Patent GB-190727876-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Machines for Reinforcing Insoles
Inventor: JUSTICE PHILIP MIDDLETON
Filed: 1907-12-18
Granted: 1908-12-17
Abstract: 27,876. Justice, P. M., [Manufacturers' Machine Co.]. Dec. 18. Insoles ;presses. - The manufacture of reinforced insoles is facilitated by the machine shown in Fig. 2, in which means are provided for preventing the cemented reinforcing-fabric from coming into contact with the upturned channel lip. The insole to be operated on is held by means of a toe-clamp 4 on a worksupport 1, which is mounted on a bench B. The work-support is so shaped that an insole pressed against it receives the same curvature as it would receive during each step of the wearer. The toe - clamp 4 is pivoted upon a removable pin 6 by means of a central depending ear 5. A knob 8 enables the pin 6 to be withdrawn, and placed in one or another of a series of holes, so that the toeclamp may be moved to accommodate shorter or longer soles. The table B supports vertical guiderods 11, joined at their upper ends by a crosshead 12 and carrying two sliding heads 13, which are provided with ears constituting loose bearings for a transverse shaft 14. Loosely mounted. on this shaft is a hinged protector frame 15, provided with rearwardly extending arms 19. These arms are connected to a rod 20 passing loosely through a segmental slot 21 in an arm 22 attached to the crosshead 12. A series of rods 26, mounted in the frames 15 so as to slide but not rotate, have hinged at their inner ends lip protectors or thin plates 24. The rods are provided at the middle with fast collars 27, between which and the side members of the frame are interposed springs 28, 29, which hold the rods in a central position but permit them to yield in either direction. The frames themselves are also free to slide along the rod 14, but are yieldingly held outwards by springs 30 interposed between their ends and collars 31 on the rod. Loosely mounted on the rod 14 is a presser P, shown in Fig. 6, which comprises an arm 32, curved to conform to the work-support and provided on its underside with movable presser blocks 33, 34, 35, 36. The inner end of the block is pivoted to a transverse slide 38, the outer end having a guidepin 39, which moves in a longitudinal slot 40 in the arm. To the same slide is pivoted the adjacent end of the block 34, which is connected by a dowel to the block 35, this latter block being similarly connected to the block 36. The block 36 is provided with a pin 42, which moves in a longitudinal slot 43. A continuous sheet of rubber or similar material is cemented or otherwise attached to the face of the blocks, which, by reason of the method of connexion, may be deflected to one side or another of a median line, in order to be adjustable for right or left soles. The adjustment is made by a pin 49 engaging with the slide 50, which is shifted by a lever 45 pivoted to a swivel pin 47. The lever 45 and pin 49 are held in an elevated position by a spring 51. The upper end of the pin is held in one of the arms of a V-shaped groove cut in the underside of a sliding piece 53, which may be adjusted longitudinally. Thus, by adjusting the piece 53, the amount of deflection of the blocks on each side of the median line may be regulated. The protector frame and presser are brought into the working position by a chain 56, which is attached to each wing of the frame, and passes over a pair of pulleys 57 mounted on the sides of the presser arm 32. The looped middle portion of the chain passes round a pulley 58 carried on the end of a lever 59, which may be depressed by a treadle 63. The presser and the protector frames are maintained in an elevated position by springs 65, 66 respectively. Pressure on the treadle not only depresses these members, but also causes the wings of the protector frame to approach one another until they are arrested by contact with the sides of the presser block. Since the presser block is narrower than the distance between the upturned channel lips of the sole, the protector plates 24 are brought down upon the sole within the channel lips. When the frame is fully depressed, the rod 20 passes into a pocket 23, which forms the inner end of the slot 21. The spring 66 is by this means prevented from retracting the arm 19 and raising the frame when the pressure on the treadle is released. Thus, when the treadle is released, the presser is raised by the spring 65, but the protectors are left in contact with the insole, and the springs 30 separate the wings, causing the springs 29 to hold the protectors firmly against the channel lip as shown in Fig. 12. The sole is then ready to receive the reinforcing-fabric, which is pressed into contact with the sole by the fingers of the operator. To protect the channel lip around the point of the toe, a protector of suitable shape is provided. This protector is hinged to a transverse bar 72, Fig. 1, supported in bearings on the protector frame and moved by an arm 75 of a bellcrank lever, the other arm being actuated by a spring - controlled rod in the protector frame. With short soles, in order to prevent the motion of the toe-protector from being interfered with by the endmost of the side protectors, pawls 82 are provided, which may engage the collars 27 of these endmost rods and keep them out of action. When the fabric is worked into contact with the sole by the fingers of the operator, the presser block is brought down to press the fabric uniformly on the face of the sole. In order not to disturb the protectors, this operation is performed by means of a second treadle 88, which actuates a vertical slide 83, which passes through a slot in the presser arm, and has rollers 84 that overlie the walls of the slot. The hub of the presser is slotted in order that the presser, when nearly at the limit of its downward swing, moves vertically downward in order to secure an even pressure. The rollers 84 drop into notches 84<a> on the presser arm, and, by preventing backward rotation thereof, ensure that it moves vertically. The protector frame is released from its contact with the sole by a treadle 90, which lifts a rod 92. This rod lifts the hinge rod 14 until the rod 20 clears the pocket 23 ; the springs 66 then lift the frame to its original position. An arm 98 attached to the protector frames, depresses the tail of the toe-clamp and releases the insole. In consequence of the shape of the work-support, the soles made on this machine have a tendency to assume that shape, and do not resist the flexure of the boot.