IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING HORSE-SHOES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltinė, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING HORSE-SHOES.” A
communication from abroad by Webster Roberts, of Cleveland, Ohio, United
States of America. Machinist.
Sealed the 30th January 1880, and dated the 9th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th September 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR, MANU-
FACTURING HORSE-SHOES. [A communication from abroad by Webster Roberts,
of Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America, Machinist.]
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery for the manufacture of
horse shoes and is carried into practice as follows, that is to say: -
In a suitably constructed frame is journalled transversely, a shaft from which
project three radial bifurcated arms forming an integral part of the shaft and of
a circular web or annular flange, whereby the radial arms are connected to each other
and strengthened in their radial relation one to the other and to the said shaft..
In the bifurcation of each of the segmental arms is journalled a die-block.or
head, the shafts of which have their bearings in the peripheries of the said arms. To
the face of the first or leading die-block, is secured a pressing die, to the second is
secured a creasing die, and to the third block is secured a finishing die, said dies will
be hereinafter referred to.
The die blocks or head with their dies are made to revolve in the segmental
arms by pinions secured to the shafts carrying the die-blocks said pinions being
made to engage a stationary inside cog wheel around which the said pinions run
for revolving the dies as the shaft and segmental arms carrying said dies are
rotated by an arrangement of toothed gearing.
On one end of the shaft carrying the segmental arms and their dies above
alluded to, is a cam on the face of which runs a friction-roller attached to the upper,
arm of a rectangular lever pivoted to the side of the frame. The end of the lower
arm of said lever terminates in a toothed segment, the purpose of which will
hereinafter be shown.
:

page_text: To the shaft carrying the radial arms above alluded to, is secured a cam on the
face of which runs a friction-roller attached to the upper end of a lever; the
lower end of which is bifurcated, having fitted therein one end of a rectangular
lever pivoted to the bed of the machine.
On the opposite end of the said shaft there is a cam on the face of which runs a
friction-roller attached to a lever pivoted to the side of the frame of the machine.
The lower end of said lever is attached to an arm by a link for operating a shaft.
In the bed of the machine is fitted the frame above referred to. In the sides of
the frame are gains in which certain projections of the bed are fitted to slide. Said
bed when in place rests directly upon a bottom plate secured firmly to the underside
of the frame just alluded to. Interposed between said bottom plate and the bed of
the frame is a pair of wedges whereon the bed stands, and by means of which the bed
can be raised or lowered as the case may require.
Fitted in
given by a
On the said
Upon the said bed are arranged the following devices that is to say.
the face of said bed is a slide to which a reciprocating movement is
shaft to which it is connected by a link attached thereto by an arm.
slide is pivoted a pair of arms. To the under side of the front end of each of the
arms is secured by screws a detachable plate. The inner edge of said plates is of
the shape of half a horse-shoe, so that when the two ends are brought together
they form the contour of a complete horse-shoe.
On the opposite end of the bed above referred to is pivoted a pair of levers, to
the inner ends of which is attached a pair of detachable fingers having curving
extremities. Under said fingers is a horizontal adjustable die of the shape of the
inner side of a horse-shoe. Near said die is an arm projecting from a shaft having
bearings in the aforesaid bed. One end of said shaft projects through the side of
the frame of the machine and thereon is a pinion arranged to engage the segment
of the rectangular lever above referred to. Said segment vibrates the shaft from
which projects the aforesaid arm. To the end of said arm is secured a head or
former of the shape of the inner edge of a horse-shoe. Projecting upward through
the bed of the machine is a shear operated by the rectangular lever above referred
to, to which it is engaged by a pin held in the fingers of the shear.
The hold on the shoe by the bending plates or arms while the slide is moving
back is maintained by pins, which project upward through the slide into shallow
dents made in the under side of the rear end of the arms, and which are retained
therein by a spring on which the pins stand and are pushed up into the said dents.
The hold the pins have on the arms is slight, only sufficient to draw back the
shoe from the bed die to the opening in the bed, at which point the ends of the
arms engage the shoulders, and this forces the arms together, and the pins from
their respective dents, which in due time in the order of the operation of the
machine again slip into the dents for the purpose aforesaid.
The said dies, namely the pressing, creasing, and finishing dies have a common
axial movement with the shaft and arms carrying them; and each of said dies has an
independent axial movement by the engagement of their pinions with the inside
gear wheel above referred to; hence as the dies are carried around by the arms,
and thereby brought in timely relation to the shoe for the purposes specified, they.
impinge upon the shoe in a rolling pressing manner, and during one revolution of
the arms the pressing, creasing, and marking the prints for the nail holes are
accomplished in one continuous operation.
Should it be necessary to use thinner or thicker iron for shoes, the die bed can
be elevated or lowered for that purpose by the wedges above referred to, which may
be actuated by screws or otherwise; thereby adjusting the bed in its relation of
distance in respect to the revolving 'dies as may be required for the thickness of the
shoe. To adjust the machine for various sizes of shoes the bending plates are
to be removed and replaced by others as the size of the shoe may demand and
conform to the size of the revolving dies.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th March
1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANU-
FACTURING HORSE-SHOES." A communication from abroad by Webster Roberts,
of Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America, Machinist.
This Invention relates to improvements in machines for the manufacture of horse-
Figure 4 is a plan, and
Figures 5 and 6 shew portions of the same detached.
Figure 7 is an underside view partially in section, and
Figure 8 is a vertical transverse section of the frame of the machine on the
line a, x, Figure 4.
Figures 9, 10, and 11 shew portions of the said machine detached.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
A represents the frame of the machine in the sides of which a shaft B is jour-
nalled, and from this shaft a pair of segmental radial wings C connected with the
said shaft project. Between the said wings are fitted three die blocks or heads
D, E, and F, Figure 3, secured respectively to the shafts 1, 2, and 3, having their
bearings in the peripheries of the segmental wings as shewn. It is not essential
that three die blocks or heads should be used, as the third one may be dispensed
with and two only employed; I prefer, however, to use the three. In either caso
the general operation of the machine is the same.
On the face of the block F is secured a pressing die G, and on the face of the
block E is secured a creasing die H, whereas the block or head D is provided with
a smoothing die H which, as above explained, may be omitted. The several blocks
with their respective dies are caused to revolve between the segmental wings by a
gear wheel I having teeth on its interior arranged to engage with the pinions a, b, c,'.
secured respectively to the shafts 1; 2, and 3 of the die heads, as shewn in Figures
2 and 3 of the Drawing.
The said gear wheel I in and around which the pinions run to impart a rotary
notion to the dies is stationary, whereas the shaft B together with the segmental
wings carrying the pinions and die blocks are caused to revolve by the toothed wheel J
and pinion K. On the end of the shaft B is a cam L (see Figure 2) in the inner
side of which is a cam groove indicated by the dotted line d.. In the said groove a
friction roller projecting from the upper end of a lever M pivoted to the side of the
frame of the machine runs:
The lower end of the said lever terminates in a toothed segment N gearing into
a pinion O secured to the end of a shaft P shewn in Figures 3 and 7. The said
shaft passes through the side of the frame A and has a bearing therein, and also
in the journal seats Q. On the middle of the said shaft P is secured an arm R, to
the side of which is secured a former f whose shape is that of the contour of the
inner edge of a horse-shoe, and which is more fully hereinafter described.
To the shaft B above referred to is secured an inside cam S the cam groove in
which is shewn by the dotted lines in Figure 1. In the said groove a friction
roller h shewn in dotted lines runs. The said roller is connected to the upper end

page_text: of the lever T, attached to the side of the frame A, the lower end of the same being
connected to an arm U by a link V. This arm U is secured to the end of a shaft W
having its bearings in the seats A¹ fixed to the end of the frame, as shewn in
Figures 1 and 4. To the said shaft W is also secured an arm B¹, to which is
connected by a screw rod C¹ a sliding carriage D'. On each side of the bed is a
projection, as shewn at E' and F¹, Figures 2, 7, and 8. The said projections are
closely fitted (but so as to move vertically) in corresponding openings in the sides
of the frame. The projection E' extends beyond the side of the frame, whilst the
projecture F¹ is flush therewith, as shewn in Figures 7 and 8. The vertical move-
ment of the bed in the frame is provided for in order to adjust it vertically to the
revolving dies for a purpose hereinafter described. This adjustment of the bed is
effected by a pair of wedges or keys G¹ and H¹ inserted under the projections E¹
and F of the bed, and whereon the bed rests instead of resting upon the bottom of
the openings in which they are fitted.
The said wedges are moved in and out for raising or lowering the bed by a
screw (Figures 7 and 8) which screws into lugs formed on the said wedges, as
shewn in Figure 8, hence both of the wedges are actuated at the same time for the
purpose specified. To prevent the screw from moving laterally instead of moving
the wedges jam nuts J₁ are firmly secured to the screw, and between these jam nuts
a bifurcated stud K¹ projecting upward from the cross plate L¹ is so arranged that
on turning the screw it will be prevented from screwing out of the wedges by the
stud and jam nuts, and will therefore force the wedges. in or out as the screw is
turned for raising the bed.
In and on the face of the bed are arranged the following devices:-The bed, as
will be seen in Figures 7 and 8, has not a closed but an open surface forming the
sides M¹, see Figure 6. Between the said sides is fitted a sliding. carriage N¹,
Figures 5 and 7. The edges of this carriage extend over the sides M¹ of the bed,
and the carriage is thus prevented from falling between the said sides, whilst at
the same time the said carriage is restrained from lateral movement as its body
extends down between the sides of the bed, said sides forming a guide in the recip-
rocating movement of the carriage. On the said carriage is pivotted at the points i
a pair of arms 01, 0¹, to the underside of the front end of each of which is secured
by screws ka detachable plate P1. The shape of the inner edge of this plate is that
of the half of a horse shoe divided at the toe, hence when the two sections or plates
are brought together by the closing of the two arms they form the contour of a
horse shoe, as shewn in Figure 6. The purpose of the said arms and plates is
hereinafter described.
On the opposite end of the aforesaid bed is pivotted at 1, Figures 5 and 6, a pair
of levers Q Q1, to the inner end of each of which is attached a detachable
finger R¹, the said fingers having curved extremities corresponding to the contour
of a horse shoe. Between and under these fingers is a horizontal adjustable die a¹
of the shape shewn in Figure 5. The said die consists of a slight elevation or boss
with a bevelled edge at the wider part conforming to the concavity of the inner
surface of a horse-shoe, and to the former ƒ attached to the arm R above
referred to.
The said arm R projects upward between the levers Q₁ from the shaft P, by
which it is vibrated for a purpose hereinafter referred to. c¹, Figure 5, is a shear
operated vertically by an arm S¹ (Figure 7) secured to a rock shaft T¹ journalled
transversely in the lower part of the bed and projecting through the side of the
frame of the machine, as shewn in Figure 4. On the end of the said shaft is an
arm U', Figure 2, whereby it is connected by a link m to the aforesaid segmental
arm or lever M by which the shear is operated. Figure 9 is a detached view of
the shaft T¹ and arm; by reference to this Figure will be seen that in the lower
edge of the shear is a notch wherein the end of the arm S¹ is articulated, actuating
the shear vertically as the said arm is vibrated by the said segmental lever M. e,
Figure 5, is a lifter, the purpose of which will be shewn in describing the operation
of the machine. The said lifter is operated by an arm V', Figure 7, on the shaft T,

page_text: carrying the arm for operating the shear above described, both of which arms are
operated simultaneously by the rock shaft, to which they are related by the arms
S and V. The said shaft is actuated by the cam L through the intervention of
the arm U¹, link m, and segmental lever M, as hereinbefore described.
articulation of the said lifter with the arm V₁ is the same as that described and shewn
with regard to the shear, as will be seen by reference to Figure 10 which represents
a detached view of the said arm and lifter.
The
Having thus described the construction and arrangement of the several parts of
my improved machine I will now proceed to describe the practical operation
thereof which is substantially as follows:-
The position of various parts of the machine as shewn in Figures 2, 4, and 5 is
that in which the first action in the process of making a shoe is about to take
place. At this instant in the course of the general movement of the machine the
end of a bar or rod of iron of the proper width and thickness for a shoe on being
heated is pushed in across the bed of the machine through the opening n, Figure 2.
The bar when thus in the machine is indicated by the dotted lines n', Figures 4
and 5 by reference to which it will be seen that the said bar lies under the ends of
the fingers R' and below the face of the bed on which the bed die lies; at this
moment the former f comes down upon the bed die as shewn in Figure 6, and the
fingers close in around it. This changed position of the former from that shewn in
Figure 2 to that seen in Figure 6 is effected by the cam L actuating the segmental
lever M, which by its engagement with the pinion O brings down the former upon
the bed die at the proper time during the movements of the machine. The fingers
at the same time are closed by the resiliency of the spring m¹ which spreads
outward the ends of the levers Q', thereby bringing the fingers close around the
former. This closing in of the fingers and downward movement of the former upon
the bed die take place at the same time and during the same period of time.
During the upward action of the shear and lifter the end of the bar is cut off by
the said shear. The piece thus cut off is of the proper length for a shoe and is
termed a blank, and at this moment is raised by the shear and the lifter to a level
with the face of the die bed and lies directly in front of the bed die and former
and under the fingers R' immediately before the edge of the plates P¹.
The upward movement of the lifter and shear for cutting off the blank and
raising it to a level with the face of the die bed is accomplished by the cam L
operating the segmental lever M to which the arm U' of the shaft carrying the
arms of the shear and lifter is connected by the link m as above described. The
bar from which the blank was cut is prevented from being lifted upward with the
blank while being cut off by the cross-piece p under which the end of the bar was
pushed. The said cross-piece serves as the stationary jaw of the shear against
which the bar is forced by the upward action of the said shear.
The blank thus cut off and still lying upon the shear and lifter, and in front of
the former and before the bending plates P' as above described is now to be bent
around the former. At this moment the carriage carrying the levers or arms 0¹
moves forward towards the former. This movement is caused by the vibration of
the shaft W actuated by the cam S to which it is connected, through the lover T,
link V, and arm U as above described. As the carriage moves forward the plates
P¹ bend the blank around the end of the former into a U shape; the said blank is
then pressed against the sides of the former by the closing together of the arms O¹
caused by the ends thereof impinging on the angle or sides 61 Figure 5. The arms
thus closed together are shewn in Figure 6. The shape of the former is such as to
give the blank the contour of the inner edge of a shoe.
The bending plates in their forward and lateral movements slide under the
fingers R' by which the blank while being bent is prevented from springing
upward. The fingers also hold the blank down upon the bevelling bed die while
the former is being lifted therefrom for the admission of the revolving dies for
pressing and creasing the shoe. The lifting of the former from the shoe is effected
by the continued action of the cam L, and its connections with the shaft of

page_text: the former the peculiar shape of the cam being such as to vibrate the shaft for
raising and dropping the former regularly and at the proper time in the general
movements of the machine. At the time the former is being lifted from the shoe,
that is to say from its position shewn in Figure 6 to that shewn in Figure 2, the
fingers R¹ are again spread apart as seen in Figure 5. This is effected by the arm
of the former which is made thicker on the front side than on the back; the result
of this construction is that on the elevation of the arm the thicker side thereof
forces apart the levers, thereby expanding the fingers which are again closed when
the arm is down by the spring m¹, as the arm is then below the plates 2, Figure 5,
secured to the top of the lever and against which plates the arm of the former
impinges on being elevated, thereby forcing the fingers apart to make room for
the revolving dies. The said plates are adjustable laterally to adapt the expanding
of the fingers to different sized shoes.
During the time that the former is being elevated the shear and lifter are being
depressed by the continued movement of the cam for the timely admission of
another bar from which to cut a blank for a shoe. The fingers R¹ being removed
from over the partially made shoe, it is now exposed to the action of the pressing
die G, which at this instant in the revolution of the radial wings carrying the dies
rolls upon the shoe lying uncovered within the clasp of the bending plates. This
action of the die G causes a bevel on the inner surface of the shoe by its being
forced down thereby upon the bevelling or bed-die above referred to.
Immediately following this action of the pressing die G the shoe is creased, and
the prints for the nail holes made by the creasing die H, operated in the same
manner as the preceding die G. Directly following the creasing die the smoothing
die H¹ rolls upon the creased shoe, giving to it a smooth evenly compressed surface
or finish. At this moment the carriage N' with the arms 0 moves back by the
vibration of the shaft W operated, as above described, by the cam S as the carriage
moves back; the shoe still held by the bending plates is carried back with it until
the ends of the arms reach the block A", Figures 5 and 6, the angles, of which
force the two ends of the arms together, as shewn in Figure 4, thereby releasing
the gripe of the bending plates from the shoe, which falls therefrom through the
bed to the floor.
During this rearward movement and dropping of the shoe another bar from
which a shoe is to be made is inserted in the machine; the shear and lifter are
again raised by the means before described, and a piece or blank cut therefrom,
during which time the former is again brought down upon the bed die and enclosed
by the fingers. The carriage now moves forward, and the bending plates bend
the blank around the former, which is then raised out of the partially formed shoe,
and the fingers spread to admit the action of the several revolving dies.
It will be observed that the revolving dies have a common axial movement with
the shaft B, obtained by the cog wheel and pinion, and that each of the dies has an
independent axial movement in the radial wings by the engagement of their
respective pinions with the inside gear wheel; hence as the dies are carried around
by the wings, and thereby brought in timely relation to the shoe for the purposes
specified, they impinge upon the shoe in a rolling pressing manner, and that during
one revolution of the wings the bending, pressing, creasing, marking the prints of
the nails, and smoothing the shoe is accomplished. If it becomes necessary to use
thicker or thinner iron for shoes the die bed can be raised or lowered for that purpose
by means of the wedges and screw above described, thereby adjusting the bed to
its relative distance with regard to the revolving dies as may be required for the
thickness of the shoe. To adjust the machine for various sizes of shoes the fingers
and the bending plates are removed and replaced by others, as the size of the shoe
may demand, or such as may conform to the size of the revolving dies.
While the dies are pressing the shoe the metal thereby stretches and tends to
carry forward the dies faster than their normal movement. In order to prevent
the pinion from undue strain upon the inside gear wheel, caused by the increased
movement of the aforesaid dies, the wheel is not rigidly fastened to the frame, but

page_text: is allowed a slight movement to relieve the strain upon the pinions. The said
wheel is again returned when relieved from the strain exerted upon it by the
stretching of the shoe while being pressed by the dies by a spring t, Figure 4, in
a bracket B. The bed die, or strictly speaking the bed plate thereof, is adjustable
longitudinally; hence as the toe part of the die becomes worn it can be moved
back, and thereby maintain a proper position and fullness for shaping the blank
for a shoe. The bed plate, though adjustable vertically, has no longitudinal
movement, it being stationary so far as any co-operative movement with the
revolving dies is concerned.
In order that the bending plates may be held firmly in contact with the shoe,
and pull it back to be discharged from the machine, I employ the check w, shewn
in Figure 4 and also in Figure 11. The said check consists of a horizontal head
piece provided with a stem d', which passes down through the arm O' in a square
hole to prevent it from turning. In the underside of the head near the stem is a
notch, causing the outer end to fall below the edge of the arms, and between them
when separated, as shewn in Figures 6 and 11, thereby keeping the two arms apart
so that the bending plates will continue their hold on the shoe for pulling it back
from the bed die. The check is lifted from between the arms before the ends of
said arms reach the block A" by an inclined plane C", Figure 6, upon which the
pendent end of the check impinges, and up which it slides, pushing the head of the
check from between the arms, so that they may close together and release the hold
of the bending plate from the shoe that it may fall therefrom to the floor, as above
described. To prevent the blank from slipping while being bent around the former,
and thereby avoid making one side of the shoe longer than the other, a slightly
raised edge i¹, Figure 5, is made on the arm R¹ of the former close to the toe of the
said former. Upon the said edge the metal or blank is pressed and prevented
21
from slipping.
There may be ridges and projections on the third or finishing die similar to those
on the second die, but so formed and arranged as to make the creases deeper and
the nail prints pressed nearly through the shoe, thereby leaving but a thin film of
iron to be punched out for the nail hole, which would be of material advantage in
punching the said nail hole. In case a fourth die should be arranged in the machine
following the action of the said two or three dies the fourth die may be employed
for smoothing or finishing if required.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The shaft B, the segmental arms or wings C, C, carrying the dies or die
blocks journalled in said wings, and the pinions a, b, and c, in combination with
the gear wheel I, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Second. The revolving segmental arms or wings and die blocks journalled therein,
combined and operating substantially as herein described and for the purpose set
forth.
Third. The levers Q1, Q', detachable fingers R¹, R¹, and spring, arranged to operate
in relation to and in combination with the former f, attached by an arm R to a
rock shaft and arms 01, 0¹, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose
specified.
Fourth. The levers Q1, Q¹, and detachable fingers R', R', in combination with the
bending head or former f and its cam shank or arm R, substantially in the manner
and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The bevelling or bed die a¹ having a horizontal adjustment in combination
with the levers 01, 0', provided with detachable bending plates P1, P², and fingers
R', R', substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Sixth. The arms O¹, 0¹, and detachable bending plates P1, P1, having a rebate on
the underside of the inner edge thereof, the said inner edges conforming to the con-
figuration and thickness of a horse shoe, and serving to hold the shoe while being
pressed, creased, and nail printed, in combination with the former and the pressing

page_text: and creasing dies, substantially in the manner herein described and for the purpose
specified.
Seventh. The angle iron and bracket B₁ and spring, in ombination with the
wheel I, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The arm S' of the shaft T¹, in combination with the shear c' operated by
the cam L through the arm U', link m, and lever M, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Ninth. The arm V' in combination with the lifter or rest e' arranged in relation
to the shear c¹, and operating conjointly there with substantially in the manner
herein described and for the purpose specified.
Tenth. The levers Q', Q', detachable fingers R¹, R¹, spring m³, and adjustable
plates r, r, in combination with the bending head or former and its cam shank or
arm R, substantially as herein described and for the purpose set forth.
Eleventh. The cheek wand inclined plane C, in combination with the levers
0¹, O', as and for the purpose specified.
Twelfth. The vertically adjustable bed, the levers or arms 0¹, 0¹, and detachable
bending plates P1, P1, in combination with the former f, segmental wings C, C, and
die blocks with their respective dies, substantially as herein described and for the
purpose specified.
Thirteenth. In combination with the vertically adjustable bed D' and frame A
the adjusting wedges or keys G' and H¹, arranged and adapted thereto substan-
tially as herein described and for the purpose specified.
•
Fourteenth. In combination with the adjusting wedges G¹ and H¹ the actuating
screw I, the bifurcated stud K', and the jam nuts J¹, J¹, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Fifteenth. The arm R' of the former f, provided with a raised edge i¹ in close
proximity to the toe of the said former, as herein set forth, and for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)