Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to an apparatus for inserting an
attachment member into an article and is more particularly
related to a new and improved machine for carding buttolls and the
like as well as to a new and improved machine for eeding
attachment members into a tuhe, needle and the like.
The applicant of this application has in the past obtained
patents 3,l03,6G6 and 3,470,~3~, for devices to fasten attachment
members to articles and the like. Such devices have been found
to be eminently usable in attaching tickets or tags to clothing
and to fastening bu-ttons to clothing etc.
The devices shown and claimed in the aforementioned patents
have proven to be highly successful commercially and because of
such demand it became necessary to continue development of new
devices which could be applied to additional uses and/or new
uses.
In order to satisfy such new use requirements, new and
improved devices had to be developed to provide for and permit
the devices to operate more rapidly than those presently
available.
In particular, applicant has developed, as shown in this
application, a device for coupling buttons or the like on a
display card for the same. In addition, applicant has-provided
a new and improved fluid powered device which is able to provide
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attachment members at a rapid rate, so that it can be
incorporated in automatic devices for joining two articles
together.
Other uses and advantages of the invention will in part be
obvious and will in park be apparent from the specification. The
invention accordingly comprises the features of constructions,
combinations of elements, and arrangement o~ parts which will be
exemplified in the construckion hereinafter set forth and the
scope oE the invention will be indicated in the claims.
In accordance with this invention, a new and improved
machine is provided which is adapted to provide fastener
attachment members at a high rate of speed and automakically.
This has in part been accomplished by developing a fluid operated
system, where the fluid is preferably compressed gas but could
be other fluids such as oil, etc., normally utilized in hydraulic
systems. The above has also in part been accomplished by the
development of a new feed mechanism which is adapted to be
operated automatically by a device propelled along with the means
for pushing attachment members ~rom the machine. In addition,
--~0 this machine provides ~ new and improved needle or the like for
guiding an attachment from the machine which includes a cutking
edge to assist in separating attachment members from a bar or rod
carrying a plurality of attachment members. The new and improved
machine of this invention is also adapted to be ~Ised in
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conjunction with a slide mounted :receiver to couple buttons or
the llke to a card or the li]ce.
Figure 1 is a perspective view with some parts removed
showing the carding device of this invention which includes a
machine for providing fastener attachments and a tube for
receiving said attachments;
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the construction of
the tip of the above-mentioned tube;
Figure 3 is a side view showing the construction of
attachment members suitable for use according to thi.s invention;
Figure ~A is a view showing the method of inser-ting an
attachment through the shanks of buttons;
Figure 4B is a view showing an attachment in place after
being inserted through the button shanks;
Figure 5 is a top view of the carding device shown in Figure
1 ;
Figure 6 is a side view of the device shown in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the machine for providing
fastener attachments taken on line 7-7 of Figure 5;
Figure 7a is a sectional view taken along line 7A-7A in
Figure 7;
Figure ~ is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 o~` Figure 7;
Figure ~ is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 7;
Fiqure 10 is top view of the fastening attachment machine
of Figure 7 and 9 which has been modi~ied to be operated by hand;
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Flyure 11 is a partial setional view of Figure 10 w.lthou-t
showing the parts already shown in the sectional view of Flgure
7;
Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-12 of Figure
11:
Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13-13 of Figure
1 1 ;
Figure 14 is a top view of an improved needle or tha lilce
shown in the construction of Figures 10 - 13;
Figure 15 is a rear view of the needle shown in Figure 14;
Figure 16 is a side view of the rear cutting edge of the
needle;
Figure 17 is a view of the other side of the needle.
In Figures 1, 2 and 5 and 6, there is shown a button carding
devi.ce according to this invention, which inclu~es a new and
improved machine for providing fastener attachmentsO At 20 there
is shown a base support member in which there is provided a guide
slot 21 covered by guide plates 22. Positioned within the guide
slot 21 there is provided a slide 24 having a knob 25 for moving
20 ~ the slide within the yuide slot 21. Slide 24 carries a cam
-~ member 26 which is adapted to engage an electrical switch
contactor 27 of an electrical swi~ch 28. The purpose of the
electrical switch will be described below in describing the
operation of the button carding device. At 30 there is shown a
tube or needle receiver which may be hollow throuyhout or which
may only be hollow at the end thereof. The needle receiver is
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provided with a small slot 31 at its tip. This end o~ the tube
30 is adapted to receive the head of an attachment m~mber o~ the
type as shown in F~ic~ures 3, ~a and 4B. The needle recei.ver is
positioned within a bore 32 formed in the slid~ 24 and moves with
the slide back and forth as will be d~scribed. At 35 is shown
a plate in which there are provided a plurality of recesses or
button holders 36 which are adapted to receive the buttons in a
manner such that the shanks thereof will extend upwardly (i.e.
the buttons will be positionable in a face down position). Th~
button holder arrangement is also adapted to permit a cardboard
or other button holder such as a plastic member having holes
therein for the button shanks to be placed and positioned on top
of the button holder 35. The button holder is adapted to be
raised or lowered using conventional means so that the tube 30
can move through the holes in the button shanks. At 33 there is
shown a mounting plate having a base portion 38A and a center
raised portion 38B. The center raised portion 38B has an
elongated slot 39 along one side thereof, and a central bore 40
of a smaller diameter and at its mouth it has an enlarged bore
41. The enlarged bore 41 is adapted to permit the tube 30 to
pick up an attachment member as will be described.
The attachment members are provided by a fastener attachment
machine shown at 45 which has a tube or needle 46 extending
therefrom. The tube or needle 46 also has an elongated slot
along its side in alignment with the elongated slot 39 in the
mounting plate. The construction of the machine 45 will be
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descrihed more particularly with reference to Figllres 7 - 9. In
order to provide at this time a general explan~ti.on of the
operation of the maehine 45, it may be observed there is provided
at 47 an input slot which is adapteA to receive attachment
members 60 coupled to a bar or rod 64 whieh is shown at Figure
3. There is also provided an electromagnetic solenoid valve
shown at 48 whieh is coupled to a fluid supply sueh as a source
of compressed air shown at 50. The solenoid valve could be of
the ordinary type sueh as sold by the Skinner Company of New
Britain, Conn. The solenoid valve is adapted to open and elose,
to provide fluid into the ehamber of the maehine 45 to eause it
to eject an attaehment member 60 from the front thereof into the
needle receiver 30. At 51 there is shown an electrieal junction
box. Eleetrical power is brought into the junction box by the
power cord shown at 52. One of the wires of the input power eord
is coupled to the aforementioned switch 2~ whieh opens and eloses
depending upon the position of the cam 26. The wires are then
brought together in the junction box 51, passed through a
protective shield 53 and connected to the electromagnet of the
solenoid valve 48.
Reference should now be had to Figures l - 6 for a
description of the operation of t~e button carding deviee
according to this invention. The a~tachment members are more
particularly shown in Figures 3, 4A and 4B of the drawings. Eaeh
of the attachment members are shown at 60 and generally eomprise
a thin flexible eenter filament 61 and two ends shown at 62.
I'he attachment members or bar-loclc attachments as rePerred to ln
the aforementi.onecl patents are coupled by nec]c portions 63 to a
bar or rod 64. ~t F'igures 4A and 4B there is shown a card at 68
which is positioned above a plural..ity o~ buttons 69 placed in the
nest or holder 35 such that thelr shan)cs 70 extend above the card
68 and through holes ~1 in the cards 68. In order to insert the
attachment member as shown in Figure 4B, to retain the buttons
on the card 68, the slide 24 and tube 30 are moved to the right
of Figure 5 and into the plate 35. ~he movement of the slide 24
causes switch 28 to close when cam 26 engages switch element 27.
The closure of switch 28 causes an attachment member to be
inserted from the machine 45 through the tube 46 into the open
tip 30A of the member 30 as shown in Fig~lre 4A. Therea~ter the
tube 30 is withdrawn to the left of Figur~ 5 and in being
withdrawn pulls the attachment member through the first button
shank and thence through the second button shank whereupon the
topmost end of the attachment member engages the topmost button
shank side wall and causes the attachment member to be withdrawn
from the tube 30. Figure 4B shows the position of the attachmant
member retaining the buttons on a card after the tube 30 has been
co~pletely withdrawn.
~ eference should now be had to Figures 5, 6, 7, 7A, 8 and
9 for a more detailed description of the operation oE the machine
45. The machine 45 includes.a coupling member 80 which is
adapted to be connected to the solenoid valve 48 as shown in
Figures 5 and G. At 81 there is shown a cylinder which is
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conllected at one end to the connector member 80 and i~ supported
at its other end over a supporting member showll at 82. The
cylinder 81 has an elongated slot 83 formed or cut out in the
underside thereo~. The slot 83 is in the bottom of the cylinder
81 and i5 wi~e enough to permit a cam follower or roller to
engage a piston as shown. Positioned within the cylinder 81 is
a piston ~4 which is shaped to provide a caming surface to
operate the feed mechanism. At the other end of the piston there
is provided sealing means such as an 0-ring ~5 to insure that
fluid or air as the case may be does not escape from one side
of the piston 84 to the other end of the piston 84. The piston
84 carries and supports a plunger 88 which is adapted to
penetrate through a bore provided in the member 82. The plunger
88 is adapted to force or push an attachment member or bar-lock
attachment 60 out of the front end of the device in the same
manner as shown in the forementioned patents by separating the
member 60 from the bar 64. Within the cylinder 81 there is also
provided a resilient biasing element such as a spring 90 which
is positioned between the member 82 and the piston 84. The
spring is adapted to return the plunger and the piston carried
~herewith to its initial starting position when the solenoid
valve is deenergized so as to prevent air under pressure from
entering cylinder 81. Air is permitted to exhaust on the return
stroke from cylinder ~1 through appropriate venting means
provided in the solenoid valve.
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At 92 there is shown an indexing gear having a plurali~y of
teeth 93 which are adapted to en~acJe ~he n~ck~ 63 connecting th~
attachment members 60 ko the rod 64. By rotating the indexing
gear in a counter clockwise manner, as shown in the previously
5mentioned patent 3,103,666, the bar attachment members are
brought into register with the plunger 88 as well as with the
opening of the needle or the tube 46. In this manner the plunger
8~ when driven may engage an end thereof to push it out oE the
slotted tube 46 as shown in the aforementioned patenk 3,103,666.
10To control the indexing wheel there is provided a detent 94 which
is resiliently biased between two of the teeth 93 by a spring 95.
The detent 94 prevents clockwise motion of the indexing gear 92.
In order to index the gear in a counter clockwise direction there
i5 provided a lever shown at 98 which is mounted in the body
15portion of the machine 45 on a pivot support means 99. The lever
98 is urged in an upward direction by a spring 100 so as to force
a roller or cam follower 101 supported on the lever into
engagement with the piston ~4 through the slot 83 formed in the
hottom of the cylinder 81. On the opposite side o~ the lever 98
20is provided a feed pawl 102 which is supported on the lever by
, a pin 103 and is retained in place and i5 urged counter clockwise
-by a flat spring 104 mounted in the lever. The spring 104 is
supported in a slot 105 of the feed pawl 102 and in its opposite
end in a slot formed in the wall of the lever. In operation the
25piston 84 moves toward the left of Figure 7, and the roller 101
follows the shape of the piston. This causes the pawl 102 to
move downward from the wheel 92 and then rotate counter clockwise
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because of the spring 10~. On the return strolce of the piston
~ after the ejection of the attachment, the pawl rises as the
wider part of the plston B~ engages the roller. This causes the
pawl 102 to engage the next lower tooth which then causes the
gear ~2 to rotate agaillst the neck G3 (attac}lment member) to
position the next attachment member in register with the plunger
as well as with the needle or tube opening. The piston 8~ is
preferably proportioned and of a length such that the end thereof
will preferably engage the member 82 prior to the O-ring 85
moving past the hole 83. If this was permitted to occur it would
cause leakage of fluid into the area cf the device housing the
cam follower 101 and its associated supporting members.
In Figure 9 there is shown a view of the openin~ through
which the attachment member passes prior to being pushed into the
needle or tube 46 with the attachment member shown in dot-dash.
The plunger engages the attachment member 60 hitting one end 62
thereof and forces the neck over a bar 110 thus causing a
severing of the neck portion 63 and a separation of the
attachment member from the bar 64.
~0 Reference should now be had to Figures 10-13 which show an
alternate embodiment of an attachment machine according to this
invention. Instead of using an electrically actuated valve
mechanism for providing fluid to move the plunger as well as the
piston as previously disclosed, there is provided a hand
actuatable valve operated by the movement of a lever. Slnce the
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parts of the mechanism are the same ~xcept for the valve
mechanism as shown in Figures 7 - 9, ~nly the valve control will
be described in detail. At 120 in Figur~s 10 ancl 11 there is
shown a lever which is depressible upon the top o~ th~ machine
body ~5 to control a ball valve arrangement shown generally at
the rear of the device at 121. The lever is attached at a pivot
point 122 to the body 45 and engages a slidable rod 123 in a
manner such that the rod is adapted to move to the left of Figure
11 upon the depression of the lever 120. The outer end of the
slidable member 123 operated the rotary valve 121. The rotary
valve includes a rotary member 124 having a slot formed therein
at 125 which mates with a detent 126 of the slidable member 123.
The rotary member 124 is constructed such that a passageway 127
therethrough is adapted upon rotation to provide a passage for
a fluid from a coupling member 128 into the chamber 130 on one
side of the plun~er 88 and piston 8~. In its other position it
is adapted to bleed fluid from the chamber 130 and vent the same
through a vent passageway 131. If a gas source is being
utilized, the vented gas (air) is permitted to escape directly
into the air and i~ a hydraulic source is being utilized to
~ operate the machine, the hydraulic fluid would be returned into
- the system by suitable means, e.g., reservoir and pump known in
the art. In order to return the rotary valve into its original
position that is such that the fluid will not be provided from
the coupling member to the chamber 130, there is provided a
spring at 135 which is coupled to a support member 136 mounted
on the base of the machine 1~5. The spring is supported at its
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opposite end to a projectlng member 137 having a hole therein,
said projecting member be.i.ng a part of the slldable member 123.
Thus if the lever 120 is released, the spring 135 will cause the
lever to be raised and also cause the rotary valve to return to
its original position.
Reference should again be had to Figures 10, 11 in
conjunction with Figures 14-17 for the disclosure o~ another
embodiment according to the invention. In this embodiment,
instead o~ permitting the needle as shown in F.igure 7 to extend
only part of the way into the front end of the machine and not
have any part in the separation of the attachment members from
the bar holding them, there is provided a new and improved needle
construction which at its back end also provides a knife means
for causing the severance or cutting of the necks 63 holding the
attachment members to the rod In the views shown in Figures 10
and 11 the needle .is seen extending into the front end of the
machine 45 such that the plunger 88 o~ the machine will cause the
neck 63 connecting the attachment members 60 to the bar 64 to ~e
forced against the knife edge prov:ided at the rear of the needle
where the plunger cuts one of the ends 62~
Figures 14 - 17 show more particularly the construction of
the improved needle. With this needle construction instead o~
having to replace certain cutting pieces or parts o~ the machine,
as is currently the case, all one need do is insert a new needle.
The needle comprises, as shown, a tip 140, a central portion 141,
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and a mounting portion shown at 142. The mountin~ portion
includes a knife edge shown at 142, pre~erably a V-æhaped knife
edge as shown. The elongated slot shown a-t 1~ extends the
length of t:he needle. Thus as the plunger of the machine ~`orces
the attachment member in-to the needle 46, the necli portlon 63
will engage the V~shaped cutting member or knife edge and be
severad. ~s this knife edge wears down a new needle can easily
be inserted by replacing the old needle. The use of this type
o~ needle instead of relying on the other type of devices to cut
or separate the attachment from the bar provides considerable
advantages with respect to maintenance required to keep the
machines operating.
It is to be understood that this disclosure is for the
purpose of illustration only and that the invention includas all
modifications and equivalents falling within the scope of the
appended claims.
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