IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR FOLDING AND PRESSING THE EDGES OF ELASTICS USED IN BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Thomas Hughes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
November 1867.-A communication from abroad by Antoine Guérin,
of Lyons, in the Empire of France.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent
Agents, 128, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR FOLDING AND PRESSING THE
EDGES OF ELASTICS USED IN BOOTS AND SHOES," a communication to me from
abroad by Antoine Guérin, of Lyons, in the Empire of France, to be as
follows:-
On a table there are two apparati each connected by a rod to a treddle
underneath the table in such manner that the rods are raised or lowered by
the foot at pleasure. A guide is introduced into an opening or recess for each
elastic; then the stuff is placed in its proper position, and the stuff holder fixed,
after which the guides are removed and two plates are employed for enabling
the edges of the elastic to be plied or fulded. There are two irons fixed to one of
the said rods, and they are heated on a stove placed at the back, a rotary motion
being given to the rod for that purpose, and when the irons are heated they are
returned to the openings for the elastics, after which the treddle is acted upon
and the two irons brought to the level of the plates which rest on the said

page_text: table for enabling the edges of the elastics to be plied or folded. At the same
time that a transverse handle fixed to the irons is acted upon by the hand a
lever working on a cross rod also fixed to the said irons is brought forward,
carrying the irons forward with it over the stuff. The said plates are now
drawn back and the treddle slightly lowered so as to balance the weight of the
two irons, and then the irons are drawn backwards and forwards several times
for pressing the folds, after which they are returned to the stove. The elastics
are now placed in the other apparatus, and a stamp caused to act by means of an
eccentric and handle on a heated plate or iron so as to press the folds together.
In order to cement the elastics between the folds they are taken to the other
apparatus, so that there is no time lost, for while the beating is being performed
at one side the apparatus is at work at the other side. The said stamp can
be turned on its axis from left to right, and vice versa, so as to act upon either
apparatus, and in the centre of each apparatus there is a rod which acts as a bolt
for keeping the apparatus closed. There is a grooved guide for regulating the
irons so that they cannot pass beyond the openings for the elastics, and there
is also a circular regulator into which the rod carrying the two irons enters
to prevent the said irons from coming forward until required. The cross
handle before mentioned which joins the two irons serves to press the stuff
and to facilitate the forward movement of the irons. In order that the irons
shall not deviate from their course they have each a groove which fits a
corresponding projection upon the plate which supports the irons. Instead of
the plates wire frames may be employed, but in either case there are latches to
maintain them in place when the apparatus is open, and when the apparatus
is closed the latches are released. To suit the required dimensions of the
elastics the irons and parts used in connection with them are made of different
sizes.
By means of this machinery great economy is effected, for in the preparation
by hand the ends of the elastic threads are in too close contact with the threads
by which the elastics are stitched to the boots and shoes, and consequently
there is frequent breakage; this inconvenience is avoided by the use of this
machinery, for the elastics are placed between the uppers of the boots and
shoes and the linings, and delivered to the stitching machine without requiring
lasting.