Improvements in Apparatus for Making Inner Soles for Boots , and Shoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Making Inner Soles for Boots
,
and Shoes.
A communication from abroad by GEORGE E. MILNER, President of The Gem
Flexible Insole Company of Brockton, in the State of Massachusetts, one of
the United States of America.
I, ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES, of 55/56, 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 ascer-
tained in and by the following statement;-
This invention relates to apparatus for making inner soles for boots and shoes
and particularly welted boots and shoes, in which the leather portion of the sole
is reinforced by a sheet or layer of fabric, the said leather portion being split
around its edge, to form a flange which is bent upwardly from one side of the
sole and is covered by a sheet of fabric, the fabric being cemented to the side
of the sole from which the flange or lip projects, and covering the lip also, so that
both the sole and lip are reinforced.
The invention has for its object to provide a machine for conforming the rein-
forcing layer to the sides of the flange or lip, and for trimming said layer in
conformity to the edge of the leather body of the sole. To these ends, the invention
consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.
Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification:
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved machine, parts being shown
in section.
Figure 2 represents a front elevation of the machine, parts being shown
in section.
Figure 3 is a view of a portion of the machine, showing the forming and
feeding wheel and other parts in longitudinal section.
Figure 4 represents a side view of the circular trimming knives.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 represent sectional views illustrating the operation of the
machine.
Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views, showing parts of the machine and of
a sole being operated on by the machine."
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
In the drawings:-
i
a represents the supporting frame of the machine. b represents a rotary work.
support or table, which is supported by a vertically movable slide or carrior 41
fitted to move in a holder or socket a¹ affixed to the frame a. said holder
yieldingly supported by means of a spring b². A lever 63 pivoted at ht to
supporting frame is engaged at its swinging end with a stud 75 affixed to and
projecting downwardly from the carrier 61, said studs having nuts 66, 67 between
with the lever 63 is located. The lever 63 is connected by a rod or link 18 with
a treadle (not shown), said treadle, rod, lever, stud and carrier enabling the
TDA 77

page_text: operator to depress the work-table b whenever it is desired to insert the work
between it and the combined forming and feeding wheel c hereinafter described.
The work table b is provided with a shank 69, to which is affixed a gear 610
meshing with the gear 12 affixed to a vertical shaft 63 which is journalled in
bearings on the supporting frame and provided with a bevel-gear 64 which meshes
with a similar gear 615 on a driving shaft b6 to which motion may be communicated
in any desired manner, such as by a crank 67 having a gear 618 meshing with
a gear 6 affixed to the shaft 616. The shank 69 of the work-table b has a down-
wardly projecting stud 620 which rotates in a socket or bearing formed for its
reception in the carrier 6', the work table being thus adapted to rotate, while
the carrier has no rotary movement.
c represents a forming and feeding wheel, which is preferably cup shaped, as
shown in Fig. 3, and has a bevelled milled edge or face c¹ formed to rest squarely
on a sole supported by the work table b, and a milled inner face c², which is
substantially at right angles with the bevelled face c¹ and is arranged to act as
one of the flange-reinforcement forming parts. The wheel e is affixed to a shaft
which is journalled in a fixed bearing on the frame of the machine, and is provided
with a gear c meshing with a gear 5 affixed to an inclined shaft journalled in
bearings on the supporting frame. To the shaft c6 is affixed a bevel-gear c', mesh-
ing with a similar gear on the shaft 16. Rotary motion is communicated to
the wheel c from the shaft 616, through the gears and c, shaft c, and gears c³, c¹,
The wheel c and work table b are thus rotated simultaneously, and in the same
direction, so that the edge of a sole inserted between them will be fed or moved
progressively by the rotation of said parts.
represents a presser-foot, which is formed on or affixed to a slide d' movable in
an inclined guide d², which is affixed to a lever d³ pivoted at d to the supporting
frame and normally held by means of a spring against a stop do. Said stop
as here shown, is a nut on a rod which is connected with the lever b³, the
arrangement being such that when said lever is moved to depress the work-table b,
the lever will also be moved to swing the presser foot d away from the forming
and feeding wheel c. Provision is thus made for releasing the work from pressure
between the presser foot and forming and feeding wheel, and for accommodating
any desired thickness of material between said part. The slide d¹ is longitudinally
movable in the guide to move the presser foot toward and. from the work-
table b. A lever d8, which is mounted upon the pivot beside the lever d³, has
in one arm a slot which receives a stud do on the slide d¹, the other arm of
the lever being extended rearwardly and connected by a rod 12 with a treadle
(not shown). A spring holds the lever d against a stop screw d¹ which
determines the normal position of the foot d relatively to the work table. A
downward movement of the rod causes an upward movement of the presser
foot as will be readily seen.
e and el represent rotary disk shaped trimming knives which are arranged to
trim off the surplus portions of the reinforcing sheet r, which is shown in Figures
6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, cemented upon one face of the leather inner sole s. Said cutters
are affixed respectively to shafts e², e³, which are journalled in bearings in an
oscillatory frame or cutter holder e, the latter being pivoted at e5 to the supporting
frame. The frame is adapted to swing toward and from the work table b,
its cutters being in close proximity to the point where the forming and feeding
wheel and presser-foot bear upon the work.
The cutter è projects into the concave side of the wheel c, as shown in Figs. 3, 6, 7
and S. The shaft e² is rotated by power communicated in any suitable way,
preferably through a belt (not shown) running upon a pulley e6. The shafts e, e³,
are connected by gears e7, 8 so that the cutters are simultaneously rotated in
opposite directions, and are thus caused to trim the material presented to them.
The cutter holder is provided with an arm which is arranged to bear against
the edge of the soles under the reinforcing layer r, and thus determine the line

page_text: along which the projecting portion of the layer r is trimmed by the cutters, the
edge of the soles acting as a gage. The cutters are arranged so that when the
work is in place and the arm e bears upon the edge of the sole, the cutters will
trim the reinforcing layer along a line which is flush with the edge of the sole.
The cutter-holder and its cutters are pressed yieldingly toward the work table b
by means of a spring e10 (Fig. 1). The longitudinal movability of the shaft ²
and the spring ela arranged to press the cutter e yieldingly against the cutter e¹
automatically compensates for wear of the meeting faces of the cutters, and keeps
them always in operative contact with each other.
The operation of the machine is as follows: A sole s, which has been previously
split at its edge to form two lips one of which has been turned upwardly, forming
a rib or flange s¹, is covered on one side, excepting at its heel portion, with a
sheet r of canvas or other suitable reinforcing fabric, the canvas being cemented
to the sole and to the sides of the flange or rib s¹. The reinforcing layer r may
be applied by hand, the operator manipulating and pressing the reinforcing sheet
to cause it to conform approximately to the rib or flange st. The sole is now
placed upon the work table b, the operator depressing the latter to permit the
insertion of the sole and reinforcing layer between the work table and the forming
and feeding wheel c, this depression of the work table also separating the presser
foot from the portion of the wheel c with which it co-operates, all as shown in
Fig. 6. The operator then inserts the rib or flange s¹ and its partially formed
covering between the face c² of the wheel c and the presser foot d. The work
table band presser carrying lever d³ are then released, the table b being forced
upwardly by its spring 62 and the presser foot at the same time forced toward the
wheel by the spring 5, as shown in Fig. 7. These springs are sufficiently
strong to cause a considerable compression of the rib or flange s¹ and its cover
between the forming and feeding wheel and the presser foot. The operator then
rotates the work table and wheel c, thus feeding the sole progressively, and causing
the presser foot and the wheel c to progressively compress and form the rib or
flanges and its cover, throughout the entire length thereof. At the same time,
the projecting edges of the reinforcing layer are presented to the cutters e, e¹,
and trimmed off. flush with the edge of the sole.
The longitudinal movability of the presser-foot slide d¹ in its guide d² enables
the presser foot to, conform automatically to the thickness of the material inter-
posed between it and the table b.
The cutter holder or frame is preferably provided with a plate f arranged to
support the portion of the reinforcing layer which is removed by the cutters, and
prevent said portion from becoming entangled in the cutter shafts and other
moving parts adjacent thereto.
In Figs. 3, 6, and 10, I show a cup or holder g, containing cotton or other
absorbent material, which is saturated with oil and arranged to bear against the
lower portion of the cutter e', thus keeping the cutters properly lubricated.
I do not limit myself to the particular form and arrangement of the several
parts of the machine here illustrated and the same may be variously modified,
without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, the work
support or bed may be a roll or cylinder, instead of a flat table. It is obvious that
any suitable work support may be used, in conjunction with the forming and
feeding wheel and presser foot, the work support holding a sole so that an upwardly
projecting rib thereon will be properly presented to the said wheel and foot.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
1
1. A machine of the character specified, comprising a work supporting bed, a
rotatable forming and feeding wheel, and a presser foot arranged to co-operate
with said wheel in compressing a sole-flange or rib.

page_text: 2. A machine of the character specified, comprising a work supporting bed, a
rotatable forming and feeding wheel supported in fixed bearings, a presser foot
which is movable toward and from said wheel, and means for yieldingly main-
taining the foot in its operative relation to said wheel.
3. A machine of the character specified, comprising a work supporting bed, a
rotatable forming and feeding wheel supported in fixed bearings, a presser foot
guide movable relatively to said wheel and yieldingly held in its normal relation
thereto, a presser foot slide movable independently in said guide and provided with
a presser foot arranged to co-operate with said wheel, and means for yieldingly
holding the said slide in its normal position relatively to the guide.
4. A machine of the character specified, comprising a rotary work supporting
bed, a rotary forming and feeding wheel adjacent thereto, a presser foot arranged to
co-operate with said wheel as described, and means for simultaneously rotating
said bed and wheel.
5. A machine of the character specified, comprising a yieldingly supported
rotary work supporting bed, means for depressing the same, a rotary forming and
feeding wheel mounted in fixed bearings above the said bed, and a presser foot
arranged to co-operate with said wheel.
6. A machine of the character specified, comprising a yieldingly supported work
supporting bed, a rotary forming and feeding wheel mounted in fixed bearings
above the bed, a presser foot movable toward and from said wheel and yieldingly
maintained in its operative relation thereto, and means for simultaneously dis-
placing said bed and presser foot.
7. A machine of the character specified, comprising means for pressing a sole
rib, sole feeding mechanism, and a yieldingly supported trimming mechanism
movable towards and from the edge of the sole to conform automatically to the
edge of the sole.
8. A machine of the character specified, comprising a work supporting bed, rib
or flange compressing devices adjacent to the bed, a cutter holder mounted to move
toward and from said bed and yieldingly maintained in its operative relation
thereto, cutters carried by said holder, and an abutment on said holder arranged to
bear on the edge of a sole.
9. In a machine for reinforcing insoles, the combination of a rotary forming
and feeding wheel, and presser foot arranged to engage the reinforcing material
and conform the same to the lip on an insole, substantially as described.
10. In a machine for reinforcing insoles, the combination with a rotary forming
and feeding wheel, of a presser foot, said wheel and foot arranged to engage the
reinforcing material upon opposite sides of the lip on the insole to conform said
material to the lip, and said forming and feeding wheel having a peripheral
bearing face to lay the edge of the reinforcing material upon the feather of the
insole, substantially as described.
11. In a machine for reinforcing insoles, the combination with a presser foot
arranged to press and conform the reinforcing material to one side of the lin of an
insole, of a forming and feeding wheel arranged to conform the reinforcing
material to the opposite side of the lip, and to feed the insole beneath the presser
foot, substantially as described.
12. In a machine for reinforcing insoles, the combination with a rotary work
support, of a rotary forming and feeding wheel arranged to conform the rein-
forcing material to one face of the lip on the insole and means to cause the insole
to be gripped between the forming and feeding wheel and work support to feed
the insole, substantially as described.
13. In a machine for reinforcing insoles, the combination with a work support
arranged to support the insole, of means to conform the reinforcing material to
the insole and cutters movable towards and from the edge of the insole arranged to
automatically follow the edge of the insole and trim the edge of the reinforcing
material, substantially as described.

page_text: 14. In a machine for reinforcing insoles, the combination with a work support,
of means comprising a presser foot to form a bead or crimp in the reinforcing
material, and means for simultaneously moving the work support and presser
foot to release the insole, substantially as described.
e Town day or August 1898.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55/56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.