Button feed unit for button applicator
AssigneeYoshida Kogyo K.K.
InventorsKazuyoshi Ito, Toshiaki Sodeno
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A button feed unit to guide a button element from a button supply to a button applicator and arrange the direction of surface pattern provided on a front face of the button element. The button feed unit is adaptable for a variety of buttons of different sizes by exchangeable components of a feed path for the button element. The feed path for the button element is provided with a button rotating attachment having a button element guide path of a wedge-shaped cross section to pinch a part of the periphery of the button head and to urge the button head resiliently toward a cooperating feed path guide member, wherein at least the attachment is exchangeable.
Claims8
A button feed unit for a button applicator to feed a button element to the button applicator while orienting said button element, said button element having a circular head having a front face and a back face with an orienting recess on the back face, said button feed unit comprising:
- a pair of front guide base members which are provided with guide faces facing upwardly for guiding the front face of said button element, said guide faces being disposed along a feed direction of said button element and spaced apart at a predetermined interval;
- a pair of back guide members which are respectively disposed on and secured to said guide faces to guide at least the periphery of the back face of said button element;
- a pusher path defining member which is disposed between said front guide base members having a surface which defines a pusher path;
- a pusher arranged to reciprocate between said guide faces along said pusher path for translating the circular head of said button element;
- and
- one of said back guide members for said button element being provided with a button rotating attachment having a button element guide means having a wedge-shaped recess formed by a first wall and a second wall, said first and second walls respectively contacting said front face and said back face for pinching said button head between said walls, and said guide means urging the button head resiliently toward the other back guide member, wherein at least said attachment is exchangeable.
A button feed unit for a button applicator to feed a button element to the button applicator from a supply of button elements, while orienting said button element, said button element having a circular head having a front face and a back face and an orienting recess on a back face thereof, comprising:
- a pair of front guide base members which are provided with guide faces facing upwardly for guiding the front face of said button element, said guide faces disposed lengthwise along a feed direction of said button element and providing a pusher passage therebetween;
- first and second back guide members which are arranged above said guide faces;
- a pusher arranged to reciprocate in said pusher passage for translating said button head along said feed direction, said pusher having means for arresting axial rotation of said button head when said orienting recess reaches a select rotational position;
- and
- said first back guide member having a replaceable attachment having guide means extending approximately parallel to said feed direction and having a wedge shaped recess formed by a first wall and a second wall, said first and second walls respectively contacting said front face and said back face for pinching a part of the button head between said walls, and spring means for urging the button head resiliently toward said second back guide member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.