An Improved Machine for Building Heels for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left. 13th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Building Heels for Boots and Shoes.
I, WILLIAM HERBERT WEIGHT, of Albert Park, Ashley Road, in the City
and County of Bristol, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention, which relates to machines for heeling boots consists, firstly, in
improved means for operating the plunger which is lowered to bear on the pieces
of leather constituting the heel of a boot or shoe and contained in the usual mould.
According to this invention the plunger spindle is passed through a socket pro-
vided at one end of a lever free to rock on a fulcrum supported in the machine
frame. At the opposite end the rocking lever is connected by a rod to an eccentric
carried on a shaft, which may conveniently be termed the eccentric shaft, carried
in bearings in the machine frame and extending under the table on which the
heels are compressed and rivetted. The driving shaft of the machine is below the
eccentric shaft. The latter is furnished with a clutch and toothed gear whereby it
is, at will, driven off the main shaft. By the eccentric the plunger is caused to
rise and descend over the table. The spindle on which the rocking lever is
pivotted is furnished with a counterbalanced lever whereby when the strain
produced at the meeting of the plunger and the heel in the mould is in excess of a
determined amount the fulcrum spindle rises and relieves the stress. By this
provision fracture of the parts affected by the strain is obviated.
A. second improvement constituting part of this invention consists in means for
imparting a sharper and more sudden raising action on the driver which acts upon
the underside of the piston in the stand tending to force it upward, such raising
action being, according to this invention, more in the nature of a blow than a
gradual lifting. On the eccentric shaft aforesaid is keyed a cam situated below the
aperture in the table through which the driver rises and descends.
The cam, instead of being shaped, as hitherto, so as to exert a gradual lifting
action on the driver when raising it, is, under this invention, so shaped as to raise
the driver more suddenly.
Thus an effect more closely approximating to a blow delivered with a hammer is
produced upon the driver and transmitted to the rivets which are in consequence
less liable to deviate from the required path in the heel. To prevent injury to the
driver at the lower end thereof a flat bar hinged at one end to the machine frame
and free at the other is interposed between the cam and the bottom of the driver.
A third improvement comprised in this invention consists in constructing the
table to accommodate more than two mould stands and thereby to permit of the
employment of more than one operative to place the rivets in the stands, thus
obviating the occurrence of any periods of inaction on the part of the operator of
the machine to whom, under this invention, moulds are supplied in constant
succession.
To facilitate this the table is provided with three grooves or guides arranged in
the form of a Y and converging on the aperture through which the driver is
reciprocated.
-
Dated this 12th day of April 1890.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Building Heels for Boots and Shoes.
1, WILLIAM HERBERT WEIGHT, of Albert Park, Ashley Road, Bristol, in the
County of Gloucester, Boot and Shoe 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:
My invention relates to an improved machine for preparing, or building the
heels of boots and shoes, by rivetting, or nailing together the several layers of
leather (generally known as lifts,) which constitute the boot or shoe heel when so
united, the object of my invention being, a method of and means for performing
this operation in much less time, than can be done by any known means hitherto
adopted.
In order that my invention and the manner of carrying out the same may be
clearly understood, I have appended hereunto the accompanying sheet of drawings,
in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation taken upon the opposite side of the machine to that of
Fig. 1 and shewing an alternative method in the construction thereof.
Fig. 4 is a back elevation of Fig. 3 which is only dissimilar to a like elevation of
Fig. 1 in so far as regards the alternative method of construction to be hereinafter
fully explained.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the grooved table of the machine, shewn in Figs. 1, 2
and 3.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan and vertical section of a pinning stand forming part of
said machine.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan, sectional elevation and bottom view of the heel mould
also forming part of said machine.
Fig. 8 is a plan view of a second pinning stand similar to Fig. 6 the difference
being hereinafter fully dealt with.
Fig. 9 is a further enlarged view of the wearing surface or top piece of a finished
heel.
Fig. 10 is a view of the undersurface of a heel prepared so as to receive a metal tip.
Similar letters of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts throughout
the drawings.
The essential features of my invention by means of which I attain the object
named arc Firstly. The manner of arranging the upper and lower plungers so
that both may be operated from and by the same shaft. Secondly-the particular
construction of the cam operating the bottom plunger, by means of which a sharper
and more sudden impact is given to the drivers, and Thirdly—the manner of con-
structing the table of the machine so that more than one operative may be
simultaneously employed thereon.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide a casting A constituting the body
or frame of the machine and furnished with a central opening (preferably of the
form shewn in the drawings) for the reception of the gearing of the machine. The
upper extremity or head of A is formed preferably circular as shewn at B, and
provided with a central vertical bore, through which passes the spindle of the upper
plunger C. Said spindle is threaded at its upper end for about half its length, and
carries an internally threaded collar D, and is surmounted with a wheel, or
handle E. The collar D, passes through the forked end of a rocking lever I', pro-
vided with slots, which engage with pins, or projections a formed upon, or connected
to, the collar D. The lever F is arranged to rock upon a fulcrum G, having a
spindle fitting into a vertical recess within a swelling, formed upon A. The
opposite end of F is connected by a jointed rod c, to an eccentric or revolving
plate H connected to one end of a horizontal shaft I, passing through bearings

page_text: formed in the frame A, and this for distinction may be called the eccentric shaft.
A suitable bearing J, attached to the frame A, carries, and maintains the vertical
movement of, the upper half of the rod c. The two halves of c may be connected.
by a toggle joint, or its equivalent, in order that the lower half may oscillate in
unison with the movement of H, to the face of which the end of the lower half
of c is pivotted, or connected thereto by means of a strap surrounding H when
this is mounted eccentrically upon I. The driving shaft K of the machine is
situated below and parallel with I, and passes through bearings formed in the
frame A. A pinion L is fixed upon K, within the opening formed in A, and
engages with a spur wheel M, mounted by means of a sliding sleeve, upon the
eccentric shaft I. A weighted treadle lever N, is pivotted at d, to the frame A,
and carries an arm e connected to a toothed clutch f, upon the wheel M, which
engages with a similar clutch fixed upon I, when the end g of the lever N is
depressed by the foot of the operator, this method being shewn by Fig. 1. Or I
may arrange M to revolve freely upon I, and be always in gear with L, and mount
the clutch upon a sliding sleeve, operate by the lever e, in which case the lever e
would be jointed and its upper part pivotted upon A. at e for this purpose as shewn
at Fig. 3.
The front of the machine is provided with a table O, either fixed to the frame A,
or formed integrally therewith, and supported by suitable brackets on each side.
Said table is provided with three grooves, or guides h, arranged in the form of a Y,
and at the point of their convergence a hole is formed in O, the uses of which and
will be hereinafter fully explained. Upon the under surface of O is a bar, or
lever O', pivotted at one end in any suitable manner to the frame of the machine,
but preferably to one of the table brackets, the opposite end passing through a
guide slot in the opposite bracket or not as may be desired. Upon the end of the
shaft I, beneath the table O, I fix a cam P, the particular construction of which
will be fully understood by reference to Figs., 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, and
may be described as a circular plate having a projection upon its circumference
carrying a small wheel i, the object of this projection and wheel being that, a
sharp impact almost corresponding to a blow may be given to the bar O', when the
wheel i comes in contact therewith, when P is revolved by the shaft I.
Upon the table O in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I have shewn a pinning stand R, upon the
top of which is a mould S, the particular formation of these are shewn at Figs. 6
and 7 and their uses and manner of operation are as follows.
The leather intended to be used for building the heel is cut into suitable shapes
corresponding to the opening j in the plan view of Fig. 7. The pieces so shaped
are called "lifts," and several layers of these are used to build the heel. A metallic
mould S, is provided to receive the number of lifts necessary for one heel, minus
the top piece. Said mould is formed internally in such a manner that the upper
part of its internal capacity is formed as at j, and of sufficient size to admit of the
lifts being placed therein, the lower part thereof being slightly less in diameter in
order that the lifts may not fall therethrough. A rim k is formed upon the bottom
of S, to fit upon the top of the pinning stand Fig. 6, or the internal capacity of S
may be the same size at top and bottom, and be placed upon the top of the pinning
stand before being charged with lifts, in which case the bottom lift would rest
upon o of the pinning stand. The pinning stand consists of a casing R, in which is
a vertical plunger m, the diameter of the lower half of which is less than the upper
to form a shoulder, so that may rest thereby upon the bottom of R when in its
lowest position therein. The narrower half of m passes through the bottom of R
as shewn by the sectional view Fig. 6, upon the upper surface of mare pins or
projections hereinafter called the drivers. Within the upper end of R, resting
upon a shoulder, is a moveable cover o, provided with a number of holes n³, corre-
sponding to the number of drivers n, and through which the drivers n pass when m
is raised within R. In constructing the boot or shoe heel the lifts j" must be
fastened together by a sufficient number of nails or rivetts. For this purpose, at
this stage, four or six nails, or rivets are considered sufficient. Given that six is

page_text: h
the number used, a plunger m would be placed within R having that number of
drivers, and a cover o with the same number of holes would be used. The nails or
rivets are placed head downwards within the holes and resting upon the upper
end of the drivers as shewn by the sectional view Fig 6. The mould S charged
with lifts is placed upon the top of R, upon which are studs, or projections
which fit into holes within the under surface of S to retain it in position. The
pinning stand and mould may now be pushed upon the table O through the groove
until the plunger m in R is standing over the hole at the point of convergence of
the grooves previously mentioned, so that R would be immediately under C and
the lower end of m immediately over the arm O' beneath O a projection (" upon 0¹
being now in touch with the bottom of m. The operator now places his foot upon g,
which, descending closes the clutches f and fand by this means the revolving
driving shaft K, gives motion to the eccentric shaft I, the eccentric H now raises
the rod c and consequently that end of the lever F, and this, rocking upon its
fulcrum G. depresses the plunger C, which presses upon J" within S. The half
turn thus given to the shaft I imparts a corresponding half turn to the cam P, and
this when comes suddenly in contact with O¹, imparts by its impact, a sudden and
rapid upward movement to the plunger m and by this means the nails or rivets n
previously placed in are driven into " with a force corresponding to a blow
delivered from a hammer, which more perfectly insures the nails n" entering in the
direction desired than would be the case if P was constructed to impart a more gradual
upward pressure upon 0 and O". The sole object of O¹ is to prevent rupture
between and O" operating m as would be the case if O' was not provided. Upon
the finish of the cycle of I the machine resumes its normal position, and by the
operator removing his foot from g the weight upon the lever N throws out of gear
with, and the machine is again at rest. By this it will be understood that no
great amount of activity is needed from the operator, as no matter how slowly he
may depress the moment and f¹ are connected the rapid movement of the
gearing as described must ensue.
The pressure imparted to " by the plunger C is governed by the handle or
wheel Eregulating the distance of the downward travel thereof, but as the
difference that may occur in the thickness of the lifts would to some extent
lessen or extend the distance between their upper surface and C, and consequently
at times occasion a greater amount of pressure from C, than is necessary for the
purpose, in order that no rupture of the parts of the machine may occur therefrom,
I arrange a compound automatic lever to guard against such contingencies in the
following manner. I provide a lateral slot in the swelling upon A, and an aperture
in the spindle of the fulcrum G, and through these I pass a lever r, pivotted at one
end to a brackets, attached to the frame A. To the free end of r 1 attach a
vertical rod connected to a second lever, pivotted to A at t', and upon the free
end of I suspend a weight w. By this means should extra pressure occur
between Cand", in the manner aforesaid, and thus prevent C from descending a
predetermined distance, no strain would occur upon the lever F or other parts of
the movement, as the fulcrum G would rise against the weight u, and accommodate
itself to the superimposed strain upon F. The arrangement of this compound lever
is shewn at Figs. 1 and 2, but I may dispense with said lever, and as an alternative
arrangement place a spiral, or other spring, or springs within that would operate
upon the spindle of the fulcrum G, in a like manner, and to attain the same end.
Such a spring is shewn in position by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, and this alternative
method of arranging G and the clutches and f' with e form the only difference
in the views Figs. 1 and 2 and the view Fig. 3 as mentioned in the outset hereof.
Resuming the heel building operation, the stand R is now removed, and in the
meantime the junior operative, or operatives have been charging other pinning
stands and moulds with nails and lifts in a like manner, and placing them within
the entrance of at the right hand side of O. The operator therefore simply
passes the pinning stand just operated upon out of h, at the left of O, and operates
upon the next in a similar manner. The heel thus partially formed lacks what is

page_text: technically known as the "top piece," that is, the finishing, or last layer of leather,
which is usually of better quality, and requires more nails or rivets, and differently
placed, than those previously described. For this operation a pinning stand Ŕ
must be used having a plunger m with the desired number of drivers n, and a cover o
with a corresponding number of holes n'. Such a cover is shewn by Fig. 8, the
difference in the stand R to correspond therewith will be understood without further
illustration. The top piece intended to be used is cut to the desired shape, and
size, and placed within an aperture formed in a thin plate, and this with the top
piece is placed upon the pinning stand R previously charged with rivets, and upon
this plate is placed the mould S containing the partly built heel before described.
The stand R and its accessories are then placed upon the table O, in the same
manner as before and the operation repeated. The heel when removed from the
mould after this operation would appear when viewed at the under or wearing
surface as shewn at Fig. 9.
It is sometimes necessary to finish heels with metal tips thereon, in which case
the top piece last described would be of lesser area than the preceding lift, to allow
room for the metal tip to be placed on the heel partly surrounding the top piece.
In this case the finished heel, minus the tip, would appear when viewed from the
under surface as at Fig. 10, the top piece having been put on as last described, the
stand R and plate before mentioned being arranged in a suitable manner for that
purpose. The metal tip may also be placed upon Fig. 10 in the space left therefor
by a similar arrangement of the drivers upon the plunger m, and the holes in the
cover o, so that these may correspond with the holes in the metal tip, and the
operation carried out in the same manner as before.
Or I may arrange the drivers n, and the cover o, in such a manner, that the tip,
and top piece, may be first placed on o, and the remaining layers j" with the mould S
placed thereon, so that the whole may be nailed together in one operation.
By the foregoing description of my said invention and the manner of operating
the same, it will be understood that a number of operatives may be employed upon
the same machine constantly, as the stands and moulds may be charged with rivets
and lifts by junior operatives, and placed within h, and the principle operator kept
actively employed working the machine, thus obviating the occurrence of periods
of inaction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First. In an improved machine for building heels for boots and shoes, the con-
struction, use and application of the entire machine substantially as herein described
and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Second. In an improved machine for building heels for boots and shoes, the
construction and use of a frame or body A, with vertically bored head B, carrying
the spindle of a plunger C, with collar D, operated by a rocking lever F, fulerumed
at G, upon A, the manner of giving motion to F by the rod c, connected to the
eccentric H, upon the shaft I, carrying the cam P. The table O with grooves h
the compound lever -t or its equivalent for regulating the vertical movement of
the fulcrum spindle G, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
shewn by Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 4 of the appended drawings.
Third. In an improved machine for building heels for boots and shoes, the con-
struction and use of a pinning stand R, with vertical plunger m, carrying any
number of drivers n, arranged in any suitable manner, the cover o, with any number
of holes therein, arranged in any form to suit the arrangement of the drivers n,
the mould S for carrying lifts j", the manner of operating the plunger m, by the
cam P, identically with the downward movement of the plunger C, both receiving
motion from the same shaft I, substantially as described and shewn by Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4.
6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In an improved machine for building heels for boots and shoes the

page_text: construction anduse of a camp, with projecting wheel i, for imparting a sudden and
active upward movement to the plunger m, by means of the interposed bar or
lever Of and projection "O" substantially as described and shewn by the drawings
éreunto appended.
..Dated this 13th day of February 1891.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.