Patent GB-190624185-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Attaching the Heels of Boots and Shoes.
Inventor: DENNE MARK THOMAS
Filed: 1906-10-30
Granted: 1907-10-30
Abstract: 24,185. Denne, M. T. Oct. 30. Heels; nailing.- A heel-attaching machine comprises automatic means for positioning the heel seat and top lift, automatic means for feeding and measuring the wires to form the nails, automatic means for distributing the nails, and means for spanking on the top lift after the heel has bee n attached. The boot is supported on a removable block 28, Figs. 2 and 6, at the top of a h o r n 27, which is slidably mounted in an horizontal slide 26 carried by a vertical plate 25 slidably mounted in the machine trame. The heel is positioned at the back by an adjustable stop 29, Fig. 6, pivoted to a column 33 fixed to the slide 26, and laterally by two pairs of pivoted spring-controlled levers 30, 31, Fig. 7, which are respectively geared together to move in unison. The levers 31 are mounted to cross each other, and can move rearwards to adapt themselves to various curvatures of shoes. The top lift is pushed between spring arms 46, Figs. 8 aud 9, carried by geared bell-crank levers 44 mounted on the front end of a swinging platen 41, Figs. 2 and 9, which is pivoted to a cross-head 3. The correct positioning of the lift is ensured by pins 50 eccentrically carried by two revoluble studs 48, 49. The cross-head 3 is carried at the upper end of slidable rods 2, Fig. 2, which carry a second crosshead at their lower ends. Springs 5 normally hold the rcds and cross-heads in their highest position. To the cross - head 3 is removably secured a plate 9 carrying a number of nail-drivers. The nails are cut from lengths of wire 60, Fig. 10, which are fed between geared rollers 51, 52, the distance between which can be adjusted to accommodate different thicknesses of wire. A pin 56, engaging countersinkings 57 on a segment 58, retains the roller 52 in its adjusted position. The spindle 59 of the roller 51 is intermittently rotated by pawl-and-ratchet gearing 61, 62 operated from a worm-wheel on an horizontal shaft 10, Fig. 2. This wheel is driven by a worm on a vertical shaft, which is rotated by a, friction clutch on the depression of a treadle 16. A brake stops the rotation of the shaft as soon as the clutch is released. To vary the amount of feed of the wires, a shield 66 is provided to mask the wheel 61. This shield is actuated by a toothed segment 68, and in order to vary the length of wires fed automatically according as the combined thicknesses of the seat, heel, and top lift varies, the segment 68 is connected by a rod 70 to the column 33, so that the shield 66 moves in proportion to the amount of movement of the slide 25. The latter is normally pressed upwards by a spring, but can be lowered on the depression of a treadle 72, Fig. 2. The movement of a knee-lever 77 locks the slide during the nailing operation. After leaving the feed-rollers, the wires pass through a grating 78, Fig. 10, to a die block 79, and nails are cut from them by a cutter 80. The nails drop into tubes 83 and pass down to a carrier 84, from which they are prevented from falling by a slidable plate 85. When the carrier moves under the drivers, this plate is retracted, being actuated by a cam forming part of the worm-wheel on the shaft 10. At the same time, the platen 41 is swung out of the way; to effect this, it is connected to the carrier by links 92. A presser is provided to prevent movement sideways of the heel or top lift as it is being attached. The rods 2 and cross-head 3 are lowered at the correct time to drive the nails, by the action of a cam on the shaft 10 on the lower cross-head ; after the heel is attached, the cross-head rises again, the carrier 84 moves backwards, and the platen swings into place. The cross-head then descends again to spank the top lift on to the ends of the nails projecting through the heel.