US3565285A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Button feeding machine
Assignee: Alfa Industries Inc
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Filing: 1967-12-22
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Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1987-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A button-feeding machine for sequentially feeding buttons located in a hopper through a chute to a holder in which the buttons are held in proper position for attachment to a cloth article by a sewing needle. The buttons are supplied in bulk to a hopper where they are oriented and aligned in a chute and then positively fed from the chute to the holder, one at a time by a ram arm whose actuation is controlled by a machine operator.
Inventors
- 👤 Floyd Asnes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:49
CPC Classifications
D; D05; D05B; D05B3/00; D05B3/12; D05B3/22; D05B73/00; D05B73/04; D05B73/12; D05D; D05D2303/00; D05D2303/12; D05D2303/14; D05D2303/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A button-feeding machine for shank-type buttons comprising a hopper having a discharge aperture, a chute having an inlet end positioned adjacent the discharge aperture for receiving buttons from said hopper with the shanks facing outwardly from said chute, a button holder adjacent the outlet end of said chute, means for controllably feeding said buttons from said chute into said button holder, said feeding means comprising a ram arm having an end with a spring biased portion extending inwardly for engaging the base of the shank of the last button in said chute, fixed guide means within which said ram arm travels, two-way drive means connected to said ram arm which drive means upon actuation operates to perform an uninterrupted cycle for reciprocating said ram arm so that said inwardly extending portion engages the base of the shank of said last button and moves it from said chute into said holder as said drive means moves said arm in one direction for a predetermined distance and for retracting said ram arm in a direction opposite said one direction as part of the cycle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A button-feeding machine for shank-type buttons comprising a hopper having a discharge aperture, a chute having an inlet end positioned adjacent the discharge aperture for receiving buttons from said hopper with the shanks facing outwardly from said chute, a button holder adjacent the outlet end of said chute, means for controllably feeding said buttons from said chute into said button holder, said feeding means comprising a ram arm having an end with a spring biased portion extending inwardly for engaging the base of the shank of the last button in said chute, fixed guide means within which said ram arm travels, two-way drive means connected to said ram arm which drive means upon actuation operates to perform an uninterrupted cycle for reciprocating said ram arm so that said inwardly extending portion engages the base of the shank of said last button and moves it from said chute into said holder as said drive means moves said arm in one direction for a predetermined distance and for retracting said ram arm in a direction opposite said one direction as part of the cycle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said drive means connected to said ram arm includes a rotatable member having an eccentrically mounted pin, a lever having a slot therein in which said pin travels, means pivotally mounting said slot at one end thereof, means for pivotally mounting said ram arm to the other end of said lever, the rotation of said rotatable member reciprocating said arm for said predetermined distance in each of said first and second directions along the same line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said chute has a track therein for receiving the shanks of buttons, the spring biased portion of said ram arm comprising a finger on the free end of said ram arm which has a curved portion which extends into said track to engage the shank of the last button therein to thereby move the last button into said holder when reciprocated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The machine of claim 3 further comprising means for pivotally mounting said finger on said ram arm to move the finger outwardly of the track on the return stroke so that the finger passes over the shank of the last button in the chute.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The machine of claim 4 further comprising stationary resilient means for engaging the forward edge of the shank of the last button in the track for holding the last button in the track and all other buttons therein, the finger of the ram arm pushing said last button past said holding means on its forward stroke.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The machine of claim 5 wherein said resilient means comprises a leaf spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 1 further comprising latch means for engaging the ram arm to stop its motion on the return stroke.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-22 | 1974-08-24 | 1975-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-08-24 | 1979-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-22 | 1982-08-24 | 1983-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |