Improvements in or appertaining to Lasting Machines
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Lasting Machines.
A communication from abroad by THE ROCHESTER LASTING MACHINE COMPANY
(a company organized under the laws of Minnesota), of Rochester, State of
New York, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 invention relates to lasting machines and consists in a toe-support for the
last capable of being withdrawn at pleasure to relieve the upper of pressure during
the stretching of the same from heel to toe.
The invention is more especially designed for use in a machine of the character set
forth in Letters Patent No. 11379, dated August 7th 1888, but is susceptible of
application to other machines as well. The details of construction are also susceptible
of variation, the only essential being that the toe-rest shall be capable of ready
withdrawal when desired.
In the drawings hereto annexed,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the improvement;
Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of those parts necessary to illustrate the
invention, and
Figures 3 and 4 views illustrating means for controlling the toe-rest by foot.
All parts not herein shown or specifically described may be of the construction
set forth in the Patent aforesaid and need not, therefore, be more explicitly referred.
to herein.
In the practical operation of these machines my correspondents have discovered
that the pressure upon the upper between the last and the toe-support interferes:
with the free longitudinal stretching of the upper, restricting the stretching or.
causing it to take place principally or entirely from the toe-rest forward; or
necessitating such a pull upon the leather as shall cause it to slip between the last.
and the toe-support, or to force back the latter.
It is also observed in practice that, after the shoe is lasted, if the toe-rest be held
up firmly against the upper, the side jaws in moving back are apt to pull the edges of
the upper off the insole, or to tear the same; for which reason also it is desirable to
withdraw the toe-rest after the lasting has been performed.
The withdrawal and return of the toe-support are provided for in the manner
represented in the drawings, in which,
A indicates the last; B the heel post or support; C the toe-rest, and D the toe
pincers by which the upper is drawn lengthwise of the last and stretched over the toe
or forepart of the last.
The toe-rest C is formed with a stem or shank a, which slides longitudinally within
a tubular post or support E, and is there connected with a lever F pivoted to ears on
the post E, and serving to move the shank or steun a and with it the toe-rest C toward
or from the last at will. In practice that portion of the stem or shank which passes
through the bottom or rear of the post is preferably made smaller than the upper or
forward end of the same, and the reduced portion encircled by a coiled spring G
acting to press the toe-rest toward the last, but this is not essential.
When the spring is used it may be made stiff enough to hold the toe-rest against
the upper with such force as is necessary to give adequate support to the last, or it.

page_text: may be only stiff enough to advance the toe-rest preparatory to its being made fast by
a suitable locking device. This may be advantageously accomplished by providing
the lever F with a locking bolt 6 controlled by a hand piece or grip c, and arranged
to engage in one or another of a series of notches d formed in a curved rack-bar H
carried by the tubular post. E, said locking holt serving to hold the lever, and con-
sequently the toe-rest in whatever position may be given it.
It will of course be understood that when this arrangement is adopted, the lever
will work between two shoulders or collars e on the end of the shank or stem a as
shown in Figure 2, so that it shall move the shank or stem positively in both directions
and prevent its movement in either direction except with the lever.
In
The lever F may be actuated by hand or a rod, or other connection may pass
therefrom to a stirrup, treadle, or other device to be actuated by the foot.
other words it is wholly immaterial in what manner the lever be actuated, and in
fact a cord, chain, or other device may be attached directly to the rear end of the
stem or shank and pass over a suitable pulley or other guide to a stirrup, treadle,
or like device.
In other words the invention consists broadly in providing a machine with a
toe-rest freely movable toward and from the last at any and all times, and with
means for receding said rest, from the last, Figures 3 and 4 illustrating obvious
equivalents for the construction shown in Figure 2, and designed to permit the
control of the toe-rest by foot instead of by hand.
The invention above set forth is to be distinguished from the common last supports
which are capable of adjustment to suit different lasts, but which are firmly held
at one adjustment so long as the particular last for which the adjustment is made
remains in position.
It is further to be distinguished from machines in which a toe-rest for the last
is connected to and moves with the lasting devices or their actuating mechanism,
and which, during the stretching of the upper, remains in contact therewith.
The object of the invention is to remove all pressure upon the upper between the
last and the toe-support of the last, during the stretching operation.
This result is an important one, and has never before been attained, so far as my
correspondents are aware.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a lasting machine, the combination substantially as set forth and shown, of a
last, a toe-support therefor freely movable toward and from the last, regardless of
the movements of the lasting devices or their actuating mechanism, and a retracting
device connected with said toe-support and under control of the attendant; whereby
the toe-support may be withdrawn from the last at will.
2. In a lasting machine, the combination of a last, a toe-rest, wholly disconnected
from the lasting devices and movable toward and from the last, and a lever connected
with the toe-rest and under control of the operator, substantially as shown and
described, whereby the toe-rest may be positively moved toward or from the last
at will.
3. In a lasting machine, the combination of a last, a toe-support therefor free at all
times to be moved toward and from the last, a lever connected with the toe-rest and
serving to move the same toward or from the last at will, and a locking device
serving to hold the parts in their adjusted positions, substantially as shown and
described.
4. In a lasting machine, the combination of a last, a toe-support for said last,
pincers movable in the direction of the length of the last, and retracting mechanism
connected with the toe-support and serving to withdraw the same from the last,
during the action of said pincers, substantially as set forth.
5. In combination with a last and with pincers movable in the direction of the
length of the last, a toe-support for the last and a lever connected with said toe-

page_text: support and serving to move the same both toward and from the last, substantially as
shown and described.
6. In combination with a last and with pincers movable in the direction of the
length thereof, a toe-support for the last, a lever connected with the toe-support and a
locking device for holding said lever in its adjusted position, substantially as set forth
and shown.
7. In a lasting machine, the combination of last A, toe-support C provided with
shank a, tubular post E, spring G, and lever F.
8. In a lasting machine the combination of last A, toe-support C provided with
shank
tubular post E provided with rack-bar H, spring G, and lever F provided
with locking bolt 6 to engage with the rack-bar.
α,
9. In a lasting machine, the combination, substantially as described and shown, of
a last, heel and toe-supports therefor, and stretching devices for stretching an upper
upon the last, and a lever connected with the toe-support, whereby said support
may be withdrawn from the last during the stretching of the upper lengthwise
thereof.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1890
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.