IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING AND FOR ATTACHING THE HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
Year: 1877

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LETTERS PATENT to Edward Waterman, of the City and County of Bristol,
for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING AND FOR ATTACHING
THE HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Waterman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th May 1877.
EDWARD WATERMAN, of the City and County of Bristol. "IMPROVED MACHINERY
FOR MAKING AND FOR ATTACHING THE HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
This Invention relates to improvements in the press and dies now used for
pinning together the layers of leather of which the heels of boots and shoes are
composed, and for attaching the same to the sole, the object being,-
First. To impart an automatic action to the machine, so that when started it will,
without further attention from the attendant, complete the operation it is intended
to perform, and then rest until the work is prepared for its further action.
And, Secondly. To fasten the heels to the soles of boots and shoes in a manner
that will ensure of a permanent attachment being effected.
The press consists of a standard which carries at its head bearings for a crank
shaft, and parallel with that shaft at a lower level it carries a fixed axle. On this
axle is mounted loosely a band pulley, connected with which is a fly wheel having
clutch teeth on the inner face of its boss. In front of these teeth is a sliding clutch
carrying a spur pinion, and this clutch is held out of action by a coiled spring
inserted between it and the boss of the fly wheel. When, however, the clutch teeth
are in gear rotary motion will be imparted through the fly wheel to the spur pinion.
This pinion is always in gear with a spur wheel on the crank axle, and it is intended
to give it one rotation and then to rest.
The clutches are brought into gear by means of a wedge piece, which works
through a slotted collar abutting against the boss of the spur pinion. This collar
slides on the fixed axle, which is also slotted longitudinally to allow of the wedge.

page_text: piece passing through it. This wedge piece is jointed to a pendent rod, which is
attached at its lower end to a treadle at base of the standard, and by depressing
this treadle the attendant throws the clutches into gear. In order to retain them
in gear, instead of requiring the attendant to keep the treadle depressed, a cain is
fitted on the crank axle to act upon the wedge piece and cause it to press the sliding
clutch forward and retain it in its advanced position. This cam is so shaped that
when it has completed one rotation its further progress will be arrested by the
wedge-shaped piece, a spring connected with the treadle coming into action and
drawing back the wedge piece for that purpose. The sliding clutch being now left
free the coiled spring contained within it will thrust it out of action.
Attached to the crank at the end of the crank shaft is a plunger, which slides in
a vertical guide and carries the upper die of the press. Immediately below this
plunger is the lower die, which is to be shifted according to the work in hand; when
the heel is to be attached according to the second head of my Invention, the die
then used will take the form of a heel last, which is pierced to receive the rivets
intended to attach the heel to the boot or shoe sole. This lower die is pierced with
inclined or diagonal holes, which form inclined guides for the steel pins or propellers
of the rivets, when the latter are thrust upwards to effect the attachment of the
leel. This die is mounted on a vertical sliding rod contained in a cylindrical socket
carried by a bracket cast on the standard. A coiled spring in this socket serves to
sustain the sliding rod in a raised position and yet allow of its yielding to the
downward pressure of the upper die. The lower die is furnished on its under side
with wedge-shaped projections set radially around the sliding rod. These wedges
severally take into a slotted slide, a series of which is fitted in radial guides in the
upper face of the socket piece that carries the sliding rod. The sliding rod is
grooved to receive the ends of these slides, and the bottoms of the grooves are
inclined to allow of the slides moving inwards as the lower die is depressed, and to
ensure their return motion as the lower die rises. These slides serve as supports
for the propeller pins, which thrust upwards the rivets for connecting the heel and
sole together. If now a boot is placed upon the lower die or heel rest in an inverted
position and the heel is set thereon, the descent of the upper die will force down the
boot and heel, the lower die yielding to the pressure, and cause the rivets in the
lower die to pass through the sole (from inside the boot) and enter the heel. As,
however, the lower die will, as it is depressed, cause the slides, on which the
propellers rest, to move inwards, the propellers will force up the rivets into the heel
in lines converging to a common centre. When a heel has been thus attached the
action of the machine will, as already explained, be arrested, and the attendant has
then simply to remove the work and replace another boot and heel, and start the
machine as before by simply depressing the treadle.
It may be remarked that the vertical position of the lower die is adjusted, as
heretofore, by means of an underlying horizontal cottar actuated by a hand wheel
and screw.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Waterman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
November 1877.
25
EDWARD WATERMAN, of the City and County of Bristol. IMPROVED MACHINERY
FOR MAKING AND FOR ATTACHING THE HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
This Invention relates to improvements in the press and dies now used for joining
together the layers of leather of which the heels of boots and shoes are composed,
and for attaching the same to the sole, the object being,―
First. To impart an automatic action to the machine, so that when started it will,
without further attention from the attendant, complete the operation it is intended
to perform, and then rest until the work is prepared for its further action.

page_text: And, Secondly. To fasten the heels to the soles of boots and shoes in a manner
that will ensure a permanent attachment being effected.
In Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a side view and Fig. 2 is a
front view of the improved press.
In these Figures A is the standard carrying at its head bearings for a crank
shaft B, which serves to operate the moving dies, as will be hereafter explained.
Parallel with the shaft B the standard carries at a lower level a fixed axle C. On
this axle is mounted loosely a band pulley D, connected with which is a fly wheel E
having clutch teeth e on the inner face of its boss. In front of these teeth is a
sliding clutch f carried by a spur pinion F, and this clutch is held out of action by
a coiled spring surrounding the axle C, and inserted within the clutch, as shewn at
c in the detached view, Fig. 3. When, however, the clutch teeth are in gear
rotary motion will be imparted through the fly wheel to the spur pinion. The
pinion F is always in gear with a spur wheel G keyed on the crank axle B, and it
is intended to give it one rotation and then to rest.
The clutches are brought into gear by means of a wedge piece H (see Fig. 3),
which works through a slotted collar h loose on the shaft C and abutting against
the boss of the spur pinion. The shaft C is also correspondingly slotted to allow of
the wedge piece passing up through it. This wedge piece is jointed to a pendent
rod H', which is attached at its lower end (see Fig. 1) to a treadle I at the base of
the standard, which treadle is supported in a raised position by means of the
pendent coiled spring i. By the depression of this treadle the wedge H is drawn
down and the clutch teeth are forced into gear. In order to retain them in gear,
instead of requiring the attendant to keep the treadle depressed, the crank axle is
fitted with a cam K in line with the wedge piece H, and so shaped that as it rotates
it will hold down the wedge piece in its depressed position, and cause it to retain
the sliding clutch in its advanced position. When the cam has completed one
rotation its further progress will be arrested by the wedge-shaped piece rising under
the pull of the coiled spring into a recess formed in the cam. The sliding clutch
being now left free the coiled spring contained within it will thrust it out of action,
and the action of the press will cease.
Attached to the crank at the end of the crank shaft B is a plunger L, which
slides in a vertical guide A¹ of the standard. This plunger carries at its lower end
the moveable upper die, which is detachable to allow of the shifting of the dies to
suit the work in hand. Immediately below this plunger is a vertical cylindrical
socket M carried by a bracket A2 cast on the standard, and to it the lower die is
fitted. In Figures 1 and 2 the press is shewn as fitted with the dies used for fixing
the heel to the boot, and Fig. 4, Sheet II., shews in partial section the lower die and
its fittings. When, however, the press is used for making heels, this die and its
attachments are removed and replaced by the die shewn at Fig. 5. Both these dies
are similarly mounted in the socket M. This socket receives a tube N containing a
coiled spring, and it is slotted to permit of a cottar O passing through it and forming
a bearing piece for the tube N. Inside the tube N is placed a sliding rod P, which
carries the lower die, and itself rests in a cup supported by a screw plug, which
closes the bottom of the tube M. The rod P is fitted with a collar p, which bears
against the under side of a guide piece fitting the top of the tube N. The coiled
spring in the tube N serves to sustain the sliding rod and die, which it carries in a
raised position, and allows of its yielding to the downward pressure of the upper
die. The bottom of the tube N is notched to fit over the bearing piece, and it is thus
prevented from turning round and displacing the die carried by the rod P.
Referring to Fig. 5, which shews the dies for forming the heel, the rod P is fitted
with a die Q. This die is shewn in plan view at Fig. 5a as recessed in its upper
face to receive the stamped-out leather which forms the heel. The tube N is fitted
at its upper end with a plate N', which serves as a guide to the rod P. In this plate N'
propelling pins, set parallel to each other and at suitable distances apart, are.
arranged. These pins correspond in position with the rivets which are intended to
be forced into the layers of leather composing the heel. The propelling pins project

page_text: into and close a series of holes made through the lower die Q and containing these
rivets. When, therefore, by the downward pressure of the upper die R, carried by
the plunger L, the layers of leather are forced down, the die Q will yield to this
pressure, but the propelling pins n, remaining stationary, the rivets will be forced
upwards into the leather and caused to unite the several layers together, as is well
understood.
The upper
die R has its lower surface made convex to shape the base of the heel
and cause it. to fit closely to the sole of the boot.
When it is desired to prepare the press for attaching heels to boots and shoes the
die Q, Fig. 5, and the parts connected thereto, together with the tube N, are removed
from the socket M and replaced by the arrangement shewn at Fig. 4. The upper
die R is also detached from the plunger L, and a die, similar to that shewn at R',
Fig. 6, is applied in its place.
or
Referring now to Figures 4 and 7, the latter being a partial side view of Fig. 4, I
will explain the construction of the lower die which I use in attaching heels to boots
and shoes. Q¹ is a die carried by the rod P and taking somewhat the form of a last.
This die is pierced to receive the rivets designed to secure the heel to the boot
shoe sole, as shewn best at Fig. 8, which is a plan view of the upper face of the die.
These holes are some of them inclined to form inclined guides for the rivet pro-
pellers n when the rivets are thrust upwards to effect the attachment of the heel.
The die Q is furnished on its under side with pendent wedge-shaped projections q
set radially around the rod P (see the inverted plan view of the die at Fig. 9).
These wedges, of which there are three shewn in the Drawing (but more may be
used if thought desirable), take into a corresponding number of slides q fitted in
radial guides in a plate N* affixed to and closing the upper end of the tube N (see
the plan view and elevation, Figures 10 and 11). This plate is also slotted vertically
to allow of the wedges passing down through it. The slides q' enter vertical grooves
in the rod P as they are forced inwards by the descent of the wedges q, but on the
rise of the die q' the rod P will, by reason of the inclined terminations of its vertical
grooves, thrust out the slides to their normal position. These slides serve as supports
for the inclined propeller pins n, which thrust upwards the inclined, rivets for
connecting the heel and sole together. The other pins n, which are vertical, are
carried by the plate N*. The upper ends of the propeller pins n project into the
holes made through the die Q¹, and the rivets are dropped into the die preparatory
to the application of the boot and heel to the press. If now a boot is placed upon
the lower die or heel rest in an inverted position and the heel is set thereon, the
descent of the upper die will force down the boot and heel, the lower die yielding
to the pressure.
The rivets in the lower die will now be caused to pass through
the sole from inside the boot and enter the heel. As, however, the lower die will,
as it is depressed, cause the slides on which the inclined propellers rest to move
inwards, these propellers will force up their respective rivets into the heel in lines
converging to a common centre, and the heel will thus be locked in place. When
the heel is attached the action of the machine will, as already explained, be arrested,
and the attendant has then simply to remove the work and replace another boot
and heel, and start the machine as before by depressing the treadle.
It may be here remarked that the vertical position of the lower disc is adjusted,
as heretofore, by means of the underlying horizontal cottar O, adjusted by a hand
wheel and screw. The die Q¹ I prefer to fit with a shield 92 (see Fig. 4), in order to
enclose the pendent wedges q. This shield it is necessary to slot, as shewn in the
detached view, Fig. 12, to allow the ends of the slides q¹ passing through it.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improved Machinery for
Making and for Attaching the Heels of Boots and Shoes," and explained the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in
part recited Letters Patent, I claim,-
First. The means above described whereby the press, when started, will perform
the operation of making the heel or of fixing the heel in place (as the case may be),
and then stop.automatically on the completion of the operation

page_text: Secondly. The arrangement of mechanism above described for forcing the attaching
rivets or some of them in converging directions through the sole and into the heel
for the purpose above explained.
'In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Waterman, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness to the signature of
Edward Waterman,
JOHN SALTER,
Clerk to Waterman & Co.,
Rupert St.,
Bristol.
EDWARD WATERMAN. (LS.)