A NEW AND USEFUL INVENTION FOR MAKING NAILS, AND DRIVING SUCH NAILS INTO THE SOLE OF A BOOT OR SHOE
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Elmer Townsend, of the State of Massachusetts, of
the United States of America, for the Invention of "A NEW AND USEFUL
INVENTION FOR MAKING NAILS, AND DRIVING SUCH NAILS INTO THE SOLE OF
A BOOT OR SHOE." -A communication from Joseph Foster Sargent, residing
at Boston, of the Stato aforesaid..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Elmer Townsend at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration, on
the 10th July 1862, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law
Amendment Act, 1852
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, BE IT
KNOWN that I, ELMER TOWNSEND, of the State of Massachusetts, of the
United States of America, am in possession of "A NEW AND USEFUL INVENTION
FOR MAKING NAILS, AND DRIVING SUCH NAILS INTO THE SOLE OF A BOOT OR
SHOE;" that the same was communicated to me by Joseph Foster Sargent,
now residing at Boston, of the State aforesaid: And I do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and the manner in which it is to be performed,
are fully described in the following Specification, and represented in the,
accompanying Drawings, of which Figure 1 is a top view of it; Figure 2, an
elevation of one side of it; Figure 3 is an elevation of the other side in part;
Figure 4, a front elevation; Figure 5, a longitudinal and vertical section of

page_text: the upper portion or headstock of the machine, and the machinery thereof;
Figure 6 is an under side view of the headstock; Figure 7 is an inner side
of the last carrier, and the part to which the same is affixed; Figure 8 is a
horizontal section of the mechanism for feeding the nail plate, and separating
it into nails; Figures 9 and 10 are side views, while Figures 11 and 12 are
transverse sections of the nail strip to be employed in the machine. The
remaining Figures will be herein-after referred to and described.
The nature of the said Invention consists as follows:-
First, in a combination and arrangement of mechanical elements for
automatically preparing or separating nails in a peculiar manner from a strip
of metal, and introducing or driving them in succession into a sole of either
a boot or shoe, such combination involving mechanism for supporting the
shoe, and feeding it along, as specified.
Second, in a combination and arrangement of mechanism not only for
feeding the nail strip or band along, and separating it, as described, into nails,
but for driving such nails in succession into a shoe..
Third, in an improved article of manufacture or nail strip for use in the
said machino, or any other of like character and
purpose.
Fourth, in a last carrier, as composed of a last supporter and an arm cr
standard applied to a stand or lever, and so as to be capable of being moved,
substantially as herein-after specified.
Fifth, in a combination of a secondary lever with the last carrier and the
said arm or standard, and so as to operate therewith, substantially as herein-
after explained.
Sixth, in a combination of the last carrier and its supporter with a
mechanism for. tilting the last or its carrier relatively to the supporter, in
manner and for a purpose substantially as herein-after described.
Seventh, in a combination of a lever and an adjustable weight, or their
mechanical equivalent or equivalents, with the mechanism for supporting the
last, and making nails from a strip of metal, and driving them into a sole
when supported on such last.
Eighth, in a mechanism for feeding a shoe along relatively to the nail-
preparing and driving machinery, as described.
The machine in operating not only partially makes a series of nails, but
forces each in succession into a sole, the nails being cut or severed from a
strip of metal (generally copper) previously properly prepared for uso in such
inachine. The nails or tacks thus mado may be formed either with or without
heads. When they are to have heads, the form of the nail strip in transverso
section may be as represented in Figuro 11, but when the nails are not to have

page_text: heads the strip of metal may take the transverse sectional form as shown in
Figure 12. To convert the metal into such a strip we should first, by means
of reducing rollers, impart to a strip of metal, of about twice the width of the
nail strip to be produced, a form in transverse section, as represented in either
Figure 13 or Figure 14', that exhibited by the last-named Figure being
for the purpose of causing each tack or nail, after its separation from the nail
strip, to have a head. The general character of the sectional form shown in
Figures 11 and 12 is that of two wedges connected together at their points,
and projected in opposite directions with respect to each other. After having
rolled a band of metal into either of such forms in its transverse section, as
exhibited by the said Figures 13 and 14, it should be slit or divided length-
wise along its middle or thinnest part by means of dies or any other proper
mechanical device or devices, and in such manner as to produce a separation
of such band into two similar nail strips. After this last-named operation
the thinner half, or that part of each strip which is to constitute the pointed
halves of the nails, or those portions of them which are to be bent or clinched,
as shown in Figure 15, during the process of driving them into a sole, should,
by means of condensing and smoothing rollers, or other proper devices, be
condensed and smoothed, and particularly we should make, roll, or draw, in
a manner similar to the process of wire-drawing, the lower or sharp edge of
the strip very smooth, and free from any bur; we thus condense and toughen
the thinner part of the strip, allowing the remainder to be in the condition as
it was previous to the two strips being separated from one another. It has
been found that any bur on either side or point of the tack or nail will have
a tendency to cause the point to clench, or be turned upward or out of its
proper course while passing into and before it may have gone entirely through
a sole, therefore it becomes a matter of importance to avoid any such bur,
particularly when each of the tacks while being driven through a sole is to bo
elenched by being forced against a clinching plate or last placed against the
lower surface of the sole. By first rolling the tack strip in the form as
indicated by Figure 13 or Figure 14, the lateral strains produced on the
metal by the rollers are in opposite directions, and so as to nearly, if not
entirely, counterbalance one another, in which case the double strip will come
from the rollers very nearly straight, whereas were the strip rolled in the
simple form, as shown in either Figure 11 or Figure 12, it would be curved
laterally. This mode of preparing the nail strip for the machine has not
only the advantage of producing a sufficiently straight and smooth strip, but
one in which there is little or no such strain of the fibres of the metal as will
operate to cause a tack will being driven to bend out of its true course, .

page_text: Having thus described the nature and object of the Invention, I will
proceed to explain the mechanism for receiving à tack strip, separating it
into tacks, and driving each in succession into a sole of a shoe. In the
said Drawings, A denotes what I term the headstock, which may be con-
structed of cast iron, and of a suitable shape to sustain the operative
niechanism directly applied to it. Tho headstock is supported on a pillar
or standard B, and carries in boxes a, b, a driving shaft C, whose front
part extends through a tubular shaft or sleeve d, as seen in Figure 5.
Such shaft C carries a fly wheel D, and a gcer or pinion c, the latter
being made to engage with a larger geer d, that is supported on a pin e,
which projects from an arm or bracket f. A rod g, connected with the gcerd
by a crauk pin, extends downward to a foot treadle h, which serves to enable
n person, by means of one of his feet, to impart a rotary motion to the driving
shaft. A vibratory or pendulous arm or frame E, is supported by the tubular
shaft d, and so as to be capable of being turned or vibrated thereon. This arm
not only carries the nail driver carrier F, but a serrated foot F, by which the
feeding of the shine along is effected. The said foot operates with what I term
the retainer, which is shown at G in detached views in Figures 18 and 14. The
leg part of the retainer is supported within a grooved plate or box i, (see
Figure 2,) and is jointed to the shortest arm of a three-armed lever I, which
has at its upper end a roller, to enter the groove of a cam K, which is fixed
on the driving, shaft C. By the operation of this cam the retainer is worked
upwards and downwards at the proper times. The pendulous arm or vibrator
E is operated by another lever L, whose fulcrum is at m, m, the inferior arm of
the lever being jointed to the vibrator, as shown at m', in Figure. 4. The upper or
superior arm of the lever L carries a roller, which enters the groove k of a plate
cam M, carried by the driving shaft C. The nail driver carrier F, slides freely
up and down in the vibrator E, and is clevated therein by means of a cam or
wiper N fixed on the front end of the shaft C. This cam is shown in Figure 5,
and also in front and side views in Figures 15 and 16. The periphery of the
cam works against a stud or roller o, projecting from one side of the nail driver
stock, such roller being shown in section in Figure 5. One or more springs P
enveloping the peg driver stock, as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, serve to
produce the downward motion of the nail driver, and to cause it to descend,
and smartly force a nail into the shoe sole. The nail driver is a small rod of
steel, made in transverse section or on its foot about the size of a nail head,
such driver being fixed in the lower part of the carrier F. Whenever
desirable an awl may also be affixed to the carrier, and parallel to and at a
short distance from the driver, the awl being caused to puncture a hole in the

page_text: sole, while a tack is being driven, such bole being for the reception of the
next tack. The nail strip shown at R, in Figures 3 and 8, is fed forward
across the edge of a cutter or knife S, by means of two feed rollers T, U.
After having crossed the said knife, it enters a vertical recess 7, made in the
vibrator E, one side of such recess being formed by another knife m, fastened
to the vibrator.
Figure 17 represents the positions of the parts last described after the nail
has been severed from the nail strip, and is ready to be driven by the down-
ward movement of the driver. By a lateral movement of the vibrator E, the
knives will be caused to act in such manner as to cut or separate a nail from
the strip, such nail being next or immediately afterwards moved laterally across
the front of the knife S, and into the proper position to be driven. A click or
pawl n (see Figures 2 and 6) is worked by means of the lever I and a
suitable attachment, and actuates a ratchet o fixed on the shaft or arbor of the
feed roller T. The two arbors of the said feed rollers are geared together, so
that they may be rotated simultaneously, they being at proper periods of time
put in revolution, so as to impel the nail strip forward into the recess 7 of the
vibrator E.
In Figure 4 the carrier F is represented as furnished with two grooves p, q,
for the reception of the awl and driver respectively. Figure 23 exhibits a front
view of the carrier F, with the driver r, the awls, and bunter or stop V. The
downward movement of the carrier F is arrested by means of a projection V,
and a seat piece W, the former being fixed to the carrier, while the latter is
attached to the vibrator. Their adjacent edges may be furnished with cushions
t, u, to prevent noise and wear.
X (see Figures 2, 3, 5, and 6,) represents a roller, which is carried by a
slider Y, to which a clamp screw is applied, so as to enable the slider to be
clamped after having been adjusted in position. The edge of the sole of the
shoe A rests directly against the roller X, whilo the solo is being nailed.
The shoe while being so nailed is to be supported on a last B', whose bottom
surface may be covered with a metallic plate, against which the nails may be
driven when it may be desirable to have them clinched, as shown in Figure 15'.
The heel of the last receives one arm of a lever a', which constitutes part of a
last supporter C', which is furnished with a toc rest 6'. A screw c', screwed
through the lower arm of the lever a', acts against the end of the part c', in such
manner as to cause the lever a' and the too rest to firmly hold the last and shoe
to the last supporter. The said last supporter is connected to a swivel head D
(placed on the upper arm of a secondary lever D') by means of a screw and
nut, shown at d³, and so as to enable the last supporter to be tilted on such

page_text: screw. Furthermore, this movement of the last supporter may be produced
by means of a lever et, whose fulcrum is shown at f¹ in Figure 4. A stud
from the lower arm of this lever enters a slot g' (see Figure 7) made in an
arın h', extended down from the last supporter, as shown in Figure 7. The
fulcrum f is supported by a plate i, extended from the swivel head D. By
taking hold of the upper arm of the lever e', and moving such lover on its
fulcrum, we shall impart a tilting motion to the last supporter, such as may
be desirable to vary the position of the sole, in order to cause the nails as
they may be driven therein to pass into it perpendicularly, or about so, to its
outer surface. The swivel head should be so adapted to the upper arm
of the lever D', as to be capable of being revolved thereon horizontally
or about so, while resting on a shoulder m². The object of such movement of
the swivel head is to allow the shoe to be turned around in such manner as
may be necessary to cause the nails to be driven in a continuous row around
the entire sole or any part thereof. A spring catch x, shown in Figure 2, as
applied to the lever e, and by taking into a notch or recess y (see Figure 2)
made in the part, or a curved flanch & projecting therefrom, serves to latch
the lever as well as the last supporter in position. The secondary lever D¹ has
its fulcrum at the upper end of a primary lever or standard E, the arrange-
ment of the two levers being as shown in Figures 2 and 4. The upper part
of the lever E, as well as the lower arm of the lever D', is punctured with
holes, as shown at in Figure 2, the same being to enable the angular
position of the lever D¹ to be varied somewhat, the same, after being deter-
mined, being fixed by a pin passed through one of the holes of each of the
levers. The object of this lateral variation of the lever is to enable the edge
of the solo to be properly adjusted to the periphery of the roller X, in order
that each of the tacks may be driven in a proper direction relatively to the
clge of the sole. The standard or pressing lever is connected at its lower end
to a foot treadle or lever F¹ by such a connection G¹ as will admit of the lever
being moved either toward or away from the post B in a plane parallel to the
front face of the pendulous frame E. A heavy weight His placed on the
rear arm of the bar F, and so adapted to the said arm as to be adjustable
longitudinally thereon, and fixed in place by means of a set screw, shown at o¹
in Figure 2. The foot lever and its weight servo to press the shoc firmly
upward against either of the parts G, H, while in action, against the sole ;
they also operate to counterpoise the momentum of descent of the nail driver.
Sometimes it is desirable to give to the nailed sole the appearance which
a sewed sole generally has when the stitches are concealed by a lap.
Figure 20 exhibits a nail inserted in a sole and so covered by a lap, a being

page_text: the lap; b, the sole; and c, the nail. In order to accomplish this the lap of
the sole may be turned up, as shown, at a in Figures 18 and 19, the feeding
foot H and the retainer G being formed as shown in Figures 18, 19, 21,
and 22. In the operation of feeding the shoe along, such shoe is to have an
intermittent progressive motion, the nails being driven during the intervals of
rest. Each forward movement of the shoe is effected by the motion of the
vibrator E and its foot H in one direction, the shoe being held at rest by tho
retainer G while such vibrator and foot are moved in the opposite direction;
the vibrator must also be stationary while each nail is being driven into the
sole; all these functions being due to the construction and mode of operation
of the devices by which the vibrator and retainer are actuated. Instead of
employing a foot treadle, a connecting rod, a crank pin, and two gears to
operate or revolve the driving shaft by the foot of an attendant, the shaft
may be put in revolution by a belt and pulley or other mechanism actuated by
a steam engine or other suitable motor, the mechanism for rotating the said
shaft constituting a part of the said machine or Invention.
Figure 24 is a rear end view of the headstock, showing a pawl and catch
for preventing tho backward movement of the driving shaft. These latter
devices may be added to the machine or not. They do not constitute an
essential feature of it.
I claim as the Invention the above-described machine in the abstract, or its
combination and arrangement of mechanical elements, for automatically
preparing or separating, substantially as set forth, nails from a strip of metal,
introducing them in succession into a sole, and feeding such solo along,
substantially as specified.
I also claim the combination and arrangement of mechanism, not only for
feeding the nail strip or band along and separating it into nails, as described,
but for driving the nails successively, as specified.
I also claim the new or improved article of manufacture or nail strip, as
prepared in manner described, and for use in the said machine or any other
having a like character and purpose.
I also claim a last carrier, as composed of a last supporter C' and an arm
or standard E, applied to a stand or lever F' by the connection G, so as to be
capable of being moved substantially as described.
I also claim the combination of the secondary lever D' with a last carrier
and the arm or lever E', supported so as to operate substantially as specified.
I also claim the combination of the last carrier C' and its supporter D³ with
the lever e¹ or mechanism for tilting the last, as described.
I also claim the combination of tho lever F' and its adjustable weight I',

page_text: or their mechanical equivalent or equivalents, with mechanism for supporting
the last and making nails, as described, from a strip of metal, and driving
them into a sole when placed on such last.
I also claim the mechanism for feeding the shoc along relatively to the nail
preparing and driving machinery, as described, 'the said feeding mechanism
being the vibratory lever F, its foot H, and the retainer G, arranged and
combined together, and with mechanism for operating them, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 17th June
ELMER TOWNSEND. (L.s.)