IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES AND MOULDS FOR MAKING HEEL COUNTERS OR STIFFENERS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1884

page_text: I GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN of the General Patent Office 4 South Street,
Finsbury in the county of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature
of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES AND MOULDS FOR MAKING
HEEL COUNTERS OR STIFFENERS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES" and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-..
This invention has reference to improvements in the machines used to form heel
counters or stiffeners for boots and shoes and has for its object to produce counters:
in a more rapid and simple manner than the machines at present in usc.
To that end the invention consists in arranging the plungers upon a horizontal:
toothed rack which slides within suitable guides in the framework of the machine,
said plungers being caused to enter moulds placed at each end of the machine and
in direct line with the plungers by the action of a sector gear intermeshing with
the said horizontal toothed rack; said sector gear having a curved arm or horns
made integral therewith and extending downwards; being also provided with an'
oppositely curved arm or horn, fulcrumed at its upper end, to the other arm or horn
and between which arms a roller or stud made adjustable within a gear wheel,
works and which bears alternately upon the arms or horns by the revolution of the
said gear thereby imparting a rocking motion to the sector gear, which causes the:
horizontal rack to reciprocate in the manner hereinafter more fully described.
"
The invention also embraces certain peculiar construction of moulds whereby
perfect counters can be produced from the most delicate and uneven substance, such
for example as "paste leather" and the like.
The invention also further embraces mechanism for forming the "upturn "-or
'flange" of the counter, an operation heretofore found difficult to perform without
the aid of complicated mechanism.
In order to enable the invention to be fully understood I will describe the
same by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1, represents'
a sectional elevation of the invention. Figure 2, is a plan view with moulds

page_text: removed. Figures 3 and 4 shew respectively each end of the machine. Figure 5
is a detail view shewing the device for forming the "upturn" in its normal position
before having acted upon the counter, parts being broken away to shew it more
clearly. Figure 6, is a similar view shewing the improved device for forming the
"upturn" in the position it assumes after having acted upon the counter. Figure 7,
is a section of the same taken on line Y Y Figure 5. Figure 8, is a detail view of
the slide. Figure 9 is a modification of the improved device for forming the
upturn." Figure 10 is a section of the moulds taken on line X X Figure 12.
Figure 11, is a section of the same on line ZZ Figure 10. Figure 12 is a front
view of the moulds. Figure 13, shews a modification of the moulds and Figure 14,
shews the plunger and attachments partly in elevation and partly in section.
Figure 15 is an elevation and figure 16 a plan of the same. Similar letters in
all the figures represent similar parts.
"
A, represents the framework made of the desired shape and strength, in the
centre of which works a horizontal toothed rack B, sliding in suitable guides made
for the purpose in the frame. To each end of this rack is attached a plunger or
punch B¹, in any ordinary or approved way. In a direct line with these plungers
and at each end of the frame are the casings C, C, in which the moulds C¹, C¹, work
as will be more fully described hereinafter.
Upon a shaft D, carried in the frame A, is mounted a sector gear D¹, which inter-
meshes with the horizontal toothed rack B. This sector gear has a curved arm or
horn D³, preferably made integral therewith and extending downwards; it is also
provided with an oppositely curved arm or horn D³, fulcrumed at its upper end at
the point d, and formed at its lower end to the other or rigid arm D², by means of
an adjusting bolt and nut d'.
A gear wheel E is studded to the frame A, and is provided with an opening to
receive a roller or stud e, which projects out sufficiently to pass between the arms D,.
and D³, so that by the revolution of the gear, it may impart a rocking motion to the
sector gear and in this manner a reciprocating motion is given to the rack B.
Motion is imparted to the gear wheel E, through the pinion F.
The roller or stud e, is made adjustable in the gear wheel E for the purpose of
increasing or lessening the travel of the rack B, and in consequence the pressure of
the plungers upon the moulds, as by moving the roller or stud nearer the centre of
the gear wheel E, the throw of the sector gear will be lessened, and by moving it
further away from the centre, it will be increased, thus enabling me to regulate the
action of the plungers so that the desired pressure may be had upon the counter.
J
The adjusting bolt and nut d¹, also enable me to give further adjustment to the.
throw of the sector gear, as by spreading the arms further apart the travel of. the
rack B will be somewhat lessened and by drawing the arms closer together the
travel will be somewhat greater.
To the gear wheel. E, are bolted or otherwise securely fastened two bearings e¹, e²,
in which are placed rollers e³, e, the one e³, being. placed so that the roller will
project beyond the edge of the wheel E, and the other one e, is placed nearer the
centre and further away from the face of the wheel for purposes which will appear
more clearly hereinafter.
↓
The moulds C¹, C³, as before mentioned are enclosed within the casings C C and
are made up of two halves and have their rear ends bevelled inwards: towards the
centre f¹, and their outer ends or corners f³, bear against the back of the casing C.
The meeting surfaces of the moulds are bevelled from inside.to outside thus forming
a pivot point upon which they will work; the moulds, are kept close with relation
to each other by having a connecting piece I, dropped into a groove 2, formed in
each of the moulds C¹, C', but these pieces I may be done away with. if desired, as
I find when the moulds are nicely adjusted they will remain in their proper relative'
position.
+
j
4
Metallic springs N N are attached to the sides of the moulds near their front ends
and bear against the sides of the casing nearly opposite the ends or corners ƒƒ³;;
of the moulds which will have the effect of closing in the meeting surfaces h, and

page_text: thereby causing the front opening of the moulds to remain always open so that no
resistance may be offered when the punch and counter blank are entering the moulds
which will obviate any chance of friction to the counter.
The moulds C, C¹ and casings C, C, rest upon the shelves or bed plates G, G;
which are formed with an upright back G', for the moulds to bear against when
pressed by the plungers B². The level surface of the shelves are cut away as at g,
Figures 2, 5, 6 and 9 to accommodate chains or "breaks" H H which are covered
over by a thin plate I' having an opening cut in it the exact shape of the chain or
break" when in the open position shewn in figure 5.
The chains or "breaks
are preferably formed in three pieces, the two side
pieces h, h, having ears h³ ³, tapped to receive bolts h which are screwoḍ therein
and which pass down through slots I, I, formed in the bed plates or shelves G.
Upon these bolts are placed sleeves or rollers 7, 7, made to work within and bear
against the edges of the slots I, I.
K, is a slot or channel formed in the centre and rear part of the bed plate or.
shelf G, to accommodate a lug or shoulder k, made integral with or attached to the
centre link H¹, of the chain or "break" which is for the purpose of keeping it
always in its proper position.
"
Directly beneath the bed plate or shelf and working in guides 1, 1, is a slide L,
(shewn in Figure 8) having slots 1, 1, made therein to receive rollers r, the
purposes of which will appear in the operation of my invention. The slide L has
a lug or shoulder m, at its centre rear portion through which a bolt or connecting
rod M passes, the other end of which said rod passes through an eye formed in the
upper end of a bell crank lever N and being held in position by means of
nuts n, n, n¹, n¹.
This bell crank lever is mounted upon a shaft N¹, with another bell crank
lever N2, the said shaft being firmly bolted or otherwise fastened to the frame
work; and the inner ends of these levera N, N', project inwardly and quite close
to the face of the gear wheel E as shown in Figures 2 and 4.
A lever is swung upon a rod or shaft o, which is carried in two bearings o¹, o¹,
attached to the bed plate G, and the upper end of the said lever O passes through
an opening Q in the slide L and bears against the underside of a plug or block P
(shewn in Figures 1 and 7) which is made to fit loosely but snugly within a recess
cut through the bed plate G, and the lower end of this lever O, is connected to the
bell crank lever N2, in a similar manner to that in which the plate or slide L is
connected to the lever N.
The arrangement of the levers on the opposite side or that side shewn in
Figure 4, of the drawings are somewhat different from those I have just described
as will appear by the following
Mounted upon a shaft R, which extends across and is firmly bolted to the frame
work are two levers S, S¹, the upper end of the lever S, being bent to one side. (to
keep clear of the other lever S¹) and is connected to one end of a bent rod 8, and
the other end of this rod is connected to the slide L, by ineans of the nuts n, n,
n¹, n¹, in a similar manner to the opposite side.
The lower end of the lever S, passes between, and is connected to the bifurcated
end of a lever T, by means of a pin t, which passes through said bifurcated end
and a slot u, in the lever S. The lever T is loosely mounted with another and
similar lever T¹, upon a shaft V which is firmly bolted or otherwise securely
fastened to the frame work A.
The lever T', is connected to the lever S¹, in a similar manner to that in which
the lever S, is connected to the lever T, and projecting upwards passes through the
opening Q, and bears against the plug or block P. Thus it will be seen the
arrangement of the levers just described are double jointed or compound whilst
the levers on the opposite side are single.
The plungers B¹ B¹ Figure 14. are provided with grippers b, fulcrumed at about
their centre which work in grooves b¹, made in the plungers, their lips 63, bearing
firmly against the front thereof by the aid of the springs 6ª, which press beneath

page_text: the inner end of the grippers b;-these springs b₁, are made fast to the plungers
within the grooves b¹, so as to keep the lips b³, pressed upon the counters when
they are about to enter the moulds; suitable devices being used to cause them to
release their hold upon the counters and withdraw them from the plungers.
The construction of the moulds herein before described is shewn particularly in
Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13, and their operation will be as follows:-
After the counter blanks have fallen before the face of the moulds and the
grippers b, have gripped them they will enter the moulds with the plungers, their
lower ends however projecting beneath the bottom of the plunger as shown in
Figure 14, assuming the position shewn in dotted lines in Figure 10 after the
plungers have partially entered the moulds. When the plungers have reached the
extreme inside of the moulds the corners ƒ ƒ will be forced out towards the sides
of the casing, and when they have reached the sides and the pressure of the
plungers upon the moulds is continued, the front ends of the moulds will be drawn
together which will have the effect of causing. them to be drawn in around the
plungers and thus press and form the shape of the counter.
In figure 13 is shewn a mould bevelled outwards at its rear ends or reverse to
that above described and having its rear ends ff, bearing upon two pins P1, P1,
set in the casing C, which pins may be made adjustable therein. The action of
this mould will be similar to that above described; when the plunger enters and
reaches the extreme inside of the moulds and the pressure continues, the back
surfaces f, f, of the mould sections will run along the pins P1, P¹, till the corners f³,ƒ³,
bear upon the sides of the casing C, which will cause the outer ends top face to
close in a manner similar-to that above described.
The casing C, is made preferably with adjustable sides which enables me to
increase or lessen the pressure upon the counter when in the act of entering the
moulds, as by drawing the sides together, they will more firmly press upon the
springs N, N, which will have the effect of keeping the mouth of the moulds more
open thereby offering less resistance to the counter; and by drawing the sides
further apart the tension upon the springs N N is decreased and as a result the
mouth closes and the resistance to the counter upon entering the moulds is
increased.
To enable paste leather counters to be produced with this invention which as is
well known is a difficult operation to perform, on account of the unevenness of the
material I make the shape of the moulds somewhat of the desired shape of the
counter but slightly larger and place therein a thin metallic lining Q', Figure 11
somewhat smaller than the required size of the counter; this lining is attached to
the bottom of the mould sections and at their meeting surfaces h*, by screws or
otherwise and is arranged so as to bear against the back inner part of the moulds
at the point i, but slightly apart from the sides so that when the plunger and
blank have entered the moulds and reached the point i, and the pressure is continued
the action of the front parts of the moulds in closing in around the counter and
plunger will cause the lining to yield, thus allowing for any unevenness of the
material.
This lining Q, is provided with several slits or cuts q, at the top so situated
that they are above the counter when the same is in place in the moulds and by
the closing of the moulds the lining Q1, is closed upon the counter and compresses
it to give it the proper configuration.
The operation of the invention is as follows:-
Motion being given to the driving wheel W, by any suitable means, the pinion F,
revolves and sets in motion the gear wheel E, which in its revolution brings the
roller or stud e, to bear upon the arms D2, D3, which causes the sector gear D to
rock and impart a reciprocating motion to the rack B and in this manner the
plungers are caused to enter the moulds C, C, alternately. When a plunger at one
end of the rack has entered its mould with a counter and the extreme pressure
given thereto, the roller e³, which is timed to act at the proper moment comes in
contact with the inner end of the bell crank lever N (which is slightly higher than

page_text: the bell crank lever N³) and presses it down causing the outer end to pull upon
the connecting rod M and the plate or slide L, to travel inward, the rollers or
sleeves 7, 1, travelling with it in the channels or slots I, I, (Figures
and 9)
and,, Figure 8 bringing the chain or "break" inwards a certain distance which
causes the chain or break to grip and turn inwards that portion of the counter
projecting beyond the bottom of the plunger under the plunger and between the
bottom surface of the same and the upper surface of the chain or break a proper
space for this purpose being formed in arranging these parts; the roller &³, in its
circuit comes in contact with the lever N, and depresses it causing its upper end
to draw through the connecting rod, upon the lower end of the lever O, which will
have the effect of raising the loose plug or block P, against the chain and thus
pressing the leather and producing the "upturn The springs X X serve to
re-adjust the levers ready for the next operation.
"
The ends of the levers T T', are further away from the face of the gear wheel E,
and the roller and bearing e, e, are so placed that in passing the levers N N', they
will not come in contact with their ends, nor will the roller e', come in contact
with the ends of the levers T T¹, therefore, as the gear wheel E revolves and the
punch at the other end of the rack B, enters the moulds with the counter, and the
pressure is given thereto, the roller e', which is also timed comes in contact with
the end of the lever T, (which in this case is lower than the end of the lever T¹) and
raises it causing it to push out or depress the lower end of the lever S, which will
have the effect of drawing in the slide or plate L, through the connecting rod.M
and of causing the "break or chain to act upon the counter in a similar manner
to that described above, when the roller et, will come in contact with the end of
the lever T, which acts upon the lever S¹ and causes it to raise the loose plug or
block P, which presses against the chain or "break" and also presses the "upturn'
of the counter. The springs Y Y serve to bring the levers back to their proper'
position ready for another operation.
〃
In figure 9, I. have shewn a modification of the invention which is instead of
having the slots or channels I, I, cut in the bed plate or shelf G, I make the
chain H, sufficiently wide to construct them therein and attach the bolt h², to the
bed plate or shelf G, and mount the rollers thereon, the centre link in this case
being connected firmly to the slides L.
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). In a machine for forming heel counters or stiffeners for boots and shoes, a
sector gear having extended arms or horns connected thereto, adjustable by
mechanism as described, and adapted to receive a rocking motion by means of a
roller or stud working between the said arms or horns said roller or stud made
adjustable within a gear wheel suitably mounted within the frame work, in com-
bination with the horizontal toothed rack having the plungers or punches attached
thereto, and the moulds placed at each end of the machine the whole arranged and
operated substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.
"
(2). In a machine for forming heel counters for boots and shoes the device for
forming the "upturn' or flange, consisting of a jointed "break or chain adapted
to "break" and fold in the "upturn" under the plunger, a loose plug or block for
raising the said "break" or chain operated through a system of levers and rollers
the said rollers being mounted upon a gear wheel, substantially in the manner and
for the purposes described.
"
(3). In a machine for forming heel counters for boots and shoes the device for
forming the "
upturn" or flange adapted to "break" and fold in the same under
the plunger, by means of a jointed "break" or chain having its side links provided
with ears or lugs to receive a screw bolt upon which rollers or sleeves are mounted
and its centre link provided with a shoulder or lug, in combination with the bed
plate having slots or channels made therein, slide or plate having slots also made
therein in which the said rollers work, adapted to slide backward and forward in

page_text: grooves attached to the bed plate by means of a bell crank lever to which the
said slide is suitably connected substantially in the manner shewn and for the
purposes described.
(4). The combination with the chain H, having side pieces h, h, provided with
ears or lugs h¹; h¹, in which bolts h², are inserted and upon which bolts, rollers or
sleeves 7, 7, are mounted and centre piece H¹, jointed to the side pieces and
provided with lug or shoulder k, of the bed plate G, having slots or channels I, I,
and K made therein in which the rollers r, 1, and shoulder k, work and a recess in
which the plug or block P is inserted, plate or slide L, having slots 1, 1, in which
the rollers 1, 1, work, connecting rod M and bell crank levers N N³, operating
substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.
(5). The combination with the jointed "break" or chain, rollers r, r, 1, 1, and
shoulder k, of the slotted bed plate G, plug P, slotted slide L, connecting rod M,
and system of levers S S₁, and T T', substantially in the manner and for the
purposes herein set forth.
(6). The combination with the sector gear 1, having extended arms or
horns D, D³, and bolt and nut d¹, of the gear wheel E, adjustable roller or stud c,
bearings. and rollers e', e², cs, es, rack Band plungers B¹, B¹, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
(7). The herein described moulds made up of two halves having their rear ends
bevelled inwards towards the centre f¹, and their sides forming obtuse angles
thereto and having springs N, in combination with the casing C, for the purposes
described.
(8). The combination with the moulds made up of two halves and having their
rear ends bevelled and their sides forming obtuse angles thereto of the yielding
inetallic lining Q, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.