Improvements in Boot and Shoe Lasting Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boot and Shoe Lasting Machines.
I, ALBERT EDWARD STIRCKLER of Springfield, 200 Kettering Road,
Northampton in the County of Northampton, Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to boot lasting machines in which the upper leather is
forced over the heel and toe portions of the last by means of wiper plates such
for example as those described in the Specification of Letters Patent dated
21st December 1887 No. 17581 and it has for its object to provide means whereby
whatever may be the shape of the last it will be automatically adjusted in position
so that the bottom or sole of the last will be in the same plane as that in which the
wiper plates move or in the most advantageous position for the wiper plates to act
on the upper and so also that the wiper plates conform to the shape of the last.
A convenient and simple way of carrying out my invention consists in providing
the supports for the heel and toe portions of the last with pivoted pieces or blocks
on which the heel and toc of the last respectively bear. The toe supporting block
may be maintained in a normally horizontal position by springs which when a last
is placed in position will yield more or less according to the varying thickness of
the last so as to present the sole of the last to the action of wiper plates, in the
same plane as that in which the wiper plates move, and whether the last be a
"right" or a "left." The pivoted support for the heel portion of the last may
arranged to oscillate in the same directions as the toc support and also in a
direction at right angles thereto so as to be capable of automatically adjusting
itself to varying angular positions of the lasts in a vertical plane as well as in a
horizontal plane.
"
be
The wiper plates for the toe end of the last are arranged so that they can be
moved laterally to conform to different shaped toes. This may be effected by
toggle levers mounted on a plate which is capable of being adjusted in position
transversely to the centre line of the last whereby the said wiper plates may be
caused to act uniformly on the upper on both sides of the last whatever may be
the shape of the toe whether "right or "left" square round or pointed. I also
provide pivoted guide pieces to press on the sides of the toe of the last the said
pivoted pieces being carried on bars capable of sliding towards and from the last,
springs being provided to bear on the sliding blocks so that when a last with an
upper thereon is placed in position in the machine the pivoted pieces will be forced
with sufficient pressure to hold the upper firmly against the last while the lasting of
the upper is being effected. The blocks carrying these guide pieces are adjustable
in position to suit lasts of different widths.
The swivelling block of the heel support is carried on a socket mounted on the
upper screwed end of a rod and has a bearing on a nut screwed onto the said rod so
that by screwing this nut up or down the rod the height of the heel support may be
adjusted as desired. The socket may be prevented from turning on the rod by a
stud or projection in the interior of the socket entering a longitudinal slot or groove
in the rod. This rod carries at its lower end a block provided with slots through
which pass screws by which the said rod may be secured to another block in any
desired lateral position with reference to the longitudinal centre line of the last and
the block to which the rod is adjustably connected may be adjusted in position in
the longitudinal direction of the last.. By this means the supports may be employed
for lasts of any size and shape.
1
11002
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boot and Shoe Lasting Machines.
I, ALBERT EDWARD STIRCKLER of Springfield, 200 Kettering Road
Northampton, in the County of Northampton, Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
My invention relates to boot and shoe lasting machines in which the upper
leather is forced over the heel and toe portions of the last by means of wiper plates
such for example as those described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 17581
dated 21st December 1887 and my said invention has for its object to provide
means whereby whatever may be the shape of the last it will be adjusted in position
so that the bottom or sole of the last will be in the proper plane relatively to that
in which the wiper plates move so as to be in the most advantageous position for
the wiper plates to act on the upper leather, and also to provide means whereby the
wiper plates can be adjusted to conform to the shape of the toe portion of the last
and also if required to the shape of the heel portion whatever may be those shapes.
A convenient and simple way of carrying out my invention consists in providing
supports for the heel and toe portions of the last the said supports being capable of
moving in any required direction to suit lasts of different shapes. These toe and
heel supports may be maintained in a horizontal or normal position by springs
which when a last is placed in position will yield more or less according to the
varying thickness of the last so as to present the sole of the last to the action of
the wiper plates in the proper plane relatively to that in which the wiper plates
move.
The wiper plates by which the upper leather is wiped over the toe and heel
portions of the last are arranged so that they can be caused to operate uniformly ou
both sides of the last whatever may be the shape of the said portions of the last or
of the last generally. This may be conveniently effected by connecting the links
or levers, through which the operation of the wiper plates is effected to a plate, the
position of which is capable of being adjusted laterally with relation to the longi-
tudinal centre line of the last and of being fixed in the adjusted position so as to
cause the said wiper plates to act uniformly on the upper leather on both sides of the
last whatever may be the shape of the last for instance whether it be a "right" or
a "left" or in whatever direction it may be diverted from the general centre line
of the last.
I may also provide guide pieces or pressers which press on the upper leather
from both sides when the last is placed in the machine the said guide pieces or
pressers preferably taking the form of pivotted pieces carried on bars or blocks
capable of sliding towards and from the last, springs being provided to act on the
sliding blocks so that when a last with an npper thereon is placed in position in the
machine and the temporary securing tacks or devices are removed the pressure of
the pivotted pieces will be sufficient to hold the upper leather firmly against the
last while the lasting of the upper is being effected. These guide pieces can be
made adjustable in position to suit lasts of different widths.
The heel support may be rendered adaptable for lasts of any size and shape, by
making it capable of swivelling horizontally and in a vertical direction and also
capable of being adjusted in height to suit lasts of different spring and its position
may be adjusted laterally with reference to the longitudinal centre line of the last
and also in a longitudinal direction.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
to describe with reference to the annexed drawings what I consider the best means
for carrying it into effect but I do not restrict myself to the precise details or
means described and illustrated.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a toe clamp or head for a lasting machine such
as that described in the Specification of Letters Patent No, 175817 hereinbefore

page_text: referred to and Figure 2 is a plan of the same but with the top plate removed to
shew more clearly the parts for operating the wiper plates and the pivotted guides,
pieces or blocks (constituting the pressers) and their holder which press the upper
leather against the sides of the last to hold the said leather in position when the
temporary retaining tacks are removed and while the said upper leather is being
lasted.
Figures 3 and 4 are clevations at right angles to each other of an arrangement
according to my invention for supporting the toe end of the last. Figure 4 being
shewn partly in section and Figures 5 and 6 are elevations at right angles to each
other of an arrangement which may be used in combination with the toe support
for supporting the heel end of the last, Figure 6 being shewn partly in section.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the head or clamp A is or may be mounted in the
lasting machine in the manner described in the Specification of Letters Patent
No. 1758187 or otherwise so as to permit of its being tilted or inclined longitudinally
to suit the dip of the toe end of the last to enable the wiper plates B to act on the
upper in the proper direction relatively to the horizontal plane.
The wiper plates B are pivotted at a to a plate or bar b fitted to slide longi-
tudinally in the head or clamp A beneath which plate is another plate or bar c also
capable of sliding longitudinally in the said head or clamp as described in the
Specification of the said Letters Patent No. 1758187. The plate c is connected by
a pin d to the operating lever e centred at f to the head or clamp A. The wiper
plates B are also connected by pin and slot connections as shown at g to two curved
arms or plates & fitted to slide in correspondingly shaped grooves or guides in the
head or clamp.
The said curved arms or plates h are connected according to this invention by
links i to a plate C which is capable of being moved laterally to any extent
required in the head A according to the shape of the last so as to adjust the links i
and arms to cause the wiper plates to be adjusted in position on the axis a, on
which they turn when in operation, so as to present them in the direction most
advantageous to act uniformly at both sides of the last. The plate or bar b is
connected to the links i by links k so that when the operating levere is moved in
the direction of the arrow Figure 2 a longitudinal forward motion is given
through the bar c links i and k to the plate or bar band the wiper plates B which
wiper plates, through the links i and curved arms h, also receive motion on their
axis a towards each other so as to wipe the upper over the toe of the last as
described in the Specification of the aforesaid Letters Patent No. 1758187. If the
shape of the last be such that a straight line drawn from the centre of the heel
through the centre of the sole of the last, passes through the centre of the toe of
the last, the plate C should be fixed in its central position as shewn by full lines in
Figure 2, but if the shape of the last be such that the toe end thereof is turned
either to the right or to the left of the line drawn through the centre of the last as
shewn for example by dotted lines in Figure 2 the plate C is adjusted to a corre-
sponding position to the right or to the left, and so the wiper plates are turned on
the axis a and made to take a position conforming to the shape of the toe end and
they will consequently act uniformly at both sides of the last and thereby ensure
the proper draught being given to the upper leather.
The plate C may be adjusted and fixed in position by any suitable means, in the
drawing I have shewn it provided with an arm D having a hole therein through
which and through a curved slot in the outer end of the bar c is passed a screwed
bolt into which is screwed a thumb nut m by means of which the plate C⚫may be
held in its adjusted position. Any other convenient arrangement may however be
employed for adjusting and fixing the position of the wiper plates on the axis on
which they turn when in action. The plate C is also provided with a guide slot c
with which engages a pin c³ carried by the bar c. An arrangement similar to that
described can be applied to the heel end of the last but this will generally not be
necessary as the central line of the heel is usually not diverted from the central
longitudinal line of the last.

page_text: E are blocks or pieces constituting pressers which bear against the opposite sides
of the toe end of the last and press the upper leather close against the last while
being placed in position in the machine and while the edges of the upper are being
wiped over the last. F are bars or plates fitted to slide in grooves n in the head or
clamp A the blocks E being pivotted to the said bars or plates F by the pins e as
to admit of the said blocks E adjusting themselves to toes of different shapes. The
bars or plates F are each provided with a screwed stem p which projects through
a hole in the side of the head or clamp and is acted on by a spring 7 so as to
force the guide pieces E with the required pressure against the upper leather
to retain it in position after the temporary holding tacks or devices are removed
and while the upper is being lasted. The power of the springs may be altered
as required by means of the screw nuts q2 to suit different materials to be lasted.
On each of the screwed stems p is a nut r which may be adjusted in position on
the stems to regulate the inward movement of the blocks to suit lasts of different
widths. A similar arrangement may be provided to operate on the heel end of the
last.
"
Referring now to the arrangement shewn in Figures 3 and 4 constituting the
support for the toe end of the last it consists of a piece G pivotted to a block H so
as to be capable of rocking on the pin in a direction transverse to the longitudinal
line of the last but the said piece G is normally maintained in a horizontal or
approximately horizontal position by springs s interposed between the piece G and
the block H most conveniently being situated in recesses in the block H as shewn.
The block H is mounted on the upper end of a rod or stem t which when a last is
placed in position may be pressed upwards by a spring or otherwise to secure the
fast in position between the piece G and a "hold down or pressing device such for
example as that described in the Specification of the aforesaid Letters Patent
No. 175817, the springs s yielding to unequal thicknesses of the last so as to permit
of the piece G throughout its width having an equal bearing on the last. The
support for the heel end of the last as shown in Figures 5 and 6 consists of a block I
pivotted by the pin to a piece K so as to be free to rock in a vertical plane and
transversely to the longitudinal line of the last so as to conform to the inclination
of the last the piece K being free to turn in a horizontal plane to suit lasts
of different shapes laterally the said piece K having its stem mounted in the upper
end of a socket piece L the said stem being provided with a circular groove k³ in
which engages the screw pin k³. The socket piece I is fitted to slide on a screwed
rod M and has a bearing on a screwed nut N so that by screwing the nut along the
said rod M the socket piece L can be raised or lowered as required to suit
the "spring" of the last. The stem or socket L is prevented from turning with
the nut N by a slot or groove » in the rod M with which engages the screw pin or
projection u as shewn in Figure 6 but any other suitable means for the purpose may
be employed.
The piece G and block I instead of being pivotted to their supports as described
and shewn may be connected thereto by ball and socket joints or in any other
suitable way so that when a last with an upper leather thereon is placed in position
in the lasting machine the said last will be automatically adjusted so that the
bottom or sole thereof will be presented to the action of the wiper plates in a plane
bearing a proper relation to that in which the wiper plates move, and the operating
mechanism of the wiper plates being adjusted laterally as herein before described to
suit the lateral shape of the last, the proper draught will be given to the upper
leather.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood
that I do not restrict myself to the construction and arrangement of the parts
illustrated and described but declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with a machine for lasting boots and shoes in which wiper
plates are employed for wiping the upper leather over the sole of the last of means

page_text: for the lateral adjustment of the wiper plates on the axis on which the said wiper
plates turn when operating so that the position of the said wiper plates can be
caused to conform to the various shapes of lasts substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described.
2. The arrangement of laterally adjustable wiper plates substantially as
hereinbefore described and shewn in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. The combination with a machine for lasting boots and shoes of pivotted guide
pieces or pressers for the toe or heel end of the last or for both the toe and heel
ends of the last the said guide pieces or pressers being so arranged that they are
capable of sliding towards and from the last, and of pressing on the upper leather
on opposite sides of the last with sufficient force to hold the upper leather in
position on the last when the temporary holding tacks or devices are removed and
while the upper is being lasted substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The combination of the blocks E pivotted to sliding bars F and of springs q
and screw p and adjusting nut r substantially as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings for the purpose described.
5. In a machine for lasting boots and shoes a support for the toe end of the last,
the said support being normally maintained in an approximately horizontal position
by springs but capable of moving in any required direction to suit lasts of different
shapes substantially as hereinbefore described and also the particular arrangement
for the purpose shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
6. In a machine for lasting boots and shoes the combination with the subject
matter of last preceding claim, of a support for the heel end of the last the said
support being capable. of moving in any required direction and also of being
adjusted in height to suit lasts of different shapes substantially as herein before
described and also the particular arrangement for the purpose shewn in Figures 5
and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
1000
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.