IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SCREWING THE SOLES OF BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Browne, of the Firm of Browne and
Company, Patent Agents, of 5, Southampton Buildings, Holborn,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR SCREWING THE SOLES OF BOOTS AND SHOES."-A com-
munication from abroad by Joseph Marie Victor Durand and Joseph
Duborget. both of Paris, in the French Republic..
Sealed the 9th June 1874, and dated the 11th December 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Browne at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th December 1873.
I, ALEXANDER BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, Patent
Agents, of 5, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SCREWING THE SOLES OF BOOTS AND SHOES," a
communication from abroad by Joseph Marie Victor Durand and Joseph
Duborget, both of Paris, in the French Republic, to be as follows :-
-
This Invention consists in constructing machines for screwing the soles
of boots and shoes in such a manner that the wire used for making the

page_text: screws shall be brought into the sole of the boot by means of a self-
feeding apparatus, and that the thread cut in the said wire shall be made
by an apparatus provided for that purpose, thereby avoiding the
necessity of screwing the said wire before it is placed in the machine.
In order that the said Invention may be better understood reference i
is made to the accompanying Sheets of Drawing.
Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the machine partly in section;
Figure 2, a front elevation of the same, which is fixed on a table.
Figure 3 shows a side view of another description of machine made
portable in order that it may be fixed to any desired table. Figure 3ª 1
shows the details of the machine.
Figure 4 is a vertical elevation partly in section of the machine on a
larger scale, showing the details thereof; Figure 5 is a horizontal section
of the same through the line 1, 2, Figure 4.
Figures 6 and 7 represent a longitudinal side view and plan of the 1
screwing apparatus.
In order that the screwing machine may be worked by steam or other
motive power a pulley a is used, which revolves on its axle, furnished
with a cone a¹. In the boss of the pulley a is a spiral spring, the object
of which is to throw back the pulley a. The said spring is depressed a
when pressure is put on the lever f. On the other extremity of the axle
of the pulley a is placed a mitre wheel 6 geared with a pinion 6' fitted
on the main axle of the machine. This pulley a is thrown in and out of
gear by means of the lever f, which forces it on to the cone a¹ until
motion is imparted to the axle on which the said cone is placed. The a
cone a¹ may be dispensed with by making the surface of the mitres b, 6¹,
smooth or covered with leather, in which case the leverf will bring the
mitre 6 in and out of gear of the pinion 61. The wire is fed gradually
by means of the self-acting apparatus shown at c fixed at the lower
part of the main spindle of the machine.
This apparatus consists of a frame c, Figures 4 and 5, having two
axles, at the extremity of which small tooth wheels are fixed. Inside
the said frame the aforesaid axles are furnished with small cast-steel
sheaves o, o¹, having grooves into which the wire is held. The
sheaves o, o¹, serve to feed the wire to the screwing apparatus d,
Figures 1, 2, 6, and 7. The apparatus c receives its rotating motion

page_text: from a pinion p fixed at the end of the screwing apparatus d, which gears
into the wheel h, Figure 4, placed at the extremity of the main spindle
of the machine. The wheel h has a mitre pinion i, which transmits the
motion to a mitre wheel j cast on the pinion k, which transmits the
motion to the wheel fitted on the other axle. The mitre j and the
pinion k are loose on the axle like the wheel h and the pinion i,
these wheels and pinions only serve to transmit motion to the others.
The wheel receives its motion from the pinion k, and being keyed on
its axle transmits motion to the wheel m through the pinion n, which is
also fixed at the other end of the said axle, the sheave o being keyed on
to the axle of the wheel m will revolve with it and draw the wire, which
is placed in the grooves of the two sheaves o, o¹. The sheave o¹ is loose
on its axle.
It is obvious that if the above-described apparatus is fitted at the
extremity of the main spindle of the machine, Figures 1, 2, and 4, each
revolution round the pinion p will by means of the aforesaid gearing
impart motion to the sheave o, which will feed the wire, and by this
combination will also give the pitch of the screw to be cut on the said
wire by means of a cutting tool, at the same time holding the wire firm
enough to resist torsion.
The important point in the above-described method of giving motion
by means of the friction cone a¹, and pulley a, and lever f, is that when
the wire is rivetted by coming in contact with the last on which the boot
is placed the stoppage will be instantaneous.
The following is a modification of the screwing apparatus shown at
Figures 6 and 7:-The apparatus is used for cutting the thread by means
of a tool which consists of a small square piece of tempered steel
suitably sharpened. This tool is inserted in a groove, which directs the
cutting edge of the tool under the pinion p, through the centre of which
a hole is bored into which the wire passes. The tool may be brought
forwards or backwards in a slanting groove cut out under the plater
by means of the screw q placed opposite the screw q¹. This screw q¹ is
simply an adjusting screw, which is screwed out as the tool g wears.
Again, when the tool is taken out by unscrewing the screw the regu-
lating screw will serve as a gauge by means of which the tool when
replaced will be in its original position. The feed motion of the screwing
apparatus consists of a small piece of tempered steel, in the centre of

page_text: which a hole is bored, in this hole the wire passes. The whole is
covered with a plate, to which is fixed the driving pinion p. The said
plate is held in its place by means of a screw 8, which is loosened when
the tool g is taken out.
The pinion p is one of the main features of the modification, as it
gives the required motion to the gearing and the sheaves o, o¹. The
regulating pillar e, Figures 1 and 2, is made hollow, and has in its
interior a piston, which may be raised or lowered by means of the
screw t, to which motion is imparted by a handle. In a slot cut out of
the said piston a lever u is inserted and kept therein by a pin on which
it can oscillate, so that by means of the lever u it is easy to give an
oscillating motion to the machine, and thus any height can be obtained
as the different kinds of work may require.
I will now now proceed to describe the second description of the
machine shown at Figure 3. This kind of machine may be attached to
a table 1 by screws or otherwise. The upper part of the framework 2
holds the whole of the motion and feeding apparatus above described
and represented at Figures 1 and 2, the same Figures denoting corre-
sponding parts. The upper framework 2 is hinged on to the under
framework 3 by means of a spindle 4. When this spindle is taken out
the machine is in two parts. At 3 a double cam or excentric 5 is placed,
the object of which is to exert pressure on the sole of the boot by means
of a lever 6 by raising the bracket 7. The double cam or excentric also
acts on the knife holder 8, the said knife serving to cut the wire when it
has been screwed into the sole of the boot. By means of this arrange-
ment when the lever 6 is inclined one way the framework 2 is brought
downwards, thus pressing on the sole of the boot, and when inclined the
other way the pressure will be relieved and the cam 5 will push against
the knife holder 8. The boot rest 9 consists of a frame made in such a
manner that it will receive a boot 10, in which an iron last is introduced;
upon the screws coming into contact with the said iron last the rivet
heads will be formed.
The under part 11 and top part 9 on which the boot rests are hinged
at 12 so that the workman can give any suitable inclination as circum-
stances may require. When the inclination is obtained it is kept by
means of a thumbscrew 13. The support 14 on which the end of the
boot rests is movable, and can be brought nearer or further from the

page_text: heel of the boot, according to the size of the said boot, and when thus
regulated is kept in a fixed position by the thumbscrew 15. The whole
of this arrangement is fixed on a rest 11, the top of which corresponds
with a curved under surface better shown at Figure 3ª. The object of
this curved surface is that the boot rest 9 may be inclined to the right or
left and kept in the position given by the thumbscrew 17 independently
of the bed 16 on which this part of the machine rests.
Apart from these different heights and inclinations which may be:
given by the boot rest 9 the pressure of the machine is given by means
of the cam or excentric 5 and the regulating screw 18, which lifts or
lowers the bed 16 on which the boot rest 11 is placed. This bed 16 may
be removed and substituted by any other suitable rest or tool used in the
manufacture of boots.
Another improvement consists in making boot screwing machines:
adapted for using the wire on which the screw has already been cut, as.
shown at Figure 8. The top part of the machine is similar to the one.
represented at Figure 3 with the exception that the wire feeding and:
screwing apparatuses are dispensed with. The upper framework has a
wheel 19 gearing into the pinions 20, so that the machine may be worked
by a winch handle, and is also provided with a spindle 21 hollowed out
in order that the wire may pass through it ready to be screwed into. the
boot. The under framework 22 is hinged to the upper one at 4. The
pillar 23 made in the shape of a socket receives the end of the frame-
work 22. In this pillar is inserted a cone 24 furnished with a set
screw 25 by means of which the framework 22 may be raised or lowered.
over the boot rest 26. The position of this framework 22 is kept by the
thumbscrew 27. 28 is a handle supporting the tube 29, in which the
screwed wire is placed. With this handle pressure is given to the wire,.
by means of which it is made to enter the sole of the boot, a small
brake 30, the interior of which is cut out as a screw, serves to hold the:
wire, the pressure is given thereto by means of the screw 31. The
object of having the interior of the brake cut as a screw is to prevent
deterioration to the screwed wire. The whole of this machine is fixed
on a foot 32. Instead of using a handle as shown at 28 a lever may be
applied, the said lever being worked either by hand or by a treadle to
bring down the spindle 21.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Browne in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th June 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, Patent Agents, of 5,
Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Browne, Her
special licence that I, the said Alexander Browne, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Browne, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SCREWING THE SOLES OF BOOTS AND SHOES,"
a communication from abroad by Joseph Marie Victor Durand and
Joseph Duborget, both of Paris, in the French Republic, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Browne, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Browne, do hereby a
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say :-
This Invention consists in constructing machines for screwing the
soles of boots and shoes in such a manner that the wire used for making
the screws shall be brought into the sole of the boot by means of a self-

page_text: when replaced will be in its original position. The feed motion of the
screwing apparatus consists of a small piece of tempered steel, in the
centre of which a hole is bored; in this hole the wire passes. The
whole is covered with a plate, to which is fixed the driving pinion p.
The said plate is held in its place by means of a screw 8, which is
loosened when the tool g is taken out.
The pinion p is one of the main features of the modification, as it
gives the required motion to the gearing and the sheaves o, o¹. The
regulating pillar c, Figures 1 and 2, is made hollow, and has in its
interior a piston, which may be raised or lowered by means of the
screw t, to which motion is imparted by a handle. In a slot cut out of
the said piston a lever u is inserted and kept therein by a pin, on which
it can oscillate, so that by means of the lever u it is easy to give an
'oscillating motion to the machine, and thus any height can be obtained
as the different kinds of work may require.
I will now proceed to describe the second description of the machine
shown at Figure 3. This kind of machine may be attached to a table 1
by screws or otherwise. The upper part of the framework 2 holds the
whole of the motion and feeding apparatus above described and repre-
sented at Figures 1 and 2, the same Figures denoting corresponding
parts. The upper framework 2 is hinged on to the under framework 3
by means of a spindle 4. When this spindle is taken out the machine is
in two parts. At 3 a double cam or excentric 5 is placed, the object of
which is to exert pressure on the sole of the boot by means of a lever 6
by raising the bracket 7. The double cam or excentric also acts on the
knife holder 8, the said knife serving to cut the wire when it has been
screwed into the sole of the boot. By means of this arrangement when
the lever 6 is inclined one way the framework 2 is brought downwards,
thus pressing on the sole of the boot, and when inclined the other way
the pressure will be relieved and the cam 5 will push against the knife
holder 8. The boot rest 9 consists of a frame made in such a manner
that it will receive a boot 10, in which an iron last is introduced upon
the screws coming into contact with the said iron last the rivet heads
will be formed.
The under part 11 and top part 9 on which the boot rests are hinged

page_text: means of a thumbscrew 13. The support 14 on which the end of the
boot rests is movable, and can be brought nearer or further from the heel
of the boot, according to the size of the said boot, and when thus
regulated is kept in a fixed position by the thumbscrew 15. The whole
of this arrangement is fixed on a rest 11, the top of which corresponds
with a curved under surface better shown at Figure 3ª. The object of
this curved surface is that the boot rest 9 may be inclined to the right or
left and kept in the position given by the thumbscrew 17 independently
of the bed 16 on which this part of the machine rests.
Apart from these different heights and inclinations which may be
given by the boot rest 9 the pressure of the machine is given by means
of the cam or excentric 5 and the regulating screw 18, which lifts or
lowers the bed 16, on which the boot rest 11 is placed. This bed 16 may
be removed and substituted by any other suitable rest or tool used
in the manufacture of boots.
Another improvement consists in making boot screwing machines
adapted for using the wire on which the screw has already been cut, as
shown at Figure 8. The top part of the machine is similar to the one
represented at Figure 3 with the exception that the wire feeding and
screwing apparatuses are dispensed with. The upper framework has a
wheel 19 gearing into the pinions 20, so that the machine may be
worked by a winch handle and is also provided with a spindle 21
hollowed out in order that the wire may pass through it ready to be
screwed into the boot. The under framework 22 is hinged to the upper
one at 4. The pillar 23 made in the shape of a socket receives the end
of the framework 22. In this pillar is inserted a cone 24 furnished
with a set screw 25, by means of which the framework 22 may be
raised or lowered over the boot rest 26. The position of this frame-
work 22 is kept by the thumbscrew 27. 28 is a handle supporting the
tube 29, in which the screwed wire is placed. With this handle pressure
is given to the wire by means of which it is made to enter the sole of the
boot. A small brake 30, the interior of which is cut out as a screw,
serves to hold the wire. The pressure is given thereto by means of the
screw 31. The object of having the interior of the brake cut as a screw is
to prevent deterioration to the screwed wire. The whole of this machine
is fixed on a foot 32. Instead of using a handle as shown at 28 a lever
may be applied, the said lever being worked either by hand or by a
treadle to bring down the spindle 21.

page_text: nesses of material to be screwed, substantially as described and
represented at Figure 1.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Browne, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.