Patent GB-421981-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for finishing edges of sheet material
IPC: C14B11/00
Filed: 1933-07-01
Abstract: 421,981. Finishing edges of sheet material. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd., Belgrave Road, Leicester.-(United Shoe Machinery Corporation ; 140, Federal Street, Boston, U.S.A.) July 1, 1933, No. 18701. [Class 16] In a machine for finishing edges of pieces of sheet material, such as leather for uppers of boots or shoes, there is provided feeding means which act at all times upon the work-piece to feed it, a device for shrinking one side of the work-piece along an edge thereof to cause the unshrunken side to curl towards the shrunken side, a hammer for operating upon the curled edge, and means for causing the hammer to strike a succession of blows sufficiently rapidly to permit the work to be fed continuously by the feeding means whilst one member thereof acts as an anvil for the hammer. The workpiece is fed by two feed rollers 9, 11, with its margin lying upon a plough-like projection at the base of a turning post which turns up the extreme edge of the work-piece. The margin of the work-piece is pressed against the turning post by a combined work-piece presser and flame guard 15, there being a channel through this member and the turning post to permit the products of combustion to be drawn into and to be passed through a hollow overhanging arm 17. A gas burner supplied through flexible tubes 19, 21 respectively with oxygen and acetylene has a tip 25 having a small orifice, or orifices, at its lower end to direct a small intensely hot jet of flame upon the extreme margin of the work-piece. Thereafter, the shrunken and curled edge of the work-piece is operated upon by a hammer 27 disposed adjacent the turning post. The bite of the feeding rollers, the burner, and the plough of the turning post are substantially in line across the workpiece. The lower feeding roller 9 is driven by gears 29, 31 from a shaft 33 driven through worm gears by a countershaft 39 which is geared to a continuously rotating main driving shaft 45. The upper feeding roller has secured thereto a gear which meshes with a gear mounted on a shaft which is connected by a universal joint 73 with a short shaft 75, the other end of which is connected by a second universal joint with a shaft 77 ; the latter shaft is driven by bevel gears from a shaft 83 which is driven by bevel gears from the shaft 33 which drives the lower feeding roller 9. The peripheral speeds of both feeding rollers are the same. The upper feeding roller 11 is mounted in an arm 47, adjustably secured to a bracket at the lower end of a hollow rod 49 slidable in a stationary bracket 51. A coiled spring is interposed between the bottom in the recess of the rod 49 and an adjusting screw 55 threaded in the cap of the bracket 51, so that the feeding roller 11 bears yieldingly upon the work-piece. To limit the downward movement of the rod 49 a bracket is adjustably clamped thereto. This bracket is provided with a set-screw adapted to be engaged by a lever secured on a rock-shaft which can be rocked by a finger lever, whereby the upper feeding roller 11 may be raised to permit the presentation of a work-piece between the rollers. The stem of the hammer 27 is secured to one end of a bell-crank lever pivoted at 93, the other end of the lever being pivoted to a threaded rod 97 which extends into a casing 99 and has at that end a head 101. A coiled compression spring 103 is interposed between the head 101 and a sleeve 105 threaded into the casing 99. The casing 99 is pivoted to the upper end of a rod 114 pivoted at 113 to the machine frame, and is also pivoted to one end of a connecting rod 115 provided with an eccentric strap to receive an eccentric on the main driving shaft 45. The hammer 27 thus delivers a yielding blow by reason of the spring 103, and the location of the path of oscillation may be varied by adjusting nuts 107, 109 on the threaded rod 97. The burner, which operates continuously and is adapted to be moved angularly as well as bodily into and out of operative position, and its mountings are substantially of the same construction as those described in Specification 357,646. The burner is swung angularly by an arm 137 pivoted to the frame at 139, and secured to a second arm 159 which is pivoted at 161 to the upper end of a push rod 163. The rod 163 is actuated through a pivoted bell-crank lever 167 by a treadle rod 171. The burner is returned to inoperative position on release of the treadle by means of a tension spring. The turning post is preferably made of copper and is attached to or integral with a comparatively large copper &c. carrier 176 which helps to dissipate the heat imparted to the turning post by the burner. The combined work presser and flame guard 15 is capable of yielding to suit different thicknesses of work-pieces, and of being lifted to allow the introduction of a workpiece. The member 15 is fastened by a screw to the horizontal arm of a bent bar, the vertical arm of the bar being adjustably secured to the lower end of a partly hollow rod 201, which is mounted for vertical yielding movement in the same manner as the rod 49 by which the upper feeding roller 11 is carried. If desired, electrically heated shrinking tools may be employed instead of a jet of flame. Specifications 193,936 and 234,170, [both in Class 16], also are referred to.