IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING, SHAPING, AND PRESSING METALS AND OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1851

page_text: FREARSON, of Birmingham, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster the Tenth day of December,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, in the fifteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Frearson, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said John Frearson, my exors,
adiiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Frearson, my exors,
adiñiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING,
SHAPING, AND PRESSING METALS AND OTHER MATERIALS;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said John Frearson, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had
will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Frearson, do hereby declare that the nature of my Invention, and the

page_text: manner of performing the same, are fully described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:―
My Invention consists, first, of improvements in combining machinery for
cutting out or for shaping several discs or blanks of sheet metal and other
materials at one time, for the making of buttons and other articles.
Secondly, my Invention consists of improvements in shaping and pressing
metals and other materials in the processes of manufacture into various
articles.
And in order that my Invention may be most readily understood, I will
proceed to describe the means pursued by me.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING No. 1.
The machinery shewn by various views of this Drawing represent my
improvements in combining machinery for cutting out several dises or blanks
of sheet metal and other materials at one time, for the making of buttons and
other articles. Figure 1 shews a front view of the machine; Figure 2 is an
end elevation; Figure 3, a plan; Figure 4 is a vertical section taken thro'
the line A, B, in Fig. 3; Figure 5 shews some of the parts separately;
Figure 6 is a transverse section of the slide & tools, taken thro' the line C, D,
in Fig. 1. Figure 7 is part of a vertical section; and Figure 8, a plan of part
of the machinery. The same letter and numeral in each Figure of the
Drawing refers to the same parts. There are two movements in this machine,
the object of one is to feed the material A (whether of sheet metal, woven
fabric, paper, or other material) into the machine, and the other movement is
to give a reciprocating action to the punches a affixed to the vertical slide B,
for cutting out blanks of the shape and size required. The machine will
be easily understood by tracing the parts which compose these two move-
ments. The driving pulley or drum O, the fly wheel V, the excentric J, and
the worm 6, are all securely fixed upon the main shaft N. The worm b,
which gives motion to the feeding apparatus, has a projection or thread which
extends nearly twice round its circumference, and freely fits into the spaces
between the teeth of the wheel c fixed on the shaft d. From s to t this
thread or projection runs in a spiral or inclined direction, and from t to y and
from s to vat right angles to the shaft N (Figure 5).
feeding apparatus remain at rest whilst the right angle
upon
bare passing between the teeth of the wheel c.
portion nioves the wheel c one tooth each revolution of
The wheel c with the
parts of the projection
The incline or spiral
the shaft N. On the
other end of the shaft d is the spur wheel S, in gear with the wheel R, which

page_text: is fixed upon the boss of the wheel Q, which revolves freely upon the stud or
pivot X, taking with it the wheel R. The wheel Q gears with the wheels P,
which are upon the roller shafts U; on the other ends of the shafts U are the
wheels e, shewn in Fig. 1, in gear with the wheels m upon the shafts of
the top rollers C. The top rollers are caused to press tightly to the lower
ones by the springs u and the screws on the blocks j. It will, therefore, be
seen that the sheet metal, or other material, is at all times held by the two
pairs of rollers C, C, and as they revolve at like surface speed, or so that
the material will be kept tight and even between the nipping points of the
two pairs of rollers, a much more correct and certain means of feeding sheet
metal, woven fabric, paper, and other materials into a machine in order to be
cut by several punches, than can be obtained by using only one pair of feed
rollers, and by the use of the peculiar screw motion b a great smoothness of
action is obtained in this cutting machine. The eccentric J which puts in
motion the cutting punches a, has on its periphery the ring or strap Y with
a part of the connecting rod I affixed to it. The half of the bush II is
screwed internally with a right-hand and the other half with a left-hand
thread, and the ends of I and G of the connecting rod are fitted into H and
locked with the nut W. By turning this bush H the connecting rod can be
lengthened or shortened, to compensate for the change of length or wear
of the punches or tools a. The end G of the connecting rod is connected
to the levers F by the shaft or pin e; the other ends of these levers work
freely upon the fulcrum pin g fixed in the framing L. Near the middle of
the machine the levers F are fitted freely upon the ends of the shaft h.
Between the levers F upon the shaft h are tightly fitted the lower ends of the
links E; the upper ends are loosely fitted to the ends of the shaft i, the middle
of the shaft i being driven tightly into the slide D; this slide is supported
freely by the cheeks M. The punch holder f is fastened to the lower end of
the slide D by means of four screws L. Figures 4, 6, and 7 shew the mode
of securing the block f from moving side or endways, by the flanges of f
clipping D (Figure 4), and the flanges of D clipping f (Figures 6 and 7):
Figures 7 and 8 shew the construction of the tools when for cutting circular
discs, but they and the bed tools will be varied when for cutting out other
forms. The punches a are held in the block f by the screws (Figure 4).
The puller-off q with the guides Q (Figures 4 and 7) is fastened to the bed
holder or block p with two screws T. The cutting-out beds w are set
correctly with the punches a, and are firmly fixed to the bed K by the screws
S. The steel bushes or bed tools which encircle the holes w, are tightly fitted
into the block p and the holes to the punches a, and secured to the block p by

page_text: screws, as shewn at (Figure 8). The bearing T, the frame L, the bed K, and
the legs Z support the parts above described. The action of this machine
is as follows:-The main shaft N is caused to rotate by any suitable power
applied by a strap to the drum or pulley o, which puts the feeding apparatus"
and punches in motion. The material A required to be cut is put in by hard
at the commencement upon the table B, between the guides p', and pushed
against the first pair of rollers C, which move in the direction of the arrows,
taking the material with them until it arrives between the punches a and the
beds w, the material remaining at rest while the punches descend into the
holes w, taking with them the blanks, which fall down through the holes in
the bed tools into a drawer or box under the machine; the punches then
ascend, and the plate q liberates the punches from the waste material; the
material is again fed on, and when at rest the punches again descend as
before. I would remark that, by altering the tools or dies, this machine, or
one working similarly, may be made suitable to draw through several blanks
at one time. I would remark, in regard to this part of my Invention, that I
make no claim to the mechanical parts and tools separately, they being similar
to those heretofore used, this part of my Invention consisting of the mode of
combining the tools and parts into a machine.
I will now proceed to describe the second part of my Invention, which
consists of employing pneumatic and other apparatus to feed suitable blanks
of metal to be cut, shaped, and pressed into form by machinery. The Draw-
ing shews this part of my Invention arranged for feeding metal dises or blanks
into machinery, suitably arranged for forming a certain description of metal
buttons, each button being composed of two discs, but I would remark, that
it is new to apply pneumatic apparatus for feeding metal blanks of any form
into machinery so as to be further cut, bent, or shaped; and it will be evident,
from the description hereafter given, aided by the Drawings, that this mode of
taking and feeding metal blanks may be employed in other machinery, pro-
vided with suitable apparatus for acting on metal blanks, to cut or to form
them into other forms of buttons, or other articles depending on the nature
and action of the particular machinery, and it constitutes part of my improve-
ments thus to take up and feed in blanks of metals into machines by means
of pneumatic apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS No. 2.
These Drawings shew several views of a machine, and parts thereof, for
forming buttons from metal blanks. In each Figure the same letters and
figures are employed to indicate the same parts. There are several move-

page_text: iments in this machine, the first five of which movements actuate the punches
E, F, G, H, I, similar to that described in the foregoing description of the
cutting-out machine. Three of the movements give a downward action to
the pegs or tools K, J, L, the coiled springs around them pressing under the
collars and against the plates screwed upon the bed C, cause an upward
motion, according as they are permitted by the shapes of the cams upon the
axis or shaft F. The cams m, f, k, actuate the levers d, h, g, which are
upon the spindle or axis Z, and the hooks of each lever being upon the studs
2, take with them the tools K, J, L. Two movements work the pistons U.
in the pumps V, (one of which is only shewn in the Drawing at Figure 1),
by the cams (17) and (20), upon the main shaft F, in contact with the levers
Qand R, which move upon the studs X and W, such levers being connected
to the piston rods T by the links S. Two movements cause a to-and-fro action
of the horizontal slides j and q, which carry the pneumatic feeders y and x,
and slides X, X, and W*, W*, which are at right angles to the slides j, q, and
they hold the four pair of fingers or carrying tools s, s¹, and r, 1. y and z
are the feeders; they are plates recessed on the under side according to the
size and form of blank, and these recesses are connected to the pumps V, by
means of the flexible tubes u. From the pumps there are air passages u
with valves, through which the air is forced out of the pump barrels, and
there are other passages us through which the air passes into the pumps;
these openings can be regulated according to the degree of vacuum required
for the particular blanks which are for the time being used. For this purpose,
passages have valves which open inwards, and they are kept up to their
seats by means of springs, and according as such springs are adjusted by
screws to act more or less strongly, so will be the quantity of air which will
enter the pumps as the pistons move; these valves and passages are not all
shewn in the Drawing, but are well understood. The cams (21) and (22)
actuate the studs y* in the lower levers and s; these levers are secured to
the spindles t, which work freely through the bosses Y. Near the upper
parts of these spindles t are squares, and the bosses of the top levers and s
are secured thereon by nuts. These levers are connected to the slides j, j.
and q, q, by the links u*. Two motions actuate the carrying fingers s, 8', and
, . The cams (18) and (19), act upon the levers a and b, which work
freely upon the spindle Z. The lever is connected to the lever or arm m,
fixed on one of the shafts or spindles 1, 1, by means of a connecting rod p,
and on the other spindle or shaft 1, there is an arm n, which by a screw point
rests on the arm or lever m, and thus is motion given to both the shafts or
spindles 7, 7. The spindles or shafts o, o, receive motion in like manner from
the

page_text: the lever a, by a connecting rod i attached to the arm or lever (24): the arm
(25) fixed to the other axis o, by a screw point in contact with the lever (24),
is thus simultaneously put into action. The springs constantly tend to
cause the fingers, ¹, s, s¹, to advance towards each other to hold the blanks
whilst being carried from one die to the other. In order to cause the fingers
1, r, s, s¹, to move away from each other the cams (18), 19), act on the
levers a, b, and cause them to move the spindles or axes 1, 1, 0, 0, on which are
fixed arms m*, to which are fixed bars m*, along or against which the slides
X and W move, so that when the bars m**, are caused to be opened out or
move away from each other, they separate the fingers connected to these
slides. I would remark that similar arrangements of fingers and apparatus
may be applied in carrying parts of other constructions of buttons between
the succeeding processes, making such variations as to suit the forms of the
parts and the dies or tools to and from which the parts are to be carried.
The blank lowering apparatus consists of a cam (16), acting against the
suspended lever (7), moving upon the axis (13), having on it the regulating
joint (9) and strap (6), to which the connecting rod (5) is attached. The
detent or click lever (4), which gives motion to the ratchet wheel O', is upon
the levers (3), which works freely upon the shaft M on each side of the
ratchet wheel O', the detent (4) moving the ratchet O', in the direction of
the arrow, thereby lifting up the counter weight (26), thus causing the rams
W and the cross head U to descend with the blanks in the tubes V. When
the connecting rod (5) moves in the direction of the arrow the levers (3)
come in contact with the stop (27), thereby throwing the detent (4) out of
the ratchet wheel O', and releasing the weight (26), causing the blanks again
to ascend to be pressed into the pneumatic feeders y and x. It should be
remarked that, in the form of button shewn to be made by this machine, the
two discs or blanks are of the same thickness; the two rams W₁ can, there-
fore, be combined and worked together, but in applying this part of my
Invention to feeding under other circumstances, particularly where the discs,
blanks, or parts are of different thicknesses, then the rams W¹ of the several
tubes containing the supply of parts should be arranged to work separately, so
that each may supply its blank or part independently of the others; and
although in the arrangement shewn metal blanks are only required, like
arrangement of tubes, rams W', and pneumatic or proper feeding apparatus
may be employed in other machines arranged for supplying blanks of woven
fabric for covering or forming parts of buttons. And I would further state,
that, in cases where pneumatic apparatus is employed to feed in blanks of
woven or flexible fabric, such as for the covering of buttons, it will be

page_text: desirable to coat one side with thin paper, or otherwise to make it impermeable
to the air, in order that the pressure of the atmosphere may, act properly
when a partial vacuum has been obtained. The apparatus for conveying the
finished article from the machine is as follows:-The cam *, the lever j*,
upon the spindle Z, with the connecting links (1), and the tube *. The
frame D is secured to the base plate C, and is in two parts for the purpose of
more conveniently planing the five grooves which hold the slides D, and the
setting-up cheeks p*. The two halves of D are firmly held together by
bolts, and are kept in the right positions by keys, half in one, and half in the
other, as seen (Figure 5). The bearings Z and B upon D sustain the five
levers O, and the axle pin A the spindles or shafts e, e, and o, o, with the
levers are upon D. The hanging bearers E, bolted to the base plate C. The
bearings R are screwed to the base plate C, at the under side, and support
the cross head Q, the rod T in the boss P and U, which slides freely upon T.
The brackets Y support the spindle or axis Z, also the levers a, d', h, j*, g, b,
and the axes of Q and R.
The branches S support the tubes V with semi-flanges, which pass through
the slots in S, and by turning the tubes a quarter round they are secured in a
vertical position. The tubes V receive the rams W', which are a little less
than the diameter of the blanks in the tubes. The tops of the tubes are fitted
to the bed C. The action of this machine may be described thus:-The main
shaft F, is put in motion in the direction indicated by the arrow on the fly-
wheel A. The blanks suitable for the backs of buttons are pressed up into the
mouth of the pneumatic feeder y by the ram W', so that the upper blank will
enter the recess on the under side of the pneumatic feeder y, and the blanks
for the fronts of buttons, are pressed up into the feeder a. A partial vacuum
being obtained by the pumps, the top blank from each tube is retained by
atmospheric pressure in the recess of its pneumatic feeder, the remainder of
the blanks will descend out of the way when the rams descend, and the slides
jwill take the blank which is to form the front of the button over the piercing
die g, and the slides q will take the blank for the back of the button over
the piercing die a. The valves u open as tho pistons reverse, and the blanks
drop into the dies.
The slides j and q go back for more blanks, and the punches descend and
pierce the blanks. The punches then ascend, and the fingers rs, which are
to be made on their under sides with recesses, so that they will hold the blanks.
securely, and in order to prevent the blanks going up with the punches; these
fingers come over the upper surfaces of the blanks and embrace the punches,
so that the punches may go away leaving the blanks in the recesses of the

page_text: fingers. The slides j and 7 then advance again towards each other, taking
other blanks to the piercing dies, and the pierced blanks are taken by two
pairs of the fingers r, s, over the dies d and b. The centre peg or tool K,
ascends into the pierced holes of the back for the button whilst it is in the
fingers r, and the centre peg or tool J rises and enters the holes in the front
for the button whilst in the fingers s. Each pair of fingers open, and the
centre pegs or tools K and J, descend and conduct the perforated blanks on
them into the dies band d. The punches descend into the dies d and b, and
shape the front and back parts of the button therein into the form required.
The punches ascend, and the centre pegs or tools K and J rise and lift the
parts of a button out of the dies b, d, to the height of the middle pairs of
fingers s¹ and ¹, which respectively take hold of the front and back parts of
a button, and after the peg J is drawn out the fingers s¹ carry the front part
of the button over the finishing die c. The peg L rises and enters the centre
holes in this part of a button, and the fingers s¹ open; the peg or tool L
descends with the front part of the button on it into the die c, and the slide j
with the fingers s, s¹, and the blank feeder a return for more, and the slide q
with the fingers 2, advance, taking the back part of the button over the
front part of the button in the die c. The peg or tool L ascends with the
front part of the button on it, and enters the centre holes of the back part of
the button, and the fingers open, and the slide and feeder return.
peg or tool L again descends and conducts the front and back part of a button
into the die c, and the punch G finishes the button, and at the same time E
and I pierce a back and front for another button, and F and H shape back
and front perforated blanks for another button. The tool L descends below
the face of the die c, and out of the finished button the tube h* rises, and the
fingers s¹ advance with another front, and pushes the complete button from the
die c into the tube h, through which it falls to the front of the machine.
The
I will now describe another arrangement of machinery according to this
part of my Invention; it has for its object the making short tubes out of discs
or blanks suitable for the making of metal eyelets for healds or headdles, and
other uses.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING No. 3.
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, represent a machine for making the tubes shewn at
Figure 22. The hoops or tubes are then to be annealed, and the machine

page_text: The same letters and numerals in each Figure of the same machine refer to
the same parts.
There are four pressing motions in the hoop or short-tube making machine,
which act simultaneously. The cams a upon the shaft B actuate one end of
the lever c, the other ends being in the slots d fitted to the steel picces e in
the slides (seen in Figure 4) cause a vertical to-and-fro motion to the punches
g. The mouths of the pneumatic feeders N are fixed upon the sliding frame
I. These mouths are moved from over the tubes j' to the dies by the lever
D, acted on by the cam E, and in the opposite direction by the lever F, acted
on by the counter cani G. The slide I also carries the arm J, which moves
the bar or slide K, and the removing tools m. The removing and forming
tools in the sliding bolts o, are actuated by the levers p upon the spindle or
axis by the cam 1. The principle of the pneumatic apparatus partially
shewn in this machine, and also the blank liberating apparatus, has been
described in regard to the previous Drawings, and will therefore without
further description be understood. The bed M, legs N, and standard O support
the parts above described.
The counter motions in these machines, and in fact in all the machines
described in this Specification, are caused by springs where counter cams
are not named. Figures 4 and 16 shew how the punches are secured and
regulated.
I will now describe the action of this short-tube making machine. A blank
is taken from each tube j by atmospheric pressure, and they are then placed
in the dies by the feeders, which afterwards return for more blanks, and the
punches 9 descend and "draw" the blanks through the dies k. The punches
descend further until they arrive at the beds (4), and the same punches cut or
pierce the metal, and thus produce tubes; the bits cut or pierced out fall
down the tubes, the punches ascend, and the lower part of the dics & pull off
the hoops or tubes from the punches. The horizontal tools u advance and take
with them the hoops or tubes to the fixed tools n, where the tubes are pressed
into an oval shape, if required; the tools u retreat, and the tubes are removed
from the tools n by the tools m to the holes V, down which they descend to
the front of the machine. If the hoops or tubes are required to be cylindrical,
as the piercing tools leave them, the arm J and the tools m are to be removed
from the machine, and the hoops or tubes will be conducted to the holes +
by the tools u instead of to the holes V.
Figures 11, 12, and 13 represent a sheave-making machine, the pecu-
liarity of which consists of combining parts into a machine in such manner
that short tubes may be converted into sheaves, the machine supplying

page_text: the tubes to and taking the sheaves from the tools, in place of operating
by hand on each tube by similar tools, as heretofore. And Figures 14,
19, and 20 show the tools separately; the cam M upon the driving shaft G
actuates one arm of the lever F; another moves to and fro the vertical slide
or pressing bolt m in the boss B; the other acting against the regulating
screw in one end of the lever D, causes a to-and-fro motion to the sliding
part of the tool p in the boss b opposite to the slide m of the tool o; the
links c connect with D; the three-branched lever F moves freely upon the
pin d, supported by the standard B; the small boss n is screwed or fixed to the
side of the standard B; the lower ends of the tubes e, e', are fitted into n; the
collars of the tubes rest upon n, n. There are two pressing motions which act
alternately, the parts being marked as just described; K, the feeding cam; H,
the feeding lever connected to the feeding slide by the stud X; the slide y is
worked to and fro, and bas on each end a tool or finger ; the spring fastened
upon the levers moves the slides g and tools or fingers u till they are stopped
by the screws coming against the bed A; the bed A, the brackets R, and
bearings C support the parts described. The tubes e, el, are filled with annealed
hoops or tubes (by hand), and they rest upon the tools or fingers r when under
them; the slide y is caused to move from the tube e, and the tubes or hoops
therein drop to the face of the bed A; the slide y then advances towards the
tube c, and one of the fingers takes with it the hoop or tube, and also the
tool or finger u until the hoop or tube arrives opposite to and between the
punches o and p; the fingers and u are so adjusted as to hold a hoop or tube
without bending it; the punches are now caused to advance towards each other
and to turn the two edges of the metal over until they clip the fingers u and r,
as seen at Figure 19; the tool o now ascends, and the tool p descends out of
the way, and the split tool or fingers s advances towards the front of the
machine and at right angles to the slide y clipping the finger r; the slide y
goes back for another hoop, and the fingers s liberate the sheave and push it
to the front of the machine.
Figures 8, 9, and 10 represent a machine for ovaling the sheaves, the
peculiarity of which consists of combining mechanical parts into a machine
in such manner that (annealed), sheaves are fed to and moved from the
tools by the action of the machine itself in place of using like tools, and
supplying the sheaves by hand as heretofore; Figure 15, being the tools
on a larger scale separately; A, the main shaft in the bearings G upon the
bed B; the cam D works the slide H and the removing tool a; the feeding
slide which carries the tool o is moved to and fro by the cam and counter
cam Cacting upon the stud in the end of the lever g. The connection being
P

page_text: formed between the slide p and g by the link h; b is a fixed tool; % is a
hollow block secured to the bed B; m is a tube or hopper fitted ink. The
tube m is filled by hand with annealed sheaves which rest upon the bed B;
the slide p advances towards the sheave, and the tool o takes it to the tool b
and presses it into the shape required; o goes back sufliciently to allow the
tool a to pass between o and b, while it removes the oval sheave towards the
tube d. The knocker off a returns out of the way and o goes back for another.
The other end of the slide p, with the parts described as above, performs a
like operation; the cyclets being then put in the heddles by hand may be
closed thereon, as heretofore.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to
the details herein described, as the same may be varied, so long as the peculiar
character of any part of my Invention be retained; but what I claim is, first,
the mode of combining parts into a machine, herein described, for cutting out
and for shaping several discs or blanks of sheet metal and other materials at
one time for the making of buttons and other articles.
And, secondly, I claim the improvements, herein described, in combining
parts into machines for shaping and pressing metals and other materials in the
processes of manufacturing the same into various articles.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Frearson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
Enrolled the Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-two.