IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR LASTING BOOTS OR SHOES
Year: 1884

page_text: I HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR LASTING BOOTS OR
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 relates to lasting machines and particularly to improved
mechanism for driving pegs or fastening devices and to the manner of operating
the same.
The said Invention has for its object to provide a lasting machine with a power-
operated mechanism or implement for driving pegs or other fastenings, which
mechanism can be easily held and controlled by the operator with one hand, thus
leaving his other hand free to properly draw or stretch the edges of the upper over
the inner sole on the last and prepare it for the reception of the pegs or fastenings
which secure it to the inner sole, whereby a great saving in time and labor is
effected, and the operation of lasting a boot or shoe greatly facilitated.
To this end the said Invention consists partly in the combination with a suitable
device for supporting the boot or shoe while being lasted, of mechanism or an
implement, for driving pegs or other fastenings, adapted to be operated by power
communicated thereto through a series of shafts connected by gearing to form a
universal coupling which will permit a universal movement of the implement, the
said implement being supported in such manner above the work that it can be
grasped by the operator with one hand and freely moved thereby over any portion
of the work to drive a peg or fastening at any desired point when set in operation
by a foot lever or treadle connected with a clutch mechanism on the driving shaft,
thus enabling the operator to draw or stretch the edge of the upper over the inner
sole and properly fit it in place with one hand, and with the other hand control the
mechanism or implement for driving the pegs or other fastenings and direct it to
the desired point, when by depressing the treadle it will instantly be set in
operation to drive a peg or fastening, as desired.
The said Invention also partly consists in certain details of construction and
combinations of parts as hereinafter set forth, whereby the peg-driving mechanism
is rendered more perfect and effective in its operation than heretofore.
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1 is a view of the improved lasting machine, illustrating: the mode-of

page_text: Figure 2 is a front elevation of the peg-driving mechanism a portion being
shewn in section.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line xx of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line 3, y of Figure 2.
Figure G is a horizontal section on the lines, 2, of Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a vertical section through the lower portion of the frame of the peg
driving mechanism, the awl, peg driver, peg cutter, and retainer bar being remover.
therefrom.
5
A indicates the framework or standard of the machine, which is provided with 1
any suitable or well known jack or device B for supporting and holding the last
with the upper and inner sole applied thereto, the supporting device being
preferably provided with suitable mechanism for folding or drawing the edges of
the upper over or upon the inner sole.
C indicates the framework, or stock of the peg-driving mechanism which is 1
provided with a vertical driving shaft. D, adapted to be rotated by a shaft G,
connected by bevel gear wheels, (not shown) within a casing a, with a shaft b
which, in turn, is connected by bevel gear-wheels c, d, with the shaft H overhead,
upon which revolves a pulley 20 driven by a belt not shown. A universal coupling
or connection is thus provided which serves, not only to support the peg-driving
mechanism-above the work, but-also admits of its stock C, being grasped by tho
hand of the operator at the portion-e-and freely moved-into any desired position
over the work and brought down thereon to drive-a-peg-at-any required point-to
fasten the edge of the upper to the inner sole, the peg-driving mechanism being set-
in operation to drive a peg by depressing a treadle I which is connected by a cord f 2
or in any other suitable manner, with the shipper-rod 8 of a clutch mechanism J
-on the counter shaft H, this clutch-being moved in the opposite direction to
disconnect the slinft--H- from the pulley by a spring 21-at-the-end of the shipper
-red-8, when the pressure upon the treadle I is relieved..
The upper shaft b-of-the-universal coupling is supported in a horizontal, or 3
nearly horizontal, position at the desired height,_by_a_strap_g_which can be
shortened or lengthened to limit the downward movement of the peg-driving
mechanism. The shaft G is preferably provided with a flexible portion h, which
admits of the peg-driving mechanism being easily inclined in any direction or hung
up out of the way when not required for use.
3
While the operator is controlling and directing the peg-driving mechanism with
one hand, he grasps, with his other hand, the lasting pincers, and draws, and fits
the edges of the upper over the inner sole on the last, in order to prepare the work
for the reception of the pegs in advance of the peg-driving mechanism, a great
saving in time and labor being thus effected, as both hands of the operator are 40
simultaneously employed on different parts of the work, one hand being used to fit
and prepare the work for the peg-driving mechanism which is controlled and
directed by the other hand to the point where the peg is to be driven, while the
peg-driving mechanism itself is set in motion by depressing the treadle I with the
foot and thus operating the shipper of the clutch mechanism J.
I will now describe the construction and mode of operation of the peg-driving
mechanism.
4
The lower portion e of the stock or frame C, immediately above the nose piece i,
is of suitable size and form to adapt it to be grasped by the hand of the operator
for the purpose of guiding the nose-piece i to the point where the peg is to be 50
driven, a guard k being secured to one side of the portion e against which the back
of the hand of the operator is braced to better enable him to counteract the
tendency of the frame C to be turned on its vertical axis by the rotation of the
vertical driving shaft D.
The shaft D is supported in lugs or projections and carries a bevel gear 5
wheel m, which engages with a bevel gear wheel n on a horizontal shaft p having
its bearings in, and extending transversely across, the upper portion of the frame C.

page_text: To the shaft p are secured at a short distance apart two cams q, q, which lio
within a rectangular opening 8, in the frame C, and upon these cams rest the
friction rolls t, t, of a pair of vertical slides or plunger bars K, L, which are
arranged side by side in contact with each other for a portion of their length
and move or reciprocate in a suitable guide way or groove in the frame C.
The upper portion of each plunger above the offset extends up through a
tube M secured to the upper portion of the frame C within which is placed a stiff
spiral spring N, which encircles the plunger and is confined between a shoulder w
thereon and the upper closed end of the tube M, and thus, as each plunger is raised
by its cam g the spring N will be compressed until the point a', of the cam passes
out from beneath the friction roll t, when the spring will cause the plunger bar to
descend with great force for a purpose to be presently described. The cams are so
arranged on the shaft with respect to each other as to produce an alternate vertical
movement or reciprocation of the plunger bars.
Each plunger bar is provided, above its tube M, with a screw thread, over which
are placed the nuts 10, 12 which form an adjustable head for limiting the
downward movement of the plunger bar, and beneath each of the nuts 12 is placed
an elastic washer c¹ which serves as a cushion to relieve the concussion or jar
produced by the spring on the descent of the plunger bar. To the lower end of
the plunger bar K is secured an awl d, formed of spring steel which slides in a
Buitable groove or passage e' in the lower portion of the frame C, and is adaptod to
pass through the vertical aperture f¹ in the nose piece i on the descent of the
plunger bar K to form a hole for the reception of a peg, which is driven down
through this same aperture f¹ after the ascent of the awl, by the peg-driver g².
The said peg-driver consists of a square spring bar secured at its upper end to tho
plunger bar L and lying alongside of, and in contact with, the awl d
The groove or passage e' is of sufficient width, and of suitable shape, to allow
the awl and peg driver as they alternately ascend and descend to be sprung or
forced, the one by the other out of the way, in order that they may each pass in
turn down through the same aperture 1 in the nose piece without interfering
with each other, the opposite sides of the passage e' being inclined in order to guide
or direct the lower ends of the awl and pog driver into the aporture f¹ in the
nose i as they descend.
The nose-piece is serratod or roughened on its underside to prevent it from
slipping on the work.
The awl and peg-driver each fit within a rectangular groove cut longitudinally
in its plunger bar, as seen in Figure 4, and the upper ends of both the awl and peg
driver are bent at a right angle as seen at h' Figure 2; this bent portion fitting
into a groove or recess i¹ in its plunger bar. A simple, secure and positive means
of fastening the awl and peg-driver to their plunger bars is thus provided which
will readily allow of attachment and detachment and effectually guard against
displacement from the shock or jar of the springs.
P indicates the peg wood holder which communicates with the passage e¹ in
which the awl and peg-driver move, and contains the strip of peg-wood which
is fed forward, to bring its inner end beneath the peg-driver, by a follower & which
is actuated by a spring m¹. Any other suitable device may, however, be employed
for feeding forward the strip of peg-wood, if preferred.
To the plunger bar L which carries the peg-driver g', is also secured a knife or
cutter n which moves in a groove or guide way 15, and is placed at a distance
from the peg-driver equal to the width of a single peg. On each descent of the
driver a peg is cut from the strip ¹ ready to be driven by the peg driver on its
next descent through the aperture f¹ in the nose piece. While the awl is boing
driven down to form the hole for the peg, the peg-wood is held back by the pressure
thereon of the lower serrated end of a retainer bar p' which slides in a suitable
groove or guide way q¹ and is raised against the force of a spring —Figure 3—
by & cam 8¹ on the shaft
P..

page_text: As soon as the awl bas risen out of the aperture f¹ in the nose i, the pressure of
the bar pl on the peg wood is relieved; the latter will then be forced forward by
the spring m to bring the peg, previously split off by the knife n¹, into a position
immediately beneath the driver g¹ and in line vertically with the aperture f¹ in
the nose-piece when it will be forced down by the driver g' on its next descent
through the aperture f¹ into the hole previously made by the awl in the sole of
the boot or shoe beneath.
t; Figure 6, indicatos a flat spring which bears lightly on the peg cut off by the
knife n, and serves to retain it in a proper vertical position as it is being fed
forward to ensure its being struck squarely on its upper end by the peg-driver g',
on. its descent.
As the driver g' ascends, the retainer p¹ descends onto the upper edge of the
strip of peg-wood, and holds it back out of the way of the awl, which is then
driven down by its spring N to make a new hole, when the operation proceeds as
before, a peg being driven at each complete revolution of the shaft p. As soon as
one peg is driven, the operator removes his foot from the treadle I thus stopping
the rotation of the shaft D; the movement of the parts will thus be arrested until
the nose-piece i of the machine is placed by the operator at a point on the sole
where another peg is to be driven, when the mechanisin is again set in operation
as before by depressing-the-treadle I to drive another peg as desired. If desired,
an automatic device or stop-motion may be employed which will operate the
clutch mechanisin after a single peg has been driven, thus preventing the driving
of more than one peg in case the operator should neglect to relieve the treadle
from the pressure of his foot.
- Instead of a straight peg wood holder P, it is obvious that the machine may be
provided with any well known-circular holder adapted to contain a coil of peg
wood to be-fed forward by a suitable spring follower, or other suitablo_feeding
mechanism.
It is evident that, by a proper modification of the mechanism, it may be adapted
to drive metal nails or other fastenings instead of wooden pegs, and that such an
implement could be suspended and connected with the shaft H by the universal
connection previously described, and be adapted to be thrown into, and out of,
action, by a clutch mechanism and treadle in the same manner as the pegging
implement first described. I do not therefore wish to confine 'inyself to either a
pegging or a nailing implement in the operation of lasting a boot or shoo, as the
essential feature of my Invention consists in hanging or supporting the implement
which drives the pegs or other fastening devices, in such a manner above the work
that it can be controlled and directed to any desired point by the operator with one
hand, and set in operation by a foot lever or treadle, leaving the other hand of the
operator free to prepare the work in advanco of the implement which drives the
pegs, nails, or other fastenings.
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 I claim
in a lasting machine :—
First. The combination of a device for supporting the boot or shoe while being
lasted, mechanism or an implement, for driving a peg or fastening device, loosely
suspended above the work and adapted to be operated by power communicated
thereto through a universal coupling or connection, whereby it is adapted to be
grasped by the operator with one hand and freely moved thereby over any portion
of the work to drive a peg or fastening at the desired point, and clutch inechanisin
operated by a treadle for connecting the mechanism or implement for driving the
peg or fastening device with the power, and disconnecting it therefrom, all
co-operating.substantially in the manner, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. A device for supporting the boot or shoe while being lasted, and
mechanism or an implement for driving a peg or other fastening device, consisting
of the frame C, the tubes M, the plunger bars K and L, the springs N, and cams q,

page_text: in combination with the gear wheels c, d m and n with their connections, the
shaft H and the band wheel 20, all constructed to operate substantially as, and for
the purpose, set forth.
Third. A device for supporting the boot or shoe while being lasted, mechanism
or an implement as described for driving a peg or other fastening devico, the gear
wheels c, d, m and n with their connections as shown, the shaft H and the band
wheel 20, in combination with the clutch mechanism J, the shipper rod 8, the
spring 21, the cord f, and treadle I, all constructed to operate substantially as, and
for the purpose, set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the reciprocating plunger bars K L recessed as
shown, and thoir actuating mechanism, of the spring awl and peg-driver, secured
in the said recesses in the plunger bars, and arranged to slide in contact with each
other, and adapted to move the one out of the way of the other, to permit of their
alternate passage through a singlo aperture in the nose piece i, and the cutter n¹
secured to the plunger L, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the reciprocating plunger bars K L provided with
grooves or recesses, of the awl d' and peg driver g' having their upper ends h¹
bent and adapted to fit within the said grooves or recesses i¹ substantially in the
manner, and for the purpose, described.
Sixth. The combination with the reciprocating plunger bars K, L, provided with
grooves or recesses for the awl d' and peg driver g' and the peg wood holder P, of
the knife or cutter n' secured to the plunger bar L of the peg-driver, and moans
for preventing the advance of tho peg wood, consisting of a retainer bar p' working
in a guide gl, whereby the peg is held back during the operation of the awl to form
the hole, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the reciprocating plunger bars K L, the awl d³,
and the peg-driver g' secured thereto, the knife or cutter n' secured to the plunger
bar L, and the pog wood holder P, of the vertically sliding retainer bar p¹ operated
by the cam s¹ on the shaft p and the spring r¹ all constructed to operate substantially
in the manner and for the purpose, described.
Eighth. The combination with the alternately reciprocating awl d¹ and peg-
driver g' and the knife or cutter n attached to the plunger bar L, of the spring t¹
for holding the peg, cut or split off by the knife n', in a vertical position to ensure
its being struck squarely by the peg driver in its descent, substantially as
set forth.
Ninth. The combination with the frame C, the reciprocating plunger bars K L,
provided with grooves or recessos and the spring awl and peg-driver secured
thereto and operating as described; of the nose piece i serrated on its under side
and provided with a single vertical aperture f1 for the passage of the awl, peg and
peg-driver and having passages or grooves e' q' and 15, all constructed to operate
substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The combination with the shaft p and mechanism connected therewith
for driving a peg or fastening device, of the vertical driving shaft D connected with
the said shaft p by bevel gears m, n, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Dated thin 70th Jan
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.