Improvements in "Pricking Up" or Indenting Machines for use in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1898-Accepted, 9th July, 1898
[Communicated from abroad by INTERNATIONAL EPPLER WELT MACHINERY Co.,
of 125, Kingston Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
Improvements in "Pricking Up" or Indenting Machines for use
in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 has relation to "pricking up" machines, or machines for indent-
ing the exposed part of the welt for the purpose of separating and bringing out the
stitches in bold relief.
The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character equipped
with such improvements that the indenting tool will accurately separate or prick
up the stitches regardless of slight variations in their lengths; and it consists of
a machine equipped with those features of improvement illustrated upon the draw-
ings and which I shall now proceed to describe in detail and then point out in the
claims hereto annexed.
Reference is to be had to the annexed drawings and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, the same letters designating
the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.
Of the drawings-
Figure 1 is a plan view of an indenting machine equipped with my improvements.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 2 is an elevation from the other side.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine.
Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the same taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a plan view, partially in section.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged front elevation of the indenting tool and the feeding
devices.
Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4.
Fig. 9 is a detail view, partially in section of the device for positioning the
indenting tool or returning it to its normal position after it has completed an
indentation.
Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the rocking lever in which the tool holder
is pivoted.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the tool holder.
Fig. 12 is an end elevation, partially in section of the tool holder in place on the
rocking lever.
.
Figs. 13, 14 and 15 illustrate the feeding devices.
Fig. 16 illustrates in perspective the clutch for the shaft which locks the work
support.

page_text: Fig. 17 represents in section said last-mentioned shaft, and the parts thereon.
In carrying out my invention, one form of which is embodied in the machine
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and which I am about to describe, it
will be understood that I may use different forms of the various parts thereof and
change the details to suit any particular requirements.
Referring to the drawings, indicates the standard upon which the operative
parts of my machine are mounted, the standard being equipped with a suitable
base (not shown) and with a bed a¹ upon its upper end to which the base plate b of
the frame is secured by bolts a².
The frame is provided with two upright rearwardly extending brackets 6ª 1ª, in
which is mounted a power shaft e equipped at one end with a driving wheel c¹,
and at the other end with a balance or fly-wheel e². The power may be applied
to the driving wheel c¹ through a belt driven from any convenient shaft, as by
a counter-shaft mounted in the lower part of the standard of the machine, there
being, if desired, suitable clutch mechanisms for connecting and disconnecting
the continuous power to and from the countershaft, this latter device not being
shown as it is common and needs no illustration.
Upon the driving shaft c are mounted the cams for operating the movable parts
of the machine, and which I will hereinafter describe in detail.
The upper part of the frame b! is widened to form a head or slideway d, in which
reciprocates the feed slide d¹, there being suitable strips d³ secured to the slideway
to maintain the slide therein. The slide d¹ is formed with transverse parallel
guides to receive a sliding block d, and projecting upward from the said
block d is a threaded pin do, passing through a slot in a hand lever № pivoted
at to the slide d' at the left-hand end thereof.
The lever slides upon a plate secured to the slide d and having a series
of apertures 10 to receive stop pins d d which limit the movements of the
lever or lock it in any desired position.
Pivoted to the head or slideway d so as to project transversely across the lever
is a cam lever e, having a slotted end e¹ through the slot of which the pin d passes,
the upper end of the pin being provided with suitable washers and a nut 13.
The lever e is provided with an enlarged hub or bearing e surrounding the pivot
pin which projects upward from the side of the head or slideway and has, a nut
thereon to hold it in place. The rear end of the lever projects rearwardly over
the driving shaft c and is provided with a roller et, extending down into a cam
groove fl in a cam disk f, on the power shaft c. When the power shaft is rotated,
the rotation of the cam disk causes the oscillation of the lever e and the consequent
reciprocation of the feed slide d¹.
By swinging the hand lever dupon its pivot toward and from the pivot pin of
the lever e, the length of the movement of the feed slide may be varied, as desired,
and as will be readily understood.
The feed slide is provided with a downwardly projecting and laterally extended
supporting plate g, upon which are mounted the feeding devices. The forwardly
projecting end g of the supporting plate 9 has an upper vertically stationary
and longitudinally adjustable jaw or gauge 2, against which the upper is to be
placed, and which comprises a portion of the feeding devices, it being secured in
place by screws g³. The vertically movable and forwardly extended jaw or
presser foot g¹ of the gripping device is located directly below the gauge and co-acts
therewith to grip the work and feed it forward positively, as will be hereinafter
fully described.
The presser foot g' has a lug go to be grasped by the attendant in depressing it,
and is secured to a lever g5 pivoted by a large-headed screw go to the supporting
plate g, said lever having on its rear end a segmental rack 97, as shown in detail
in Fig. 13. This segmental rack 97 intermeshes with a pinion h¹ rigidly secured
to a shaft, having one end journaled in the supporting plate g and its other end
journaled in a bracket 98 secured to the supporting plate g. The said shaft h is

page_text: provided with a ratchet wheel 2 and a disk h³, arranged side by side and both
secured rigidly thereto by a key or spline. Said ratchet wheel has its hub extended
to form a sleeve h extending substantially to the end of the shaft h, and upon
the said sleeve and mounted to turn thereon, is a cam lever having its rear end
provided with a roller 6, resting upon a cam h rigidly secured to the driving
shaft c, next to the hub of the balance wheel. The lever is also provided with
a sleevelike hub 8 which extends through the bracket gs, the end of the shaft
being reduced and threaded as at 9 to receive a washer 10 and a nut " for
securing said parts in place.
The lever he is provided with two dogs or pawls h either of which is adapted to
engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 2 at certain predetermined times, being
forced towards said ratchet wheel by a spring 13 secured to an arm on the said
lever.
The bracket is provided with a curved shield g projecting across the ratchet
wheel 2 and resting loosely upon the disk which is provided for this purpose.
When the cam is in such position that the roller 6 on the rear end of the lever h³
is elevated, the pawls 412 are carried below the lower edge of the shield g³, so as to
be thrust inward by their springs 13 to engage the ratchet wheel h² and lock it
against movement. This, in turn, prevents the rotation of the pinion and
consequently any movement of the presser-foot; but when the power shaft is
rotated so that the spring g" connected to the arm of the lever and the
supporting plate'g, has drawn the forward end of the said lever h³ upward, the
pawls or dogs ride up upon the shield g, and the ratchet wheel, the pinion h¹ and
the lever g, with the presser foot are free to move.
The cam and the cam groove f¹ in the cam f are so related that when the
forward feed is taking place, the presser foot is locked and when the rear feed or
return movement of the presser foot and the gauge is taking place, the presser foot
is unlocked and is free to move vertically.
Thus I provide that the work is gripped positively and rigidly to feed it forward,
the grip being loosened immediately as the gauge and presser foot, which constitute
the gripping jaw, begin their backward movement.
When the backward movement of the feed has taken place, and the lever
is operated by the cam h', the pawls 12 are carried below the shield g³, as previously
stated, and engaging the ratchet wheel h², give it a slight partial rotation, and it
in turn gives a slight movement to the pinion so that the forward end of the
lever is raised by reason of its rear end being provided with the segmental rack g
in mesh with the said pinion. This causes the jaw g to clamp the work against the
opposite jaw g, and the jaws remain locked as long as the pawls 12 engage the
ratchet wheel h². As soon as the cam reaches the proper position, and the
pawls ride up on the shield, the light spring 20 (see Fig. 3) connected to the
head and to the end of the lever causes the jaw g to release the work and press
lightly against the sole, thus permitting the two jaws to slide backward to take a
fresh grip.
I shall now describe the indenting tool and the means for operating it. Pivoted
by a pin i to a slide operating in a slideway in the frame of the machine, and
which slide has a hub projecting through a slot in the frame of the machine,
below the slideway d, is a lever having its rear extended end provided with a
roller projecting into a cam slot f in the cam disk f.
The rear end of the lever is normally held upward by a spring
end connected to the lever and the other end connected to a pin
from the slideway 'd.
having one
projecting out
The forward end of the lever i¹ is provided with two internally threaded ears
or lugs, one arranged vertically above the other, to receive between them, the
tool holder which is provided with conical sockets j¹¹ to receive the pointed
ends of two screws 22 passing through the ears .
Thus the tool holder has a vertical movement around the screw pin i and a
horizontal movement about the axes of the screws 1ª.

page_text: The lever is provided with a stop and a flat spring whose rear end is
secured to a projection on the said fever, and between the stop and the spring
extends a projection of the tool holder so that under normal conditions, the
tool holder and the lever are held so as to move together vertically, though the tool
holder may have an independent horizontal movement about the axes of tho
screws The forward end of the tool holder projects forwardly and upwardly,
as shown in Figs. 4 and 11, and is provided with two lugs j³ to receive between
them the indenting tool k, there being a screw passed through said lugs and
through a slot in the indenting tool so as to lock them together, after the indenting
tool has been properly adjusted.
The tool holder has a downwardly projecting tail with a wedge-shaped or
pointed end, and sliding in guides m¹ m² is a slide m having a block m² with
an angular recess m³ to receive the said end g. The slide m has an arm' m
equipped with a roller m³, extending into a cam groove f³ in the cam disk f.
When the indenting tool is depressed, it is free to engage the stitches in the
welt and slide between them, the spring permitting this, so that it is necessary
to provide a device of the nature just described for engaging the tool holder and
positioning it, or in other words causing it to assume its normal position, each time
after it is operated. Hence the cam grooves f f in the cam disk are so formed
that the tool is first depressed before the re-adjusting device, having the angular
recess m³, is fed forward so as to position the tool holder ready for another
operation.
I find it advisable, not only to have a downward movement of the tool holder,
and to allow of a horizontal vibration of the tool, but that it is frequently necessary
to give the tool a motion towards and from the work and to this end, I secure to
the projecting end of the pin i (see Fig. 6) a block or roller », by means of a screw n¹
threaded into an aperture in the pin i.
The block or roller n lies in a socket in a lever pivoted at n² to the frame of the
machine and having an upwardly projecting arm n³ and a rearwardly projecting
arm n, the latter being provided with a roller n projecting into a cam slot f* in
the side of the disk f, opposite the cam grooves ff. The cam slot fi is so formed
that as the tool is being depressed into engagement with the upper edge of the
welt, it is at the same time given a slightly forward movement so as to project
in under the bulging part of the upper on the last.
The table or work support consists of a bar o formed at its upper end o¹ to receive
the work, and sliding in a guideway in a bracket 2, secured to an extension b
of the frame b¹, there being guides p¹ extending over the bar so as to hold it in
place.
Its rear face is formed with rack teeth which engage a pinion p² formed on or
secured to a shaft p³ shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. The bracket is formed
cylindrically to provide a bearing for the shaft 23, it being extended out to the
left to form a bearing for the left-hand end of the shaft. The bracket P is
likewise provided with a downwardly projecting and forwardly extending arm p
through which the lower reduced and threaded end o² of the table passes, said
threaded portion being provided with a milled nut o3 between which and a collar of
a spiral spring o³ is inserted, so as to hold the table upward with a yielding
pressure.
Nuts are placed upon the threaded portion o² of the table to act as stops for
the latter in its upward movement.
The lower end of the said threaded portion o² is preferably connected by any
suitable means, as a chain, with a treadle, not shown, mounted in the base of the
machine.
I provide means for locking the table against movement during the time that
the indenting tool is being depressed into engagement with the work, it consisting
of a clutch mounted upon the shaft p³, as shown in Fig. 17. The clutch is formed
of two collars q¹ q³ joined together in one piece, the collar q³ having an upwardly

page_text: projecting stop g³ and the collar q' having an upwardly projecting stop q₁ engaging
the bracket 2. These collars are placed upon a sleeve p³ rigidly secured to the
shaft.
A small slide operating in a slideway on the left hand face of the frame 6', as
shown in Fig. 8, is provided with a roller 2 held in engagement with the cam
disk by a suitable spring, not shown. The forward end of the slide is provided
with an adjustable screw 3 which is moved forward to abut against the stop 93,
and give such a twist to the clutch as to lock it and the shaft rigidly together so
as to hold the table against movement.
The operation of the device is as follows; -
The parts being in the positions illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8, the work
may be placed between the indenting tool and the table and between the presser
foot and the gauge, by depressing the table and the pressure foot, the upper being
placed against the gauge.
This may be accomplished simultaneously by connecting the lever 5 with the
link s extending from the table bar to the foot lever.
The work having been placed in the machine and power being imparted to the
wheel c¹ and the driving shaft c the parts perform the following functions.
As the shaft revolves, the roller 6 is carried upward by the cam h² and the
presser foot is moved upward to clasp the work firmly between it and the gauge.
At the same time, or immediately thereafter, the lever c is actuated to throw the
feed slide together with the gauge and the pressure foot to the left, so as to feed the
work beneath the indenting tool.
When the feeding devices have traversed one-half of their movement, the
indenting tool is allowed to be drawn downward by its spring, so as to rest
yieldingly upon the work, and as the work slides under it, it drops into one of the
depressions between the stitches, and is carried along with the work until the
feeding devices stop their movement. A further movement of the power shaft
causes the rear end of the lever ¹ to be given a final tilt so as to throw the tool
holder forward and down until the indenting tool makes a dent or depression in
the welt and between the two adjacent stitches. A. still further movement of the
power shaft causes the feed slide to return the feeding devices to their original
positions with a quick positive movement, and at the same time, the re-adjusting
device is carried forward so as to engage the tool holder and return it to its
normal position.
Just before the indenting tool was caused to sink into the welt, the slide r was
moved forward so as to engage the clutch and lock the table against movement,
and immediately after the back feed takes place, the slider is drawn away from
the clutch so as to allow the table to hold the work against the indenting tool
with a yielding pressure, to permit the readjusting device to carry the indenting
tool and the work backward until the tool holder is in its normal position.
Hence if the stitch is abnormally short, the work is positioned as well as the
tool, so that the tool will be able to locate the next normal stitch. The re-
adjusting device therefore not only positions the tool, but positions the work as
well.
The power shaft at this time has completed almost one revolution and as it is
turned the remainder of a revolution, the indenting tool is raised to its inoperative
position. Thus it will be seen that the devices are again ready to feed the work
forward and indent it, as I have just described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is: -
1. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles after the
sewing has been completed, the combination with means for clamping and feeding
the work positively in one direction only, of an indenting tool movably mounted

page_text: above the work and constructed and arranged to descend between two stitches
and be carried along with the work and means for actuating the tool to indent
the work.
2. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination of means for feeding the work, an operating lever, an indenting tool
independent of said feeding means pivoted in the lever to swing freely in the
line of feed by the engagement of the work therewith, and means for actuating the
lever to cause the tool to indent the work.
3. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination of means for feeding the work, an indenting tool mounted loosely to
swing laterally by the engagement of the work therewith, means for actuating the
tool to indent the work, and means for laterally positioning said tool after it has
been operated.
4. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination with an indenting tool constructed and arranged to move in the line of
feed and means for moving said tool towards and from the work, of means for
positively positioning said tool after it has indented the work.
5. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination with an indenting tool movable in the line of feed, of means for depressing
and raising said tool, and additional means for positioning said tool after each
operation.
6. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination with an indenting tool movable in the line of feed, of means, for
depressing and raising said tool, and a slide for engaging and positioning said tool.
7. In a machine for separating the stitchics in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination with an operating lever, an indenting tool, and a tool holder pivoted to
said lever to be swung freely by the work, of means for positioning said tool
holder after it has swung with the work in the line of feed.
8. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, in com-
bination, an indenting or separating tool, a tool holder pivoted to swing in the
line of feed, means for raising and depressing said tool holder, and additional
means positively positioning the tool holder.
9. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination with an indenting tool constructed and arranged to locate the stitches
and separate them, of two movable reciprocatory jaws for clamping the work and
feeding it positively underneath the indenting tool.
10. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination with a work support or table and indenting tool constructed and arranged
to locate and separate the stitches and temporarily clamp the work against the
work support, of two movable jaws constructed and arranged to feed the work
between the indenting tool and the work support, and means for operating said
jaws to feed the work and then return.
11. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination with an indenting tool, of a gauge, and a presser foot, both forming a part
of the feeding devices, and means for positively moving said feeding devices
forward with the work and backward without it.
12. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination with an indenting tool, of a gauge, and a presser foot, both forming a
part of the feeding devices, means for positively moving said feeding devices in
one direction and then in the opposite direction, and means for locking the gauge
and presser foot together during one movement and unlocking them during the
opposite movement.
13. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination with an indenting tool, of a feed slide, and two locking jaws reciprocatory
in the lines of feed for feeding the work, said jaws being both mounted to move
with the said feed slide,

page_text: 14. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination with an indenting tool, of a feed slide operated by a movable part of the
machine, and two gripping jaws mounted upon the feed slide and constructed
and arranged to grip the work to feed it under the indenting tool, and to release
it during their backward movement.
15. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination with an indenting tool, and a reciprocating feed slide, of two gripping
jaws mounted upon the feed slide, and a cam actuated lever constructed and
arranged to co-act with said gripping jaws to cause the work to be gripped and
moved in one direction and released when the jaws are moved in the opposite
direction.
16. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination with the indenting tool, and the feeding devices for the work, of a work
support or table, comprising a depressible rack, a shaft having a pinion meshing
with the rack, and a clutch constructed and arranged to lock the shaft against
rotation when the indenting tool is being depressed.
17. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination with the indenting tool and the depressible work support, of the recipro-
catory jaws for clamping and feeding the work, means for depressing said work
support and means for separating said jaws whereby the work may be placed in the
machine.
18. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the com-
bination with a work support, and feeding devices for the work, of an indenting
tool having provisions for moving it forward under the bulging part of the upper,
then allowing it to descend between the stitches to be carried along with the work,
and then depressing it to separate the stiches.
19. A stitch locating and indenting machine comprising an indenting tool,
means for operating the same, and mechanism for causing the positioning of the
work after the tool has indented it.
20. A stitch locating and indenting machine comprising an indenting tool,
means for operating the same, and mechanism for positioning the tool and the
work, after the tool has indented the work.
21. A stitch locating and indenting machine comprising an indenting tool,
means for operating the same, means for feeding the work under the tool whereby
the tool may drop between two stitches and be carried along with the work,
and mechanism for positioning the tool and the work after the indentation has been
made.
Dated this 2nd dor of A 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.