IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO PRICKING-UP APPARATUS FOR LEATHER STITCHING MACHINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Day, of Stafford, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer,
for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO PRICKING-UP
APPARATUS FOR LEATHER STITCHING MACHINES
,,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Day at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1882.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
JAMES DAY, of Stafford, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer
RELATING TO PRICKING-UP APPARATUS FOR LEATHER STITCHING MACHINES
"
My Invention relates to apparatus to be attached to a leather stitching or
sewing machine for the purpose of thereby performing mechanically the work
termed "pricking up" which has heretofore been performed by hand. My said
Invention is applicable to various kinds of leather stitching machines for the manu-
facture of boots and shoes and for harness and other work, but is herein described
more particularly with reference to a machine for stitching the soles of boots or
shoes to their welts or middle soles.
My said Invention comprises the use of a tool called a pricker which has a
chisel-shaped edge and is attached by the devices herein described to the vibrating
arm of the stitching machine in such a manner that as the work is moved along
by the feeding device, the said tool will " prick up" or divide the stitches from
each other will produce a mark adjacent to each stitch or will imitate duplicate
stitches, either or all of which operations will be performed more rapidly and
efficiently than they can now be done by hand.
When the said apparatus is applied to a machine in which the needle and awl
are both carried by a vibrating lever or bar on the upper side of the work plate
or support, I provide the same with an auxiliary arm or lever for carrying the
pricking up tool. I prefer that the said auxiliary arm should be formed with a
slot on one side for the reception of the tool which is held adjustably by a screw
passing through the slot into the said tool. This auxiliary arm is pivotted in any

page_text: convenient part of the needle bar or lever, and a spring arranged between the
needle bar and the arm gives an elastic support to the said "pricking up" tool.
This spring is connected with a small screw-rod whereby its tension is regulated
as required. If desired, however, the said pricking up tool may be attached directly
or rigidly to the needle-bar. Or it may be connected with, and operated by, some
other suitable part of the machine.
My Invention may also be applied to machines in which the needle is arranged
on the upper side and the awl on the lower side of the machine or vice versa,
either with or without a spring to give it elastic support as above described. In
some cases the tool may be arranged to rise up through the table over which the
work travels.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Day in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th November 1882.
"
JAMES DAY, of Stafford, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
RELATING TO PRICKING-UP APPARATUS FOR LEATHER-STITCHING MACHINES."
My invention relates to Apparatus to be attached to a leather stitching or
sewing machine for the purpose of thereby performing mechanically the work termed
pricking up" which has heretofore been performed by hand. My said invention
is applicable to various kinds of leather stitching machines for the manufacture of
boots and shoes and for harness and other work, but is herein described more
particularly with reference to machines for stitching the soles of boots or shoes to
their welts or middle soles.
"
My said invention comprises the use of a tool called a pricker" which has a
chisel-shaped edge and is attached by the devices herein described or by other
suitable means to the needle lever or bar, to the awl-lever, or to a separate lever
suitably attached to the stitching machine; the said tool is arranged to be operated
in such a manner that as the work is moved along by the feeding device the said
tool will "prick up" or divide the sticks from each other and partially fill up the
holes formed by the awl or needle, and will produce a mark adjacent to each
stitch, or will imitate duplicate stitches, which operations will be performed more
rapidly and efficiently than has heretofore been practicable by hand.
"
My said invention also comprises the use of a spring in combination with the
pricking up "tool or the lever carrying the same, in order that the said tool may
be brought against the work with a yielding pressure and thus adapt itself to the
varying thickness of the leather to be stitched. And the said invention further
comprises means or devices for adjusting the said tool in relation to the needle and
awl, as hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated various forms or modifications
of my improved "pricking up" apparatus.
Figure 1, is a side elevation shewing my improved "pricking up" tool attached
to the oscillating lever of a machine known as the "Pearson fair-stitch lock-stitch
machine," which lever carries the awl and needle.
Figure 2 represents a section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figures 3 and 4. illustrate, in side elevation, two modifications in the attachment
of the pricker to the lever.
Figure 5. represents a front view and Figure 6 a side elevation shewing another
mode of attaching the pricker to the lever.
Figure 7. is a side elevation, and Figure 8 a plan, shewing my improved pricker
attached to the awl lever of a machine known as the "Keats No. 7 or welt-
stitching and fair-stitching machine."
Figure 9 is a sectional elevation shewing the pricker attached to the needle-bar
of the same machine.
Figure 10. is a similar view shewing another mode of attaching the pricker to
the needle-bar.
Figure 11. is a side elevation and Figure 12. is a plan illustrating a convenient
mode of attaching the "pricking up" tool to what is known as the " Goodyear
Machine"
In Figures 1 and 2, a represents the oscillating lever which carries the awl and
needle; b is a boss or hub formed thereon to receive the auxiliary lever c to which
the pricker & is adjustably attached in the following manner, that is to say, a slot

page_text: or recess e is formed in the auxiliary lever c, into which the said pricker fits and
in which it is secured by a screw f passing through, and adjustable in, the slot f¹
in the lever c, the lateral adjustment of the pricker nearer to, or farther from, the
needle being effected by the set-screws f². The spring g is arranged within a
recess or aperture in the lever a and bears upon the auxiliary lever c, the height
of the latter and the normal compression of the spring g being regulated by the
thumb-nut on the rod h', which rod is jointed or pivotted to the lever c.
The
compression of the spring g can also be adjusted by means of the set-screw g¹.
The object of this spring is to enable the "pricking up " tool to exert a yielding
pressure upon the work as above set forth.
In the modification shewn in Figure 3, the boss or hub b is formed excentrically
so as to give the lever c a slight forward movement when the pricker comes in
contact with the work, in order that the pricker shall be pressed forward between
the stitches that have been formed by the needle. The presser foot and guard in
the present machines must be cut away to allow of this forward movement.
In the modification shewn in Figure 4, this forward movement is obtained by
forming a slot a¹ in the lever a above the boss or hub b, that is to say, above the
centre of oscillation of the lever a; into this slot is fitted a bolt i upon which is
pivotted the lever c; this bolt i is adjustable in the said slot to regulate the amount
of forward movement of the pricker.
In Figures 5 and 6 is shown another arrangement of devices for attaching the
"pricking up" tool to the lever a, that is to say, a plate or block j is secured to one
side of the lever a by a screw j¹ passing through, and adjustable in, a slot j³. in the
said block; this block is adjustable laterally by means of the set-screws j; the
pricker is passed through this plate or block and the spring g is arranged to hear
against its upper end for the purpose above specified; the said pricker is supported
and guided at its lower end by the forked bracket k. In this case the needle-
clamp must be secured by screws instead of by the ordinary bolt passing through
the lever.
In Figures 7 and 8, 7 represents part of the awl lever of a "Keats" machine;
this lever has an oscillating motion and the awl is adjustably fixed in a recess at
one side thereof as shewn in Figure 8. To attach the pricker to the lever the
latter is either enlarged at its end or plate m is attached thereto as shewn; this
plate m fits upon a steadying pin and is secured to the lever by a screw m'
passing through a slot m² in the plate m so that the said plate can be adjusted to
raise or depress the pricker. The latter is adjustably fitted in a slot or recess in
the said plate m in a similar manner to that above described. In this case the
work-plate c must be made with a larger aperture than usual to admit the pricker
in addition to the awl
In Figure 9 the pricker is shewn attached to the needle-bar of a machine. In
this case the needle-bar p is made larger than usual and with a tubular portion p¹
in which is placed a spring q adjustable by means of a set screw q' passing through
a screw-threaded aperture in the part p² of the needle-bar. To the lower end of
the needle-bar is adjustably attached a plate or block similar to that described with
reference to Figures aud 6. The pricker passes through this plate or block and
the spring p¹ bears against its upper end. I sometimes employ this arrangement
in combination with that shown in Figures 7 and 8, that is to say, I attach one
pricker to the awl lever for pricking up the stitches on the welt, and another
pricker to the needle bar for pricking up the stitches on the sole, or vice versa.
8
A modification of this arrangement is shown in Figure 10 in which the lower
end of the needle-bar p is made with an incline p³; the block r through which the
pricker passes is made with an inclined surface which is held in contact with the
incline in the following manner, that is to say, a ring or collar s is fixed in any
suitable manner to the needle-bar p so as to surround the block which is held in
place by the set screw 8 passing through the said ring or collar. The two inclined
faces are roughened or provided with teeth to prevent the accidental displacement
of the block 1. It is obvious that by slackening the set screw s¹ and raising or

page_text: lowering the block the pricker will be moved nearer to, or farther from, the
needle and can be again secured in position by tightening the said set-screw
[
"
In Figures 11 and 12 I have illustrated a convenient mode of attaching my
improved pricking up" tool to a "Goodyear Machine" A represents the upper
part of the standard of the said machine. B a bracket fixed to, or forming a part
of, the said standard. C. one of the bearings for carrying the shaft D, and E the
cam ordinarily employed in such machines for operating the needle and other parts
or devices. 1 employ this cam also for operating the " pricking up tool which,
in this case, is attached to a separate lever F; this lever is arranged in the
following manner, that is to say;-In the upper part of the bracket B is fixed a
stud G upon which is pivotted a pin or bolt G¹ serving as a fulcrum for the lever F.
The "pricking up" tool is adjustably secured by screws or other suitable means
to the front or short arm of this lever. The long arm of the said lever extends
backward over the cam E and is made with a projection carrying a friction-
roller; this roller is pressed against the surface of the cam E by the force of the
spring H which is connected at its upper end to the lever F and at its lower end
On this rod is
to a screw-rod I passing through a bracket on the standard A.
screwed a thumb-nut K by means of which the tension of the spring can be
adjusted The cam E is constructed with a depression as shewn by dotted lines
in Figure 11 and with a curved groove as shown in Figure 12 so that the
pricking up" tool is thereby caused to move slightly to one side under the
aperture in the table or work plate, then up into the work plate at the same time
as the awl, and then downward and slightly to one side to its original position
before the awl begins to feed, the pin or bolt G¹ turning on the stud G to permit
the lateral movements of the said tool.
"
It is obvious that the said pricking up tool can be attached in various manners
to different classes of leather stitching machines. I do not therefore confine myself
to the modes of attachment above set forth.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and shewn in what manner the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice I wish it
understood that I Claim, in a machine for stitching leather.
First. A pricker or pricking-up" tool attached to the needle lever or bar, or
to the awl lever of such machine, or to a separate lever or bar suitably attached
to the said machine, for the purpose specified.
Second. The combination with the "pricking up" tool or with the lever carrying
the same, of a spring in such a manner that the said tool will be brought against
the work with a yielding pressure, and will adapt itself to the varying thickness
of the leather, as above set forth.
Third. The means or devices for adjustably attaching the "pricking up" tool to
the lever or bar, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 4,
Figures 5 and 6, Figures 7 and 8, Figure 9, or Figure 10 of the drawings
In Witness whereof I the said James Day have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Fourteenth day of November in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.