Improvements in Machinery for Filing the Nails and Surface of the Bottoms of the Heels and Soles of Boots and Shoes, and for Burnishing the Waists, and Slicking and Polishing the Bottoms of Boots generally.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 9th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Filing the Nails and Surface of the
Bottoms of the Heels and Soles of Boots and Shoes, and for
Burnishing the Waists, and Slicking and Polishing the Bottoms
of Boots generally.
1, CHARLES HENRY SOUTHALL of 18, Chapel Lane, Headingley, Leeds,
Machine Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In making a machine for this purpose, my chief aim is to hold a boot in such a
position, and cause it to move in such a manner that every part to he acted upon
may be presented alternately to a file or burnishing tool as desired. The said file
and burnisher being fixed to a jointed lever made to move backwards & forwards
longitudinally one end, holding the file or burnisher being pressed against the
surface of the boot sole or heel as required by means of springs or weights attached
at the proper places, the other end being jointed to another lever jointed to a
bracket fixed to the frame of the machine. To hold the boots I use a cradle with
a stud bolted to the bottom, on the top of which I provide a suitable arrangement
for holding the last of a boot firmly with the bottom upwards. I cause the boot
and cradle to rock or move a certain required distance each way slowly so that
every part of the boot sole may be presented alternately to the file or burnisher
aforesaid by means of a worm wheel working in a worm keyed on the driving
shaft. On this worm wheel I place a stud at any required distance from the centre.
I connect this wheel to the end of the cradle by a link of the proper length bored
at each end to suit the stud of the worm wheel and stud which I screw to the
cradle. On the end of the driving shaft I place a fly wheel with a slotted casting
attached. In the slot I place an adjustable stud in any required distance from the
centre of the wheel for the purpose of giving any required length of stroke to the
file and burnisher through the jointed lever before mentioned: I cast a slot on
the side of this jointed lever & in it place another adjustable stud. I connect this
stud, with the stud in the fly wheel by a rod of the proper length bored at each
end to suit the two studs. In working the machine I place a boot containing a last
(on the top of the stud placed on the cradle for the purpose) with the bottom
upwards. I then release the jointed lever from a catch provided for holding it up
and let the file or burnisher rest on the boot sole. I then start the machine when
the file or burnisher (whichever is in use) begins to move rapidly in one direction
whilst the boot moves very slowly in the other and is thereby beautifully polished
in a very short time.
Dated this 8th day of March 1892
CHAS. H. SOUTHALL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Filing the Nails and Surface of the
Bottoms of the Heels and Soles of Boots and Shoes, and for
Burnishing the Waists, and Slicking and Polishing the Bottoms
of Boots generally.
I, CHARLES HENRY SOUTHALL, of 18 Chapel Lane, Headingley, Leeds, in
the County of York, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 improvements in machinery or apparatus for filing the

page_text: nails and surface of the bottoms of the heels and soles of boots and shoes, and for
burnishing the waists and "slicking" and polishing the bottoms of boots generally.
The object of this invention is to hold or otherwise fix a boot or shoe upon a last
(adjustable or otherwise) in an oscillating cradle so that every part of the boot to
be operated upon may be presented alternately to the action of a file or polishing
or burnishing tool fixed to a jointed and reciprocating lever capable of yielding to
the curvature of the bottom of the sole.
In the drawings
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 an end elevation of a machine constructed
according to this invention.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation of jointed lever and meaus for attaching it to the
frame-work of the machine.
Fig. 4 is a plan of same.
Fig. 5 an end elevation of cradle.
Figs. 6 and 7 are end and side elevations of file and its holder.
Figs. 8 and 9 are elevations of the slotted casting fixed to the flywheel of the
machine whereby the stroke of the connecting rod may be adjusted.
Figs. 10 and 11 are an end elevation and a plan of wedge for adjustable last.
Figs. 12 and 13 are an end and side elevation of burnishing tool.
Figs. 3 to 13 inclusive are drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2.
Like parts in all the views are marked with similar letters of reference.
The standards A A¹ and their stretcher A constitute the frame-work of the
machine.
In suitable bearings A3 A₁ are mounted pins or short shafts B B to form
trunnions for the cradle C upon which it oscillates. The cradle C is a casting
shaped somewhat like a wide U or trough, and on its base C is mounted an adjust-
able last or jack D with its sole upwards. In the drawings I have shown an
adjustable last consisting of a forepart or toe portion D with a base piece d capable
of sliding upon the base C₁and being fixed in any desired position upon the base C¹
by any suitable means, such as a set screw, or rack and pawl device. To the base
piece d is jointed at the heel portion D'. The two portions are forced apart
by the curved wedge 2 provided with the upright d' by which it is pivoted to the
toe portion D. The wedge d² is arranged to act upon the projection d³ cast on or
attached to the heel portion D'. If preferred the wedge (straight or curved) may
be arranged to work in a slide and to be actuated by a screw and hand wheel. Or
in place of the adjustable last D a pin or upright, provided with an end suitable
for fitting into the hole of and supporting an ordinary iron or wood last, may be
mounted and fixed upon the base C of the cradle. An oscillating motion is
imparted to the cradle C from driving pulley E mounted upon driving shaft F
(carried in bearings provided on the stretcher A2) through worm G,-also-
mounted on the driving shaft,-to worm wheel H, mounted upon a stud fixed to
standard A, and connecting rod I. The ends of the connecting rod I are
mounted upon pin or studs and nuts which are capable of adjustment in the
slots he provided respectively for their reception in the worm wheel H and arm C²
of the cradle, as shown at Figs. 2 and 5, whereby the movement or are of oscillation
of the cradle C may be increased or diminished as required.
J is a rocking frame, which is mounted vertically or nearly so, and jointed at its
lower end; to the lug or bearing A³ provided on the standard A', whilst to the
upper end of the frame is jointed the fixing L to which is fixed one end of the
lever M. The frame J and lever M are arranged to work at an angle to each
other. In the free end m of the lever M is a slot m' for the reception of an
adjustable fixing N to which the file holder O or burnishing tool P is fixed. The
lever M is held to its work by a spiral spring Q (or weights or their equivalents)
the ends q g' of the spring are respectively attached to the stretcher A2 and arm m²
fixed to lever M.
A reciprocating (longitudinally) motion is imparted to the
frame J and lever M from flywheel R on driving shaft F through connecting
rod S, the ends of which are respectively attached to stud j², fixed to frame J,
7
.

page_text: and sliding bolt and nut t mounted in the slot of the casting T fixed to the
flywheel R as shown at Figs. 1 and 8. By means of the sliding bolt and nutt and
slotted casting T, the stroke of the frame J and lever M, and consequently of the
file or burnishing tool, may be adjusted and regulated as required.
U is a lever pivoted to the fixing L and provided at its upper end with a handle,
whilst is lower end is notched for the purpose of engaging with the bar 3 of the
frame J for holding the lever M and file O' or burnishing tool P when raised clear
of the work. The lever U is retained in position by spring u.
V is the belt shipping device actuated by lever V pivoted to standard A for
throwing the belt on to the fast and loose pulleys E E.
The file O, which may either be flat as shown at Figs. 6 and 7 or shaped as
shown at Figs. 12 and 13,is held in its holder O against the lip or ledge 02 by
The holder O is
the square head (3 of bolt 0' as shown at Figs. 6 and 7.
pivotably attached (at a right or other convenient angle to the slot m¹) to the
fixing N by means of the stud O' and lug 0° in such a manner that the holder is
free to turn on the stud 06.
P is the burnishing tool which is preferably though not necessarily so, shaped as
shown at Figs. 12 and 13 so as to provide two surfaces p' for acting upon the
surface of the waist of the boot. The burnishing tool is connected to the fixing N
by the stud 0 passing through hole p².
The mode of operation is as follows:-
The boot or shoe is placed on the adjustable last with the bottom of the sole
upwards. The wedge d is then pressed inwards for forcing the two portions D D'
asunder for tightly holding the boot in position. Or when an ordinary last is used
it is placed within boot in the usual manner and then placed upon the hereinbefore
mentioned supporting pin. The stroke of the cradle C and of the lever M and the
position of file O¹ or tool P, are then adjusted by raising or lowering the ends i
and s respectively in the slots he and t¹ thereby bringing or removing the end i
nearer to or further from the centre of the worm wheel H, and the end s¹ nearer to
or further from the centre of the flywheel R whereby the stroke or oscillation of
the said parts is increased or diminished. The position of the file O' or tool P on
the lever M can also be regulated by means of the slot m'. The machine is then
set in motion and by causing the cradle C to oscillate on the trunnions B B' at a
slower speed than that at which the file or tool reciprocates, every portion of the
bottom of the sole may be evenly and regularly submitted to the action of the
file O¹, or tool P; the spring Q keeping it down to its work and at the same
time permitting it to adapt itself to the curvatures of the sole.
The filing operation may, if desired, be first performed, and then the file removed
and the burnishing tool P attached to the fixing N as described; or in large
factories two machines may preferably be employed one for filing and the other for
burnishing.
:
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. A machine for filing, slicking, polishing and burnishing the bottom of the
soles, waists, and heels of boots and shoes, in which the boot or shoe to be operated
upon is mounted with its sole upwards on a last fixed to a cradle oscillating at a
slower speed than a file, slicking, polishing, or burnishing tool pivotably mounted in
a holder fixed to a yielding reciprocating lever above the work whereby the file or
tool may adapt itself to the curvature of the sole, substantially as herein set forth
and illustrated.
2. In a machine for filing, slicking, polishing and burnishing the bottom of the
soles, waists, and heels of boots and shoes substantially as herein set forth, the
means for pivotably attaching the file or burnishing tool to a yielding reciprocating
lever whereby the said file or tool may adapt itself to the curvature of work
operated upon, as set forth.

page_text: 3. The combination, in a machine for filing, slicking, polishing, and burnishing
the bottom of the soles, waists, and heels of boots and shoes substantially as
herein described and illustrated, of the file O₁ or tool P, its holder O, block N,
lever M, spring Q, lever U, fixing L, frame J, connecting rod S, fixing T,
flywheel R, and driving shaft F mounted in bearings on the frame-work of the
machine, as set forth.
4. The combination, in a boot and shoe filing, slicking, polishing, and burnishing
machine substantially such as herein described, of the oscillating cradle G, arm C³,
last D, worm heel H, worm G, connecting rod I capable of adjustment in
slots he and driving shaft F mounted in bearings in frame-work of the machine,
as set forth.
5. The general arrangement and combination of the various parts forming the
machinery for filing the nails and surfaces of the bottom of the heels, and soles
of boots and shoes, and for burnishing the waists and slicking and polishing the
bottoms of boots generally, substantially as herein set forth and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated the Eighth day of December 1893.
CHARLES HENRY SOUTHALL,
By W. Fairburn-Hart,
Agent.