US1873890A - Snap fastener attaching machine - Google Patents

Description

8-' 23, 1932- G. A. HOLMES.

SNAP FASTENER' ATTACHING momma Filed May 10, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 23, 19321 a. A. HOLMES 1,873,390

I SNAP FASTENER ATTACHING MACHINE Filed May 10. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 23, 1932.

' AJHQLMEs -1,873,890

HING MACHINE Filed May 10, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Izivezaioi'iaea euiflozaaaeo g- 1932" G. A. HOLMES SNAP FASTENER ATTACHING MACHINE Filed May 10, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 "7 FIZZ;

Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES GEORGE A. HOLMES, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO UNITED-CARR FAS- TEN'EB CORPORATION, 01 CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 01" MASSACHUSETTS SNAP FASTENER ATTAGHING MACHINE Application filed Kay 10, 1930. Serial No. 451,498.

My invention aims to provide improvements in snap fastener attaching machines and is more particularly directed to improvements in the means for setting fastener elements to an article of manufacture.

In the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention Figure 1 is apart section and part elevation of a portion of a machine embodying 111% invention ig.'2 is a part section and part elevation of the setting means and associated parts of the machine as viewed from the front, the parts bein shown in the positions assumed when the astener parts are completely attached to an article;

Fig. 3 is a view of portions of the setting means shown in Fig. 2 before the attaching operation begins;

Fig. 4 is a view of the parts shown'in Fig. 3, the parts being shown in positions assumed when the washer is being forced over the head of a stud;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2, the upper setting means being in the position shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5, part of-the spring being broken away;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of portions of the washer feed means and washer holding device;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of portions of the stud feed means and the stud holding device;

,Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line 99 of Fig. 3 showing the push rods, associated pathways and fastener elements moved by the push rods;

Fig. 10 is a View of the parts shown in Fig. 4, but showing the relation thereof after the stud has been expanded and set and about to be released from the upper setting member; and

Fig. 11 is a section of the fastener installation showing a cardboard washer in cross section and showing the shape of the stud after it has been set.

Referring to the embodiment of my invention illustrated b the drawings I have shown somewhat in etail my improved fastener settin means, the operation thereof and only sufilcient other parts of a machine for a full and clear understanding of the invention.

While I have shown setting means particu. 5

and a ho ding device for the stud 1 formed by the fingers 7+7 normally pressed toward each other by 'eprin s 8-8, all of which are shown in Fig. 2. ach finger has a curved groove 7 into which the stud fits, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8. 1

The setting member 4. is carried by a block 9 slidably mounted in the frame 10 of the machine and is moved toward and away from the lower setting member 5 by means of a crank arm 11 (Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6) connected to the main drive shaft 12 of the machine which is driven from the pulley 13. The laterally yieldable fingers 66 are attached to a block 14 slidably mounted in the block 9, thereby providing a lost motion connection between the washer holding device and the setting member 4 so that one may move relative to the other. The lower ends of the fingers have jaw portions 15 provided with opposed grooves 15 curved (Fig. 7) to receive and position a washer 3. The upper setting i a stud 1 (Figs. 2 and 5). An adjustable.

member 4 has a bore 16 to receive the head of reading member 17 is carried by the setting member 4 and has a cone-shaped end 18 extending into the bore 16 for purposes hereinafter described.

Referring now to the lower setting member 5 and stud-holding device, I have shown (Figs. 1 and 2) the setting member 5 as being movably mounted in the frame 10 in line with the settin member 4 and normally ressed upwardly a spring 19 (Fig. 1). he spring pressed gers 7-7 are pivotally mounted upon the end of a block 20 (Fig. 3) which in' turn is pivoted at the other end gon brackets 21 (one of which is shown in g. 1) This block 20 is adjustable by means of a set screw 22 (Fig. 1) which is normally pressed into contact with the frame 10 by means of a spring 23 interposed between the block 20 and the frame 10.

The washer parts 3 are supplied to a pathwa 24 leading to the holding fingers 6-6 (Fig. 7) from a hopper 25 (Fig. 1) down a chute 26 (Figs. 2 and 7 which intersects the pathway 24 at right angles thereto.

The stud. parts 1 are supplied to a pathway 27 in the block 20 by means of a chute 28 leading from a second hopper (not shown). The chute 28 has a groove 29 which is in line with the pathway 27. A positioning device 30 (Fig. 8) is carried by the chute 28 presents a portion 31 which prevents the stud members from moving forward when entering the groove 29, except when they are pushed forward.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for moving the washers '3 and studs 1 along the pathways 24 and 27. I have shown a simple mechanism for this purpose compris ing a sliding block 32 mounted upon the frame 10 and carrying two push rods 33 and 34, as shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 8. The block 32 is reciprocated in timed relation with the block 9 by means of a cam 35 driven by suitable gearing (Fig. 1) from the main drive shaft 12. The cam 35 acts upon a pivoted lezver 36 connected to the block 32 by a link 3 The operation of the setting means and as sociated mechanism above described is as follows :Assuming that the machine is connected to a source of power and is ready for operation and the push rods 33 and 34 have moved a washer 3 and a stud 1 to their respective holding means, a shown in Fig. 3, a form of cardboard 2 or the like having a preformed hole 38 therethrough is inserted in the throat 39 of the machine with the stud shank passing through the hole 38. As the setting means begins to operate the block 9 is moved toward the lower setting member 5, thereby moving with it the washer holding means with a hat washer 3 between the fingers 6-6 and the upper setting member 4 in the relation shown in Fig. 3. As the washer approaches the stud member 1 held between the fingers 77 the head of the stud enters the aperture in the washer. As there is a lost motion connection between the washer holding means and the setting part 4, a point will be reached when the frictional engagement between the fingers 66 and the block 9 will be overcome by the attempt to press the washer 3 over the head of the stud 1. When such a point is reached the downward movement of the washer holding means ceases and the setting member 4 continues its movement toward the setting member 5 until it engages the washer 3 and forces it over the head of the stud, as shown in Fig. 4. In order to make sure that the washer will assume a position against the cardboard 2, with the central cylindrical portion located in the aperture in the cardboard, the head of the stud is squeezed by the wall 16 as it enters the bore 16 of the member 4, thereby contracting the head and shank of the stud so that the washer falls freely into position. After the washer 3 has dropped into position upon the cardboard 2, the upper setting member 4 continues its downward movement and the cone-shaped end 18 of the expanding member 17 enters the space in the head of the stud at the intersection of the slots 40 and spreads the head and shank thereby permanently setting the yieldable portions of the stud into diverging relation (Fig. 11) and wedging the "wall of the shank against the wall of the central cylindrical portion of the washer, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the washer 3 is frictionally held in place sothat it cannot slide up and down the shank of the stud. During this last mentioned portion of the setting operation the upper setting member 4 engages the washer and presses it together with the cardboard 2 downwardly. As the cardboard 2 rests against the pivoted block 20 it will also be moved downwardly swinging about the pivot 21* until the base of the stud, which is released from the groove 7* in the fingers 7, rests against the lower setting memher 5, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus the two parts of the fastening device are pressed against opposite sides of the cardboard 2 and any variation in the thickness in the cardboard is compensated for by the ability of the lower setting member to yield against the pressure of the spring 19.

During the return of the upper setting die 4 the shoulder 41 within the die 4 engages the shoulder under the head of the stud as best shown in Fig. 10, and lifts the cardboard 2 and fastener parts upwardly until it meets the plate 42 which acts as a stop and pulls the head of the stud free from the die member 4 as that member continues its upward movement. The plate 42 is the one in which the pathway 24 (Fig. 7) is provided. While the cone-shaped end 18 of the expanding its asvaseo member 17 permanently sets the stud member into a shape as shown in Fig. 11 from its normal shape prior to attachment as shown in Fig. 3, nevertheless the yieldable portions of the stud are free to expand and contract for engagement with and disengagement from a cooperating socket. With this in mind, it will be readily understood that as the upper die 4 moves upwardly relative to the stud, after the setting operation, from a position shown in Fig. 2 to a position shown in Fig. 10, a continuation of that movement after the installation meets with the resistance of the plate 42 will contract the stud and pull it free from the shoulder 41 of the upper die 4.

As previously stated there is a lost motion connection between the washer holding means and the upper die 4. Therefore, in order that the grooves 15 in the jaw members 15 may stop in line with the end of the pathway 24 in the plate 42, I have provided a pin 43 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) projecting from the block 14 through a slot 44 in the cover plate 45 attached to the frame 10 of the machine, as best shown in Fig. 5. Adjustable members in the form of set screws 46 and 47 (Figs 5 and 6) are carried by the plate 45 and form stops to govern the distance of travel of the. washer holding means in each direction. Thus the upper stop 46 may be adjusted so that the groove 15 will align accurately with the pathway 24. A spring 48 attached to the pin 43 and a pin 49 assists in returning the washer holding means to its uppermost position.

My improved setting mechanisms and associated parts are automatic in operation, simple in construction and durable and while I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the same I do not wish to be limited thereby, because the scope of my invention is best defined in the following claims.

Claims:

1. A snap fastener attaching machine having means for securing a snap fastener stud and an attaching part to a support, and means for feeding the stud and the attaching part to the securing means, said securing means including a holding mechanism for the stud, a holding mechanism for the attaching part, means operable to move one holding mechanism toward the other whereby the attaching part may be engaged with the stud, a device movable relative to both holding mechanisms to complete attachment of the stud and attaching part to a support, and spreading means located in position to spread the head of the stud during the latter part of the attaching movement of said device.

2. A snap fastener attaching machine having means for securing a snap fastener stud and an attaching part to a support, and means for feeding the stud and the attaching part to the securing means, said securing means including a holding mechanism for the stud,

a holding mechanism for the attaching part, means operable to move one holding mechanism toward the other whereby the attaching part may be engaged with the stud, a

device movable relative to both holding mechanisms to complete attachment of the stud and attaching part to a support, and spreading means carried by said device located in position to spread the head of the stud during the latter part of the attaching movement of said device.

3. A machine for attaching yieldable snap fastener studs to cardboard or the like by means of washers snapped over the heads of the studs projecting through holes in the cardboard, said machine having stud supporting means, washer supporting means, a mechanism operable to produce relative movement between the stud holding means and washer holding means whereby the washer and stud are secured together with the cardboard between them, and a device for spreading the yieldable stud after the washer has been attached thereto.

4. A machine for attaching yieldable snap fastener studs to cardboard or the like by means of washers snapped over the heads of the studs projecting through holes in the cardboard, said machine having stud supporting means, washer supporting means, a mechanism operable to produce relative movement between the stud holding means and washer holding means whereby the washer and stud are secured together with the cardboard between them, and a cone-shaped member associated with the washer holding means and adapted to expand the yieldable portion of the stud against the washer.

5. A snap fastener attaching machine having means for attaching a snap fastener part and an attaching part to a support, said means including a movable yieldable hold- .ing means for one of said parts, pivoted holding means for the other part, setting mem bers including a device movable relative to both holding means to remove the part held by the yieldable holding means and secure the said fastener part and attaching part to a support, means providing a lost motion connection between the yieldable holding means and the said device whereby one may move relative to the other upon completion of the movement of said other in a given direction,

and a pivotally mounted part having an end terminating adjacent to one of said setting members and supporting said pivoted holding means on said end.

6. A snap fastener attaching machine having means for attaching a snap fastener part and an attaching part to a support, said means including a pivotally mounted yieldable holding means for one of said parts, holding means for the other part, setting members including a device movable relative to both holding means to remove the part 4 reven e GEORGE A. HOLMES.

Images