of the body of the pump at the end of the opening
for the communication with the pipe for the escape of the water.
Along the frame on the side opposite to that on which the shaft is placed there
is a bench near which the attendants which work the apparatus place themselves,
these may be a woman who is at the delivery end and a girl who is near the feed
end. Behind the work people and parallel behind the frame should be placed the
oven for previously heating the moulds and the horn or other washers. This oven
of which the construction perhaps does not matter must fulfil the condition of not
letting escape the products of combustion out into the room where it is placed also
'to heat the moulds by degrees, this is done by making them move from the time
1.

page_text: they are put in, to the time they are taken out in the contrary direction to that in
which the products of combustion go.
The operations are as follows:-
For the girl placed at the feed end: To take from the oven the two heated
moulds put in the bolt which has been transmitted by the woman at the other
end; establishing by means of the three way tap communication between the
body of the pump and the channel for the escape of the water; turn the handle on.
the shaft so as to take out the pair of moulds; bring into play the levers by
pressing on the feed lever which pushes ahead all the column another couple of
moulds to take the place of those which bave been pushed in front; turn the three
way tap again after re-establishing the pressure in the body of the pump, in short
to take from the furnace another couple of moulds to take up their place at the
end of the row and so on.
The attendant woman placed at the delivery end: Takes out the bolt from the
moulds which have been thrown out by the girl working the lever at the feed end
and she throws or passes this bolt to the girl; to take out the buttons pressed by
the two moulds and to throw them in the box or case destined, to receive them;
to put in a washer of horn or other material in each of the moulds composing the
couple; to place the said pair in the oven on the side farthest away froin the fire
by making all the moulds which are in the oven to advance towards the fire the
hottest pair of which are taken by the girl at the feed end; to receive another pair
of moulds which are delivered out of the column at the delivery end by turning
the end lever in working and to recommence at the feed end and so forth.
Dated this 90th day of Au1005
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus or Machinery
for the Manufacture of Buttons from Horn and other
Equivalent Substances or Materials.
I, EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of 33 Chancery Lane; in the County of
Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, (a communication to me from abroad by Domenico Robbiati,
of Milan, Italy), and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is
to say:
This invention refers to the method of, and apparatus or machinery for the
manufacture of buttons by mechanical means, while at the same time such moulds
are used as those generally employed in the manufacture of buttons by hand.

page_text: According to this invention there is arranged, on the same axis, a convenient or
Buitable number of pairs of moulds; each pair containing two blanks or washers
made of bone or other equivalent material capable of being pressed, and a bolt the
ends of which are intended to stamp the internal faces of the two blanks or
washers. These couples, or pairs of moulds, are placed one against the other,
together making a column capable of moving along its axis by sliding in the inside
of a suitably arranged guide.
At each end of the said column there is at least a couple of moulds which are
not held by the guide. The column of moulds is pressed between a fixed surface
on one side, and on the other side by a piston rod or plunger from a hydraulic
press, or by any other mechanical means capable of exerting the necessary pressure.
After a suitable interval the pressure is removed, a couple of moulds taken out at
one end of the column, and the two stamped buttons contained therein are with-
drawn. After which the column is advanced a distance corresponding with the
height or length of the two moulds, and another couple of moulds, previously
heated, containing the washers or blanks to be pressed, are inserted at the other
end of the column.
The column of moulds is subjected afresh to the pressing action, and the
operation is continued, so that each pair of moulds is gradually passed from one
end of the column to the other, all being subjected to the same number of alternate
periods of stamping and of advancing, as there are pairs of moulds in the column.
And in order that this invention may be fully understood I will proceed to
describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, Figure 2 is a plan, and Figure 3 a transverse
section, of the apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the moulds, and Figure 5 shews in
sectional clevation a pair of moulds, for containing the blanks, with bolt, for
stamping them therein.
With reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, in which similar letters of reference refer
to like parts the column B, which is formed by the pairs of moulds in juxta-
pòsition to one another, is placed. inside the guide A, a bolt or spacing piece being
inserted between each pair of moulds forming a couple as shown at Figure 5.
Each couple of moulds containing the washers or blanks of bone or other
material is inserted at one end of the guide A as at C C¹, and as above mentioned
pressed and advanced to the other and opposite end of the guide, as at D D¹, where
it then contains the stamped buttons ready to be withdrawn from the apparatus.
Qis a piece of material (metal for example), the thickness of which may vary
according to circumstances, placed between the range of moulds and the end or
butt T of the frame of the machine, against which the moulds are pressed. There
is a shaft or rod E extending the whole length of the side of the frame of the
apparatus.
A crank handle F is keyed on this shaft E, at the feed end, or the commence-
ment of the advancing movement of the moulds. At the opposite end, that at
which the moulds are taken out after having been stamped, the rod or bar E
carries an arm G which latter by its weight, or by the action of a spring is kept
from acting on the moulds D D¹ at the delivery end of the machine. This arm G
may however be caused to act against the said moulds by exerting a pressure on
the crank handle Fat the other end of the machine. The shaft E, the crank
handle F, and the arm G are here given only as an illustration of one of the many
arrangements which can be adopted for extracting the buttons from the apparatus
after having been subjected to the requisite pressure; it is to be understood that a
number of different arrangements, equally effective, may be substituted for this
arrangement.
Different arrangements of levers may also be easily applied, pivotted around a
horizontal or a vertical axis, and worked by hand so as to cause all the moulds
composing the column B to advance, at one movement, a distance equal to the
height of a couple of moulds; also to take off the pressure exerted on the face of

page_text: the mould C when the moulds forming the column are no longer submitted to
pressure, and after the pair of moulds D D¹ have been extracted.
The action of the levers which are employed for this purpose need not be further
described here on account of the great variety of different arrangements which may
be used.
On an extended portion of the frame fixed to the guide A; near the end where
the moulds are inserted, is placed a hydraulic press or pump. H, the axis of which
is situated on a prolongation of the axis of the guide A, and consequently on the
same axis as the row of moulds. The piston rod K of the pump H passes through
the cover and imparts pressure to the column of moulds. The pump plunger or
piston may be actuated through a tubular connection B¹ either from an accumulator
or from a reservoir of water situated at a sufficient height to give the requisite
pressure for stamping. By means of a three way cock (not, shewn in the drawings)
placed within reach of the person attending to the crank handle F, communication
can be established alternately between the body of the pump and the water under
pressure, or between the body of the pump and the escape pipe. The piston rod K
is connected by means of the lever L M to the counterweight P so as to force the
piston I against the end of the body of the pump H so soon as the pressure
has ceased to act on the inside of the body of the pump by the opening of the
communication to the pipe for the escape of the water.
Along the frame, on the side opposite to that on which the shaft E is placed,
there is a bench R S against which the attendants at work place themselves. These
attendants may be a woman at the delivery end R, and a girl near the feed end S.
Parallel to the bench, and behind the work people, should be placed the oven for
previously heating the moulds and washers. This oven may be of any desired
construction allowing of the escape of the products of combustion from the room
in which it is placed, and allowing the moulds to be gradually heated. This
gradual heating is accomplished by moving the moulds gradually and constantly,
from the instant they are placed within the oven till the moment they are taken
out, in a contrary direction to that taken by the products of combustion.
The operations to be performed are as follows:-
For the girl placed at the feed end S. To take two of the heated moulds from
the oven, place therein the bolt which is handed to her by the woman at the other
end R; then, by means of the three way cock, to open communication between the
body of the pump H and the escape pipe; turn the crank handle F on the shaft E
to force out the pair of moulds D D₁; bring into play the levers (not shewn in
the drawings) which by pressing upon C Figure 1 cause the whole column of
moulds to advance; insert another couple of moulds in the place of the moulds C C¹
which have been forced forwards; again turn the three-way cock so as to re-
establish the pressure in the body of the pump H; and finally take another couple
of moulds from the oven and submit them, in their turn, to the process above
described, and so on.
The woman placed at the delivery end R, takes out the bolt from the pair of
moulds D D¹ which moulds have been thrown out by means of the girl at the feed
end working the crank handle F, and the woman then throws or passes this bolt
to the girl; the woman then takes out the buttons stamped by the two moulds D D'
and throws them (the buttons) into a box or case provided for the purpose; then
she places in each of the moulds forming the couple D D' a washer or blank of
horn or other material, and puts said couple of moulds into the oven at the side
farthest from the fire, causing at the same time all the moulds which are in the
oven to advance towards the fire; the hottest pair of which are taken by the girl
at the feed end S. The woman then takes another pair of moulds, caused to be
thrown out of the apparatus by the girl at the feed end, and recommences the
operations above described.
Figures 4 and 5 further illustrate the moulds and stamping bolt. In these figures
D D₁ are the pair of moulds in which the stamping bolt X is placed; and W W¹

page_text: are the spaces in which the blanks or washers are placed for the purpose of being
stamped or pressed into buttons.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim as
the invention communicated to me is:-
First. In apparatus or machinery for the manufacture of buttons from horn
and other equivalent substances or materials the guide A in which the moulds
containing the blanks to be stamped are placed in a row or column for the purpose
of receiving pressure; substantially as herein described.
Second. In combination with the guide A the employment of levers adapted to
cause the column or row of moulds to travel in the manner described, and to
cause a pair of moulds to be ejected at one extremity of the guide; substantially
as set forth.
Third. In apparatus or machinery for the manufacture of buttons from horn or
other equivalent substances or materials the combination with the guide A of levers
for causing the column of moulds to travel, and to be ejected at one end of said
guide and of a hydraulic pump press or equivalent thereto placed upon the same
axis as the column or row of moulds for the purpose of pressing or stamping the
buttons; substantially as set forth.
.
Fourth. In apparatus or machinery for the manufacture of buttons from horn or
other equivalent substances, the method of alternately submitting to, and releasing
from, pressure the moulds containing the blanks; such moulds being placed in a
column or row, and the last couple of moulds being submitted to pressure as many
times as there are couples of moulds in the column or row at the time of first
pressing the first couple; substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The general construction and arrangement of apparatus or machinery for
the manufacture of buttons from horn and other equivalent substances or materials
substantially as hereinbefore set forth, and described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.