Patent GB-190909144-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Sole Laying Machines for Use in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes.
Inventor: ENGEL KARL
IPC: A43D25/08
Filed: 1909-04-17
Granted: 1910-04-18
Abstract: 9144. Engel, K. April 20, 1908, [Convention date]. Sole-laying.-In order to effect a tight joint between the sole and the welt or out-turned flange of an upper during sole-laying, and to secure satisfactory adhesion at the crease line, especially in the region of the shank, a pair of toe-clamping jaws and a pair of heel-clamping jaws embrace the toe and heel and support the flange against the solelaying pressure, particularly at the bottom of the crease. The jaws also have a function akin to lasting. The distance between the two pairs of jaws may be contracted-in one form automatically to a predetermined extent according to the size length of the shoe-for the purpose of restoring the crease if deformed either in the sole-laying action or when inserting the last in making stitchdown shoes. The upper is also stretched longitudinally in this movement. Sole-positioning means admit the use of a close-trimmed sole. In one form, these extend between the shoe-support and the sole-pad throughout the laying operation. The sole is laid without previous bending of the forepart, to utilize the maximum covering-capacity of the flesh side of the leather and to obviate the tendency of the toe of the finished shoe to turn up. A cross-head 6, Fig. 2, carries shoe supporting means 38, 40. The support 38 is shaped to engage the heel end of the shoe, and carries an adjustable abutment 55 for the crown of the last, and jaws 42 adapted to enter the crease and support the heel end of the shoe. The jaws have slots engaging pins on the support 38 and arranged to give a maximum movement into the crease at the shank of the shoe and to present a continuous contact edge to the upper throughout their movement. They are linked to a rock-shaft 46, which is actuated by a hand-lever 54 to move the jaws positively inward or outward. A spring 52 constantly urges the jaws inward to embrace the heel end of the shoe automatically. The support 38 is preferably fixed, and, by turning a knob 58 the toe-support 40 may be slid along the cross-head to effect a longitudinal adjustment for size. A pawl engaging a rack on the cross-head locks the support 40. The toe clamping jaws 44 are pivoted to a plate 76 sliding within limits on a carrier-frame 68, which is jointed to the support 40 and tilted according to the spring of the last by a yoke 70, supporting its rear end, which may be clamped at varying heights on the support 40 by a set-screw 74. Springs 78 effect an automatic toe-embracing movement of the jaws 44. A bodily movement of the toe-jaws toward the heel-jaws is produced by pressing downwardly upon a bell-crank lever 82 pivoted to the carrier frame 68 and connected to the plate 76. This restores the crease and stretches the upper longitudinally. The bell-crank lever may be automatically actuated to a predetermined extent by the sole supporting means. A plate 100, Fig. 10, on the cross-head that carries the sole pad, engages an adjustable and initially yielding foot 98, and effects a positive actuation of the toe-jaws through a rod 94, cranks 92, 86, and a link 84, which is adjustably connected to the lever 82 so that the crease-restoring movement may be varied according to the size ot the shoe. In a modified construction, shown in Fig. 11, the toe-clamping jaws have an additional vertical adjustment to adapt them to lasts of varying fore-part depth. The carrier-frame 68 is supported on a part 402, which may be adjusted vertically upon the support 400 by a thumb-screw 106. The toe-clamping jaws are arranged, in this modification, so that they may be separated to admit the toe of a shoe readily by grasping two levers 114. The heel-clamping jaws are linked to a pin 120, which slides in a slot 122 in a fixed plate 124. To actuate the jaws, a slotted quadrant 116, engaging the pin 120, is operated by the lever 54 and the spring 52. In this construction, the jaws are locked in all positions against pressure applied directly to them. As R shown in Fig. 11, the sole-positioning means consists of pins 190, yieldingly carried by the shoesupporting members and extending to the solelaying means throughout the sole-laying operation. The pins slide freely in guides on the toe and heel supports. The rear pin is fixed relatively to the sole-pad. Those at each side of the heel slide in pivoted guides 198, which are connected by links of equal length to a pin sliding in a slotted plate 204, which is laterally adjustable on the support 38 to enable both pins to be simultaneously adjusted sideways for heels off-set from the axial line of the sole. The positioning-means at the toe end preferably comprises a single pin which slides in a plate 196, Fig. 13, pivoted in a longitudinal plane upon a rearward extension of one of the toe jaws and movable therewith. The plate 196 may be clamped in varying angular positions. The number of pins 190 may vary. Two other forms of solepositioning device are described which are supportei on the sole-laying means. In one form, Fig. 2, heel positioning jaws 126 are pivoted to a plate attached to the pad-support, and similar toe-positioning jaws 128 are pivoted to a slide 138, which may be adjusted on a similar plate at the toe. The jaws in each pair are linked together and actuated by two sliding rods 148, 160, connected to the heel and toe positioning-members respectively. The rods may be independently operated or clamped together for united actuation. The jaws are thin plates so as not to interfere with the sole-pressing operation. In another form, shown in Fig. 8, heelpositioning jaws 168 are pivoted to a fixed plate 132, carrying a fixed heel-gauge 172, and are linked to the operating-rod 148. The toe-positioning jaws 170 are pivoted to an adjustable slide 182, carrying a toe-gauge 174, and are urged together by a spring. The jaws 170 are actuated by a bell-crank lever 184, pivoted to the slide 182 and actuating a second slide to which the jaws are linked. The jaws are thinner than the shoe leather, and, to increase the extent of their sole-engaging ends, these carry pivoted cranked members urged upwardly by leaf springs, which allow them to yield under the solelaying pressure.