Year: 1898

page_text: I, EDOUARD VAN OSTA, of 31, Rue des Minimes, Brussels, Belgium, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention is in the nature of a leather-cutting machine adapted for cutting
the uppers for boots and shoes; and it primarily has for its object to provide a
machine of this character of a very simple and inexpensive construction, of great
capacity, which can be easily manipulated, and will effectively serve its intended
purposes.
The invention also has for its object to provide a machine of this kind having.
interchangeable dies or cutters so arranged that the machine can be quickly ad-
justed or set to cut uppers, gussets, etc., of different shapes, and also for cutting
different-sized skins.
Furthermore, it has for its object to provide a simplified arrangement of drive-
gear mechanism which will serve, through the continuous rotary motion of the
main drive-shaft, to transmit a continuous reciprocating motion to a main follower
or die-plate, which will quickly cut a number of skins at one time, whereby to
produce a large quantity of cuttings of the desired shape at each downward thrust
of the cutter or die-plate.
In the practical construction my improved machine comprises a main frame, it,
for economy, being preferably made of cast-iron framing, consisting of legs, a bed
portion, having endwise-projecting slotted brackets and end supplemental frame
portions in which is held the power transmitting mechanism, the particular con-
struction of which will hereinafter be particularly referred to. At the four corners
of the bed portion are formed, in the angle portions thereof, seats upon which is
supported the detachable lower or bed die which is of a size to snugly fit into
the bed portion and preferably with its upper face flush with the top edge of the
said bed portion. To the said bed-plate is secured, detachably, a series of fixed
or bed dies arranged in nests, and in such a manner as to obtain the greatest
amount of cuttings from a single skin with a minimum amount of waste. These
dies, it should be stated are usually formed in a nest sufficient for operating on
the largest-sized skins, and in such a manner that one or more of such dies, as
also some of the upper cutting-dies presently referred to, may be removed, as the
size of the skin may require.
Four upright posts or guide members extend up from the seat portions at the
corners of the bed-plate, the upper ends of which are connected by longitudinal
brace-bars and transverse members, such bars being detachably connected with

page_text: the guides to permit of the removal of the upper die or follower plate, which
plate has the corners cut out or recessed, whereby such plate will be guided and
held in place.
The plate has detachably secured upon its under face a series of cutters or dies
which are arranged in a nest, cach cutter, however, being independently secured,
whereby one or more may be removed as the sizes of the skins to be cut may
require.
În practice each machine is supplied with number of male or fixed dies and
female or cutter dies, which are made in the various shapes required for cutting
the different shapes of uppers, gussets, etc., usually most generally used in boot
and shoe making. In all shapes, however, the upper or female cutters are con-
structed to comprise a series of angle members, the horizontal portions of which
have apertures, whereby they can be conveniently secured to the plate by flat
head screws, while their pendent or vertical members have their cutting edge
serrated, to render them more effective for cutting the skin. It will also be
noticed that one or more ejectors are secured to the bottom of the plate, which
in the preferred form are in the nature of flat leafsprings, centrally pivoted,
having their ends bent to form flat shoe or bearing portions to engage the leather,
such fat ends serving to bear against the leather in such a way as not to mar
or deface it as they eject the cut skins from engagement with the upper die after
each cutting operation.
I prefer to connect the cutters to supplemental plates, so that they can be the
more readily attached to the follower or upper cutter-plate.
Instead of making the cutters of a series of angle plates the same may be made
of a single steel strip, bent around the edges of the form and secured thereto by
screws or otherwise.
As before stated, the upper plate is held for vertical reciprocation on guides
and for such purposes I provide peculiar and simple arrangement of gear
mechanism driven by a main power-shaft. The main or power shaft is journaled
longitudinally at the lower end of the frame and provided with a band-wheel.
This shaft projects at each end of the frame, and has secured thereto gears or
band-pulleys which gears are held to mesh with gears on short shafts, journaled
in the supplemental end frame portions.
Instead of providing the gears the short shaft can be driven by belts which
pass over pulleys.
The short shafts carry on their inner ends transverse bars which have each a
pair of cog-gears one on each end, which mesh with cog-teeth of internally-geared
annular rims which are fixedly held on the inner faces of the supplemental frame-
sections, such rims forming, as it were, annular trackways over which the gears
are held to travel.
A pair of link-bars which have their lower ends, pivotally connected with the
cross-bars, pass up through the slotted-end extensions of the main frame and have
at their upper ends on their inner faces cogs which are adapted to alternately en-
gage opposite rack-guides. These guides it will be noticed, are formed each of a
pair of vertical bars at the ends of the bed portion of the main frame, the upper
ends being braced by and held in the upper transverse bars. These rack-guides
have the rack-faces so spaced apart that as the cogs proceed upward they can
engage the cogs on one side and freely rotate, and as they move in an opposite
direction engage the opposite rack-faces.
The short shafts on which the cogs are journaled, are extended inward and
form the upper pivots for the link members, the lower ends of which are pivotally
connected with the ends of the upper or reciprocal plate.
So far as described it will be readily understood that as the main drive-shaft
is rotated the bars will also be rotated and held to a regular rotary motion by their
cog-gear connection with the fixed annular cog tracks and as such arms are rotate:
it is obvious that the link-bars will receive a reciprocating movement thereby,

page_text: which is utilized to impart vertical reciprocating movement to the gears and
through them to the upper die or follower. It will be also readily apparent that
as the bars are connected near one end of the arms they will, by gravity, lean
inward toward the center of such arms. Thus should the line or pivot-point of
such bars be to the right of the center of the arms the gears would be dropped
over to engage the rack-face at the left of the guides such gears being held in
engagement with such face by the weight of the bars and the upper follower.
Assuming now the follower to be on its downward position, as soon as the arms
reach a vertical position the gears will be at the lowermost point between the
rack-faces of the guides. Now as the arms continue in their movement to bring
the pivot end of the bars to the left of the center, the upper ends, with the gears,
will fall over by gravity to engage the right-hand face of the guides to engage
the same as they (the bars) move upward. Thus it will be seen that by construct-
ing and arranging the several parts as described one complete revolution of the
shafts will have caused a complete reciprocal movement of the follower or upper die-
plate. Furthermore, as a continuous reciprocal motion from a rotary shaft is
attained at all times, it follows that as the speed at which the follower travels up.
and down is slow the operator will have ample time to withdraw the cuttings
and place in position new skins to be cut without at any time reversing or stop-.
ping the operation of the machine for such purpose.
By connecting the reciprocating mechanism with the plate in the manner
stated, the same will have a positive and effective connection. therewith, and can,
owing to the simple form of connection, be quickly disconnected when required,
whereby when it is intended to change the machine, be it to cut uppers, quarters,
or gussets, all that will be necessary is to detach the upper longitudinal and cross
bars and disconnect the end guides of the follower from the reciprocating devices
and lift it up out of engagement with the vertical guides and a new follower with
cutters, or new cutters fitted to the reinoved follower, as may be desired.
Ordinarily each machine is supplied with eighteen plates and eighteen patterns
which will produce all the sizes of footwear in general demand, one machine thus
equipped serving to cut all the sizes required.
It should be stated that in the practical operation of the machine two or more
skins can be cut at one time.
Among other advantages a machine constructed as above described will pro-
duce patterns more uniform and more economically than could possibly be done
by hand.
Dated this 6th low of Ion 1808
L. DUVINAGE,
Patent Agent, 8, Rue des Princes; Brussels, Belgium.
I, EDOUARD VAN OSTA, of 31, Rue des Minimes, Brussels, Belgium, Merchant,
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 follow-
ing statement:-
My invention is in the nature of a leather-cutting machine adapted for cutting
the uppers for boots and shoes; and it primarily has for its object to provide a
machine of this character of a very simple and inexpensive construction, of great

page_text: capacity, which can be easily manipulated, and will effectively serve its intended
purposes.
The invention also has for its object to provide a machine of this kind having
interchangeable dies or cutters so arranged that the machine can be quickly ad-
justed or set to cut uppers, gussets, etc., of different shapes, and also for cutting
different-sized skins.
Furthermore, it has for its object to provide a simplified arrangement of drive-
gear mechanism which will serve, through the continuous rotary motion of the
main drive-shaft, to transmit a continuous reciprocating motion to a main follower
or die-plate, which will quickly cut a number of skins at one time, whereby. to
produce a large quantity of cuttings of the desired shape at each downward thrust
of the cutter or die-plate.
With other objects in view, which hereinafter will appear, the invention con-
sists in such novel features of construction and peculiar combination of parts,
such as will be first described in detail, and then particularly pointed out in the
appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved leather-cutting machine, the
same being shown in position for use.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, taken practically on the
line 22 of Fig. 1..
Fig. 3 is an end view of my improved machine.
Fig. 4 is a top plan view, partly in horizontal section, taken on the line 4 4
of Fig. 2.,
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the die or follower plate.
Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view thereof.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the cutting die sections.
Fig. 7 is a modified form of cutter hereinafter specifically referred to.
Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is a view illustrating the double rack, the guide on the follower, and
the reciprocating or traveler gear devices hereinafter referred to.
Fig. 10 illustrates by a series of diagrams some of the shapes of uppers cut by
my improved machine, and Figs. 11 and 12 are diagrammatic views illustrating
several forms of nests of dies hereinafter specifically referred to.
In the practical construction my improved machine comprises a main frame A
of substantially the shape shown in Fig. 1, it, for economy, being preferably made
of cast-iron framing, consisting of the legs aa the bed portion having endwise-
projecting slotted brackets a² a² and end supplemental frame portions B B in
which is held the power transmitting mechanism, the particular construction of
which will hereinafter be particularly referred to. At the four corners of the bed
portion are formed in the angle portions thereof seats a*a*, (Fig. 2) upon which
is supported the detachable lower or bed die 1), which is of a size to snugly fit
into the bed portion and preferably with its upper face even with the top edge
of the said bed portion, as shown. To the said bed-plate D is secured detachably,
a series of fixed or bed dies 11, arranged in nests, and in such a manner as to
obtain the greatest amount of cuttings from a single skin with a minimum
amount of waste. These dies, it should be stated, are usually formed in a nest
sufficient for operating on the largest-sized skins, and in such a manner that one
or more of such dies, as also some of the upper cutting-dies presently referred to,
may be removed, as the size of the skin may require.
ĠĠ indicate four upright posts or guide members, which extend up from the
seat portions a* a* at the corners of the bed-plate, the upper ends of which are
connected by the longitudinal brace-bars and transverse members g g', as
clearly shown in Fig. 1, such bars g and g₁ being detachably connected with the
guides G, to permit of the removal of the upper die or follower plate 12, which
plate, it will be noticed by reference to the drawings, has the corners cut out or
recessed, as at d, whereby such plate will be guided and held in place.

page_text: The plate D has detachably secured upon its under face a series of cutters or
dies H, which are arranged in a nest, each cutter, however, being independently
secured, whereby one or more may be removed as the sizes of the skins to be cut
may require.
In practice each machine is supplied with a number of male or fixed dies D
and female or cutter dies H, which are made in the various shapes required for
cutting the different shapes of uppers, gussets, etc., usually most generally used
in boot and shoe making--such, for instance, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 10.
In all shapes, however, the upper or female cutters are constructed substantially
as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 by reference to which it will be seen the same com-
prises a series of angle members, the horizontal portions of which have
apertures, whereby they can be conveniently secured to the plate H¹ by the
flat-head screws h³, while their pendent or vertical members have their cutting
edge serrated, as at 3, to render them more effective for cutting the skin. It will
also be noticed by reference to the aforesaid Figs. 7 and 8 that one or more
ejectors are secured to the bottom of the plate H, which in the preferred form are
in the nature of flat leaf-springs 6, centrally pivoted, having their ends bent to
form flat shoe or bearing portions to engage the leather, such flat ends serving to
bear against the leather in such a way as not to mar or deface it as they eject
the cut skins from engagement with the upper die after each cutting operation.
I prefer to connect the cutters to supplemental plates H₁ so that they can be
the more readily attached to the follower or upper cutter-plate.
Instead of making the cutters of a series of angle plates the same may be made
of a single steel strip H* (see Fig. 7) bent around the edges of the form hand
secured thereto by screws or otherwise.
As before stated, the upper plate is held for vertical reciprocation on the
guides G G and for such purposes I provide peculiar and simple arrangement of
gear mechanism, driven by a main power-shaft, which mechanism is best illus-
trated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. In the aforesaid figures K indicates the main or
power shaft journaled longitudinally at the lower end of the frame A and pro-
vided, with a band-wheel k, as shown. This shaft K projects at each end of thic
frame, as at k¹ and has secured thereto gears 121, as shown in full lines, or
band-pulleys, as indicated in dotted lines, which gears are held to mesh
with gears L on short shafts l, journaled in the supplemental end frame portions.
Instead of providing the gears and L the shaft can be driven by the belts /
which pass over the pulleys, and similar pulleys 3 on the shafts 1, as indicated
in dotted lines.
The shafts carry on their inner ends transverse bars M, which have each a pair
of cog gears m m, one on each end, which mesh with the cog-teeth n of the inter-
nally-geared annular rims N, which are fixedly held on the inner faces of the
supplemental frame-sections, such rims forming, as it were, annular trackways
over which the gears m are held to travel.
00 indicate a pair of link bars, which have their lower ends, pivotally con-
nected with the cross-bars M, and pass up through the slotted-end extensions of
the main frame and have at their upper ends on their inner faces cogs P P,
which are adapted to alternately engage the opposite rack-guides Q Q. These
guides QQ, it will be noticed, are formed each of a pair of vertical bars at the
ends of the bed portion of the main frame, the upper ends being braced by and
held in the upper transverse bars, as shown. These rack-guides have their rack-
faces so spaced apart that as the cogs proceed upward they can engage the cogs
on one side and freely rotate, and as they move in an opposite direction engage
the opposite rack-faces.
It will be observed that by referring more particularly to Fig. 5 the upper die
or follower plate has vertically projected guide portions at its ends, which have
lapning side portions R R, which lap over the sides of the guides QQ and serve
to form ways which will not alone brace and hold the rack-bars which constitute

page_text: the guides Qin place, but will also serve to properly guide, the follower-plate in
its reciprocal movements.
The short shafts p, on which the cogs P are journaled, are extended inward
and form the upper pivots for the link members S¹ the lower ends of which are
pivotally connected with the ends of the upper or reciprocal plate, as most clearly
shown in Fig. 2.
So far as described it will be readily understood that as the main drive-shaft
is rotated the bars M will also be rotated and held to a regular rotary motion by
their cog-gear connection with the fixed annular cog-tracks N, and as such arms M
are rotated it is obvious that the link-bars O will receive a reciprocating move-
ment thereby, which is utilized to impart vertical reciprocating movement to the
gears P and through them to the upper die or follower. It will be also readily
apparent that as the bars 0 0 are connected near one end of the arms M they
will, by gravity, lean inward toward the center of such arms. Thus should the
line or pivot-point of such bars O be to the right of the center of the arms M, as
shown in Fig. 1, the gears P would be dropped over to engage the rack-face at
the left of the guides Q, such gears being held in engagement with such face by
the weight of the bars O and the upper follower. (See arrow indicating line of
weight-pull in Fig. 3.) Assuming now the follower to be on its downward position
as soon as the arms M reach a vertical position the gears P will be at the lower-
most point between the rack faces of the guides Q Q. Now as the arms M con-
tinue in their movement to bring the pivot end of the bars 0 to the left of the
center the upper ends, with the gears P will fall, over by gravity to engage the
right-hand face of the guides to engage the same as they (the bars) move upward.
Thus it will be seen that by constructing and arranging the several parts as de-
scribed one complete revolution of the shafts will have caused a complete
reciprocal movement of the follower or upper die-plate. Furthermore, as a con-
tinuous reciprocal motion from a rotary shaft is attained at all times, it follows
that as the speed at which the follower travels up and down is slow the operator
will have ample time to withdraw the cuttings and place in position new skins
to be cut without at any time reversing or stopping the operation of the machine
for such purpose.
By connecting the reciprocating mechanism with the plate D2 in the manner
stated the same will have a positive and effective connection therewith, and can,
owing to the simple form of connection, be quickly disconnected when required,
whereby when it is intended to change the machine to cut either uppers, quarters,
or gussets all that will be necessary is to detach the upper longitudinal and cross
bars and disconnect the end guides of the follower from the reciprocating devices and
lift it up out of engagement with the vertical guides G, and a new follower
with cutters, or new cutters fitted to the removed follower, as may be desired."
Ordinarily each machine is supplied with eighteen plates and eighteen patterns,
which will produce all the sizes of footwear in general demand, one machine thus
equipped serving to cut all the sizes required.
It should be stated that in the practical operation of the machine two or more
skins can be cut at one time.
Among other advantages a machine constructed as above described will produce
patterns more uniform and more economically than could possibly be done by hand,
and as, for example, when a cut such as shown in Fig. 10 is made the parts can
be sewed together and the same pricked more practically, as cambering is avoided.
No. 2, Fig. 10, shows an upper which in use will require cambering, No. 3
shows a cutting of that part of the skin left between cuttings 1 and 2, and forms
the rear part of the shoe. These small parts can, if desired be cut from the waste-
pieces by hand. No. 4 shows a cutting especially adapted for use on "galoshes,"
the same being of one piece.
It is obvious that the dies and cutters can be formed to cut any pattern re-
quired for boot and shoe wear, and that the details of construction may be

page_text: modified and changed without departing from or going beyond the scope of the
appended claims.
It should be stated that the annular rims N, having internal racks, serve a very
important purpose in that they keep the arms M at all times in a uniform con-
dition and render the reciprocative movement of the upper follower uniform and
regular. This would not be the case were the arms M left free for independent
movement at each end, as the irregular weight at each end would serve to depress
the said arms unequally.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a leather-cutting machine, the combination with main frame, having
supplemental end portions of the operating mechanism arranged in said frame
and end portions, the diebed and lower die, the guide-frame, mounted upon the
main frame, the central end guides, the follower and guides upon the under side
thereof and the pitmen connecting said follower with the driving mechanism all
arranged substantially as shown and described.
2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the main
frame having a bed portion formed with a seat, upright guides at the four corners
thereof, and upright guides at the ends centrally between the corner guides, of a
stationary male die or cutter holding plate supported on the seats of the bed por-
tion of the frame, a vertically-reciprocating female-die-carrying plate, detachably
fitted to reciprocate between the corner guides, and having end guides engaging
the end racks, vertically-reciprocating pitman-bars pivotally connected to the said
end guide members of the reciprocating die-plate and mechanism for reciprocating
the said bars all arranged substantially as shown and for the purpose described.
3. The combination with the main frame, the lower or fixed die-plate held
thereon, the vertical guides therefor, and the end doublerack guides, of the upper
or reciprocating die or cutter carrying plate, a rotary drive mechanism and inter-
mediate connections joining the rotary mechanism and the reciprocating die-plate
such connection including gravity-operated pitman-arms adapted to automatically
alternately engage the opposing faces of the double-rack guides, whereby to im-
part a reciprocal movement to the upper die-plate as hereinbefore described.
4. In a machine as described, the combination with the main frame the lower
or fixed die-plate said main frame having vertical guides at the corners, and
double-face rack-guides at the ends, of the upper or reciprocating die-plate, the
rotary drive-shafts at the end of the frame carrying cross-arms M on their inner
ends, a main drive-shaft geared with the said end drive-shafts, the pitman-bars
eccentrically and pivotally connected at their inner ends to the cross-arms M their
upper ends having a pinion alternately adapted to drop over into engagement with
the opposing rack-faces of the double-rack guides, and link-arm connections join-
ing the upper ends of the said bars with the ends of the upper die-holder or
follower-plate, all arranged substantially as shown and for the purpose described.
5. In a leather-cutting machine as described the combination, with the main
frame, the main drive-shaft, the lower or fixed die-plate, the vertical corner-
guides and the double-rack end guides, of the upper or movable die-plate guided
in the vertical corner-guides, and having end guides arranged to engage the racks,
the end shafts 1, carrying cross-arms M, and drive-gear connections between such
shafts and the end shafts, and the pitman-bars 0 eccentrically pivoted on their
lower ends to the bars M, their upper ends having spur-wheels adapted to alter-
nately engage the opposing faces of the double-rack guides, and the link members
connecting the upper ends of the bars and the ends of the movable die-plate
all arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.
6. The combination with the main frame provided with vertical corner-guides
and having supplemental end frame-sections, each having an annular, internally-
toothed rim fixedly connected therewith, the main drive shaft journaled in the

page_text: main frame, the shafts 7 journaled in the supplemental frame-sections, having
cross-arms M on their inner ends, said arms having spur-wheels, at their ends
held to mesh with the annular toothed rims, and the drive-gear connections
between the main and supplemental drive-shafts, of the lower or fixed bed die-
plate, the upper die-plate held to reciprocate between the vertical guides, the
double-rack guides, the pitman-rods pivoted eccentrically at the lower ends to
the cross-arms M and carrying spur-wheels at their upper ends adapted to be
alternately moved into contact with the opposing faces of the double rack by
gravity and the link-arm connections between the upper ends of the said bars Ö
and the ends of the ends of the upper or follower die-plate all arranged substan-
tially as shown and for the purposes described.
Dated this 8th day of October 1898.
BOULT
& WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.