Year: 1898

page_text: We, JOHN KEATS, of Bagnall, near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Mechanical
Engineer, and WILLIAM STEPHENS CLARK, of Street, Somerset, Boot Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved machinery for channelling boot and shoe
soles, and is designed chiefly for preparing leather soles for their conversion into
ribbed soles by the moulding and shaping machinery that forms the subject of a
Patent granted to the present inventors, and bearing date 14th July 1897,
No. 16,720.
The present machine bears a resemblance, in some points, to our moulding
machine, inasmuch as the grip of the feeding surfaces upon the sole is produced
by pressure on a treadle, and a rocking frame is employed to carry the upper
feeding wheel. For supporting the sole against the pressure of the upper feed
wheel, and for presenting it to a fixed adjustable cutter, a conical wheel is
employed, which wheel is set at such an angle as to ensure its conical periphery
gripping the sole firmly while it is passing horizontally through the machine. In
order to prepare the sole for the moulding machine, we have found it desirable to
chamfer off the top angle of the sole, and, at the same time, make a horizontal
cut in the edge of the sole, so as to produce a turned-up fillet.
It is this fillet which provides a portion of the material for constructing what
we have termed a contour rib on the flesh side of the sole, which rib is intended
to receive the stitches for connecting together the sole and the upper of the boot
or shoe.
Rotary motion is imparted to the inclined shaft of the lower conical feed wheel,
through bevil gears in connection with the main driving shaft, and this shaft,
through spur gearing, transmits motion to the shaft of the upper feed wheel.
which is indented on its periphery, to take a firm hold of the sole, when held
down in contact therewith.
The shaft of the upper feed wheel is carried in a rocking frame which receives
a tendency upwards, through the tension of a coiled spring acting upon a rock
lever which underlies the frame.
Situate a little in advance of the feed wheels is a cutter suitably shaped for
channelling the sole. This cutter is so mounted as to permit of its being raised
and lowered to suit the varying thicknesses of the leather on which it is intended
to operate; also to advance toward, or recede from, the bite of the feed wheels;
and to tip, so as to regulate the inclination of the cut made in the edge of the sole.
To this end, the cutter is made free to slide endwise in its holder, and the holder.
which is formed with a tang at its side, is carried by a block that is capable of
vertical adjustment in the main framing.
This block is formed with a slotted stem, which enters a socket in the main

page_text: framing made to receive it. The slot in the stem receives the nose of a rock
lever fulcrummed on the main framing, its use being to raise the block to any
desired height, to suit the level at which the horizontal or inclined cut is to be
made in the edge of the sole. When the height of the block is adjusted, its
position is secured by a clamping screw.
The tang of the tool holder is made cylindrical, and it is passed through, and
rests in, a horizontal socket in the side of the block.
This tang is threaded on its outer end, to receive a lock nut for fixing it to the
block, and worm teeth are cut in it, to receive a worm carried by a vertical stem,
which is fitted in the block, and carries a milled head for turning it. By this
means, a delicate axial adjustment is provided for the tool holder, so as to ensure
the proper direction of cut of the tool which it carries.
The tool, which is free to slide endwise in its holder, is provided with rack teeth
on its under side, into which takes a pinion carried by a milled head stem fitted
in the tool holder.
A clamping screw passing through one side of the holder serves to fix the tool
in its adjusted position. To ensure the proper presentation of the work to the
cutter, a fixed guide is provided (behind the bite of the feed wheels) against
which the workman presses the edge of the sole, in presenting it to the action
of the machine.
An elastic presser, which is mounted on a fixed fulcrum, and provided with
an adjustment for adapting it to varying thicknesses of sole, and limited in its
upward movement, is employed for holding down the sole upon the lower feed
wheel, it being suitably shaped to act close up to the fixed guide.
It may be here remarked that the machine, although designed for a special
purpose, is applicable to the channelling of soles generally, and, when fitted with
a suitable tool, it may be used to chamfer off the sharp angle of outer soles.
Dated this 16th day of Nov 1808
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improved Machinery for Channelling Boot and Shoe Soles.
We, JOHN KEATS, of Bagnall, near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Mechanical
Engineer, and WILLIAM STEPHENS CLARK, of Street, Somerset, Boot Manufacturer,
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 improved machinery for channelling boot and shoe
soles, for their conversion into ribbed soles by the moulding and shaping
machinery that forms the subject of a British Patent granted to the present in-
ventors, and bearing date 14th July 1897, No. 16720.
The chief feature of novelty in this invention consists in the tool holder, which
provides for the nice adjustment, in various positions, of the channelling tool,
such adjustments enabling all the channelling operations required in boot-making
to be effected by the aid of two tools, instead of a special tool being needed for
each variation of cut.
The present invention bears a resemblance, in some points, to our moulding
machine above mentioned, inasmuch as the grip of the feeding surfaces upon the
sole is produced by pressure on a treadle, and a rocking frame is employed to
carry the upper feeding wheel.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our improved channelling machine, with the
improved tool-holder applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plain view, on the line X-X Fig. 1; and
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same.
Fig. 4 is a side view of the tool holder, detached from the machine, showing
the tool in place, and acting upon the leather.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same; and
Fig. 6 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 4, and shewing the tool in position..
These three views are drawn to a somewhat larger scale than Figs. 1, 2, 3.
Figs. 7, 8, and 9, are diagrams illustrating the work designed to be produced
by the channelling or cutting tools.
Fig. 7 shews an angular cutter so set as to cut a channel for an outer sole; and
Fig. 8 shews it as set for channelling an insole.
Fig. 9 show a gouge-shaped tool for chamfering the edge of a sole.
Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A is the bed plate of the machine; B a
standard cast in one with the bed plate; which, at its upper part, is slotted ver-
tically to receive the forward end of a rocking frame C.
D, D, are a pair of standards, also cast solid with the bed-plate. These
standards are fitted with fulcrum pins d, which serve to connect the frame C
with the standards.
In this rocking frame is mounted a shaft C', which carries a pressing and feed-
ing wheel C. E is a horizontal longitudinal shaft, having its front bearing in
the standard B, and its rear bearing in a block A¹ cast with the bed plate A.
Mounted loosely on the rear end of this shaft E, is a hand wheel E¹, which
carries on its boss a spur pinion E³, gearing with a spur wheel C³, keyed to the
shaft C. It is by turning the hand wheel E', that rotary motion is imparted
to the shaft C of the rocking frame, and consequently to the feed wheel C³.
Keyed to the shaft C', within the rocking frame C, is a spur wheel e, which gears
into a spur wheel e¹, of like diameter, keyed on to the shaft E, and it is thro'
these spur wheels that rotary motion is imparted from the shaft C₁ to the shaft E.
The forward end of the shaft E carries a bevel pinion e³, for transmitting
motion through a bevel pinion f, keyed on an inclined shaft F, which carries
at its upper end a coned feed wheel F¹.
.
This coned wheel is situated immediately below the feed wheel C², and is
intended to support in a horizontal position, and carry forward, the work to be
presented to the cutting tool.
The inclined shaft F turns in a bearing formed in a cranked bracket piece B¹,
projecting from the standard B.
The horizontal portion of this bracket is bored vertically to form a socket for
the stem of the tool holder, which may be described as a compound tool holder,
consisting of two parts, G and G¹, the one part, G, serving to secure the vertical
adjustment of the cutting tool, and the other, G', the lateral and and angular
positions of the cutting tool, which is situate close to the feed wheels, and in line
with the bite thereof.
g is the stem of the part G, fitting in the socket formed for it in the bracket
projection B, and capable of vertical adjustment therein. The lower extremity
of the stem is notched to receive the end of a thumb lever g', fulcrummed on the
standard B, and serving to lift the holder G to any desired elevation.
To secure the stem in its adjusted position, a clamping screw is provided.
The part G of the tool holder is L shaped in plan view. It consists of a
rounded stem, which passes through a horizontal socket formed in the block G,
and carrying a square socketted arm for holding the tool g³.
The rounded stem is threaded, at its extremity, to receive a binding nut g,
which draws the socketted arm into contact with the part G, and holds the part G¹
firmly in position.
For the purpose of adjusting the inclination of the tool g with exactness, the

page_text: rounded stem is provided with worm teeth g, into which takes a worm 96. The
worm spindle fits in a vertical socket made in the part G, and carries, at its upper
end, a milled head for turning it, when it is required to impart an axial motion
to the stem G. By this means, the angle of inclination of the tool g³ (in the
socketted arm) is determined, the nut g' being slackened for the purpose.
the exact adjustment is obtained, it is secured by tightening up the nut g³, and
thereby drawing the socketted arm tightly against the block G.
When
The tool, fitting in the socket of the square part G₁, carries, on its stem,
rack teeth, into which gears a spur pinion g, carried by a spindle s fitted with
a milled head for turning it.
Access for the pinion to the teeth of the tool stem is given by boring a hole
transversely through the square-socketted limb of the part G¹, and, by turning
this pinion, an endway motion is imparted to the tool, to bring it into position
for channelling the work.
When properly adjusted, the tool is secured in its squared socket by a clamping
screw From the above description it will be understood that the cutting tool
holder is not only adjustable vertically to adapt the tool to its work, but that the
tool itself is capable of being shifted in its socket with the greatest nicety, to
secure a determined depth of incision in the edge of the work.
A fixed guide is provided to enable the workman to secure the work in the
proper position for the cutting tool.
On the bracket projection B is fixed a small bracket H, which carries, at
one side, an L-shaped piece h. The face of, this piece h receives the thrust of
the work, and forms the guide for the workman to traverse the work under the
cutting tool. This guide is situate in rear of the bite of the rollers, and abreast
of it is a presser, to be now described.
Pivotted to the upper part of the bracket H, is a rock lever I, the forward limb
of which constitutes a presser for holding down the work on the coned feed-wheel.
i is a coiled spring which is mounted on an adjustable screwed stem i¹, fitted
to the bracket H.
This stem carries a milled collar, and upon this collar the coiled spring i rests.
For adjusting the pressure of the spring on the presser lever I, the screwed
stem is turned in its threaded support by means of the milled collar, which
will enforce or slacken the force of the spring as desired.
The tail of the pfesser lever serves both for lifting the presser out of action, and
controlling its action on the work..
To provide for the proper grip of the work by the feed wheels, a treadle action,
indicated by the pressing lever C and its pendent rod C³, is applied to the rock-
ing frame C, and, bearing down that frame, holds the upper feed wheel C³ in
close contact with the work.
On the release of the rocking frame from the action of the treadle, the upper
feed wheel is raised from the work by the tension of a coiled spring C, attached
to the base A, and to a rock lever C, fulcrummed to the standard B, and under-
lying the rocking frame.
It may be here remarked that in order to prevent the disengagement of the
gear wheels e and el, when the frame C is rocked, the pivot of the latter is
arranged in line with the point of engagement of the said wheels, as seen in
Fig. 1.
The working of the machine may be thus described :—
Supposing it is desired to channel a sole in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7,
for example, the cutting tool is adjusted and secured in the position of that
figure, and the upper feed wheel, being in the dotted position of Fig. 1, by reason
of the drag of the spring C on the lifting lever C, the attendant places on the
conical periphery of the lower and inclined feed wheel F the sole to be channelled,
passing it under the presser I and against the guide h, which ensures its proper
lateral position in the machine.
He then, by the treadle device, presses down the feed wheel C² on to the work,

page_text: and turns the hand wheel E¹, to impart rotary motion to the feed wheels, main-
taining at the same time, with his foot, the pressure of the feed wheel C on the
work.
The sole will thus be caused to pass under the action of the fixed cutting
tool g³, which will gouge out an angular piece from the flesh edge of the leather,
and at the same time make a slight undercut in the leather at the angle of the
channel.
As this operation is proceeding, the attendant will keep the work in contact
with the guide h, and so manipulate it, that the cut of the fixed tool will follow
the shape of the sole, forming a channel all around it, and thus prepare the sole
for the action of the rib-moulding machine above referred to.
It may be here remarked that the machine, although designed for a special
purpose is applicable to the channelling of soles generally, and when fitted with
a suitable tool, such as that shown at Fig. 9, it may be used to chamfer off the
sharp angle of outer soles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In a machine designed to channel boot and shoe soles, the feeding device
above described with reference to the drawings, consisting of a coned lower feed
wheel mounted on an inclined shaft, and an upper feed wheel carried by a shaft
having its bearings in a rocking frame, such shaft being connected by gearing
with a hand wheel mounted loosely on a horizontal shaft, and also through spur
wheels to the shaft carrying the hand wheel, which shaft, through bevel gears,
transmits rotary motion to the inclined shaft of the lower feed wheel, the bite
of the feed wheels being maintained by a pedal device connected with the rocking
frame, as above set forth.
2. In a machine for channelling boot and shoe soles, the compound tool-holder
above described with reference to the drawings, consisting in a block having an
extended base from which a vertical stem depends, and a horizontal stem fitting
a socket in the block, and carrying a square socketted arm, for the reception of
the cutting tool, such horizontal stem being threaded at its extremity, to receive
a clamping nut, and carrying worm teeth into which a worm gears, such worm
being carried by a milled-headed stem, which enters a vertical socket in the
block.
3. In combination with the compound holder claimed in the second claim, a
cutting tool having rack teeth on its stem in gear with a pinion carried by the
square socketted arm of the tool holder, and fitted with a milled head for
turning it.
·
1000