Improvements in Sole Levelling Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1836-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sole Levelling Machines.
We, EDWARD CHARLES JUDD, of No. 54 South Street, and HARRY EDGAR
CILLEY, of No. 118 South Street, both of Boston, in the County of Suffolk and
State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentlemen, do hereby declare
the nature of our 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 has relation to sole-levelling or molding machines, in which the
sole of the boot or shoe is given the proper shape and curvature by the pressure of
two surfaces, one of which conforms to the shape of the last upon which the
boot or shoe was made, and the other is the converse thereof; and it relates more
particularly to that class of machines in which the last and die are so arranged
that they have an oscillatory movement transversely to the last, whereby the
pressure upon the sole progresses across it, in contradistinction to that class in
which the surfaces oscillate in paths parallel to the axis of the last to cause
the pressure to commence at one end of the sole and progress toward the
other end.
It is now well known that there are many objectionable features incident to the
last-mentioned class, which have led to the employment of the transversely oscil-
lating die and last, by the use of which the sole may be levelled or molded
expeditiously, without so great tendency to separating the sole from the upper
along the shank portion or to causing the sole to creep or move upon the upper,
or the outer sole to creep upon the under sole and injure the boot or shoe.
But heretofore there has been an objectionable feature incident to the levelling-
machines in which the die and last are oscillated in paths transversely. of the
last, in that in all the machines of which we have knowledge the die and last
are geared positively together, and when it is desired to mold the sole of a boot or
shoe it is necessary to swing them to one side, place the boot or shoe upon the last,
and then begin the operation of levelling, which causes the pressure to begin upon
one side of the sole and progress trausversely of the last, thereby causing the sole
to creep to one side upon the upper and injure the shoe or boot.
Our invention, then, has for its object the obviation of all of the objections
incident to machines of both of the classes referred to above, by the provision of a
machine in which the levelling pressure of the die and last upon the sole has no
injurious effect upon the shoe by causing the sole to move bodily relatively to the
upper. The invention therefore consists in certain improvements which are herein-
after more particularly described, whereby the last and die are so arranged and
operated in such way that they meet and grasp the sole along the median line
(the median line of the last coinciding with the median line of the die), and
cause the levelling pressure to progress therefrom alternately in both directions,
thereby insuring that the displacement caused by the progressive pressure in one
direction is neutralized by the succeeding progressive pressure in the opposite
direction.
The invention likewise consists in certain iniprovements whereby the last may
bave a positive movement toward and from the die, for placing the shoe thereupon
and removing it therefrom, and in other improvements whereby the die may be
swung from an operative to an inoperative position as the last is lowered, and
vice versa. It likewise consists in devices for adjusting the oscillatory movements
of the last and die, so that the lateral movement thereof may be commensurate with

page_text: the size of sole which it is desired to mold, whereby different-sized soles may be
levelled by the same machinery. The invention further consists in various other
features of construction and arrangement, which we will now proceed to describe
with more particularity and set forth in the appended claims.
Reference is to be had to the annexed drawings and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, forming a part of this Specification, the same letters indicating
the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.
On the drawings-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of our improved levelling-machine.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same, partially in section.
Figure 3 is a vertical section through the machine.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the last and die, and the means for raising and
lowering the last.
Figure 5 is a plan view of the machine.
Figures 6 and 7 are views, somewhat enlarged, illustrating the means for
adjusting the oscillatory movement of the last.
Figure 8 is a sectional view of the driving-shaft and the clutch devices.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the mechanism for moving the die to one side after
the operation of levelling has been accomplished, in order that the finished boot or
shoe may be removed and a new one inserted.
In carrying out the invention, we employ a frame having two side standards a,
and top and bottom braces bb bolted together by long bolt-rods c and supported by
the standards a.
d indicates the driving-shaft supported in bearings in the bottom cross-brace b
and to which power may be transmitted by means of the pulleys d¹. e indicates a
die-supporting arm swung loosely upon a pivot-shaft p' in the cross-brace band
provided with a sliding die-holder e', there being a spring e interposed between the
holder and the arm. To the holder may be secured in any suitable way, as by a
dovetail tongue and groove, the die f. The removable last g is supported upon a
threaded holder g' mounted in a socket in an arm h, and can be adjusted relatively
thereto by means of a nut g, as will be readily understood. The die and the last
are independent of each other; but when a shoe or boot is upon the last, which is
pressed up against the die, an oscillating movement of the last will carry the die
from side to side and the sole will be molded between them.
In order to move the last toward and from the die for the purpose of placing a
boot or shoe thereon or removing it therefrom, we employ the following devices.
The arm his mounted upon a pitman forming a part of a shaft i arranged beneath
the arm and having a worm-wheel to which power is transmitted by a worm j
mounted loosely on the cross-shaft d. When the worm is rotated by means of the
clutch device to be hereinafter described, the worm-wheel is revolved and the
pitman raises the arm vertically until the sole of the shoe on the last is in engage-
ment with the die, where it is held until the worm is rotated again to cause the
pitman to move to its lowest point.
In order to give the proper oscillatory movement to the last, we mount upon the
bottom cross-brace a bell-lever 1, one arm of which is connected to the last-
supporting arm / by a pivoted link and the other arm of which is connected by a
pivoted link with a wrist pin n secured to a shaft m arranged parallel to the
shaft before described. The shaft m may be intermittently revolved by a
worm-wheel m¹ thereon driven by a worm j loosely mounted on the driving-shaft d.
Thus it will be seen that when, by the clutch mechanism which will be described,
the worm j is revolved, the worm-wheel, its shaft, and the wrist-pin n will through
the medium of the bell-lever and the links, cause the last and the die to oscillate
gently from side to side.
By reason of the independence of the die and the last relatively to each other,
the tendency of the die, unless engaged by the last, is to hang vertically with its
median line in the central vertical longitudinal plane of the last, so that when a
boot or shoe has been placed upon the last and the latter is elevated until the

page_text: sole is engaged between it and the die, the pressure at that time is upon the median
line of the sole. Then the levelling pressure progresses from the median line of
the sole, first to one side and then to the other, causing the displacement effected
by the progressive pressure upon one side of the sole to be neutralized by the
progressive pressure upon the other side. This result cannot be obtained where the
die and last are geared positively together, as in such case the pressure must
commence at one extreme edge of the sole and progress to the other extreme edge,
as is obvious to those skilled in the art.
In order to intermittingly and alternately operate the last-elevating devices and
the oscillating mechanism, we mount the driving worms and loosely upon the
worm-driving shaft d and provide them with friction pulleys respectively, with
which a sliding clutch splined to the shaft may alternately engage.
And to
shift the said clutch and hold it in engagement with either of said friction-pulleys,
we employ a double foot-lever pivoted to a standard and having an arm to move
it, there being treadles to throw the lever to one side of the other, the
operator keeping his foot upon the treadle as long as it is desired to transmit
motion to either of the friction-pulleys. Springs are inserted beneath the
treadles to insure the return of the clutch to its central neutral position as soon as
one of the treadles is released from the pressure of the foot.
In order that the machine may be employed for different sizes of boots and
shoes, mechanism is employed for adjusting the length of the path of oscillation of
the die and last, so that for a narrow last their lateral movement will be shorter
than for a wide last. Upon the end of shaft m is rigidly secured a cylindrical
box a, in which is mounted a worm n. A worm-wheel n is placed in the box, so
as to be in engagement with the worm, and is retained in place by a ring n³
secured by screws to the walls of the box. The wrist-pin is rigidly fastened to
the worm-wheel at a point remote from its axis, so as to be eccentric thereof.
The axis of the worm-wheel is also eccentric relatively to the axis of the box and
the shaft, so that when the worm n is rotated by means of a pin thrust in holes n'
in its end, the wrist-pin will travel in a circular path from a point nearest the axis
of the shaft to a point remote therefrom, and therefore vary the travel of the
link and the lower arm of the lever . When the wrist-pin is in the position
shown in Figure 7, it is at its nearest possible point to the axis of the shaft m,
and the last will have ite shortest possible lateral throw, as will be understood.
The die-supporting arm may have an eye e with which a hook e on rod o may
engage, to hold the die in an inoperative position out of the way (as shown in Figure 2)
when a boot or shoe is being placed upon or removed from the last; but we
generally prefer to employ the mechanism illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, by
means of which the die may be automatically moved into and out of the vertical
lines of the last just before the last is elevated and after it is depressed. p indicates
a lever mounted loosely on a rock-shaft pl in the cross-brace b and having in the
end an adjusting-screw p adapted to bear against an ear on the die-supporting
arm. Rigid with said lever p is an arm which is connected with a wrist-pin on
the worm-wheel, the parts being so timed that when the said wheel is rotated
to depress the last, the last is depressed slightly and the die-supporting arm is
swung to one side and held in that position until just before the last is elevated,
when the die will be allowed to swing back into place and the lever p will be drawn
back so as to allow the die and the last to oscillate freely. It will be observed
that the lever p when in an inoperative position is entirely disengaged from the
die-supporting arm, so that the latter is not impeded in its movements.
We have shown our improved mechanism as employed in a twin machine, having
two sets of each device, and we have described one side of it; but it will be
understood that the halves are duplicates of each other and operate in the same
way, independently of each other.
The operation of the machine is extremely simple. Suppose the parts are in the
positions shown in Figure 9; that is to say, when the last is depressed and the die
has been swung to one side. A boot or shoe is placed upon the last, and the

page_text: operator places his foot upon treadle and holds it thereon. This causes the
clutch to engage the friction-pulley 7, and the resulting rotation of the worm j
and worm-wheel allows the die to swing down into place and elevates the last
until the sole of the boot or shoe is pressed firmly between the die and the last.
The sole is now grasped by the die and last, with its median line lying in the
central vertical longitudinal plane of the die and last. The operator's foot is then
removed from the treadle k, and the engagement of the worm and worm-wheel
locks the parts in that position. The treadle is then depressed, throwing clutch
into engagement with the friction-pulley, and the worm and worm-wheel m
cause the die and the last to oscillate gently from side to side through the medium
of the lever 1, links and P, and wrist-pin n. The pressure upon the sole is from
end to end thereof, and begins at the median line thereof, progressing across the
sole first to one side and then to the other, until the sole is sufficiently molded or
levelled. The lateral movements of the last and die prevent the straining of the
stitches or the breaking of the threads, while pressure upon the sole is neutralized
so as to prevent creeping, as has been herein before described. The foot is pressed.
upon the treadle until the sole has been molded or levelled, when it is removed
and treadle is depressed, which causes the last to be lowered and the die to be
swung to one side.
While we have described all of the improvements in connection with a machine
in which the die and last have a lateral oscillation across the axis of the sole, yet
it will be seen that many of them may be employed upon a machine in which the
oscillations of the die and last are parallel to the axis of the sole. For instance,
the means for elevating and depressing the last may be used in connection with an
end wise acting die and last, so that the pressure upon the sole progresses from the
transverse median line thereof, first toward the toe and then toward the heel. In
fact, we do not limit ourselves to the exact details of arrangement and construction
herein set forth, as many changes may be made without affecting the spirit or
scope of the invention.
Instead of having a loosely mounted die and a positively acting last, the latter
may be mounted to swing loosely upon a pivot and the power may be connected
with the die for oscillating it and for moving it vertically or radially to clamp the
sole or else the last may be positively oscillated and the die elevated and lowered
relatively thereto, the essence of our invention residing in means of any kind for
clamping a sole between two surfaces along its median line before oscillating the same,
whether longitudinal or transverse, so that the pressure may progress alternately to
each side thereof, for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
1. A machine for levelling soles, comprising in its construction a last, a die,
means for oscillating the same, and means for imparting to one of said parts a
radial movement independently of the other part, substantially as set forth.
2. A machine for levelling soles, comprising in its construction a pivoted die,
a pivoted last independent thereof, means for clamping a sole between said last and
said die with its median line coinciding with the median lines of said last and said
die, and means for oscillating said last and die, whereby the pressure upon the sole
progresses to cne side of said median lines and then to the other side, as set forth.
3. A machine for levelling soles, comprising in its construction a loosely pivoted
die, a laterally oscillating last, and means for positively elevating said last to
engage a sole with the die, the median line of the sole being coincident with the
median lines of said die and said last.
4. A machine for levelling soles, comprising in its construction a pivoted die-
supporting arm, a yielding die mounted thereon, a last, an arm for supporting said
last, means for moving said arm vertically to cause the last and die to engage a
sole between them, and means for oscillating said last-supporting arm.

page_text: 5. A. machine for levelling soles, comprising in its construction a die adapted to
be oscillated, an oscillatory last, means for elevating and lowering said last, means
for oscillating said last, and means for intermittingly and alternately operating said
elevating and lowering means and said last-operating meaus, as set forth.
6. A machine for levelling soles, comprising in its construction a pivoted die, a
pivotally mounted last disconnected from said die, said pivots being parallel to the
last, whereby a lateral oscillation is imparted, a driving-shaft, a lever connected to
said last, and means consisting of a worm on the shaft and a worm-wheel actuated
thereby and connected with the lever for rocking said lever and thereby oscillating
said last and die, as set forth.
7. A machine for levelling soles, comprising in its construction a pivoted die, an
oscillating last, and means for intermittingly moving said die out of the vertical
lines of said last when a shoe is to be placed on or removed from said last.
8. A machine of the character described, comprising in its construction a pivoted
die, a pivoted last, means for intermittingly raising and lowering said last, and means
for throwing said die into and out of an operative position as said last is raised or
lowered, as set forth.
9. A machine of the character described, comprising in its construction a
movable die, an oscillating last adapted to be engaged therewith, a shaft, a wrist-pin
on said shaft, means for transmitting power from said wrist-pin to said last to
oscillate it, and means for varying the position of the wrist-pin radially. of the axis
of the shaft, whereby the oscillatory movement of the last may be varied in its
length.
fo. A machine of the character described, comprising a pivoted die, a pivoted
last adapted to be engaged therewith, a driving-shaft, a power-transmitting device,.
as a link, a rotatable toothed disk secured revolubly to the shaft eccentrically
thereof, a wrist-pin secured eccentrically to the said disk, and a rotatable worm
mounted in bearings on the said shaft and engaging the teeth of the disk for
revolving it and thereby moving the wrist-pin radially of the axis of the shaft.
Dated this 9th day of January 1896.
EDWARD CHARLES JUDD.
HARRY EDGAR CILLEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.