554 



BUTTON MANUFACTURE 



onwards, as the dies are advanced by the reaction of the cranks ; and after they have cut 

 out the discs, and raised the shanks, tho shoot of metal will remain upon the punches ; 

 and when the bar e returns, tho finished backs and shanks are forced out of the coun- 

 ter dies, by the clearing-pins and rods o o, which project through tho bar c, and through 

 the holes before mentioned in the counter dies ; theso clearing-pins being stationary be- 

 tween the bars p p, mounted upon tho standard q q, on the cross bar of the frame, as 

 shown in^. 266, 268, 269. Immediately after this is done, the pins m. come in con- 

 tact with tho other ends of tho slots in tho pieces n, and draw back the feeding-rollers 

 1 1, together with the clearing-plate k and the shoot of metal, away from the punches, 

 into the position represented in tho figures. 



At this time the feeding of the metal into the machine is effected by a crank-pin r, 

 on the end of the crank-shafts coming in contact with tho bent end of the sliding-bar s, 

 supported in standards 1 1 ; and as the crank-shaft revolves, this pin r forces the bar s 

 forward, and causes the tooth or pall u, on its reverse end, to drive the ratchet-wheel v, 

 one or more teeth ; and as the ratchet-wheel v is fixed on to the end of the axle of one 

 of the rollers I, it will cause that roller to revolve ; and by means of the pair of spur- 

 pinions on the other ends of tho axles of the feeding rollers, they will both rovolvo 

 simultaneously, and thereby draw down the sheet of metal into the machine. It will 

 be perceived that tho standards which support the clearing-plate and guide-bar are car- 

 ried by tho axles of tho feeding rollers, and partake of their sliding motion : also that 

 the clearing-pins o, are made adjustable between the bars p, to correspond with tho 

 counter dies. There is an adjustable sliding-stop x upon the bar s, which comes in 

 contact with the back standard t, and prevents the bar s sliding back too far, and con- 

 sequently regulates the quantity of sheet metal to be fed into the machine by the pall 

 and ratchet-wheel, in order to suit different sizes of punches and dyes. In case tho 

 weight of the bar c, carrying the counter dies, should wear upon its bearings, tho guide- 

 pins gg have small friction rollers yy, shown under the bosses of this bar, which friction 

 rollers run upon adjustable beds or planes, s z, by which means tho guide-pins may 

 be partially relieved from the weight of tho bar c, and the friction consequently 

 diminished. 



BUTTONS OF HOHN. Mr. Thomas Harris obtained, in April 1841, a patent for 

 improvements in the manufacture of horn buttons, and in thoir dies. His invention 

 relates, first, to a mode of applying flexible shanks to horn buttons ; secondly, to a mode 

 of ornamenting horn buttons, by enlaying the front surface thereof ; thirdly, to a mode 

 of ornamenting what are called horn buttons, by gilding or silvering their surfaces ; 

 fourthly, to a mode of constructing dies, by applying separate .boundary circles to each 

 ongraved surface of a die, by which the process of engraving, as well as the forming of 

 accurate dies, will be facilitated ; fifthly, to a mode of constructing dies, used in the 

 ;nanufacture of horn buttons, whereby the horn or hoof employed will not be permitted 

 to be expressed beyond the circumference of the button. 



Fig. 271 represents, in section, a pair of dies, A and B, used in producing the 



27-i 



279 



283 



286 



275 



277 



278 



improved horn buttons, according to tho first improvement; tho upper die A is made 

 to produce the back surfaces of the buttons, and the recess or groove for receiving the 



