IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR NAILING THE HEELS ON BOOTS AND SHOESed
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& C° Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR NAILING THE HEELS ON BOOTS AND
SHOES Communicated to him from abroad by Freeborn Fairfield Raymond,
of Newton, Massachusetts, United States of America.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st June 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & C° Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR NAILING
THE HEELS ON BOOTS AND SHOES [A communication to him from abroad
by Freeborn Fairfield Raymond, of Newton, Massachusetts, United States of
America.]
This invention relates to heel nailing machines.
In carrying the said invention into practico I provide a frame and a cross-head,
the latter being adapted to be reciprocated by means of rods, a cross-bar, a
connecting bar, a crank, and springs.
The crank and connecting bar serve to depress or draw down the cross-head
and the springs to lift it to its original position I do not however confine myself
to this method of reciprocating the cross-head and may use any other suitablo
mechanism for so doing.
The cross-head carries a sliding block or carrier to which is screwed or fastened
in any desirable manner an awl-holding block and a top-lift spanker. The block
is moved horizontally on the cross-head to bring the awls, drivers, and spanker
successively in place either directly by hand or by means of a ratchet bolted to
the side of the block, a ratchet-wheel and a hand wheel and their connecting
shaft.
Upon the upper part of the block are formed notches into which a latch, which

page_text: automatically when the notch is brought in line therewith, thereby locking the
block to the cross-head and in a position which shall cause the awls, drivers, or
top-lift spanker, to register.
In order that the sliding block may be returned rapidly to its original position
after the spanking on of the top-lift of the neck or without the latch catching in
the notches, I have made one side of the central notch higher than the opposite
side so that the latch on the quick movement of the block does not enter the
notch but slides over it and closes on the top of the surface beyond.
An adjustable stop is attached to the side frame and consists of a screw ; this
may be used to limit the movement of the sliding block so that upon bringing the
same in contact therewith the latch shall enter the notch for registering the awls
and there shall be no liability of the sliding block being moved past it
I may use other registering mechanism than the device described without
departing from the spirit of the said invention.
The awl or driver holding plates or blocks are adapted to be removed from the
sliding block and others substituted for the purposes of size adjustment. The awl
and driver blocks may be provided with a square stud which enters a square holo
in their respective supporting portions of the sliding block and a locking screw as
a means of fastening them in a manner to permit of their quick removal and
substitution.
The top lift spanker has a similar construction for the purpose of fastening, and
for the purpose of vertical adjustment in relation to its supporting portions of the
block it has screws which aro screwed into screw holes and by means of which,
upon releasing the locking screw, the position of the spanker in relation to the
supporting block may be changed.
In lieu of this method of effecting the vertical adjustment of the spanker I may
use, in place of the stud, a larger screw adapted to swivel in the spanker and
screwing into the sliding block and a disc or wheel interposed between the
spanker and the sliding block for operating the screw. In this event simple guide
pins would be substituted for the screws. Any other manner of adjustment
however may be employed and as there are numerous ways well known to
mechanics of accomplishing the object I do not confine myself to the especial
means described.
The top-lift spanker has upon its under surface or top-lift holder consisting
essentially of a spring-clamp adapted to hold the top-lift by pressure upon its edge
and which is capable of adjustment to varying sizes of lifts
I provide a clamp comprising curved spring arms which are fastened to the
block by bent arins or supports and the adjusting screws, the arms being shaped
to extend upwardly upon the sides of the spanker block.
I prefer however that the arms or supports, instead of being at the front end
of the springs, should be near the back in order that a greater range of automatic
adjustment be provided for the clamp.
In addition to the spring side clamp there may be used a yielding front
gauge-plate which is fastened to the block and extends downwardly to a position
in front of the spring clamp. In lieu of the specific construction described, any
suitable lift-clamping mechanism capable of adjustment may be used.
I provide a sliding jack which has a horizontal movement on the bed of the
machine. An adjustable screw-stop regulates the extent of its inward movement
Upon the table of the machine, on a line with the jack and behind it, there is a
bracket which is secured thereto in a manner to permit of its horizontal movement
thereon in relation to the jack for the purpose of adjustment. This bracket
supports a yielding table upon which a template and nail-holder are arranged to
slide as hereinafter described and a heel-receiver or guide for receiving the heel
end of the last or other support of the boot or shoc as the jack is moved into
position, whereby the heel end of the boot or shoe is caused to assume the proper
position in relation to the other operative devicos and for gauging and guiding the
placing of the heel-blank.

page_text: The yielding table has a vertical plate or standard which is secured to the front
of the bracket in a manner to permit of its vertical movement thereon and the
table is adapted to be lowered or depressed by means of a pivoted lever and an
arm, and to be automatically lifted by a coiled spring which surrounds a rod and
upon which rod the table moves vertically, or which is fastened to the table and
moves vertically with it in a socket at its lower end.
A spring-catch and a latch serve to lock the table in its lowest position against
the stress of the spring. The table carries the sliding plate which is arranged to
be moved horizontally to and from the line of reciprocation or the awl in suitable
ways or guides by a handle, and an adjustable screw-stop limits the extent of the
forward movement, and any suitable stop the limit of the reverse movement.
At the forward end of the plate is the template. Upon the template carrying
plate or slide is a sliding plate which is arranged to be moved horizontally on the
template plate. It has a slot through which a handle passes and which, in
connection therewith, limits the extent of the movement of the said plate.
It supports or carries at its front end a nail-holder. A perforated plate is
attached to the bottom of the nail-holder to slide thereon in closing and opening
the holes therein and by means of a projection, and the spring, is automatically
actuated in the act of moving the nail-holder to and from its position over the
template, the spring moving the plate forward so that the holes are covered
and a projection upon contact with the edge of the template acting as a stop in
preventing the further movement of the plate while the nail-holder is still further
moved to bring the holes in line with those in the template. This stopping of
the plate causes the compression of the spring, and upon the reverse movement
of the nail-holder and its plate the spring moves the plate back to its original
position to cover the holes.
The pivot of the plate or standard has an opening in which is a block which is
fastened to the bracket and supports the heel receiver arm. This arm has a slot
and is fastened to the block by the bolt and is thereby made vertically adjustable
thereon.
The heel receiver is curved to approximate the contour of the heel and has
fastened to it yielding curved spring-arms which are adapted to embrace the
counter of the boot or shoe and other yielding curved spring arms which are
adapted to locate or assist in locating the position of the heel blank upon the heel
of the boot or shoe and in some instances to grasp and support it thereon during
the nailing operation
The lower pair of these yielding arms preferably are attached to the outer ends
of the holder, their inner ends being free while the upper arms aro fastened
preferably at their rear end to the rear of the holder, leaving the front ends free or
in a position to be adjusted borizontally in relation to the sides of the receiver, by
set-screws.
The start and stop motion mechanism comprises a connecting bar which has
pins upon its lower end which play in vertical slots and thereby guide the
movement of the end of the bar which is constantly reciprocating and a latch
which forms the operative connection between the end of the bar and the cross-bar,
the position of which determines whether the cross-head shall be reciprocated and
which is moved upon its supporting plate or bed by means of a lever connecting
rod and arm. These parts really constitute a lever.
The lower end of the arm has a curved slot in which a pin forming a part of the
latch, projects.
The upper part of the slot is vertical and the lower part is curved or inclined
in wardly. The movement of the lever brings the latch under the connecting bar
and moves the lower end of the arm, and the downward movement of the latch
causes the pin moving in the slot to throw back the lever to its original position
where it is locked by springing behind a catch and upon the upward movement of
the latch the pin traversing the slot from its lowest point draws the latch back
from beneath the connecting rod to its original position.

page_text: The lever is made to bear against the edge of a slot in the bed-plate so that it
automatically shuts behind the shoulder or catch.
The work-support consists of a metal heel-piece and the front piece which is
fastened to the heel picce by a stud upon which it has a slight swivelling
movement.
The lower surface of the template may have spurs or projections if desired, and
I find that it is a convenience to use them because they close upon and into the
upper surface of the heel-blank and hold it firmly and solidly during the driving
of the awls and nails. When heel-blanks of comparatively soft or tempered
leather are used, or in fact any heel blanks that will permit of it, the awls may be
dispensed with and the nails driven through the beel-blank by the drivers without
first punching it.

page_text: sliding block, and others substituted for the purposes of adjustment, and I show in
Figures 4 and 6 tho awl and driver blocks provided with square studs c which
enter square holes c¹s in their respective supporting portions of the sliding block C,
and the set screw c as a means of fastening them in a manner to permit of their
quick removal and substitution.
The top lift spanker has a similar construction for the purpose of fastening, and
for the purpose of vertical adjustment in relation to its supporting portions of the
block Cit has the screws c¹s which are screwed into the holes o¹, and by means of
which upon releasing the set screw c¹ the position of the spanker in relation to
the supporting block may be changed.
In lieu of this method of effecting the vertical adjustment of the spanker I may
use in place of the stud, a larger screw adapted to swivel in the spanker and
screwing into the sliding block, and a disc or wheel interposed between the spanker
and the sliding block for operating the screw. In this case simple guide pins
would be substituted for the screws c. Any other manner of adjustment
however may be employed and as there are numerous well known methods of
accomplishing this object I do not confine myself to the especial means described.
The top-lift spanker has upon its under surface a top-lift holder, consisting
essentially of a spring-clamp adapted to hold the spanker block by pressure upon
its edge and which is capable of adjustment to varying sizes of lifts.
The clamp shewn in Figure 8 comprises the curved spring arms c7 c's which are
fastened to the block by the bent arms or supports c¹, and the adjusting screws c²0
the spring arms being shaped to extend upwardly upon the sides of the spanker
block. I prefer, however, that the arms or supports, instead of being at the front
end of the springs as shown should be near the back as shown by dotted lines in
Figure S in order that a greater range of automatic adjustment be provided for the
clamp.
In addition to the spring side clamp the yielding front gauge-plate which is
fastened to the block and extends downwardly to a position in front of the spring
clamp as shewn in Figure 8 may be used. In lieu of the specific construction
described any suitable lift-clamping mechanism capable of adjustment may be
used.
The sliding jack D has a horizontal movement on the bed of the machine and an
adjustable screw-stop & regulates the extent of its inward movement.
Upon the table A¹ of the machine on a line with the jack and behind it there is
the bracket E which is secured thereto in a manner to permit of its horizontal
movement in relation to the jack, for the purpose of adjustment. This bracket
supports the yielding table E¹, upon which the template or guide E² and nail
holder E3 are arranged to slide as hereinafter described and a heel receiver or
guide E for moving the heel end of the last or other support of the boot or shoe as
the jack is moved into position, whereby the heel end of the boot or shoe is caused
to assume the proper position in relation to the other operative devices, and for
gauging and guiding the placing of the heel-blank.
The yielding table E' has a vertical plate or standard e which is secured to the
front of the bracket E in such a manner as to permit of its vertical movement
thereon, and the table is adapted to be lowered or depressed by means of the lever e
pivoted at 2 and an arm and to be automatically lifted by a spiral spring e
which surrounds a rod e and upon which rod the table moves vertically or the
said rod may be fastened to the table and move vertically with it in a socket at
its lower end.
A spring catch e and a latch as shown in Figure 2 serve to lock the table in its
lowest position against the stress of the spring. The table carries the sliding
plate E which is arranged to be moved horizontally to and from the line of
reciprocation of the awl in suitable ways or guides by the handle e³, and an
adjustable screw-stop 10 limits the extent of the forward movement and any other
suitable stop limits the extent of the reverse movement.
At the forward end of the plate Es is the template E. Upon the template

page_text: carrying plate or slido is the sliding plate e" which is arranged to be moved
horizontally thereon. The said plato eli has a slot e through which the handle e
passes, the said handle limiting the extent of the movement of the said plate. At
its front end the plato e supports or carries the nail holder 6³. A perforated
plate is attached to the bottom of the said nail-holder and slides thereon in
closing and opening the holes therein, by means of a projection e¹ and a spring e¹s
is automatically actuated during the movement of the nail-holder to and from its
position over the template, the spring moving the plate forward so that the holes are
covered, and a projection upon contact with the edge e¹ of the template acting as a
stop in preventing the further movement of the said plate while the nail holder is
still further moved to bring the holes in line with those in the template. This
stopping of the plate causes the compression of the spring, and upon the reverse
movement of the nail holder and its plate, the spring moves the said plate back to
its original position to cover the holes.
Near the pivot of the plate or standard e is an opening in which is a block e¹
which is fastened to the bracket E and supports the heel receiver arm e¹8. This arm
has the slot and is fastened to the block by the bolt e20 and is thereby made
vertically adjustable thereon.
The heel receiver is curved to approximate the contour of the heel of a boot or
shoe and has fastened to it the yielding curved spring arms e" which are adapted
to embrace the counter of the boot or shoe and the yielding curved spring arms
which are adapted to adjust or assist in adjusting the position of the heel blank
upon the heel of the boot or shoe, and in some instances to grasp and support it
thereon during the nailing operation.
The lower pair of these yielding arms preferably is attached to the outer ends of
the holder, their inner ends being free, while the upper arms are fastened preferably
at their rear end to the rear of the holder, leaving the front ends free or in a position
to be adjusted horizontally in relation to the sides of the receiver by set screws
The starting and stopping mechanism comprises a connecting bar 6 which has
pins 6 upon its lower end which move in vertical alots 60 and thereby guide the
movement of the end of the bar which is constantly reciprocating, and a latch b'
which forms the operative connection between the end of the bar and the cross bar,
the position of which determines whether the cross-head shall be reciprocated.
The said cross-head is moved upon its supporting plate or bed 68 by means of the
lever bº, connecting rod 610, and arm 6". These parts really constitute a lever.
The lower end of the arm 6ª has the curved slot 6" into which a pin 6¹s forming
a part of the latch projects. The upper part of the slot is vertical and the lower
part is curved or inclined inwardly. When the latch is unshipped it is in the
position shown in Figure 2. The movement of the lever 6° brings the latch under
the connecting bar and moves the lower end of the arm 611 to the position shown
in Figure 9, and the downward movement of the said latch causes the pin 613
moving in the slot 6" to throw back the lever 6° to its original position (sce
Figure 2) where it is locked by springing behind the catch 61 (see Figure 5),
Upon the upward movement of the latch, the pin traversing the slot from its
lowest point draws the latch back from beneath the connecting rod to its original
position.
The lever 6 is made to bear against the edge b's of the slot 6 in the bed-
plate A¹, so that it automatically shuts behind the shoulder or catch 614.
The work-support consists of the metal heel-piece F and the front piece Fl
which is fastened to the heel pieco by a stud ƒ upon which it has a slight
swivelling movement.
The operation of the machine is as follows:
The boot or shoe is adjusted upon the work-support and moved to the receiver
and the heel-blank is placed in position. The template or guide plate E' is first
moved horizontally over the blank and is then by a lever moved downwards. The
2. _____ #__h_—th the ton of the heel blank and bus continued

page_text: compression will still further solidify the heel-blank and cause the tops of the
nails to be exposed sufficiently to penetrate and hold it.
It will be noticed that the devices for holding the template and nail-holder are
arranged in the rear of the line of reciprocation of the cross-head, and that the
template has a direct horizontal movement upon its support, and also that the
nail-holder has a direct horizontal movement. This arrangement of these parts
and manner of operating them is desirable because it brings them where they can
be more readily handled by an assistant and where they are out of the way of the
principal operator and are always in view of the assistant.
The lower surface of the template may have spurs or projections as represented
in Figure 4 if desired, and I find that it is a convenience to use them because they
close upon and into the upper surface of the heel-blank and hold it firmly and
solidly during the driving of the awls and nails. When heel-blanks of com-
paratively soft or tempered leather are used or in fact any heel-blanks that will
permit of it, the awls may be dispensed with and the nails driven through the
heel-blank by the drivers with-out first punching it.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
Foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim, in a machine for nailing the heels on boots and shoes :-
First. The combination of a jack for holding the boot or shoe, a group of awls,
and a group of drivers having a straight horizontal movement on a cross-head
adapted to be vertically reciprocated, all substantially as, and for the purposes,
described.
"
Second. The combination of a jack for holding the work and presenting it to
the nailing mechanism a group of awls, a group of drivers, and a lift spanker
supported by the carriage or block C having a straight horizontal movement upon
a cross-head and adapted to be vertically reciprocated, all substantially as, and for
the purposes, described.
Third. The combination of a jack for holding the work and presenting it to the
heel-nailing mechanism, a group of drivers, and a spanker supported by a block
or carriage C adapted to be moved horizontally upon a cross-head, and means,
substantially as specified, for reciprocating the said cross-head, all substantially as,
and for the purposes, described.
-
Fourth. The combination of the reciprocating cross-head B and the awl and
driver holding block or carriage C, adapted to be moved horizontally on the cross-
head, all substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Fifth. The combination of the reciprocating cross-head B, the block or carriage C
for holding the awls, drivers and spanker, or any two of them, adapted to be
moved horizontally on the said cross-head, and devices for locking the carriage or
block to the cross-head when the awls, drivers, and spanker are brought into
position to correspond with the work, all substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination of the reciprocating cross-head, the sliding block or
carriage C, and the adjustable stop c¹¹, all substantially as, and for the purposes,
described.
Seventh. The combination of the reciprocating cross-head B, the carriage C
having notches c, and the latch c7, all substantially as, and for the purposes,
described.
. Eighth. The combination of the cross-head B, the carriage C, the hand-wheel c³,
and mechanism substantially as specified for connecting it with the carriage C, all
as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Ninth. The combination of a jack for holding the work and presenting it to the
nailing mechanism, a guide-plate or template adapted to be moved horizontally in
a straight line from the back of the machine into position, and a group of awls
adapted to be reciprocated by means substantially as specified, all as, and for the
purposes, described.
Tenth. The combination of a jack for holding the work and presenting it to the
nailing mechanism, a guide-plate or template adapted to be moved horizontally in a

page_text: straight line from the back of the machine into position, and a group of drivers
adapted to be reciprocated by means substantially as specified, all as, and for the
purposes, described.
Eleventh. The combination of a jack for holding and presenting the work to the
nailing mechanism, a guide-plate or template adapted to be moved horizontally in
a straight line from the back of the machine into position, a group of awls, and a
group of drivers interchangeably secured to a cross-head, and means for recipro-
cating the said cross-head, all substantially as, and for the purposes, described
Twelfth. The combination of a jack for holding the work and presenting it to
the nailing mechanism, a guide-plate or template adapted to be moved horizontally
in a straight line from the back of the machine into position, and a nail-holder
adapted to be moved horizontally in a straight line from behind into position
independently of the said guide-plate, all substantially as, and for the purposes,
described.
Thirteenth. The combination of a jack for presenting the work to the heel-
nailing mechanism, a guide-plate or template having a horizontal movement, and a
nail-holder supported by the said guide-plate and adapted to have a horizontal
movement with the said plate and to be moved into position after the said plate
has come to rest, all substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Fourteenth. The combination of a jack for presenting the work to the heel-
nailing mechanism, and a guide-plate or template having a horizontal movement in
a straight line from behind into position, and also a vertical movement in relation
to the jack, all substantially as, and for the purposes, described
Fifteenth. The combination of a jack for presenting the work to the heel-nailing
mechanism, a beel-receiver and a guide-plate or template adapted to have horizontal
and vertical movements imparted to it, all substantially as, and for the purposes,
specified.
Sixteenth. The combination of a jack for holding the work and presenting it to
the heel-nailing mechanism, a heel receiver, a guide-plate or template, and a nail-
holder adapted to have a horizontal and vertical movement in relation to the heel-
receiver, and a group of awls, and a group of drivers adapted to be alternately
reciprocated in line with the said template, all substantially as, and for the
purposes, described.
Seventeenth. The combination of the vertically movable table E', and the guide-
plate or template Es adapted to slide thereon in a straight line; all substantially
as, and for the purposes, described.
Eighteenth. The combination of the vertically-movable table E³, the guide-plate
or template E adapted to slide thereon, and the nail-holder plate E³ adapted to
slide upon the said guide-plate, and means, substantially as specified, for regulating
the extent of the movements of the said plates, all substantially as, and for the
purposes, described.
Nineteenth. The combination of the heel-receiver E, its slotted standard e¹³, the
bracket or post E and the set-screw e, all substantially as, and for the purposes,
described.
Twentieth. The combination with a heel-receiver, of the curved spring arms cl
fastened to the outer end thereof, and the curved spring es fastened at the back
thereof, all substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Twenty first. The plate e having prongs, projections, or a roughened surfaces,
all substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Twenty second. The combination of the reciprocating connecting rod 6³, the
cross-bar 6, the movable block b', and its pin b18, the slotted arm 610, and means for
moving and locking the same, all substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Twenty third The combination of the horizontally-moving carriage and jack D,
and the adjustable stop d, all substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Twenty fourth. The combination of the horizontally-moving jack D, the heel-
receiver E, a guide-plate or template adapted to move horizontally and vertically
upon the heel-blank to clamp it in position upon the work and to lock it in that

page_text: position prior to the reciprocation of the awls or drivers, and the said reciprocating
awls or drivers, all substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty first day of December in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
WM RORT LAKE (LS)