IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRESSING AND FORMING HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES.
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,.
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRESSING AND FORMING
HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES.-A com-
munication from abroad by Horace Holley Bigelow, of Worcester,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Henry Johnson at.
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 15th June 1870, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
'
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRESSING AND FORMING HEELS FOR BOOTS AND
SHOES, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to

page_text: grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal
Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that the
said Invention is communicated to me from abroad by Horace Holley
Bigelow, of Worcester, in the State of Massachusetts, and United States
of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to certain peculiar constructions, arrangements,
and combinations of machinery or apparatus for pressing and forming
heels for boots and shoes, applicable also to other like purposes.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I
shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that
purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of
Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in
all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a front view of the improved
heel press; Figure 2 is a corresponding side clevation of the same;
Figure 3 represents a plan of the press corresponding to Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a plan of the die cylinder and dies; Figure 5 is a vertical
section taken through the dies and cylinder on the line 1-2, Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a rear view of the stop device; Figure 7 represents a front
view of the operating excentric and its connections with the plunger;
Figure 8 is a bottom view of one of the heel dies; Figure 9 represents
a central vertical section of one of the heel dics taken along the
line 3-4, Figure 8; Figure 10 represents a central vertical section of
the discharging punch; Figure 11 is a side view of the nail holder;
Figure 12 is a plan of the same shewing the manner in which it is placed
upon the die.
In the Drawings the part marked A in the bed or table of the machine,
which is supported at a proper height upon legs A¹, and is provided with
a strengthening web a along its lower side, while from its upper side a
projects an upright frame A³ for supporting the stamping plunger B
and eccentric driving shaft C. Upon the table A and at its forward
end and underneath the stamp B' is arranged in a horizontal position a

page_text: revolving cylinder D which carries the forming die E, E¹, E³, E³, such.
dies being disposed in the cylinder D, as indicated in Figures 3, 4, and 5.
The cylinder D is secured to the table A by means of a vertical stud
or pivot G, which passes through the centre of the cylinder D and screws
into the table A in such a manner that the cylinder is permitted to
revolve freely around the same, but is allowed no vertical motion. The
dies E, E¹, E³, E³, are accurately fitted into recesses formed in the upper
part of the cylinder D, where they are held securely from all lateral
motion, but may be moved vertically up and down by any pressure
applied to them from below or above. Openings are formed through the
bottom of the cylinder D directly beneath the centres of the dies; these
openings are of such form and size as will permit the passage of the heel
blanks and follower blocks F, which latter are made in the shape of a
heel, and of suitable sizes to fit the interior of the forming dies. The
dies E for forming the heels are made as shewn in Figure 8, the matrix
being of the form which it is required to give to the finished heel. A
head plate c is arranged in the upper part of the material for forcing.
the pressed heels from the die, which plate c is secured upon the lower
end of a sleeve 6 which extends up through an opening in the top of
the die, and upon which the discharging punch H (Figure 10) strikes
to depress the plate c. A small flange is formed around the upper end
of the sleeve b, which in connection with a similar flange formed around
the lower part of the opening in the die prevents the plate c from
dropping out of the matrix. In the centre of the sleeve 6 is hung a
discharging pin e, which is made somewhat longer than the sleeve b,
and is furnished with suitable flanges which prevent it from dropping
entirely out of the sleeve or being displaced during the upward motion,
while it is permitted to work freely up and down, so that it will project
at either the upper or lower end as required. The object of the pin e is to
release the heels from the head plate c after the latter has loosened them
from the die, thereby insuring their discharge from the press. The
discharging pin e is actuated by means of a spring centre ƒ (Figure 10)
in the discharging punch H. The top of the dies and their head plates.
are pierced with small vertical openings 2, through which the awls h
and driver g and into which the nails for securing the heels are inserted.
In the present instance there are only five of these openings represented
in each die, but any number may be formed therein as desired, so that
all the nails required in a heel can be driven at a single operation.
The head of the stud or pivot G is flanged at one side and projects over

page_text: the edge of the dies E³, E³, as shewn in Figures 4 and 5, so as to prevent
their being drawn up by the awls h or drivers g as they ascend. The
stamp B' consists of a flat plate, which is cast upon the lower end of
the plunger B, and is made large enough to nearly cover all of the dies.
Recesses are formed in its lower side to receive the head i of the pivot G,
and pins c as the stamp descends, so that its under surface can come
down squarely upon the top of the cylinder D. Recesses are also formed
in the stamp B' above the dies E² and E³, into which are fitted and
secured the plates 3 that hold the awls and nail drivers g, the former
being arranged above the die E* and the latter above the die E³ in such
a manner that they will descend into the openings 2 with the motion of
the stamp B', while above the centre of the die E there is arranged the
discharging punch H, which descends upon the top of the pin e and
sleeve b. Above the die E¹ the bottom of the stamp B¹ is made level,
so that in descending it will strike squarely upon the whole top surface
of the said die for the purpose of pressing the heel into proper form, as
will herein-after explained. The plunger B which carries the stamp B¹
is supported in a vertical position by suitable guides on the front of
the upright frame A³, to which it is held by the face plate I, secured
to the upright frame A² at each side by screws or bolts, as shewn in
the Drawings. The central part of the plunger B is recessed or open
in order to allow sufficient space for the working of the eccentric J
and the rock bar J' by means of which the plunger B is operated.
The rock bar J¹ (Figure 7) has a bearing on its upper end upon the
eccentric J, while its lower end which is properly curved rests upon a
horizontal base B3 at the lower part of the plunger B, and being closely
fitted to the recess at its sides it rocks to and fro with the action of the
eccentric, thereby transmitting a very steady and powerful movement to
the stamp B³.
The bearing above the eccentric is formed by a pillow block J' inserted
between the eccentric J. and the top plate B³ of the plunger B, as
shewn in Figures 1 and 7 of the Drawings.
The shaft C is operated by means of a spur wheel K and pinion L
in connection with the stopping devices shewn in Figures 5 and 6.
The pinion L is fixed upon the main driving shaft L', which shaft is
arranged parallel to and beneath the shaft C. It is supported in bear-
ings M on the upright frame A2 and table A, and it is provided with a
heavy fly wheel N for equalizing its motion. The motive power is to be

page_text: applied to the main shaft L' by means of any suitable arrangement of
belts or gearing, which it is not necessary to illustrate. The wheel K
which gears with the pinion L is hung loosely upon the shaft C, and
has secured firmly to one of its sides a ratchet wheel K', the teeth of
which incline forwards in the direction of its motion, as indicated in
Figure 6. Keyed to the end of the shaft O outside of the ratchet wheel K¹
there is an arm O through the outer end of which is arranged in a
direction parallel with the axis of the shaft C a small spindle which has
secured to one of its ends a ratchet dog or pall P that engages with the
teeth of the ratchet wheel K³, and at its other end a trip lever P¹, by
means of which the ratchet dog or pall P is operated. A spring Q is
secured to one side of the arm O, which presses upon the trip lever P¹
and tends to throw the pall or dog P into gear with the teeth of the
ratchet wheel K'. The pall P is thrown out of gear with the ratchet
wheel K' by the action of a stop finger R upon the trip lever P¹. One
end of the stop finger R is pivoted to the side of the arm O, as indicated
in Figure 6, while its other end is arranged to strike upon the top of the
swinging stud S which is hinged to and projects upwards from the bed
or table A. The finger R is provided with a projection r that rests
against the trip lever P¹, and presses it upwards
strikes the stud S, thereby throwing out the pall P.
when the finger R
When the pressure
finger are pressed
is removed from the finger R the trip lever P¹ and
down by the spring Q. A guard pin k is arranged beneath the finger R
to prevent it from swinging too far downwards.
The swing stud S is hinged upon the bed or table A, as shewn at S',
and is swung to and fro by the bell-crank lever S³, one end of which is
rigidly secured to the side of the stud S, while its other end is con-
nected by means of a rod m to the rear end of a treadle T, which latter
works on a fulcrum near its centre in a hanging support 7 beneath the
table A, and is provided at its front end with a foot pad T", upon which
the operator presses his foot when he desires to set the plunger B in
motion. A helical spring T is attached to the treadle lever T, to raise
its forward end when the pressure of the foot is removed.
An opening of sufficient size to allow the passage of the follower
blocks F is formed through the table A directly beneath the die E (as
indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3), under which is arranged a feeding
device by means of which the heels are transferred to and from the dies.
This device consists of a vertical elevating spindle U (Figures 1 and 2),

page_text: having at its upper end a disc n for supporting the follower blocks F
during the operation of changing the heels. The spindle U slides up
and down in bearings t, f, it being raised and depressed by the hand
lever V, the rear end of which is pivoted beneath the table A, and its
front end provided with a suitable handle V. A slide 4 is arranged
upon the spindle U, wherein are secured the lower ends of a pair of stay
pins 5 which pass up through the bearing t and disc n into holes formed
in the lower side of the follower blocks F, as shewn in Figure 1, and
thereby retain the said blocks in position upon the dise n. The slide 4
is drawn upwards by a spring 7, one end of which is secured to the slide,
and the other to the disc n. The arrangement of the slide 4 is such that
when the spindle U is elevated to pass the heel and follower into the die
the slide 4 strikes the bearing t, and thereby withdraw the ends of the
pins 5 from the holes in the follower block F, thereby releasing it from
the disc n, so that it may be carried forward with the die as the
cylinder D is revolved.
At the left of the elevating spindle U (Figure 1), and secured to one
of the supporting standards A', is the receiving table W and entering
slide W', by means of which the heel blanks are carried to the elevating
device. A dovetailed groove w is formed across the top of the table, W,
into which the entering slide W¹ moves back and forth, such slide being
provided with a fork W for holding the heel blank in the proper
position, and with a knob or handle v, by means of which it is moved
back and forth along the groove w. A stud (Figure 3) is set in the
top of the table W, which the fork W' strikes, and prevents the slide W₁
from being drawn too far back. The table W may be adjusted up or
down, and it is set so that its top surface will be slightly above the top
surface of the follower block F upon the disc n. A guage screw x is
arranged through the web a opposite the slide W', against which the
heel blanks are stopped; this sorew can be moved in or out to accom-
modate the different sizes of heels. A vertical groove is formed in the
side of each follower block F to allow them to pass the end of the
screw v.
Beneath the die E¹ is arranged a device for relieving the machine from
injurious concussion while pressing the heels into form. It consists of a
a moveable metallic bed piece Y somewhat larger than the bottom of the
follower blocks F set into the table A, as indicated in Figure 5. A
spring Y¹ of rubber or some other suitable material is arranged beneath

page_text: and supports the bed piece Y, which latter is held by screws y in such a
manner that its upper surface will not rise above the upper surface of
the table A, while it can at any time be depressed by any extra amount
of pressure above that required in forming the heels. The bed piece Y
and spring Y' are enclosed by a cylinder Y' cast upon the under side of
the table, and through the bottom of this cylinder is arranged an
adjusting screw Y³, by means of which the spring Y₁ can be adjusted to
withstand any desired amount of pressure. A guard plate z is inserted
between the spring Y¹ and screw Y³, as indicated.
The
The device for revolving the die cylinder D consists of a latch dog D¹
provided with a handle q and pivotted near its centre to the lower side
of a curved bar D³, which latter is secured to the cylinder D by means
of a metallic band D³. The band D³ is fitted into a groove formed
around the upper part of the cylinder D in such a manner that the
curved bar D and latch dog D' can by pressing upon the handle q be
moved freely around to the right without moving the cylinder D, but
by pressing the handle q to the left the point of the dog D¹ catches into
one of the notches 10 formed in the periphery of cylinder D, whereby
such cylinder is caused to revolve, carrying forward the dies.
number of notches in the periphery of the cylinder corresponds with
the number of dies, of which in the present instance there are four, but
the machine may be constructed with a greater or less number of dies if
desired. The revolving device is arranged in such a manner that it will
advance the cylinder D by one quarter revolution at each full sweep to
the left of the handle q. An elastic pad or stop lug 11 is secured to the
upright frame A², against which the end of the curved bar D' strikes
when the dies are in proper position, and thereby stops any further
motion of the cylinder until the handle q and dog D₁ have been swung
to the right and the hold of the latter is renewed. At the right of the
cylinder D, pivotted upon a projecting portion of the table A, is a stop
dog 12 for holding the cylinder and dies in position during the descent
of the stamp B¹. A guard lever Z which acts in connection with the
stop dog 12 is fulcrum near its centre to the table A, as indicated in
Figs. 2 and 3. The forward end of this lever Z works on a pin fixed in
the head of the stop dog 12, while its rear end is passed under a loop Z¹
and is furnished with a small disc 13, as shewn. A spring Z³ secured to
the table A presses against the forward end of the lever Z and tends to
throw the head of the stop dog 12 out from the notch 10 in the side of

page_text: the cylinder D, and an inclined lug is fixed to the under side of the
curved bar D³, which runs under the shank of the stop dog 12 when the
bar D is swung hard up to the right (see dotted lines, Fig. 3), and
thereby forces the head of the dog 12 into the notch 10 to hold the
cylinder in position; the same operation also swings the rear end of the
lever Z outwards from above the spur 14 on the end of the lever S³
(Fig. 6), so that such lever can be raised by means of the treadle T.
By the use of the lever Z in connection with the dog 12 any accident
which might happen from the dies becoming misplaced or the premature
starting of the plunger is prevented, as it is impossible to swing back the
stud S and let the ratchet dog P into gear with the wheel K', excepting
when the head of the dog 12 is in one of the notches 10, at which time
the dies are of necessity in proper position. And again, if the dog 12
be but partially entered in the notch 10 when the treadle T is operated
the spur 14 will force the rear end of the lever Z outwards and thereby
press the head of the dog 12 properly into the notch 10. A guard 15 is
attached to the front of the machine above the cylinder D to prevent
the die from receiving more than one heel at a time. The guard 15 is
adjusted at a short distance above the cylinder, and should a second heel
accidentally be placed in the die before the first is discharged therefrom
or a heel become misplaced before entering the dic, the top of the die E
will be raised so high that it will strike the guard 15 and prevent the
revolution of the cylinder until the cause of difficulty is removed.
The nails to be driven into the heels are fed into the machine by
means of a nail holder, such as represented in Figs. 11 and 12 of the
Drawings; it consists of a head block 16 pierced with holes to correspond
with the holes 2 in the dies. The block 16 is of sufficient thickness to
support the nails in an upright position, and it is pivotted through its
centre to a thin bottom plate 17 also pierced with holes in a like
manner. At one side the bottom plate 17 is extended outwards to form
the handle 18, and a spring 19 is arranged thereon, which throws the
plate 17 to one side so that the holes in the plate 17 and head block 16
will be out of line with cach other. Arms 20 are formed on the head
block 16, in the ends of which arc formed notches which fit onto the
studs 1 set in the top of the dies. The nails 21 are set into the holes in
the head block 16, as shewn in Fig. 11; the holder is then placed upon
the top of the die Es in the manner shewn in Fig. 12, the notches in
the arms 20 fitting the studs 1, which brings the holes in the head 16
directly over the holes in the die. The operator then swings the handle

page_text: which brings the notes in the bottom plate 17 in line with the holes in
the head block 16, thus allowing the nails 21 to drop through into the
holes 2 of the die, so that the drivers g force them into the heels as the
stamp descends.
The operation of forming the heels is as follows:-The pieces of
which the heels are composed are packed together and secured to
each other sufficiently to hold them in place; one of the blanks
thus formed is placed upon the receiving table W in front of the
fork W, and the operator taking hold of the handle V runs in the
slide Wuntil the heel strikes the end of the screw x, when he draws
out the slide, leaving the heel upon the follower block F. The elevating
spindle U is then raised by means of the lever V and the heel blank and
follower block F is thereby elevated to the interior of the die E, which
die is by the operation slightly raised so that its upper part will project
from the top of the cylinder D; the operator then takes hold of the
handle q and revolves the cylinder to the left so as to bring the die to
the position marked E'. He then swings the handle back to the right,
which forces in dog 12 to hold the cylinder in position. He then places
his foot upon the foot pad T and presses down the treadle lever T, which
swings back the stud S and allows the dog P to engage the ratchet
wheel K', which operates the eccentric and moves down the plunger B,
bringing the stamp B' down upon the die E¹ and forcing it down upon
the follower block F, thereby compressing the heel blank H' firmly into
the matrix against the head plate c. When the shaft C has made its
revolution the stop finger R strikes upon the end of the stud S and
raises the trip lever P₁, thereby swinging back the dog P and stopping
further motion of the shaft C and plunger B. The cylinder is then
revolved again, which brings the die to the position marked E³, when the
plunger B being again started the awls h are forced down through the
openings 2 and perforate the heel. After the heel has been perforated
the cylinder is revolved to bring the die to the position marked E³, when
the operator places the nail holder containing the nails over the die and
drops the nails into the openings in the manner before explained; after
removing the nail holder the plunger B is again started, and the drivers g
descend into the openings 2 and force the nails into the perforations
formed by the awls h. The cylinders again revolved, which carries the
die to the position from whence it started, and as the plunger descends

page_text: the discharging punch presses down the head plate c and discharging
pin e, thereby forcing the completed heel from the die, which together
with the follower block F drops down upon the disc n and is removed
from thence by the hand of the operator, the operation being completed.
It will be understood that after the dies are filled a finished heel is
removed and a fresh blank is inserted as each die passes the position
marked E, so that although it requires four operations to complete the
heels by using four dies, all these operations are accomplished at each
stroke of the plunger B and stamp B', thereby forming the heels very
rapidly.
It will be observed that the perforations are formed and the nails
driven while the heels are under pressure from all sides, whereby the
leather of the different layers of which the heels are composed is kept
from unduly expanding after the pressure has been removed, and also
that the uneven edges of the lifting are pressed inwards, thereby forcing
all of the stock into the heel, so that there is no waste from trimmings,
the edges being left firm and smooth and of the proper form, whereby
they only require to be finished up, while the heels being firmer and
more solid will wear much longer than heels made in the ordinary
way.
Different sizes of dies and follower blocks are made for the different
sizes and forms of heels, and heels of different thicknesses may be made
by varying the thickness of the follower blocks F or head plates c, while
by changing the length of the drivers g the nails may be driven into the
heels to a greater or less extent.
In lieu of supporting the forming dies in a revolving cylinder they
may be arranged in a sliding support and move back and forth under
the stamp B¹, or a single die may be used separately, but I prefer to use
them in the manner shewn.
It will be understood that by this improved press all of the nails may
be partially driven, to be subsequently driven the remaining portion of
their length by another machine, which secures them to the boots or
shoes, or, if preferred, only a few of the nails may be driven, all of the
holes being formed to receive the nails as the heels are used.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or

page_text: carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim is,--
First. The combination in a machine for forming pressed heels for
boots and shoes of the following elements, videlicit, a die for pressing the
heel into proper forms provided with holes for the passage of the heel,
perforating awls, nails, and nail drivers, a series of perforating awls
and a series of nail drivers, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Second. The combination of the follower F with the die E, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. The combination with the forming die of the head plate c,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. The combinatiou with the head plate c and sleeve 6 of the
discharging pin e, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the sleeve and discharging pine of the
discharging punch H provided with a spring centre f, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the discharging pin e of the spring
centre, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the die E and follower block F of the
elevating disc n, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Eighth. The combination with the disc n and bearing of the slide 4
and pins 5, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Ninth. The combination with the disc n and receiving table W of the
slide W and fork W2, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Tenth. The combination with the disc n and follower block F of the
screw and fork W³, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Eleventh. The combination with the fork W' of the stop pin or
stud V, substantially as shewn and described.
Twelfth. The combination with the bed or table A and cylinder D of a
forming die E and follower block F, substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth.
Thirteenth. The flanged head i on the pivot G, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.

page_text: Fourteenth. The combination with the cylinder D of the stop dog 12
and the mechanism for rotating the cylinder, substantially as shewn and
for the purposes set forth.
Fifteenth. The combination with the table A and cylindrical recep-
tacle Y of the bed piece Y, spring Y¹, plate z, and adjusting screw Y³, 5
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Sixteenth. The combination with the stop dog 12 and bell crank
lever S² of the guard lever Z, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Seventeenth. The combination with the lever 5° and Z of the spur 14, 1
substantially as described.
Eighteenth. The combination with the ratchet wheel K', arm O, and
swinging stud S of the dog or pall P, trip lever P¹, spring Q, finger R,
and guard pin k, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Nineteenth. The nail holding device composed of the parts 16, 17, 18, 1
19, and 20, substantially as shewn and described.
Twentieth. The combination of the arms 20 of the nail holder with
the studs 1 on the forming dies, substantially as shewn and for the
purposes stated.
Twenty-first. The combination and use of a machine for forming 2
compressed heels for boots and shoes wherein the mechanism is so con-
structed and arranged that the heel is compressed on all sides and held
under continued pressure during the operation of perforating the heel
and driving the nails for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this 2
my Specification set my hand and seal, the Fourteenth day of
June One thousand eight hundred and seventy.