Improvement in Machines for Trimming Boot and Shoe Uppers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1895-Accepted, 17th Aug., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Machines for Trimming Boot and Shoe Uppers..
I, ELMER STEPHEN HARRIS of 22 Vine Street, Haverhill, County of Essex,
State of Massachusetts, United States, Gentleman 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 relates to machines for trimming off the projecting or surplus
material which is present in turned and welted shoes after the operation of stitching
the upper to the sole or to the sole. and welt, such material being the edges of the
upper and welt in a welted shoe, while in a turned shoe it is the edge of the upper
only. Machines now in use for this purpose are of two types,-one in which two
mutually acting knives remove the surplus material by an intermittent shearing cut,
and another in which a single oscillating knife operates intermittently against the
feeding and supporting action of a pair of rolls. In the former type, the possible
closeness of the cut is limited by the necessary thickness of the shearing knife
adjacent to the shoe; but as no positive guide or rest is provided, the results are
irregular. In the latter type, no guide or rest of any description is provided, and
as the closeness of cut is unlimited, shoes are frequently damaged. A further
objection to both types is that the amount of work performed is limited by the lack
of continuity due to the intermittent action of the cutting knives, and also by the
speed at which the feed-rolls may be arranged to be driven in the latter type.
The object of my invention is to provide a trimming-machine in which the
construction and appliances are such that the closeness of the cut will be accurately
determined, the damage of shoes rendered impossible, and the amount of work
limited only by the keenness of the cutting knife and the deftness of the operator.
To this end, I provide the cutting knife with two rests separated by a space or
recess formed to receive the projecting material to be trimined, said rests being
formed to support the surfaces of a boot or shoe at opposite sides of said material,
the cutting edge of the knife extending across said recess above the acting faces of
said rests and in position to trim the projecting material at a height determined by
the projection of the said acting faces below the knife. I also provide a continuously
moving cutting edge, either by means of an annular rotating knife, a rotary disk
knife, a belt knife, or approximately by means of an oscillating knife.
Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this Specification,-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the preferred form of my machine, showing the
edge of an annular rotating knife A, two rests J J2 separated by a recess K, and
an emery or other grinding wheel L arranged and adapted to sharpen the edge of
the said knife.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1, showing the frame G of the machine,
the annular knife upon the shaft D, and means for driving the grinding wheel.
Figure 3 is a section of the annular knife, and a supporting cupped disk or cutter-
head, a portion of the driving-shaft, and a bearing therefor.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the annular knife made from a strip of sheet
steel and bent to a circle, but shown with the abutting ends sprung apart.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the rests, and a chip-guard J³ to be more
specifically described hereinafter.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of that portion of a trimming-machine embodying.
my improvement and showing the application of the rests to a rotary disk
knife.
Figure 7 is an end view of the parts shown in Figure 6.
Figure 8 is similar to Figure 6, but showing the application of the rests to a belt

page_text: Figure 10 is similar to Figure 6; but showing the application of the rests to an
oscillating knife.
Figure 1 is an end view of the parts shown in Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a transverse section of a portion of a turned shoe, together with the
rests and knife, showing the relation of the several parts with the shoe and the
projecting material to be trimmed.
Figure 13 is similar to Figure 12, but showing a welted shoe in place of a turned
shoe.
Corresponding parts in the several views are denoted by like letters of
reference.
Referring to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, A represents an annular knife secured to
a disk or cutter-head B by means of screws C. The said cutter-head is secured
to a driving-shaft D by a key E or other suitable means. The said shaft rotates
in bearings F supported by a frame G, and is provided with a belt-driven pulley and
balance-wheel. A guard I secured to the frame G projects forward and encloses
the knife A, protecting both the latter and the workman from accident. Secured
to the said guard are the rests J J separated by a recess K and having acting
faces JJ, and a recess J4 arranged to receive the knife. One of the rests
is provided with a chip-guard J³ projecting inward toward the centre of the cutter-
head B and close to the face thereof. The purpose of the said chip-guard is to
deflect the waste material from the course of the rotating knife.
I prefer to provide my improved trimming-machine with an emery or other
grinding wheel I. for the purpose of conveniently sharpening the rotary knife.
The said grinding wheel is secured upon a shaft L² rotating in a bearing F
supported by the frame G, and is provided with an adjustable screw L3 by
means of which the said grinding wheel may be moved to or from contact with
the rotary knife. A pulley L is secured to the shaft L2 and is driven by a
belt L' passing over suitable idler pulley's L° from a driving pulley secured upon
the shaft D.
The rests J J may be made adjustable by means of the screws J and slots J³,
or any other suitable means. At S S is shown the outlines of a shoe in position to
be trimmed.
The workman presses the shoe upward against the rests and forward against the
knife, the surplus material to be trimmed being inserted in the recess K. The
knife rapidly trims away the said surplus material, the chips being deflected and
thrown from the knife by the chip-guard J³.
I do not confine myself to this particular form of knife, and will now describe
several modifications.
Referring to Figures 6 and 7, a represents a rotary knife secured at the end of
a shaft revolving in fixed bearings ce and provided with a belt-driven pulley d.
Secured to the frame e, which supports the bearings, shaft, and knife, are the
rests ff separated by the recess g and having the acting faces h which extend
under the knife.
Referring to Figures 8 and 9, a' a represent a belt knife, va driving pulley,
and w an adjustable idler pulley, over which pulleys the knife runs. bis the
shaft to which the driving pulley is secured, said shaft rotating in fixed bearings
and having a belt-driven pulley d. is the shaft supporting the idler pulley.
Secured to the frame e which supports the bearings, shafts, and knife, are the
rests arranged as above described.
Referring to Figures 10 and 11, a" a" represent an oscillating knife secured to a
frame oscillating upon the fixed shalt m and driven by a crank or eccentric n by
means of the connecting-rod o. Secured to the frame e which supports the
bearings, knife, etc., are the rests ff arranged as above described.
Referring now to Figure 12, p is a section of part of a turned shoe, q a section
of the projecting edge of the upper a portion of which is to be removed, ff the
rests, g
the recess receiving the projecting material to be trimmed, and h h the

page_text: acting faces against which the sole or surface of the shoe on opposite sides of said
material is pressed, and uu is a knife having its cutting edge extending across the
said recess at such a height above the acting faces as to remove so much of the
surplus portion as may be desired.
Referring now to Figure 13, pl is a section of a portion of a welted shoe, ql a
section of the projecting edge of the upper and welt a portion of which is to be
removed, all shown in relation to the rests and knife as in the case of the turned
shoe-described above.-.-
It will be seen that the closeness of the trimming depends on the thickness of the
rests and their adjustment in relation to the knife.
A further advantage is that the part of the rests forming the sides of the recess
act as a support for the material to be trimmed, against the displacing action of
the moving knife.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a trimming-machine of the character specified, the combination of two
rests separated by a recess formed to receive the projecting material to be trimmed,
said rests being formed to support the surfaces of a boot or shoe at opposite sides
of the said material, a knife having its cutting edge extending across the said
recess above the acting faces of the said rests and in position to trim the projecting
material at a height determined by the projection of the said acting faces below
the knife, and means for operating said knife.
2. In a trimming-machine of the character specified, the combination of two rests
separated by a recess formed to receive the projecting material to be trimmed,
said rests being formed to support the surfaces of a boot or shoe at opposite sides
of the said material, a knife having a continuously acting cutting edge such as that
possessed by an annular rotating knife, a rotary disk knife, or a band knife, and
having its cutting edge extending across the said recess above the acting faces of
the said rests and in position to trim the projecting material at a height determined
by the projection of the said acting faces below the knife, and means for operating
said knife by moving it progressively in one direction.
3. In a trimming-machine of the character specified, the combination of an
annular rotating knife secured to a suitable shaft turning in fixed bearings on a
supporting frame, a belt-driven pulley secured to the said shaft, and two rests
secured to and supported by the said frame, the said rests being separated by a
recess formed to receive the projecting material to be trimmed and formed to
support the surfaces of a boot or shoe at opposite sides of the said material.
4. In a trimming-machine of the character specified, the combination of an
annular rotating knife secured to a suitable shaft turning in fixed bearings on a
supporting frame, a belt-driven pulley secured to the said shaft, two rests secured
to and supported by the said frame, the said rests being separated by a recess
forined to receive the projecting material to be trimmed and formed to support the
surfaces of a boot or shoe at opposite sides of the said material, and a grinding
wheel adapted to sharpen the said annular knife secured to a suitable shaft turning
in bearings on the said supporting frame and driven by a belt and suitable pulleys
the said grinding wheel being adjustable to and from contact with the edge of the
said knife.
Dated this 10th 1
1008
ELMER STEPHEN HARRIS,
22 Vine Street, Haverhill, Mass.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.