IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TRIMMING OR Da Cones on Drama AD D
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Horatio Hodges, of Boston, County of
Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TRIMMING OR
Da
Cones on Drama AD D"3
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Samuel Horatio Hodges
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 9th March 1872, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I, SAMUEL HORATIO
HODGES, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts,
United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR TRIMMING OR BURNISHING THE SOLES OR BOTH SOLES AND
HEELS OF BOOTS OR SHOES," and have petitioned Her most Excellent
Majesty Queen Victoria to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,

page_text: and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that I am the true and first Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Horatio Hodges, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention to be as follows, reference being
had to the Drawings accompanying this explanation, and in which the
first portion of the Invention is shown in perspective view in Figure 1,
while Figure 2 is a section, and Figure 3 a side elevation of the
cutter.
This first portion of my Invention consists first and primarily in the
combination with a jack or holder for supporting the boot or shoe of
a revolving, trimming, or burnishing tool, as the case may be, actuated
by suitable mechanism, and mounted upon a flexible or jointed frame
or arms, operating in such manner that either the trimming or
burnishing tool may by means of said frame or arms be brought to
bear at any desired point at any angle upon the edge or bottom
of the sole or heel of the boot or shoe which may be held in or by
the jack.
By the employment in this or any suitable manner of a flexible or
jointed tool carrying frame the machine becomes not only a trimming
but a burnishing or "setting" apparatus, and it may be used in both
operations, all that is requisite being a change of the tool from a cutter
to a burnisher, or vice versa.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance
with my Invention; Figure 3 is a side view of the particular cutter,
which in this instance I have represented as mounted on the flexible
or jointed tool carrying frame; Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section
of said cutter.
The flexible or jointed tool carrying frame consists in this instance of
two arms A, D, from which I am enabled to obtain all the movements
needed to adapt the tool to bear upon any desired portion of the work.
The lower end of the arm A is pivoted to standards B by the shaft C.
Within the forked upper end of the arm A is pivoted the second arm D,
which is also forked at this pivoted end. In the outer or free end of
the arm D is mounted a shaft E, capable of a rotary motion, upon which
shaft the cutting or burnishing tool is mounted. Motion is communicated
to the shaft E by means of a pulley I, communicated by belting J, with
a pulley K, mounted on the shaft connecting the forked ends of the two

page_text: arts A, D.
The purrey K is connected by belting M, with a pulley L
on shaft C, and the latter is revolved by some suitable power or prime
mover. In this way motion is readily communicated to the cutter or
other tool mounted on the shaft E. It is manifest however that
motion may be communicated to the tool in other ways, and that the
movement of the tool need not necessarily be rotary but may be
reciprocatory. For instance the tool may be mounted on a sliding
carriage or holder held in ways or grooves formed on the free end of the
arm D, and this holder may be connected by a rod with an eccentric on
the shaft connecting the arms, so that when the shaft is rotated by the
pulley K, a reciprocating movement will be imparted to the tool holder
through the medium of the eccentric and connecting rod.
The details of construction of the flexible frame may also be varied,
and it may be constructed to swing on a universal joint, so as to give
motion in all directions to the tool; all that is required being that the
tool should have such freedom of motion as to permit it to be brought to
bear upon any part of the shoe where its services are required. A handle
d on the extremity of the upper part of the frame enables the operator
to guide the movements of the frame and tool. With the tool and tool
carrying frame, when thus arranged to operate, I combine a jack, holder,
or other suitable support for the shoe or boot, by means of which the
work may be properly presented to and sustained under the action of the
trimming or burnishing tool carried by the frame.
Owing to the flexible or jointed arrangement of the frame and the
freedom of motion which it allows the tool the machine is adapted to
receive a burnishing as well as a cutting instrument, and may be used
equally well for either operation, thus uniting in itself the qualifications
of both a trimming and burnishing apparatus.
Any suitable cutting or burnishing tool and any suitable jack or
support for the shoe may be employed. I have however represented in
the Drawing a jack and jack operating mechanism and a cutter, the
construction and arrangement of which, in some respects, are peculiar,
and these I shall therefore proceed to describe, so that the manner in
which they operate together in connection with the flexible frame may.
be understood; although I do not limit myself to the combination of
the flexible frame with a jack and cutting tool of such peculiar con-
struction. The revolving cutter F, on the end of the shaft E, is com-

page_text: posed of three sections fff, each of which is held independently of
the others to a flange F by a screw i, the said screws passing through
their respective sections near the shaft E. The sections are provided
with diagonal cutting edges f¹, and have spaces between them to let the
chips or shavings through, somewhat after the manner of a plane iron.
The flange F is sleeved on the shaft E, the sleeve being provided with a
clutch e, which engages with a corresponding clutch on the shaft E.
This arrangement allows the cutter disk F to be removed from shaft E,
and an emery wheel or other cutting or finishing instrument substituted.
G represents a circular guard or shield, which is attached to arm E by
means of the bent strap H, and projects over one side of the revolving
cutter disk F. N represents a stationary table supported by standard O,
in which table slides a carriage P. Near the front end of carriage P is
pivoted a plate R, to which is pivoted a smaller plate S. T represents
a disk, which is hinged to the pivoted plate S; said disk is constructed
in two portions, the inner one of which is pivoted to the hinged
portion and provided with the projecting pin U, and concave rest V, on
which the last is held during the operation. The disk T is connected to
the carriage P by a cord W. X represents a rubber or other spring
which engages with a projection Y on the carriage P, and passing under
the table N holds the carriage P in the position shown. a represents a
treadle, which is connected to table P by cord b, the latter passing
through standard c, and when depressed draws the table P backwards,
which table is returned to its former position when the pressure is
removed by the spring X. The hinged or jointed tool carrying frame
may be arranged in any suitable position, either as shown in the
Drawing, or above the operator, or on a bench in front, or in any other
convenient locality.
By the use of suitable tools the machine may be applied to finishing
or operating upon any part of the edge or bottom of a boot or shoe. The
boot jack may be brought into position for work by means of a rack
and pinion instead of the spring and treadle as before described; but I
prefer the last-named arrangement, which, in connection with the sliding
jack holding carriage may be used with a jack of any suitable con-
struction. The lower end of the arm A is weighted, as shown in
Figure 1 to counterbalance, in a measure, the weight of the upper end
of the same.
Power is imparted to the shaft C by any suitable means, and com

page_text: extending through diagonally disposed throats or passages c created in
the periphery of the cutter head and abutting closely up against. the lip b,
the shavings or chips taken from the sole edge by the cutters being
received into and discharged from the interior of the disc in a very
advantageous manner. E in the Drawings represents an upright curved
bar or recessed shield or plate attached to or constituting part of
horizontal arms d, d, projecting outward from the plate or wall B before
named, the aperture e of the shield E being about equal in diameter
to that of the interior of the cutter head, the outer periphery or
boundary of the said shield being somewhat larger than that of the
cutter head in order as above stated to enter and traverse the seam
between the sole and upper, and while guiding the latter in the proper
direction protect the sole as before stated. The inner face of the shield
E is recessed with a shallow annular rebate or enclosure f to receive
the concentric lip b, the depth of the recess and lip being equal, or
substantially so, in order that the cutting knives D may take effect
entirely up to the rear face of the shield and trim the entire width of the
sole edge. The shield E and cutter head G are so constructed, combined,
and operating, that the inner faces of said shield and of the annular
projecting rib or guard of the cutter head coincide in a vertical plane
and enter, though to varying extent, the seam between the sole and
upper and traverse the inner corner of such sole, the angle formed by
the meeting of the rib and cutter head serving to protect and preserve
the smooth condition of the sole edge.
The purpose I have had in view in adopting a stationary shield or guard
has been to protect the upper of the boot from injury, as a revolving
shield soon becomes heated to such an extent by friction upon the
leather as to burn the latter.
Having thus employed a stationary shield, for reasons given, I prefer
to form an annular lip upon the outside of the cutter head to prevent
the formation of a rough edge upon the sole, as I consider this course
the most effective, for although the cutter might be made to rotate
within the recess of the shield with such nicety as to produce the desired
result, the use of the lip is the easier and surer method.
The periphery of the cutter head G is scored, channeled or otherwise
divided or diversified, in order to reduce its bearing surface, and by so
doing diminish the friction between it and the sole edge, and con-

page_text: sequently avoid the undue heating of the head to which it has heretofore
been liable. g, g, etc., represent several channels cut in the periphery
of the head G, in accordance with this feature of my Invention.
•
The mode of applying the cutting or shaving knives herein explained,
and the formation of the cutter head which receives them, results in an
easy and expeditious means of enabling the knives to be removed and
replaced, of affording a large and free delivery for shavings, and of
presenting the cutting edges of the knives to the leather to the best
advantage.
The shield or guard E produced, substantially as herein explained, 1
performs several important offices in machinery of this character.
First. It constitutes a depth gauge, so to speak, to determine the
extent to which the rotary cutter shall reduce the sole.
Second. It serves to protect the upper against injury from undue or
accidental heating of the cutter head, should this occur.
•
Third. It provides a protection against scarring or cutting of the
upper by the shaving knives.
1
Fourth. By traversing the seam between the sole and upper it per-
forms the office of a guide to direct the movements of the cutter head
and its cutters as they travel about the circumference of the sole in the a
act of trimming the same.
Fifth. It relieves in a great measure the labor devolving upon the
operator, as it receives the occasional thrusts upon the supports of the
cutter head, and provides a means of rest to a certain extent, which
would not exist were the cutter head and its adjuncts simply suspended
in the air.
The third portion of these improvements embraces a rotary "edge-
key" so called, for "setting" or polishing of the sole edge, such key
being shown in the accompanying Drawings in Figure 7, as a side
elevation, and Figure 8, as an end view.
This the third portion of these improvements relate to a rotary edge-
key so called, which is a circular disc of steel, having its perimeter
provided with a flange or guide for travelling in the seam between the
sole and upper of a boot or shoe, the contact of said perimeter with the

page_text: I
is shown in Figure 9 of the Drawings as in plan view; in Figure 10 in
side elevation; in Figure 11 in vertical section; and in Figure 12 as a
rear side view of a portion of its mechanism.
The subject of this the fourth and last feature in these improvements
is a device for supporting a boot or shoe and presenting it to the
action of the trimming or burnishing mechanism, such device being
termed in machinery of this character a "jack."
The purpose of this fourth portion of my improvements is to provide
a jack of such construction that the boot may be applied thereto and
removed very expeditiously, and enable the position of such boot to be
varied to the trimming or burnishing tool as occasion requires, in order
not only that such tool shall be compelled to traverse the entire sole
edge, but to vary the transverse angle or slope of the latter.
The portion of my present jack which grasps the boot and supports it
in position while its sole is being trimmed or burnished, consists of two
horizontal posts or jaws, the longer of which is the toe rest and supports
the toe of the boot, the other being the heel rest which enters a socket
in the last, the two supports sliding to and fro on parallel guides affixed
to the outer face of an upright disc, and so operated, each by a screw
which passes through it and is supported within such disc, and provided
with a beveled pinion driven by a beveled ring gear; that, by the
revolution of such screws travelling in opposite directions, the jaws or
supports are compelled to approach or depart from each other, and
either clamp the boot firmly between them, or release it when the sole
is finished, the ring gear being revolved by means of an annulus which
surrounds and is secured to it, and which is provided at intervals upon
its periphery with handles or arms by which its rotation may be easily
effected.
In order to obtain a horizontal rocking motion in the arc of a circle of
the clamping device last explained, and in so doing vary the position of
the sole edge with respect to the trimming tool in order that a greater
For less slope may be given to the toe portion of the latter, as circum-
stances may require, I mount the upright disc before named at its rear
upon a segmental block, and unite the two by a dovetail or shelf groove
connection, while in order to obtain the desired rotary freedom of the
clamp which becomes necessary in order that the cutting or burnishing
tool shall travel about the sole, I pivot the segmental block horizontally

page_text: to a tilting lever or beam swivelled to the upper part of a post or curved
standard, which in turn is swivelled vertically to the carriage which
supports it, the lever or beam being controlled by an adjusting screw in
such manner as to vary the horizontal adjustment of the entire jack,
with the exception of its standard, in order that when desirable the
slope of the side portions of the sole may be varied.
The Drawings, Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12 above named, accompanying
this fourth portion, represent at A a curved standard which is to be
pivoted or swivelled to the carriage which supports it in the machine to
which it belongs, such standard terminating at top in a vertical column a.
B represents a circular plate or disc, to the outside of which is applied a
dovetailed spline or way C, upon which slide two horizontal blocks or
jaws D, E, one of which (D) is formed to receive the toe of a boot in
manner at once apparent to all shoe manufacturers, while the jaw E has
a tenon 6 to enter a socket formed in the "last" near its heel end, each
jaw being formed with an ear c, which enters a lateral orifice or slot d
created in the centre of the disc. Upon the rear side of the disk B I
dispose two twin-shaped screws F or F¹, these screws being longitudinal
with each other, and one upon each side of the centre of the disc, and
supported in bearings or lips e, e, formed upon such disc, while each
screw carries at its outer end a bevelled pinion f, which engages with a
bevelled annular gear g, which is disposed alongside of them and so as to
actuate them and compel them and the screws to rotate in opposite
directions. Each screw drives its jaws, consequently if these screws are
driven at the same time in opposite directions the jaws are compelled to
approach or recede from one another for purposes before stated, and in
order to readily rotate the annular gear g, I enclose it within and
securely attach it to an annular concentric cap plate or annular band h,
which is provided upon its periphery with hands or knobs i, i, etc.
Having thus seen the means provided for confining or jacking the boot,
we will now explain the means of setting the jack at any vertical angle,
in order that the slope of the toe portion of the sole edge may be varied
and determined at pleasure, it being understood that the play of the
jaws and disc is in a path parallel to or in alignment with the
longitudinal plane of the said jaws. To carry out this adjustment I
aflix to or form upon the inner side of the disc B a block or housing G,
and in this housing I form a segmental dovetailed or shelf groove H,

page_text: which encompasses a segmental male tenon or spline T formed upon the
outer face of a block J, such block being swivelled horizontally to a
tilting or oscillating lever or beam K which surrounds and is pivoted to
the upper part of the column a. The vibration or partial rotation of
the disc and its jaws upon the block J enables the angle of the toe rest
to be varied as occasion requires, consequently the revolving cutter or
burnisher whose horizontal position is arbitrary will reduce the edge of
the toe portion of the sole to an angle corresponding to that of the toe
rest. It will be observed however that as this adjustment or movement
of the toe rest is only in a direction coincident with the common plane
of the two jaws, and affects only the toe of the sole it has no effect in a
contrary direction or upon the side of the sole.
To obtain the necessary rotary motion in a vertical plane of the jack,
or that portion of it comprised in the disc and its jaws and adjuncts I
pivot such disc to the lever K as stated. This pivoting of the disc
enables the boot to be turned about an axis, which permits the rotary
cutter or burnisher to travel entirely or partially around the sole, as the
said cutter or burnisher is permitted a free play in a vertical direction in
order that it may follow the varying outline of said sole.
In order to vary the general vertical slope of the entire jack for the
purpose
of determining the slope of the side edges of the sole, and in
certain cases where not much slope is required, of the toe also, without
resorting to the segmental dovetailed connection before named, I pivot
or fulcrum the lever K horizontally to the column a, as before stated,
and to control and adjust the position of this lever and of the jack I
employ a vertical feed screw k, the upper part of which is swivelled to
the rear end of such lever, while its lower end screws through a shelf or
ear affixed to the column a, as shown in Figure 11 of the Drawings.
When adjusted in the desired position the disc B and its jaws are to
be clamped or fixed to the segmental block J by a clamp or set screw, or
any other means.
•
By pivoting or swivelling the standard A to its supporting tablet or
base I obtain a horizontal rotary or swinging motion of the boot sole
with respect to the cutting or burnishing tool, which enables such tool
to follow all the curvatures of the outline of said sole with respect to
the unner

page_text: With mechanism above described a boot may be jacked almost
instantly as a rapid movement is imparted to the jaws by means of the
geer or rack g, and pinions f, f.
The compound or duplex adjustment of the jack is also a matter of
great importance in machinery for "trimming or setting" edges.
My present jack will also be found valuable as a "bench jack," to
which purpose it may be adapted with little change.
I do not confine myself to the dovetailed connection herein stated as
a point of vibration of the jack, as this vibratory union of the clamping
portion of the jack with the rotary portion thereof may be effected in
various ways, such, for instance, as simply pivoting it to the block J.
I claim the machinery herein named for purposes stated as a
principle, or in detail, or any changes or modifications of such
principle.
SAMUEL HORATIO HODGES. (L.S.)