Patent GB-190623396-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Sole Rounding Machines.
Inventor: HEYS JOHN JAMES
Filed: 1906-10-22
Granted: 1908-01-22
Abstract: 23,396. Heys, J. J. Oct. 23, 1905, [date applied for under Patents Act, 1901]. Cutting-machines for leather.-In sole - rounding machines, the blank to be cut is clamped to a pattern c<15>, Fig. 1, mounted on a support c<14>, which is adjustably supported above a plate c<13>, removably secured to the boss of a gear-wheel c<3>. This wheel, which is enclosed in a fixed casing c<8>, is formed on a rotatable head c, and gears with a bevel-wheel c<4> on an inclined shaft c<5>, which is driven by bevel-gearing c<6>, c<7> from the main shaft a. The head c is supported on a gyratory knife-carrier b, and is provided on its underside with rightangled intersecting slots c<2>, c<1>, Fig. 11, with which blocks b<10>, b<11>, respectively, engage. These blocks are loosely mounted on studs b<8>, b<9>, Fig. 6, carried by blocks b<2>, b<3> which are slidably mounted in a slot b<1> in the carrier b. The position of the blocks can be adjusted by a double-threaded screw b<6>, the blocks being engaged by threads of different pitch. The carrier b is pivoted about a pin b<5> so that it can move over the surface of a rounding-head B, which is for convenience of repair &c. detachably secured to the main frame A. The carrier b is extended beyond the gear case c<8>, and has pivoted to it a segmental gear d<1>, Fig. 3, to which is secured a knife-carrying arm d<6>. The knife is adjustably secured in a holder at the free end of this arm. The gear d<1> meshes with a pinion d<2> upon a shaft d<3> which is acted upon by an adjustable spring in such a way that the knife-holder is always pressed yieldingly against the edge of the pattern c<15> and made to follow its varying contour as it is revolved. A spring pawl d<9> is provided to lock the pinion d' against rotation, when desired. In consequence of the positions of the blocks b<10>, b<11> in the slots c<1>, c<2>, and also of the restraint against rotation placed on the carrier b, the blocks partake only partly of the rotation of the head c, the balance of the movement causing the blocks to slide in their slots. The result is to give to the carrier b a combined in-and-out and front-and-back swinging movement that causes the knife to describe an irregular ellipse approximating in shape to a shoe sole ; and, further, the arrangement is such that, as the pattern is rotated, the knife travels slowly past the sharp ends of the sole and heel, and relatively rapidly along the sides of the sole. The size of the ellipse described by the knife is varied by adjusting the positions of the blocks b<10>, b<11>, and the proportions are such that these variations approximately correspond with the lengths and widths of standard sizes of soles. The work is clamped on to the pattern c<15> by a presser e, Fig. 1, pivotally mounted at the lower end of a verticallyslidable and adjustable spindle e<4>. The latter is rotated in unison with the head c by bevel-gearing e<8>, e<9>. The machine is started by the depression of a treadle a<18>, which raises a rod a<13x> so that it first actuates a fork-ended lever e<6> to lower the presser on to the work, and afterwards causes a bell-crank lever a<10> to throw a clutch a' into gear with the driving-pulley a<8>. At the same time, one arm of the lever a<10> prises open a band brake a<4> to cause it to release the shaft a. The treadle is held in its lowest position by a lock lever, but, when one revolution of the shaft a has been completed, this lever is tripped, the treadle rises, and the machine automatically stops. A strut is provided to control the lock lever when it is desired to render the machine non-automatic. Fig. 9 shows a rough block sole, and it is observed that at about the point x the obliquity of the edge corresponds for a short distance with that of the shaped sole. Advantage is taken of this to start the cutting action at this point, so that there need be no "recovering" movement of the cutter to ensure that the cuts overlap at the beginning and end of the cutting movement.