US2310007A - Method for setting snap fasteners and the like - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1943. 4 J. G, WQLFF 2,310,007

METHOD FOR SETTING SNAP FASTENERS AND THE LIKE V Filed May 16, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jag i X VENTOR fi t. air) 1 4147 ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, J. WOLF-F METHOD FOR SETTING SNAP FASTENERS AND THE LIKE Filed May 16, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 n. w lumhv M wHml'y uymun "u nw mum W W 'l 140 JM v INVENTOR amyfl QM, W5 0 ATTORNEYS Feb. .2, 1943. WOLF'F METHOD FOR SETTING SNAP FASTENERS AND THE LIKE Filed May 16, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Z7 NVENTOR Ways; 0%

J. G. WOLFF Feb. 2, 1943.

METHOD FOR SETTING SNAP FASTENERS AND THE LIKE Filed May 16, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l. T m N ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 2, 1943 METHOD FOR SETTING SNAP FASTENER AND THE LIKE Jerome G. wolflk waterbury, Conn, assignor to Scovill' Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application May 16, 1939, Serial No. 273,926

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to the application of fastener elements to garments or other sheetlike articles on which they are customarily used,

and is particularly concerned with the improveclamped between the fastener element and its cooperating attaching part.

The full nature of the invention, including other objects and various features thereof, will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following description in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of a completed snap fastener socket installation;

Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive illustrate in more or less diagrammatic fashion the essential parts of a machine for setting a fastener element of the type shown in Fig. 1 upon a supporting sheet in accordance with the method of the present invention the several views illustrating the various steps of that method;

the various parts of the machine at different stages of the method; and' Fig. is a sectional view of another machine for setting fastener parts of the type illustrated v in Fig. 1-1 in accordance with the invention.

The fastener element l5 of Fig. 1 exemplifies the general class of device with the setting of which the present invention is particularly concerned. That element is the socket part of a complete snap fastener installation but it might just as well be a-stud element adapted for engagement by the resilient fingers of the'socket. It is set, in accordance with present practice, by disposing it upon one side of a sheet of fabric l6 and by then driving the prongs ll of an attaching cap l8 through that sheet from its opposite side against the flaring anvil I9 of the element to turn them outwardly into the retaining ring 20,'and to clamp the sheet material between the flange 2I of the cap and the opposing rear flange 22 of the element. The prongs of thereby creating puckers and wrinkles.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a part of a practical form of button setting machine in which the method may be carried outi Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the practical machine taken on the line 1-? of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is another sectional view of the machine of Fig. 6 taken on the line 8-8 of Fig.- 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the lower fabric clamping member of the machine of Figs. 6 to 8, the cap thereof having been removed better to illustrate the internal construction;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line ie m of Fig. 8; v i

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of another form of socket member with the setting of which the present invention deals;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a part of a machine for practicing the invention in setting snap fastener elements of the type illustrated in the cap in passing through the sheet necessarily stretch and draw the material to some extent The presence of these unsightly wrinkles is made permanent when the stretched material is clamped between the flanges of the two elements. Thereafter they can neither be drawn nor ironed out.

In order to avoid this objectionable result the present invention proposes a method wherein the sheet material is grasped within an annular area completely surrounding and closely adjoining that upon which the installation will be made, and is firmly held while the socket and cap elements are being applied. If this procedure is followed any stretching of the material during the setting of the socket and stud elements must necessarily be confined substantially to the area which is covered by those elements and upon the completion of the setting the stretched material will be firmly clamped between the opposing flanges of those elements. Accordingly, when the sheet material is released from the initial grasp, the tension within that part of the sheet which is covered by the socket and stud elements can not extend beyond the margins of their flanges, and it can not therefore generate puckers and wrinkles in the material surrounding the completed installation.

The method may better be understood by considering it with reference to'Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive. In practicing it, the sheet I6 is placed upon a lower clamping ring 23 so that it lies between the attaching cap i8 supported on an anvil 24, and the socket member l5 which is disposed in co-operative relationship with the setting die 25.

-The position of these various parts at the beginning of the operation is thus illustrated in Fig. 2. As a first step in the-method an upper clamping ring 26 is moved downwardly to clamp the sheet material between itself and the lower ring within an annular area immediately surrounding the anvil and setting die, as shownin Fig. 3. As the operation continues the anvil 24 and the setting die 25 are brought together to force the prongs of the attaching cap through the sheet and against the flaring anvil part of the socket, thus to turn them outwardly into the retaining ring 20. The passage of the prongs through the sheet of course results in the stretching of the material to some considerable extent, but all such stretching is necessarily confined within that part which is firmly held by the clamping rings. At the completion of the setting stroke, the intervening and stretched sheet material will be firmly clamped between the opposing flanges 2i and 22 of the cap and socket, as shown in Fig. 4. These flanges thus take up the function theretofore performed by the clamping rings 23 and 26. Accordingly, the clamping rings may now be withdrawn to the positions shown in Fig. 5. It will be evident that in the completed installation the stretched material is all confined within the area covered by the socket member and the attaching cap. The surrounding material is necessarily free from tension and therefore free of puckers and wrinkles.

A practical machine for carrying out the foregoing process is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive. Only those parts which are essential to a complete understanding of the'machine are shown in the drawings for it is contemplated that they may be included as a part of any well known setting machine. One satisfactory form of machine to which they may be applied is shown in the Warner Patent No. 1,499,270. Reference may be had thereto for an understandin of the details of the operating mechanism and other parts not shown. The various constructional details of the essential parts of the machine embodying the present invention will now be considered and the entire structure will be correlated in the subsequent description of its operation.

The anvil element of th machine is generally designated by the numeral 24 to conform with the diagrammatic showing of Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive. prises a cylindrical member 21 having its upper end slightly recessed at 28 to receive the flange 2| of an attaching cap. This recess is necessarily shallow. In order to assure proper disposition of the cap therein the member 21 is provided with a locating pin 29 disposed within its central bore. 30, such pin being adapted to fit within the central opening in the cap element and thus to hold it properly centered upon the anvil. It is necessary that the locating pin be removed or withdrawn from the position of Figs. '7 and 8 during the attaching operation to clear In this practical embodiment it com- The anvil member 21 is preferably so designed that it may readily and quickly be installed in the machine frame 34, or be removed for replacement by one of a different size or design. Accordingly it has a shank portion 35 of reduced cross section which is adapted to fit within a recess 36 of a boss 31 with its shoulder 38 engaging the upper end of the boss, and to be secured in that position by the tightening of set screw 39. The boss may be constructed as a part of the frame of the machine if desired. In the preferred structure, however, it is a separate element secured in place by a bolt 40.

The lower clamping ring is again generally designated by the numeral 23 in order that it may conform with the showing of Figs. 2 to '5.

In this preferred embodiment it is formed bythe upper end of a sleeve 4| which is slidably mounted upon the main body of the anvil member 21 and of the boss 31. The sleeve is supported in its normal position, that is, with its upper end lying above the upper face of the an vii, by a coil spring 42 which has its opposite ends engaging the collar 43 of the sleeve and the shoulder 44 of the boss 31.

The sleeve is designed to serve a further function in the completed machine-namely. as a part of an automatic cap feed mechanism. As may best be seen in Figs. 8 and 9, its enlarged head is recessed at 45 to accommodate a pair of cap holding arms 45. In the preferred embodiment these arms are pivoted to the sleeve at 41 for movement in a horizontal plane and are urged inwardly by springs 48 against the stop elements 49. It will be noted that the lower inner edges of the arms are undercut to provide cam faces 50 which overlie the upper end of the anvil member 21 as is particularly shown in Fig.8.

Cap elements l8 may be fed into the head through a lateral opening 5| from an appropriate feed chute 52, all in a manner hereinafter pivoted thereto at 54, and is held in its normal position by a spring pressed detent 55. If, as

a path for other parts as will later be made evident. ThL. can most conveniently be done by telescoping the locating pin with the member,

occasionally happens in operation, a cap becomes jammed in the head, the detent may be released and the cover swung about its pivot so that the jammed part can easily be removed. This cover plate, of course, has a central opening 56 through which the anvil member 21 may pass. It in fact constitutes the lower clamping ring of the machine.

The setting die 25 is designed for cooperation with the socket member I5. Accordingly its lower end face is appropriately shaped to complement the surfaces of that member. Thus, and as may be seen particularly in Fig. 8, it has a chamfered annular surface 51 which is adapted to engage the front surface of the anvil l9 of the socket, and a central pin 58 adapted to fit within the stud engaging recess defined by the resilient flngers of the socket.- In order that the die may be quickly installed in the machine, it has an end portion 59 of reduced cross section adapted to flt snugly within the bore 60 of a plunger element BI and to be secured therein by any appropriate means such as the set screw 62. The plunger is slidably disposed in the machine frame 34 in alignment with the anvil 24 and is adapted to be reciprocated by any appropriate mechanism (not shown). A suitable driving mechanism is illustrated in the Warner patent hereinbefore mentioned.

The upper clamping ring, again generally identified by numeral 26, is formed by the lower end of a sleeve 63 which is fitted over the setting die 25. In this preferred embodiment the sleeve is carried by the die and is also movable with respect thereto agai st the reaction of a coil spring 64 having its ends abutting against the collar 65 of the die and a shoulder 66 of the sleeve. The constructional details may best be seen in Figs. 7 and 8. There it will be noted that the die carries a supporting pin '61 in its central bore 68 and that the supporting pin in turn carries a cross pin 69 which extends through a longitudinal slot 10 in the Wall of the die and into a longer slot II- in the sleeve 63. The cross pin is thus the part which connects the sleeve to the die, and which determines the normal position of the sleeve by its engagement with the upper end of the slot 'II. This normal-position may be adjusted within limits by varying the positions of the lock nuts I2 which are threaded on the upper end of the supporting pin 61 and engage the upper end of the reduced portion 59 of the die. 1

The sleeve 63 is also designed to serve as a part of the automatic feed mechanism of the completed machine. It is accorrdingly provided with a pair of arms 13 (Fig. 10) which are adapted to receive socket parts I5 fed through a lateral opening I4 in the enlarged head of the sleeve from an appropriate feed chute I5, all in a manner hereinafter fully to be considered. The arms are arranged and constructed somewhat differently from those which have heretofore been considered in connection with the description of the lower sleeve 4| although identical arms might be used if desired. The arrangement is best shown in Figs. 7 and 10. There it may be seen that the arms I3 are relatively thin fiat members which extend through radial slots I6 in the head and are urged inwardly by spring 'I'I so that their inner shaped ends may engage a socket member I5 and hold it in proper alignment with the complementally shaped end of the the socket members and one of the caps.

overlying die 25. Inward movement of the arms is limited by engagement of their flanged outer ends llwith the outer surfaces of the sleeve.

The constructional details of these various parts, and of others 'not yet considered, may be better understood by a consideration of the operation of the machine through one complete setting cycle. i

It will be assumed that a sheet of material has been placed upon the lower clamping ring 23 with that part upon which the installation is to be made accurately registered with respect to the anvil and setting die. The machine is then started. Immediatelylever I9 is depressed to swing an arm 88 about its supporting shaft 8| so that the forward end of the arm may engage cam face 82 and rotate the cut-off element 83 about its supporting pin 84 against the tension of spring 85. This cut-off 83 is disposed in a raceway 86 through which socket parts are fed to the machine from any appropriate source. In the normal position of Fig. 7 its arcuate cutout portion 81 engages and supports the entire stack of socket members I5. A quarter turn of the cut-off releases the lower one of the socket members and allows it to slide down the feed chute I5 to a point opposite the lateral opening her 63. The remaining socket members, however. are supported by the cut-off.

Simultaneously with this just-described action, the lever 19 rotates an arm 88 and lifts link 89 so that its lower offset end '90 may engage pin 9| and swing a cut-off 92 about its supporting pin 93 against the reaction of spring 94. This cut-off is located in a raceway 95 through which attaching caps are fedfrom any appro priate source. In its normal position it obstructs the raceway and prevents the descent of the caps. A quarter turn of this cut-off releases the lowermost one of the caps and allows it to slide down the feed chute 52 to a point opposite the lateral opening 5| in the enlarged head of the sleeve 4|. 7 The two cut-off elements 83 and 92 complete their operative function by the release of one of Accordingly at this point in the operation of the machine the lever I9 is lifted to retract the arms 88 and 88, and to permit the cut-offs to return to their normal positions under the influence of their springs 85 and 94 respectively.

In the next and second phase of the operating cycle, appropriate mechanism (not shown) swings an arm 96 about its point of pivotal support 91 to advance a push finger 98 along its supporting track 99. The forward and offset end portion I00 of the finger enters a slot |0| in the lower end of the chute 15' where it contacts the released socket member I5 and pushes it through the lateral opening I4 in the head of sleeve 63. The end of the push finger may best be seen in Fig. 10. The rounded outer edges of the socket engage the chamfered ends of the fingers I3 in the'head and spread those fingers very slightly so that the socket may pass therebetween. At the completion of this feed stroke the socket member will be held between the curved portions of the fingers I3 immediately beneath the end of the setting die 25 in the position shown in Fig. 7.;

Simultaneously with the feeding of the socket elements, the mechanism of the machine advanees a second push finger I92 along its track I83, the forward end of the finger entering a slot-in the under side of the chute 52 .to contact the released -cap element l8 and to push it through the lateral opening 5| in the head of the sleeve 4|. As the cap advances the edges of its flange engage the undercut cam surfaces 50 of the receiving arms 46 and spread those arms against the resistance of springs 48. Further advance of the cap brings its forward edge against the chamfered face 29a of the locating pin 29. This chamfered faceacts as a cam and lifts the cap. It cannot tip over, however, be-

I4 in the enlarged head of the upper sleeve memcause it is otherwise confined by the spring.

pressed arms 46. At the completion of the feed stroke the opening in the cap I8 registers with the centering pin, and the cap is forced downwardly by the arms 46 to seat on the upper en of the anvil.

The second phase of the operating cycle has now been completed and the two push fingers 98 and 82 may be retracted to their initial positions, as shown in Figs. 6 to 8.

In the next and third phase of the operating cycle the plunger 6| is caused to descend carrying with it the setting die 25 and the sleeve element 63. This action brings the lower end of the sleeve 63 against the sheet material which is disposed on the upper end of the sleeve 4| and effectively clamps the sheet therebetween. It

may thus be seen that the opposing ends of the two sleeves correspond in function to the clamping members generally designated at 23 and 26 in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive.

Further descent of the plunger 6| causes the two sleeves to slide with respect to the anvil and setting die against the reaction of springs 42 and 64. The setting die accordingly engages the socket I5, strips it free of its supporting arms 13, and presses it firmly against the upper surface of the supporting sheet. In the simultaneous downward movement of the lower sleeve M the edges of the relatively stationary anvil engage the cam surfaces 50 of the arms 46 and spread those arms to clear a path for the subsequent passage of the anvil through the opening 56 in the cover plate, or clamping ring. At this stage the centering pin 58 of the descending die, acting through the intervening sheet,- engages the upper end of the centering pin 29 of the anvil and telescopes that pin within the anvil against the tension of its supporting spring 3|. At the same time, of course, the prongs of the attaching cap are being forced through the sheet and against the anvil I9 of the socket to turn them outwardly into the retaining ring of that element.

It will again be noted that the prongs stretch the sheet as they pass therethrough, but that all such stretching is confined to that part of the sheet which will be covered by the cap and socket member, the surrounding portion being firmly held betweenthe opposing ends of the two sleeves. At the completion of the setting stroke, the stretched material will be firmly clamped between the opposing flanges 2I and 22 of the cap and socket respectively. Hence the sleeves may be returned to their initial positions without. releasing any stretchedrpart of the material. The material surrounding the completed socket installation will be found to be wholly free of puckers and wrinkles.

In the foregoing it has been assumed that the part to be set was a socket element of the type shown in Fig. 1. The principles of the new method are applicable, however, to the setting of almost any element which by reason of its design efiects a stretching of the sheet material during the attaching operation. To do so it is merely necessary to install setting tools of proper character in the machine of Figs. 6 to 8,

and to provide that machine with feed chutes capable of accommodating the parts to be set. One other such element is shown in Fig. 11; and a die, an anvil, and clamping elements for use in setting it in accordance with the present invention are illustrated in Figs. 12 to 14 inclusive. These tools are generally similar to the like elements of Figs. 6 to inclusive. Their constructional details may be fully understood from a consideration .of the setting operation.

The feeding of a socket element II5 into the head of sleeve H6, and the positioning of the member upon the anvil III may be substantially identical with that heretofore described in connection with Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive. So too with the feeding of a cap II8 into the head of the sleeve II9 surrounding the setting die I20. It will therefore be assumed that the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 12. As the operating cycle of the machine continues, the setting die is brought downwardly so that the lower end of sleeve II9 clamps the sheet material I2I against the upper end of sleeve II6. Further descent of the die element causes both of the sleeves to slide upon their supporting parts against the reaction of springs I22 and I23. Duringthis movement of the sleeves with respect to the setting die and anvil, several things happen. The die strips cap II8 from its supporting fingers I24 and presses it firmly against the upper surface of the sheet. Simultaneously the lower sleeve H6 depresses the movable portion I25 of the anvil against the reaction of its spring I26 until its lower end engages shoulder I21, thereby allowing the relatively stationary centering pin I28 of the anvil to enter the barrel of the socket member II5. Thereafter the edges of the movable part I25 engaging the undercut surface I29 of the spring pressed socket positioning arms I30, spread those arms so that the anvil may pass between them. Further downward movement of the setting die and the sleeves forces the sheet material into the cap H8. The positions of the various parts at this intermediate stage of the operating cycle are illustrated in Fig. 13. During the final part of the setting stroke the barrel portion of the socket element will be collapsed within the attaching cap, trapping the stretched sheet material and clamping it between the opposing flanges of the socket element and the cap, all as shown in Fig. 14. The setting die and the sleeves may now be retracted without releasing any stretched part of the sheet material and the material surrounding the installation will again be found to be free of puckers and wrinkles.

The method of the invention has heretofore been considered in its application to setting machines having means for automatically positioning socket and cap elements in proper relation to the setting tools during each operating cycle. If the feed mechanism is omitted, either from the anvil or the setting die, then one of the two sleeves may also be omitted. The part which has no sleeve will then serve its customary function and, in addition, as a clamping ring. The essential parts of such a machine are shown in Fig. 15. There the anvil I3I carries a sleeve I32 resiliently supported upon spring I33; and it will be noted that the sleeve is provided with a pair of socket receiving and positioning arms I34. These parts are in.all material respects identical with the anvil and sleeve of Figs. 12 to 14 inclusive. Socket elements II5 may be fed thereto through a lateral opening in the sleeve either automatically or in any other desired way. Attaching caps II8 will be supplied to the setting die I35 by hand, or at least they will be positioned upon the supporting sheet I36 prior to the commencement of the setting operation. This setting die requires no associated sleeve. The operation of the machine, including these setting tools, is substantially identical with that of Figs. 12 to 14. The only real difference lies in the fact that the lower end of the setting die I35 engages the sheet material directly and clamps it against the upper end of the lower sleeve I32. It thus performs the function of a' clamping ring as well as that of a setting die.

Any one of these various machines may be provided with a table I31, as shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, for supporting the sheet material prior to and while a fastener element is being applied. In the preferred embodiment the table is bolted directly to the sleeve, as indicated-at I38, with its upper surface disposed just beneath the edge of the cover plate 53 so that it will not interfere with the lateral movement of the cover plate to gain access to the enlarged head of the lower sleeve 4|.

foregoing shall be construed in a descriptive- In this preferred arrangement then, the table is adapted to move up and down with the sleeve during the attaching operation to support the sheet material in proper alignment with the upper endof the-clamping member 23 at all times. It is further preferred that the table be provided with a rail I39 having a gate I39a therein which may be lifted to gain access to the feed chute 95 when it becomes jammed; and a series of stop elements I40, the latter having threaded pin portions passing through longitudinal slot MI in the table for engagement by thum-b screws I42. The function of these parts is to serve as guides for locating the sheet material accurately with respect to the anvil and setting die so that the fastener installation may be madeat the proper point. Thus, and assuming that the stop ele-. ments have been first adjusted, it is merely necessary to place the sheet material upon the table with one of its edges resting against the rail I39 and with its end abutting the first one of the stop elements I40. In that position the sheet will be accurately located with respect to the setting tools, and the operation of the machine will effect the application of the socket member thereon at the desired point. If additional members are to be applied the sheet may be successively advanced until its end abuts th second, third and other stop members I40, the machine, of course,

being operatedto apply a fastener member at each position.

Where but a single member is to be applied to each piece of sheet material, the table I31 may be omitted. In such case the upper end of the lower sleeve must serve in its stead. It will then stop element or gage plate I400, (Fig. 15) against which the edge of the sheet may be placed to locate it accurately with respect to the setting tools.

The new method which I have claimed herein may be used to advantage in the setting of almost any kind of fastener member which by reason of its design efiects a stretching of the supporting sheet during the attaching operation. Likewise, it may be practiced in various forms of attaching machines of which those shown in Figs. 6 to 15, inclusive, are the joint invention of myself, Otto J. Huelster and John E. Fagan, as set forth in, co-

rather than a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. The method of installing a fastener member upon an imperforate sheet of supporting material by means of an attaching element, such member and element having portions which are adapted to be mutually interlocked with the sheet material firmly clamped between them, said method comprising the steps of disposing such a member and element on opposite sides of such a supporting sheet in coaxial relation, engaging the sheet within an area closely surrounding that to which the member and element will be applied, forcing the member and element'tog'ether to cause a part of one to telescope in and to interlock with a part of the other and to cla p the sheet material firmbe found desirable to provide the sleeve with a pending application, Serial No. 402,572, filed on July 16, 1941, as a division of the present appli-'- cation. Therefore, the two s0ckets'and.the several machines shown herein are intended merely to illustrate the general class of devices to the setting of which the present method is applicable, and several practical ways for carrying out its essential steps, l

Since certain changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention, it is intended that the that during said forcing step a portion of the at taching element is caused to penetrate the sheet material and to enter and lock with a cooperating portion of the said member.

3. The method of installing a fastener member having a tubular barrel and a marginal flange upon an imperforate sheet of supporting material by means of a cap element adapted to receive the barrel of the member and to clamp intervening sheet material against the opposing marginal flange of the member, such method in- 40';

, held and surrounding parts of the sheet, forcing the barrel of the member and the intervening sheet material intov the cap, collapsing the barrel to lock it within the cap and to clamp the sheet material between the flange of the member and the marginal part of the cap, .and then releasing theanaterial surrounding the member and cap.

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