Button mounting apparatus and button mounting method

1. A button mounting apparatus for mounting a button main body to a cloth with a button mounting member, the button mounting apparatus comprising:

a button mounting unit that includes a first die configured to hold the button main body and a second die configured to hold the button mounting member;

an intermediate material formation unit that forms an intermediate material from a strip-like sheet material, the intermediate material being interposed between the button main body and the cloth or between the button mounting member and the cloth; and

an intermediate material transport unit that transports the intermediate material formed by the intermediate material formation unit to the button mounting unit to supply the intermediate material to the first die or the second die.

2. The button mounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material transport unit holds the intermediate material transported to the button mounting unit on the first die or the second die.

3. The button mounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material transport unit includes an intermediate material receiving part configured to receive the intermediate material formed by the intermediate material formation unit, and a first movement mechanism configured to move the intermediate material receiving part between a first position corresponding to the intermediate material formation unit and a second position corresponding to the button mounting unit.

4. The button mounting apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the intermediate material transport unit includes a second movement mechanism for moving the intermediate material receiving part, at the second position, between an initial position relatively distant from the first die or the second die and a delivery position adjacent to the first die or the second die so as to deliver the intermediate material to the first die or the second die.

5. The button mounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material formation unit includes a sheet supply unit around which the sheet material is wound in a roll shape, a drive roller configured to send out the sheet material from the sheet supply unit by pulling the sheet material, and a cutting unit provided between the sheet supply unit and the drive roller to cut off the intermediate material from the sheet material.

6. The button mounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first die has an intermediate material holder capable of holding the intermediate material that has an outer form greater than that of the button main body.

7. The button mounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material formation unit includes a sheet passage through which the sheet material passes and a cutting unit in which the intermediate material is punched out from the sheet material that is passing through the sheet passage.

8. A button mounting method comprising the steps of:

A) holding a button main body on a first die and holding a button mounting member on a second die;

B) forming an intermediate material by cutting it out from a strip-like sheet material in an intermediate material formation unit;

C) automatically transporting and delivering the intermediate material from the intermediate material formation unit to the first die or the second die; and

D) mounting the button main body onto a cloth with the button mounting member while interposing the intermediate material between the button main body and the cloth or between the button mounting member and the cloth.

9. The button mounting method according to claim 8 , wherein the steps B and D are simultaneously performed.

10. The button mounting method according to claim 8 , wherein in the step B the intermediate material is punched out from the sheet material that is passing through a sheet passage.