Improvements relating to Apparatus for Feeding and Driving Protectors into the Soles and Heels of Boots, Shoes and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1899-Accepted, 27th May, 1899
Improvements relating to Apparatus for Feeding and Driving
Protectors into the Soles and Heels of Boots, Shoes and the like.
I, GEORGE CUMMINGS, of Central Buildings, Blyth, Northumberland, Boot Maker,
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:-
This invention consists of improvements relating to apparatus for feeding and
driving protectors into the soles and heels of boots and shoes and is designed
especially for use with what is known in the boot and shoe trade as the "circlette "
protector and other protectors of approximately horse-shoe shape.
The apparatus consists mainly of three features, a reservoir to hold and feed a
supply of protectors, means for projecting forward the bottom protectors in the
reservoir in rotation into a desired position and a plunger for driving said protectors
into the soles and heels of boots, shoes, and the like as before mentioned.
The invention will be understood by referring to the drawing accompanying this
specification, wherein Figure is a side elevation partly in section and Figure 2
a vertical cross section of the apparatus designed in accordance with one form of
this invention.
7
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional plans taken on the lines Y Y and Z of Figures 1
and 2 respectively.
Figure 5 is a plan of a protector detached and drawn to a larger scale than the
other figures.
The same letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures.
A plunger A passes through a tube B, the latter being connected to bosses or
lugs CC in any desired way or formed integrally therewith.
The said bosses CC' have extensions C2 C3 respectively which are bifurcated or cut to
allow of the insertion and fixing therein of a plate 1) the latter constituting the
reservoir for holding a supply of the protectors.
The inner edge D₁ of the said plate 1 is placed apart from the outside of the
tube B just sufficiently to allow the protectors (one of which is shown detached in
Figure 5 as before mentioned) to descend readily to the bottom of the reservoir
into the position shown in Figure 1.
The reservoir is supplied with a number of the protectors which are slid down
from the curved upper part 12 of the plate 1) and rest upon one another in the
manner shown in Figure 1 and they are afterwards projected forward in rotation
into the path of the plunger A, by means of a lever E pivotted at E¹ to the plate I)
the said lever having an upper arm E2 upon which bears a plate spring F fixed
in an extension C4 of the boss or lug C.
The lower end of the said lever E has an extension E into which are fixed two
prongs G so placed as to operate on both sides of the plate D; or, by removing the
bottom part of the plate D) a plate may be fixed in the bottom of the lever E instead of
the said prongs.

page_text: It will be readily seen that the function of the spring F is to bear upon the
arm E2 of the lever E so as to withdraw the prongs Ġ (or plate substituted there-
for) and allow the protectors to freely descend and rest upon the upper face of a
plate H fixed across the bottom face of the boss or lug C¹. The outward movement
of the lever E is restricted by a pin J' fixed in the plate D.
It will be readily understood that other forms of springs may be used in place
of the spring F to effect the purpose mentioned.
A screw A¹ passing through a slot B₁ into the plunger A controls the upward
movement of the latter.
When operating the apparatus by the hand method it is preferably held in the
left hand and the edge K of the guide K is pressed against the edge of the sole or
heel of the boot or shoe under operation the bottom edge of the plunger A resting
upon the sole or heel.
The plunger A is now raised to its full height, thereby elevating the arm E²
of the lever E and causing the prongs GG or equivalent to move the bottom
protector forward into position beneath the plunger A, which is now released by
the right hand and allowed to rest upon the protector. The operator next strikes
the top of the plunger with a hammer or the like and the protector under operation
is driven into the sole or heel flush with the outer surface thereof.
It will be seen upon reference to Figures 1 and 2 that the bottom of the
plunger A is raised level with the top of the protector before the head A2 of the
screw A¹ engages the arm E2 of the lever E to bring the prongs G G or equivalent
into contact with the bottom protector. The apparatus is partially enclosed by a
sheath L of sheet metal or the like.
It is obvious that the apparatus may be adapted for use by treadle or power, in
several ways, and that the lever E may be actuated to project forward the bottom
protector and the plunger A raised, by independent means.
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. The method of feeding and driving protectors into the soles and heels of boots,
shoes and the like consisting in supplying a reservoir with protectors, which
descend in rotation into the path of prongs or the like by which they are projected
forward into position immediately under a plunger which is caused to drive them
into the sole or heel in the manner described.
2. An apparatus for feeding and driving protectors into the soles and heels of
boots, shoes and the like, consisting of a reservoir for delivering the protectors into
the path of prongs or equivalent, a plunger which upon being raised actuates a
lever and said prongs or equivalent fixed thereon, to move a protector into position
immediately beneath the plunger, in the manner and for the purpose specified.
3. The combination in feeding and driving apparatus for the purpose specified
of a reservoir, plunger, spring-controlled lever and prongs or equivalent, and a
guide such as K for the purpose specified.
4. The feeding and driving apparatus, constructed, arranged and operated in
the manner and for the purpose specified and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.