Improvements in Machines for Building and Attaching the Heels of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th June, 1892-4ccepted, 13th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Building and Attaching the Heels of
Boots and Shoes.
I WILLIAM HENRY DORMAN, of The Hawthorns, Newport Road, Stafford, in
the County of Stafford, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for building or forming the
heels of boots and shoes and for attaching the same to the boot or shoe.
The lifts for forming the heel are placed one upon another in a mould or die.
which is open at the top and bottom. Upon the bottom lift, or lift nearest the seat,
is then placed a block or follower which enters loosely a little distance into the
mould. The mould and follower are then placed in a properly arranged shelf or
carrier which is attached to the machine head.
The machine head is arranged in a frame and driven up and down vertically
through a suitable distance by means of a crank, eccentric or other device and
necessary gearing. In the machine head is a second head or stamp which may be
provided with an elastic cushion, and is capable of being adjusted up or down so
that its lower face may be set further from or nearer to the shelf before mentioned
and the mould is so placed in the carrier that the follower is immediately under the
stamp. Carried upon the machine frame is a table which is mounted upon a centre
pivot so as to be capable of revolving in a horizontal plane.
This table carries upon it three or other suitable number of nailing and pricking
devices, hereinafter further referred to and the table is intermittently revolved by
the machine at the proper times so as to bring each device in succession under the.
heel mould. The revolving of the table is accomplished by means of a cam and
lever acting upon a pawl and rachet wheel or by other convenient turning arrange-
ment and a locking catch actuated by a cam on the machine is provided to keep the
table stationary when a nailing or pricking device is under the heel mould.
The nails for holding together the lifts, attaching the heel, sprigging the top
pieces, &c. are of suitable lengths each for the purpose required and are loaded into
their proper devices. They are driven by the machine into the heels or top-pieces
either completely or to any desired distance.
The pricking devices contain the pricking awls and any desired number of either.
the pricking or the nailing devices may be fixed upon the table at one time and in
any desired order.
The nailing and pricking devices are of ordinary construction, and after being
pressed down by the machine head or stamp for the purpose of driving the nails or
pricking the heel, as the case may be, are raised again by means of a special wedge
or cam and lifting lever, operated by the machine, which acts upon a vertical rod
carried in the frame of the machine.
"
This same vertical rod may be provided with a spring which will resist to a
certain extent the closing of the devices, and the heels will then be compressed to.
an amount equal to the pressure of the spring before the device closes and drives
the nails into the heel.
A treadle, or hand lever and clutch are arranged to stop and start the machine
and may be connected to the revolving table so that the machine will stop auto-
matically after each complete revolution of the table.
The attaching of the beef to the boot is performed upon a second machine as
follows.
The boot is placed upon a last or heel block carried by a suitable frame, at the-
head of the machine and capable of being set up and down to suit different heights-

page_text: of heel. The heel is placed in a mould open at the top and bottom which in turn
is placed upon a suitable nailing device arranged below the boot. The boot is
brought down upon the heel by a toggle movement at the head of the machine
actuated by a cam and link connection or equivalent means and the driving of the
nails is effected by a second toggle movement at the foot of the machine. The two
toggle movements are connected together and are operated by a revolving crank
and buffer link or other convenient appliance arranged to be put in gear by a treadle
or otherwise.
The connections to the two sets of toggles are so arranged that the toggles which
press the boot upon the heel operate first, and afterwards the toggles which drive
the attaching nails. The continued revolution of the crank then releases first the
bottom and afterwards the top toggles so as to allow of removing the boot with its
heel attached:
If it is desired to attach a top piece before removing the boot two devices are
arranged one upon either end of a swinging table which is mounted upon the
machine frame on a central pivot so that each device may be swung in turn under
the boot. One of these devices is the attaching device already described and the
other is constructed to receive sprigs and a top piece which being swung under the
already attached heel the treadle is again depressed, the head toggles press
the boot and heel down upon the top piece and the foot toggles drive home the
sprigs and secure the top-piece to the heel.
So that the boot shall be placed truly over the heel before the attaching
operation is commenced guiding pads are arranged upon each side of the heel block
and connected together so that any lateral movement given to one will be
communicated equally to the other and a spring is provided to hold them against
the sides of the boot. An adjustable back stop for the boot is also provided and a
set screw prevents the guide pads from approaching too near each other when the
boot is withdrawn from between them.
The guiding pads are carried by the same frame which carries the boot, and
move up and down with it.
When the heels are attached by driving nails from the inside of the boot into the
heel, an inside nailing last or heel block is used, and may either be carried from the
head of the machine in a manner so as to be easily removable, or may be carried
from below upon a stump either with or without the intervention of a swinging
table.
In either case the two sets of toggles are so connected that the pressure for
maintaining the boot and heel in contact comes into operation before the pressure
for driving the attaching nails and the guide pads for ensuring the correct placing
of the boot in regard to the heel may be carried either from below or above.
Dated the 12th day of September 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Building and Attaching the Heels of
Boots and Shoes.
I WILLIAM HENRY DORMAN of The Hawthorns Newport Road Stafford in 4
the County of Stafford 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for building or forming the
heels of boots and shoes and for attaching the same to the boot or shoe.
The lifts for forming the heel are placed one upon another in a mould or die
which is open at the top and bottom. Upon the bottom lift, or lift intended to be
nearest the seat and which is uppermost in the mould, is then placed a block or
follower which enters loosely. a little distance into the mould. The mould
50

page_text: and follower are then placed in a properly arranged shelf or carrier which is
attached to the machine head.
The machine head is arranged to slide vertically in a frame and is driven up and
down through a suitable distance by means of a crank, eccentric or other device and
necessary gearing. In the machine head is a second head or stamp which may be.
provided with an elastic cushion and is capable of being adjusted up or down so
that its lower face may be set further from or nearer to the shelf before mentioned
and the mould is so placed in the carrier that the follower is immediately under the
stamp.
Carried upon the machine frame is a table which is mounted upon a centre pivot
so as to be capable of revolving in a horizontal plane. This table carries upon it
three or other suitable number of nailing and pricking devices hereinafter further
referred to and the table is intermittently revolved by the machine at the proper
times so as to bring each device in succession under the heel mould. The revolving
of the table is accomplished by means of a cam and lever acting upon a pawl and
ratchet wheel or by other convenient turning arrangement and a locking catch
actuated by a cam on the machine is provided to keep the table stationary when a
nailing or pricking device is under the heel mould.
The nails for holding together the lifts, attaching the heels, sprigging the top
picces &c. are of suitable lengths each for the purpose required and are loaded
into their proper devices. They are driven by the machine into the heels or top
pieces either completely or to any desired distance. The pricking devices contain
the pricking awls and any desired number of either the pricking or the nailing
devices may be fixed upon the table at one time and in any desired order.
The nailing and pricking devices are of ordinary construction and after being
pressed down by the machine head or stamp for the purpose of driving the nails
or pricking the heel, as the case may be, are raised again by means of a special
wedge or cam and lifting lever operated by the machine which act upon a vertical
rod carried in the frame of the machine. This same vertical rod may be provided
with a spring or may be acted upon by a weighted lever which will resist to a
certain extent the closing of the devices and the heels will then be compressed to
an amount equal to the pressure of the spring or weight before the device close:
and drives the nails into the heel.
A treadle or hand lever and clutch are arranged to stop and start the machine
and may be connected to the revolving table so that the machine will stop
automatically after each complete revolution of the table.
The attaching of the heel to the boot is performed upon a second machine as
follows.
The boot is placed upon a last or heel block carried by a suitable frame at the
head of the machine and capable of being set up and down to suit different heights
of heels. The heel is placed in a mould open at the top and bottom which in turn
is placed upon a suitable nailing device arranged below the boot. The boot is
brought down upon the heel by a toggle movement at the head of the machine
actuated by a cam and link connection or equivalent means and the driving of the
nails is effected by a second toggle movement at the foot of the machine. The two
toggle movements are connected together and are operated by a revolving crank
and buffer link or other convenient appliance arranged to be put in gear by a
treadle or otherwise. The connections to the two sets of toggles are so arranged
that the toggles which press the boot upon the heel operate first and afterwards
the toggles which drive the attaching nails. The continued revolution of the
crank then releases the toggles so as to allow of removing the boot with its heel
attached.
If it is desired to attach a top piece before removing the boot two devices are
arranged one upon either end of a swinging table which is mounted upon the
machine frame on a central pivot so that each device may be swung in turn under
the boot, one of these devices is the attaching device already described and the
other is constructed to receive sprigs and a top piece which being swung under

page_text: The frame A supports a vertical spindle a which is free to revolve and carries a.
circular table 6 which is supported from below by the surface c of the frame. This.
table is for the purpose of carrying the devices d any convenient number of which
may be arranged upon the table at equal distances from the centre so that when the
table is revolved the devices will come in succession under the stamp or
head Q mould X and follower Z.
For the purpose of revolving the table a cam e is provided on the crank shaft M
and engages, by means of a roll fand pin 9, with a lever h which is carried on a.
studi in the frame A and has at its lower end a connecting rod j universally
jointed at its ends & the one to the aforesaid lever h and the other to another lever/
loosely mounted on the vertical spindle a. Fast upon the spindle a is a ratchet
toothed wheel m which has as many teeth as there are devices on the table b and
upon the lever is a pawl n engaging with the said teeth. The cam is of such
proportions as when revolved to give the lever h a movement sufficient to
revolve the wheel m from one tooth to the next and the table 6 from one device-
to the next.
The table 6 has notches o around its edge and a locking lever p is provided for
the purpose of holding the table stationary while each device is in turn under the
head Q The lever p is mounted on a shaft q carried in bearings r in the frame A
and is operated through another levers by a cam t which is mounted on the .
crank shaft M and engages a roll u carried on a pin v in the said lever s.
The devices d which occupy the table bare of two kinds the one kind is for
pricking the heels for the reception of the nails and the other kind is for driving
the nails into the holes pricked to receive them.
20
The pricking device is provided with awls to which are secured in a plate.
attached to the table b and the awls are free in holes y prepared for them in a
block z so that the latter may slide up and down upon the awls. The block is
carried by a central stem a¹ which passes through the plate and also through a
hole 6' in the table b. The weight of the block z may either be supported by
springs or the stem a¹ may rest upon the surface c of the frame A. There is a
space between the plate and the block z when the device is in its open or free.
condition and in this condition the points of the awls w do not project above the
surface of the block z but, when the block 2 is depressed by the descent of the
head mould X and follower Z it slides downwards upon the awls w and
the points protrude above the surface of the block z and enter the lifts Y so as to
pierce holes therein. There are steady pins or dowels e¹ in the block z which enter
holes prepared for them in the-mould.
The nailing device is made very similar to the pricking device above described
only that drivers g' take the place of the awls w. When the nailing device is.in
its open or free condition the nail block is raised so that it is almost off the
drivers g¹ thus leaving the holes in which the drivers g' work unoccupied in the
upper portion of the block and free for the reception of the nails and when the device
is closed by the machine thrusting downwards the heel and nail block the heel is forced
on to the nails which enter the holes already prepared for them by the pricking-
device.
If the drivers g¹ are sufficiently long to reach the surface of the nail block h¹
when the device is completely closed the nails will be completely driven into the
heel as when nails are used for holding the lifts together, but if when the device is
completely closed the drivers g' come somewhat short of reaching the surface of
the nail block the nails will not be completely driven but the heads will stand
out somewhat, as required for the after attaching of the heels to the boots.
As the lower end of the stem a¹ when the devices are open, rests upon the
surface c of the frame A or otherwise is level with the underside of the table b
preparation is made in the frame A to allow of the descent of the stem a' when the
device is closed by the operation of the machine and as the awls bind in the lifts
and also as it is desirable that pressure may be applied to the heel when nails are
being driven the following arrangement is made use of.

page_text: Vertically under the centre of the head or stamp Q a hole t¹ is prepared in the
frame A and a rod is arranged to slide up and down therein. This rod l' rests
upon one arm m³ of a bell crank lever which is pivotted in the frame A on a pin n¹
and carries on its other arm o² a roll pl on a pin q' arranged to engage a wedger
formed on a bar attached to the head O and sliding up and down therewith, a
guideway being formed in the frame A to receive the wedge. The wedge ¹is
so proportioned that when the head O is in its highest position the arm m³ of the
bell crank lever maintains the rod with its upper end level with the underside of
the table 6 and when the head O is in its lowest position the wedge allows the
arm m' to descend and with it the rod so as to leave room for the descent of the
stem a'. If desired a spring may be arranged about the rod so as to exercise
pressure upon the heel when the latter is forced downwards by the action of the
machine.
i
It is sometimes desirable to apply considerable pressure to the heel just at the
last part of the downward stroke of the head O and this is conveniently done by
the application of a weight u' carried on a lever » pivotted on a pin w¹ in the
frame A and having an end ¹ adapted to engage the arm m' when the latter is
depressed. The lever v' rests normally on a support y' prepared for it in the frame A
which sustains the weight u but when the arm m' is near its lowest point of descent
it strikes upon the end a' and bears up the weight u' which then acts with full force
to resist the downward movement of the rod 7' and stem a' so as to compress the
beel against the descending head.
The treadle a connected by the rod and lever with the clutch d' is for
the purpose of withdrawing the latter from engagement with the gear L and so
stopping the machine. If desired the edge of the revolving table b see Fig. 7 may
be furnished with a cam or gap ring and connected by means of a lever f* and
shaft g with the clutch d³, arranged to suit, so as to automatically release the same
when the table has made one revolution. The spring h³ operates the levers p and f³
when liberated by their respective cams.
The machine for attaching the heel to the boot is constructed as follows see
Figs. 3 and 4.
The main frame a* is of a convenient form to support the various working parts
of the machine.
The last or heel block which carries the boot is supported from a head frame c³
and is connected by a toggle d³, ³ to a screw so that it may be set up and down
by a hand wheel to suit different heights of heel.
The heel is placed in a mould hopen at the top and bottom which is placed
upon a suitable nailing device very similar to that already described and arranged
below the boot.
For the purpose of bringing down the boot and pressing the same firmly upon
the heel the toggles d³, e³ are employed. They are connected by a link, with a
cam the link having a slot s which engages the cam stud m³ so as to guide the
link in its movement and being provided with a cam roll n³ on a pin o³ to engage
the said cam k. The cam is connected by a rod p³ to a bell crank q* mounted on
a pin in the frame of the machine and the bell crank is connected by another
links to a buffer link to which is at the proper times put into operation as will be
afterwards described.
The opening of the device and closing for the purpose of driving the nails is
'effected by rods u sliding in bearings prepared for them in the frame a³ and
connected to a toggle ³, at the foot of the machine. The toggle is operated by
the buffer link above referred to which engages by means of a slot y³ with the
centre pin of the toggle w . The buffer link t' is operated by a crank aª
which is kept continuously revolving in the direction shewn by the arrow by means
of a driving pulley ba pinion c* and gear wheel d*.
For the purpose of putting the buffer link
carried on a pivot and connected by a link
treadle is depressed it raises the buffer link t. so
into action a treadle is provided
to the buffer link t³. When the
that its end h, which is provided

page_text: with a spring buffer i, is brought into the path of the revolving crank at which
strikes and bears it forward so as to operate first through the bell crank and
cam the toggle d³, so as to bring down the boot upon the heel while the
slot y³ traverses its length upon the pin and next to operate the toggle ³,³
so as to close the device drive the nails and so attach the heel to the boot.
The cam is provided with a rest so that the top toggle &, remains
stationary in its straightened condition while the bottom toggle to, is being
straightened by the continued movement of the buffer link t³. The revolving
crank a next strikes upon the piece which is attached to the buffer link &
so as to withdraw the latter and break the toggles d³ ³ and wo³ ³ so as to
permit of the removal of the boot after which the buffer link t falls out of
action and so remains until again lifted by the treadle e*.
If it is desired to attach a top piece before removing the boot two devices are
arranged one upon either end of a swinging table which is mounted on a pivot
in the machine frame so that each device may be swung in turn under the boot.
One of these devices is the attaching device already described and the other is
very similar in construction but adapted to receive sprigs, instead of attaching
nails, and a top piece which with the device being swung under the already attached
heel the treadle e is again depressed the head toggle de presses the boot & heel
down upon the top piece and the toggle w³ ³ drives home the sprigs and secures
the top piece to the heel.
So that the boot shall be placed truly over the heel before the attaching
operation is commenced guides m² are arranged see Fig. 9 on each side of the boot
and connected together by links n* so that any lateral movement given to one will
be communicated equally to the other. The guides m² are carried on levers o*
mounted on a pivot p' in a stud 9 carried by a frame which moves up and down
with the boot and a spring s is provided which acts to close the levers and press the
guides m against the boot upper. So that the guides shall not close in too far
when the boot is removed an adjustable stop screw is provided which stops the.
inward movement of the guides at a point convenient for the insertion of the next
boot. The spindle can be set up and down in the frame which carries it and
the last or heel block 63 may be moved forward, for putting on or taking off &
boot, in the slide u provided for that purpose.
In the spindle is an adjustable back stop o' against which the back of the boot
apper takes when in correct position in regard to the heel.
A similar arrangement of shelves or brackets to that already described for
receiving the heel mould in the building machine may be used for the purpose:
of receiving the. heel mould * and be attached to the slide u or the following
alternative arrangement may be made use of. To the link is jointed on a pin a³.
a compound link 6 which can be adjusted in length (so as to raise or lower:
the mould h³) by means of a right and left nut c and having lock nuts d'. One.
end of the compound link has a slot & free to slide on a dief which is mounted on
the pin a. A spring 9 tends to keep the one end of the slot e* in contact with
the die f. The link 6' is jointed to a lever * mounted on a shaft i* carried
in bearings in the head c. Two other levers are mounted on the same shaft *:
and are jointed by means of links to rods which slide in guides m³ and
have at their lower ends spring hooks n which pass over the edges o' of the
mould as the boot descends and when the boot ascends by the operation of
the machine the hooks no, having sprung in as shewn in Fig. 10., lift the mould h
with the boot so as to be free from the devices and allow them to be turned.
The swinging table is provided with adjustable set screws p' and lock nuts q
for the purpose of bringing it to a stop with the devices in the desired position.
The set screws på take against a fixed part of the machine frame or stop **
provided for the purpose and in order to secure the table and devices from.
moving during the operation of the machine a locking catch or anchor
provided pivotted on a pint in the stop and having its ends u adapted to
engage alternately with the heads ', ' of the screws p³.
is

page_text: ·
-
Should undue strain come upon the machine owing to some slight increase of
height in the heels or from any other cause damage might result.
To prevent
this a spring or elastic cushion of indiarubber or other suitable material a® is
provided in the head 66 (see Fig. 10.) which will yield to the ram b' if the latter
is unduly pressed upon by the last or heel block 6* which is carried upon it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
- and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
1. In a machine for building the heels of boots and shoes: Carrying the
pricking and nailing devices on an automatically moved intermittently revolving
table arranged to bring each device in succession under the machine head. Substan-
tially as described.
2. In machines for building and attaching the heels of boots and shoes:
Mounting the heel carrying mould or cup in such a manner that it is automatically
lifted off and placed upon each device in succession as the operations are successively
performed. Substantially as described.
3. In a machine for building the heels of boots and shoes: The automatic locking
device arranged to hold the table still while the heel is being operated on. Sub-
stantially as described.
4. In a machine for building the heels of boots and shoes: The arrangement for
automatically stopping the machine after each complete revolution of the table.
Substantially as described.
5. In machines for building and attaching the heels of boots and shoes: The
adjustable pressure head arranged with a spring cushion to yield under undue
pressure. Substantially as described.
6. In a machine for building the heels of boots and shoes: The herein described
.method of raising and lowering the adjustable spring presser head.
7. In a machine for building the heels of boots and shoes: The mechanism for
automatically reopening the devices, after they have been closed up, so constructed
as to cause the top plate of the pricking device to lift the heel off the awls. Sub-
stantially as described.
8. In a machine for building the heels of boots and shoes: The weighted lever
- so arranged as to exert pressure upon the heel during the latter part of the down-
ward movement of the head. Substantially as described.
9. In a machine for attaching the heels of boots and shoes: The slotted buffer.
link whereby the toggles which press the heel on to the boot are first operated and
afterwards the toggles which drive the attaching nails. Substantially as described.
10. In a machine for attaching the heels of boots and shoes: Operating the
toggles which press the heel on to the boot by means of a cam constructed with a
rest or dwell so that the pressure is kept on while the attaching nails are driven.
Substantially as described.
11. So constructing a heel attaching machine that on setting it in motion the
following movements take place automatically. The heel is first pressed on to the
boot then the attaching nails are driven and thirdly the boot is released. Substantially
as described.
12. In a machine for attaching the heels of boots and shoes: The arrangement
⚫for ensuring the correct attaching of the heel to the boot. Substantially as described.
13. In a machine for attaching the heels of boots and shoes: The arrangement
for adjusting the swing table and devices in relation to the boot and for locking
the same in position. Substantially as described.
14. The machine for building the heels of boots and shoes as herein described
and illustrated.
15. The machine for attaching heels and top-pieces to boots and shoes as herein
described and illustrated.