IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR 'BUILDING' AND FIXING THE HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Blakey, of Leeds, in the County of York, Boot
and Shoe Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR 'BUILDING' AND FIXING THE HEELS OF BOOTS AND
SHOES."
aled the 14th October 1876, and dated the 19th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Blakey at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th April 1876.
JOHN BLAKEY, of Leeds, in the County of York, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR 'BUILDING' AND FIXING
THE HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
This Invention relates---
"
27
Firstly. To machinery or apparatus for building, compressing, and nailing
together the pieces of leather or "lifts" which form the heel of a boot or shoe.
I mount the " cup or heel mould in a "clutch fork" lever which is hinged to
a sliding plate. The bottom of the cup is perforated, and into these perforations
enter a series of pins attached to the sliding plate aforesaid, when the cup is
placed flat on the plate. When commencing to build a heel the cup is raised
from the plate by the lever, the holes are supplied with nails which rest on the
pins, the lifts are then put in either singly or in previously prepared sets, and
a die placed on the top for compressing and dishing the same. By means of the
sliding plate the heel thus built up is brought under an ordinary press which forces
the cup down on to the plate, pressing the nails into the heel and giving proper
shape and solidity thereto. The cup is then withdrawn from the press, and a
lifting rod caused to ascend from below, passing through the plate and bottom
of the cup which pushes out the heel. To prevent the heel from being marked by
the lifting rod, a loose plate may be placed in the bottom of the cup with similar
perforations therein for the nails to pass through. By means of this apparatus I.
can regulate the distance to which the nails are inserted into the heel with great
nicety, and can leave them partly out to be further driven in when used for
fastening the heel to the boot or shoe. Apparatus of like construction may also
le employed for "quilting" or forcing nails in ornamental designs or patterns
into tlie soles and heels of boots and shoes, it being only necessary to have the
nail blocks and pins arranged to the desired pattern, whereby the necessity for
skilled labour for this purpose is dispensed with. By having a raised design on
Price 6d1

page_text: the bottom of the cup or on the loose plate placed therein, the top pieces may be
ornamented by embossing at the same time as they are nailed.
Secondly. My apparatus for fixing the heels to boots and shoes is similar to the
foregoing with the exception of the cup, in place of which I employ a nail block
mounted upon a raising and lowering lever. Instead of the nail block being
moveable it may be stationary and the pins moved up and down.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said John Blakey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th October 1876.
JOHN BLAKEY, of Leeds, in the County of York, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR BUILDING AND FIXING THE
HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
This Invention relates-
Firstly to machinery or apparatus for building, compressing, and nailing together
the pieces of leather or "lifts" which form the heel of a boot or shoe. For this
purpose I employ a cup or heel mould so constructed and combined with other
apparatus that the compression and, nailing together of the lifts are performed at
one operation instead of as hitherto requiring distinct operations for pressing,
piercing holes, and forcing in the nails. The saving of time and labour thus effected
is considerable, and forms the most important feature of my Invention, whilst the
first cost of machinery is reduced.
11
In order that my Invention may be fully understood I herein give reference to
an accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrating the same.
Fig. 1 represents an elevation of a press differing slightly from those in ordinary
use in that instead of the distance between the ram or upper part A and the table
or lower part B being adjusted by moving the said " ram," I make the table
adjustable by supporting it upon the screw C, which screw can be turned round
whilst the press is in operation, and can so be readily accomodated to variations
in the thickness of materials under operation. In connection with the press are
shewn the principal parts of my apparatus for "building" the heels, details thereof
being shewn in Figs. 2 and 3.
66
"
D is the " cup or heel mould which I mount in a clutch fork lever E, the
fulcrum of which is the stud a attached to the sliding plate F. The bottom of the
cup is perforated, and into these perforations enter a series of pins c, fixed at their
lower ends to the sliding plate F. When commencing to build a beel the cup is
raised from the plate by the lever (see Fig. 2) and a loose plate G placed in the
bottom thereof. This plate is perforated with holes corresponding to those in
the bottom of the cup. The holes are then supplied with nails which rest upon
the pins c, and the "lifts" are then put in the cup either singly or in previously
arranged "sets," and a metal die H is placed on the top for compressing and
dishing" or hollowing the top of the heel. By means of the sliding plate the
heel thus built up is brought under the ram of the press, which forces the cup
down upon the plate, the nails at the same time passing through the heel or "lifts,"
and a permanent shape or solidity is thus given to the heel at one stroke. The
cup" is then withdrawn from the action of the press, and a lifting rod J is caused
to ascend, passing through a hole in the sliding plate and the bottom of the cup
until it comes in contact with the plate G, when it lifts the said plate and relieves
or pushes the heel out of the cup. The rod J is attached to the end of a lever K
underneath the sliding plate. By means of the foregoing apparatus I can regulate
the distance to which the nails are inserted into the heel with great nicety, and
can leave them partly out to be further driven in when used for fastening the beel
to the boot or shoe.
"
Apparatus of like construction may also be employed for "quilting" or inserting
nails in ornamental patterns or designs into the soles and heels of boots and shoes.

page_text: Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate this application of my Invention, in which a perforated
plate L is attached to the lever E instead of a "cup," and the sole or heel to be
quilted is placed upon it and subjected to pressure. By having a raised design or
mark upon either of the plates G or H, the outer pieces of the heel may be embossed
at the same time as they are nailed.
Fig. 9 illustrates a ready contrivance for inserting the nails into the heel cup.
It consists of a block R with perforations corresponding to those in the cup, and
a plate S attached thereto by square pin passing through a slott in the said block;
this plate is perforated to match the block, but by means of spring T it is when
out of the cup drawn into such a position that the solid portions of the plate
appear opposite to the holes in the block. In this position the block is filled
with nails and then inserted into the heel cup which forces the two pieces into
such position that the holes in each are directly opposite to each other and the
nails then fall down into the cup.
In either of the above applications of my Invention the "clutch fork" lever E may
be dispensed with, and springs used instead for raising the cup or plate L from
the table.
Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a modification of my apparatus consisting of a circular
plate revolving upon an axis with a series of heel cups arranged on the face thereof.
By this arrangement the attendant can be filling one cup with nails and lifts whilst
another is under the action of the press.
Fig. 6 illustrates an ordinary apparatus for attaching the heels to boots and
shoes. My improvement therein consists in substituting the lever and rod M. for
the spiral spring hitherto employed for raising the nail block.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction or arrangement
of the parts herein shewn and described, neither do I claim the whole of the
parts separately considered, as some of them are in common use, but what I claim
as my Invention and consider to be new is-
1st. The combination and arrangement of apparatus, whereby the several pro-
cesses of compressing, nailing together, and embossing, or any two of such processes
may be performed simultaneously, substantially as herein shewn and described.
2nd. The ornamental perforated plate for " quilting" purposes herein shewn
and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Blakey, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
A. B. CROSSLEY,
Clerk to Wm. Tasker,
Patent Agent,
Halifax.
JOHN BLAKEY. (L.S.)