Improvements in Gauges for Machines for Operating on Boot and Soles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1899--Accepted, 9th Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gauges for Machines for Operating on Boot and
Soles.
A communication by THE INTERNATIONAL GOODYEAR SHOE MACHINERY COM-
PANY, of 100 to 104, Bedford Street, Boston, State of Massachusetts, United
States of America.
I, ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES, of 55 and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County
of London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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:-
The present invention relates to improvements in gages for machines for
operating on shoe soles, such for example as shoe sewing machines and sole
trimming machines, including such machines as are commonly known as rough
rounding and channeling machines.
In all machines of this class, there is provided a tool or tools, such for
example as the needle of the sewing machine, or the rounding knife and chan-
neling knife of a rounding and channeling machine, which are required to
operate upon the sole of the shoe along a path bearing a certain relation as
to its location, to the edge of the last in the shoe to be operated upon, and it
is required for many styles of shoes, such for example as
"Scotch edge OP
Baltimore edge" shoes to vary the position of this path with relation to the
edge of the last.
"
In the prior art both in the class of sewing machines and rounding and
channeling machines there have been provided movable gages whereby the
above suggested result could be accomplished, such gages however, insofar as
I am advised of the state of the art, have either been moved from their
retracted to their advanced position by hand, or by automatic mechanism
which during a single cycle of operation both advanced and retracted such gage.
the retracting movement following the advancing movement without any
interference on the part of the operator, and at a time which was independent
of his control.
The hand operated device above referred to has been found to be uncertain
and not uniform in its operation, its use requiring the exercise of the greatest
care and judgment on the part of the operator, and the automatic device above
referred to while capable of successful operation on certain sizes and styles
of shoes, requires change of parts to adapt it for variations in size and style
and complicated adjustments which render the device difficult to use by the
ordinary shoe factory operator.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a
for
gage
machines of the types herein before mentioned with automatic mechanism for
operating such gage, such mechanism being normally inactive when the gage
is in its retracted and advanced positions, and to provide suitable means under
the control of the operator whereby the gage operating mechanism may be
movable

page_text: gage.
To the above end the present invention consists of the devices and com-
bination of devices which will be hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings the present invention has been shown as
embodied in a shoe sewing machine for uniting the outsole to the welt of a boot
or shoe, but such illustration has been selected merely for the purpose of
describing the invention and its mode of operation, and it is to be distinctly
understood that it is in no manner restricted thereto, as it can without sub-
stantial change be employed in many other machines for operating upon the
soles of boots and shoes.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 shows in front elevation portions of an outsole sewing machine
embodying the present invention,
Figure 2 shows a side elevation looking in the direction of the arrow
Fig. 1,
Figure 3 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2, certain
parts being omitted,
Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the dotted line - in Fig. 1
showing details of the mechanism for actuating the movable gage.
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show details of the gage actuating mechanism, and
Figures 9 and 10 show inverted plan views of a pair of shoes.
Before proceeding to describe the illustrated embodiment of the present
invention it should be stated that it is now the custom in uniting the outsole
to the welt of a boot and shoe of the type herein before mentioned having
soles which extend varying distances from the upper, to place the line of
stitches at varying distances from the upper or the edge of the last in the shoe
corresponding to the variation in the extension of the sole, and to secure this
result the shoe must be moved in and out during the process of stitching
toward and away from the path of movement of the needle, the shoe being
guided by a gage which bears against the side of the lasted upper near the welt.
In the drawing A represents a portion of the frame of the machine upon
which are supported vertical standards A¹ (one only being shown), in the upper
ends of which is mounted a shaft B carrying a cam B. Upon the stud a,
secured in the frame A is mounted the needle segment a', carrying a needle a³,
and fixedly secured to the frame A, and projecting outwardly and upwardly
therefrom is the fixed work support and gage C, formed with an aperture c,
for the passage of the needle and awl, the forward end of which is arranged
to bear against the upper of the boot or shoe while the outsole is being sewed
to the welt along the shank and around the toe and inner ball portions, and
forming the fixed gage. Mounted to reciprocate horizontally in a guide way D
is a feed slide D₁, which at its inner end carries the upwardly extending
standard d, supporting a stud dupon which is mounted the awl segment
carrying the awl d. The horizontal reciprocations of the slide 1' are imparted
by a lever E, fulcrumed upon a stud e, and having a grooved arm e¹ engaging
a block e pivotally mounted upon a lever e³, pivotally connected to the upper
surface of the feed slide D', the arm et carrying a cam roll engaging the
cam path in the cam B.
The machine as above described may be, and preferably is, constructed sub-
stantially like the well known Goodyear outsole stitcher, and its construction
and operation is familiar to those skilled in this art, and therefore a further
description herein is deemed unnecessary.
In the machine of the drawings, the auxiliary or movable gage 1 is adjustably
mounted by a set screw 2, to the upper end of a lever 3 which is fulcrumed upon
a stud 4, carried by an arm 5 projecting upwardly from a base 6 secured by
holts 7 to the front of the frame A along the front side of the guide way D.
The movable gage 1 is arranged to be moved in and out toward and away from

page_text: the path of movement of the needle and awl by the rocking of the lever 3
about its fulcrum 4, and in order that the said movable gage when in its
retracted position may have its work bearing face in substantial alignment
with the work bearing face of the fixed gage C, the fixed gage C is cut out
as shown at S and the end of the movable gage 1, is cut out as
at 10, forming a projection 11, which when the movable gage 1 18
retracted, enables the end of the fixed gage C and the movable gage to fit
together as shown in Fig. 1, thus bringing the work bearing faces of the fixed
gage C and the movable gage 1 into alignment with each other, and to a certain
degree enabling the movable gage 1 to strengthen and support the work sup-
porting table or fixed gage Cagainst the downward thrust of the needle as it
passes through the work.
Any suitable means may be provided to rock the lever 3 about its fulcrum 4
to advance and retract the movable gage 1, but in the machine of the drawing
the said lever is arranged to be rocked in one direction, preferably to retract
the gage 1, by means of a spring 12, secured by screws 13, to the front of the
machine, the upper end of which bears against the lever 3 above its fulcrum 4,
and said lever 3 is arranged to be rocked about its fulcrum 4 for the purpose
of advancing or projecting the movable gage 1 beyond the fixed gage C, by
means of a cam and connecting mechanism which will now be described.
Projecting downwardly from the base G is a bearing 14, in which is secured.
a stud 15 supporting a horizontally rocking lever 16, one end of which carries
an adjustable screw 17 which bears against the lower end of the lever 3, the
other end of the lever 16 engaging a cam 18, which when rotated by mechanism
which will be hereinafter described, either positively moves the lever 16 about
its fulcrum 15 to rock the lever 3 and advance the movable gage, or permits
the spring 12 to rock the lever 3 and the lever 16, retracting the gnge 1, it
being understood that the spring 12 maintains the lever 16 always in contact
with the cam 18.
As shown in the drawings the cam 18 is a double cam and its shape is such
that it will in each half revolution move the lever 16 so as to advance the gage 1 to
its extreme outward position, and permit said gage 1 to be forced by the
spring 12 to its extreme inward or retracted position, and said cam 18 dependent
upon the direction of its rotation, is adapted to actuate the gage 1 for either
a right or left shoe.
As before suggested there is provided suitable automatic mechanism for
rotating the cam 18, and the starting of such mechanism is under the control
of the operator, whereby he can start such mechanism into operation, either
to rotate said cam to advance the gage 1 from its inward or retracted position
to its extreme advanced position, or to rotate the said cam to permit said gage
to be retracted from its advanced to its retracted position, such mechanism
being arranged to stop the rotation of the cam 18 with the gage 1 in its
retracted position, or in its advanced position, until the point is reached in
sewing the sole to the welt which renders it necessary to move the gage 1
from either of these positions, and the mechanism for turning the cam 18 is
also constructed and arranged whereby said cam may be turned in either
direction according as the operator may be sewing a right or left shoe.
In the machine of the drawing, the cam 18 is mounted to turn about a
shaft 19 the upper end of which is threaded as shown at 20, and supported
in an arm 21 projected from the base 6, it being held in such arm 21 by means
of a nut 22 engaging the upper threaded end as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of
the drawing. The cam 18 is given a step by step turning movement on the
shaft 19 by means of ratchet wheels 23 and 24 having their teeth formed in
opposite directions as shown, and said ratchet wheels and the cam 18 are
secured to turn together about the shaft 19 by pins 25, whereby their relative
positions are always maintained. The ratchet wheels 23 and 24 and the cam 18
are held on the shaft 19 by means of a splined washer 26 which is placed on

page_text: said shaft beneath the cam 18 above a spring washer 27 and nuts 28, whereby
the cam and ratchet wheels are held with some friction between said spring
washer 27 and the under side of the bearing 21, but permitted to be turned
on the shaft 19 by the pawl mechanism which will now be described.
It is well known to those skilled in the art that the feeding of the shoe as
the stitching progresses around the sole is performed by the awl d which as
before stated is mounted in a segment carried by an arm & supported on
the feed slide D¹, which feed slide is horizontally reciprocated, imparting a
step by step feeding movement to the shoe.
In the machine of the drawing the pawls which engage the ratchet wheels 23
and 24 are carried by the feed slide D¹ and partake of the reciprocations of
said feed slide and are preferably constructed and arranged as follows:-
Pivotally mounted at 29 upon a support 30 secured by screws 31 to the end
of the feed slide D¹ is a tubular sleeve 32 in which is arranged a vertically
movable pawl carrying plunger 33, which at its lower end carries pawls 34
and 35 arranged at diametrically opposite points from each other, and in
different horizontal planes, the pawl 34 being in a plane to engage the ratchet
wheel 23 when turned to the front as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, and the
pawl 35 being in a plane to engage the ratchet wheel 24 when turned to the
front. The plunger 33 rests upon a spiral spring 36 within the tubular
sleeve 32, which spring normally holds the plunger 33 in an elevated position
for a purpose to be hereinafter described.
The plunger 33 is held with either the pawl 34 or the pawl 35 turned towards
the front by a pin 37, which is carried by said plunger below the sleeve 32,
and which is arranged to engage a groove 38 cut in the lower end of said
sleeve.
By depressing the plunger 32 against the tension of the spring 36 until the
piu 37 clears the groove 38 said plunger may be turned to bring either the
pawl 34 or the pawl 35 in position to engage their respective ratchet wheels.
By an inspection of Fig. 4 of the drawing it will be noted that the pawls
are substantially one half the thickness of the ratchets, and that the spring 36
normally holds the plunger 32 in an elevated position, so that the respective
pawls engage the upper half of their respective ratchets. Each ratchet wlieel
is provided with four stops 1, 2, 3 and 4 and 11, 12, 13 and #, which project
beyond the face of the ratchets and are formed with a long inclined surface
of such a length that whenever a pawl reaches a stop, the reciprocations of
said pawl being less than the length of the inclines formed on the stops, the
continued reciprocations of the pawls will impart no movement to the ratchets,
and therefore no movement to the cam 18, thus leaving the gage 1 in whatever
position it may have been moved to, until the operator again desires to move
the said gage.
The stops s¹, s2, 3 and 4 and t¹, 12, 13 and t are substantially one half the thick-
ness of the ratchets 23 and 24 and are placed along the upper edge thereof in
the path of movement of the pawls, so that in order to again cause the recipro-
cations of the pawl which may be to the front, to engage and rotate its ratchet
the plunger 33 must be depressed to enable the pawl to engage said ratchet
below the stops. The pawls are normally pressed towards the ratchets by means
of a spring 39 which is fixedly secured to the end of the plate 40 and which
at its lower end bears against the tubular bearing 32 below its fulcrum 29.
By depressing the plunger 33 against the tension of the spring 36 the paw]
which may then be at the front and in contact with one of the stops of the
ratchet wheels 23 or 24, is brought below said stop and the spring 39 forces
it forward to engage the ratchet wheel below said stop.
For the purpose of depressing the plunger 33 there is provided in the machine
of the drawing, a lever 41 pivotally supported at 42 on an arm 43 projected
from the tubular bearing 32, which lever preferably has a projection 44 resting
upon the upper end of the plunger 33, or a disk or head carried by said plunger,

page_text: the opposite end of said lever 41 extending outwardly and being projected
upwardly as shown, whereby it is in convenient position for the operator to
engage the same, and by a downward movement thereof depress the plunger 35.
For the purpose of maintaing the lever 41 in proper position with relation
to the head of the plunger 33 there are provided upwardly projecting arms 46
on the tubular bearing 32 between which the lever 41 projects.
From the foregoing description it will be clear that according as the pawl 34
or the pawl 35 may be turned to the front the cam 18 will be turned from right
to left, or from left to right, to actuate the movable gage 1 for positioning
either a right or a left shoe.
Assuming that the ratchet 23 is engaged by the pawl 34 when sewing a right
shoe it will be noted that the cam 18 will be turned from the position shown in
Fig. 7 from right to left and when the pawl 35 engages the ratchet 24 the cam 18
will be turned from left to right, when sewing a left shoe.
In Figs. 9 and 10 are illustrated diagramatically, plan views inverted, of
the soles of a pair of shoes with the line of the uppers indicated by dotted
lines showing that the edge of the sole and welt project beyond the upper
varying distances, the projection being greatest at the outer "ball" portion of
each shoe, as in the Baltimore edge" shoes herein before referred to.
"
In sewing shoes of the character indicated the auxiliary movable gage will
be brought into operation while the sewing progresses along that portion of
the sole, or substantially so, included between the points marked c¹ and w
and and, and while sewing the remainder of the sole the auxiliary gage
remains in its retracted position.
It will be noted that the cam 18 has two low points marked p and p, also
two high points marked 72 and 3, and that there is a short rise from the
points and p', to the points and 3 and a long gradual decline from such
points and to the points p₁ and p, thus imparting to the end of the
lever 16 which rests on said cam either a quick outward movement and a slow
return movement, or a slow outward movement and a quick return movement
accordingly as said cam is turned to the right or left.
with the
Assuming that the operator is sewing a right shoe, and that the parts are
in the position shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, or substantially so,
pawl 34 engaging the stop s¹, at which time the low part p of the cam 18 will
be to the front and the movable gage in its retracted position.
The operator now positions the shoe as shown in Fig. 9 with the toe of the
shoe pointed towards the right and begins the sewing at the rear of the shank
of the shoe on the outer side thereof, substantially at the point marked,
and while sewing along the shank or from w to the shoe is held against
the fixed gage and the movable gage remains in its retracted position as shown
in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.
During the sewing of the shank part indicated, the pawl 34 has remained in
contact with the stop s¹ imparting no movement to the ratchet 23 and the
cam 18, but as the sewing reaches the point and proceeds from such point
to the widest part of the projecting edge of the sole or to ², it becomes
necessary to bring into operation the auxiliary gage 1 to move the shoe outward
in order to position the projecting edge of the sole in proper position relative
to the path of movement of the needle, so as to position the stitches of the
seam properly with relation to the upper.
It will be noted that from the point w¹ to the point there is an abrupt
outward curve from the shank portion of the sole to the widest part of the
projecting edge. When the point is reached the operator brings into
operation the gage actuating mechanism by depressing the lever 41, thus
depressing the plunger 33 and permitting the pawl 34 to engage the ratchet
wheel 23 below the stop s', and the step by step rotation of the ratchet 23 by
the reciprocations of the pawl 34 turns the cam 18 from right to left, bringing
the high part 2 of said cam to the front and rocking the lever 16, and moves

page_text: quickly outward the auxiliary gage 1. The turning of the ratchet 23 brings
the stop in position to engage the pawl 34 at which time the turning of
the ratchet 23 will stop with the high part 2 of the cam 18 in front and the
auxiliary gage 1 in its extreme outward position, thus positioning the shoe
so that the stitches will be placed at the greatest distance from the upper at
the widest part of the shoe sole.
Assuming that the sewing has progressed from the point w to the point w³
during this outward movement of the auxiliary gage, and that point w² approxi-
mately represents the beginning of the widest part of the projecting edge of
the shoe sole, the sewing will then proceed along the widest part with the
shoe guided by the movable gange in its advanced position and it remains in
this position until the sewing has been completed along the widest part of the
shoe sole approximately to the point marked w³.
It will be noted that from the point w³ to the point there is a gradual
narrowing of the projecting edge of the shoe sole, and when the point wis
reached the operator again brings into operation the actuating mechanism for
the movable gage by again depressing the lever 41, and permitting the pawl 34
to engage the ratchet 23 below the stop s², and the reciprocations of the
pawl 34 turns the ratchet 23 and the cam 18, moving the high point away
from the front and bringing the point to the front, the shape of the cam
being such that the gradual decline from the high point 2 to the low point pl
permits a gradual inward movement of the auxiliary gage 1, which movement
takes place while the sewing progresses from the point to the point w4, at
which time the gage 1 will have reached its retracted position, and the stop s
coming in contact with the pawl 34 stops the further turning of the ratchet 23
and the cam 18, and the sewing then progresses with the shoe guided by the
fixed gage, from the point at around the toe, along the inner ball portion, to
the rear of the inner shank portion.
In sewing a left shoe the pawl 35 will be turned to the front and brought
into engagement with the ratchet 24 and the reciprocations thereof will cause
a turning of the ratchet 24 from left to right this turning the cam 18 from
left to right. The left shoe is positioned in the same manner as in sewing a
right shoc, that is, with the toc of the shoe turned towards the right, and the
sewing begins at the point at the rear of the inner shank portion, at which
time the pawl 35 will be in engagement with the stop t¹ of the ratchet 24 and
the auxiliary gage will be in its retracted position. The sewing thus pro-
gresses from the point along the inner shank portion, the inner ball portion,
and around the toe, until approximately the point el is reached, at which time
there is a gradual widening of the projecting edge of the shoe sole. It is there-
fore necessary that the movable gage he brought into operation to move the
shoe outward gradually while the sewing progresses from the point v¹ to
approximately the point at which point the widest part of the projecting edge
of the shoe sole begins.
The operator therefore depresses the lever 41 and permits the pawl 35 to
engage the ratchet 24 below the stop 1, and while the sewing progresses from
the point to the point 2, the rotations of the pawl 35 will turn the
ratchet 24 from left to right turning the cam 18 from left to right and gradually
bringing the high part 3 of the cam to the front, thus gradually advancing
the movable gage to its extreme outward position, and as the point in
reached the pawl 35 comes in contact with the stop thus stopping the turning
of the ratchet 24 and the cam 18 with the high part of the cam p³ in the
forward position, and the gage 1 in its advanced position.
While the parts are in this position with the gage 1 moved out, the stitching
proceeds from the point to approximately the point during which time
the gage and its actuating mechanism are at rest. As the point is reached
it is necessary that the movable gage be quickly retracted in order to permit
the shoe to move quickly back as the sewing progresses from the point to

page_text: the beginning of the outer shank portion, or to the point, the operator
therefore again depresses the lever 41 and permits the pawl 35 to engage the
ratchet 24 below the stop and while the sewing progresses from the point 3
to the point the reciprocations of the pawl 35 will turn the ratchet 24 turning
the cam 18 bringing to the front the low part 1 of said cam, thus permitting
the spring 12 to quickly retract the gage 1 to its extreme inward position.
At this time the stop 3 will come in contact with the pawl 35 thus stopping
the turning of the ratchet 24 and the movements of the cam 18, and the sewing
progresses along the outer shank portion with the rage retracted.
[6
In describing the operation of my improved auxiliary gage I have assumed
that it is employed in sewing what is known as Baltimore edge" shoes
wherein the sole projects a greater distance upon one side than on the other; but
it is obvious that both sides of the shoe sole may project uniformly in which
case the auxiliary gage will be brought into oneration while sewing along
the inner ball" portion of the shoe as well as along the outer "ball" portion.
It will be noted that by arranging the mechanism of the auxiliary gage so
as to be thrown into operation by the operator it is adapted for employment
with all sizes of shoes, as it remains at rest until the operator desires that it
shall move in or out as the case may be, so that no matter what the length of
that portion of the sole which is being stitched while the gage is in its retracted.
or its advanced position may be, it may remain in such position until said
portions of the shoe sole shall have been stitched, and whenever it becomes
necessary to either advance or retract such gage, while the sewing proceeds
from a narrow part to a wide part of the shoe sole or from a wide part to a
narrow part, such movement is automatically produced.
In applying the present invention to those machines for operating on shoe
soles which perhaps may not comprise a reciprocating feed slide, the machine
would be provided with a slide substantially like the feed slide hereinbefore
described, which would be reciprocated in substantially the same way and by
substantially the same mechanism of the present machine, or in any other
suitable manner, and upon such slides the pawls which actuate the ratchets to
turn the cam would be mounted.
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 machine for operating upon shoe soles, the combination with a fixed
gage, of a movable gage, the meeting ends of said gages having complemental
projections and recesses arranged to take into each other, substantially as
described.
2. In a machine for operating on shoe soles, the combination with a fixed
work support and gage having a recess in its under side, of a movable gage,
the operating end of which is normally mounted in said recess with its work
gaging face in substantial alignment with the work gaging; face of the fixed
work support and gage, and means for adjusting said movable gage beyond the
work gaging face of the fixed work support and gage, substantially as
described.
3. In a machine for operating on shoe soles, the combination with a movable
gage, of automatically operating mechanism for actuating such gage, such
mechanism being normally inactive and the gage at rest, and means under the
control of the operator to set in motion the gage operating mechanism to
advance or retract the movable gage, substantially as described.
4. In a machine for operating on shoe soles, the combination with the feed
slide, of a movable gage, a cam for actuating such gage, and a pawl and
ratchet connection between the feed slide and the cam, whereby the recipro-
cations of the feed slide will actuate the movable gage, substantially as
described.

page_text: 5. In a machine for operating on shoe soles, the combination with a movable
gage, of a pawl and ratchet mechanism for actuating such gage, a stop on
said ratchet for disconnecting the pawl therefrom, means for normally main-
taining the pawl in the path of movement of said stop, and means under the
control of the operator to move said pawl out of the path of movement of said
stop to engage the ratchet, substantially as described.
6. In a machine for operating on shoe soles, the combination with a movable
gage, of mechanism for actuating such gage, said mechanism comprising a
pair of ratchet wheels with the teeth arranged in opposite directions, and a pawl
carrier carrying a pair of oppositely arranged pawls, and means to adjust said
pawl carrier to bring either pawl into engagement with its respective ratchet
wheel, substantially as described.
7. In a machine for operating on shoe soles, the combination with a movable
gage, of a cam for actuating such gage, a ratchet wheel connected with such
cam, a vertically movable spring sustained plunger mounted in a movable
bearing, and a pawl carried by said plunger to engage the ratchet wheel, sub-
stantially as described.
8. In a machine for operating on shoe soles, the combination with a movable
gage, of a cam for actuating such gage, a pair of oppositely arranged ratchet
wheels for independently turning said cam in opposite directions, a vertically
disposed spring sustained plunger mounted on a reciprocating carrier, a pair
of oppositely disposed pawls carried. by the plunger in different horizontal planes
and means permitting the plunger to be turned to bring either pawl into
position to engage its ratchet wheel, substantially as described.
9. In a machine for operating on shoe soles, the combination with a tool
for operating upon the sole, of a movable gage arranged to move from a
retracted to an advanced position to vary the point of operation of the tool
on the sole, automatic mechanism for actuating the gage, said mechanism being
inactive when the gage is in its advanced and retracted positions, and means
under the control of the operator to set in operation the said mechanism to
advance and retract said gage, substantially as described.
Dated the 5th dox of Santamhan 1800
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.