HAND METHOD LAS
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1894-Accepted, 27th July, 1895
A communication from THE CONSOLIDATED HAND METHOD LASTING MACHINE
COMPANY, of Nashua, New Hampshire, United States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, M.I.M.E., 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:-
Referring to the drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lasting machine embodying this invention :
Figure 2 is a perspective of parts immediately connected with this invention,
detached:
COMPANY, of Nashua, New Hampshire, United States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, M.I.M.E., 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:-
Referring to the drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lasting machine embodying this invention:
Figure 2 is a perspective of parts immediately connected with this invention,
detached:
Figure 3 is a side elevation of parts comprising the invention specifically ;
Figure 4 is a front elevation;
Figure 5 is an elevation of a central section of Figure 4:
Figure 6 is a plan of Figure 4;
Fi
Figure 7 is a front elevation and
Figures 8 and 9 are opposite end elevations of Figure 7.
In the process of lasting it is customary to plait or crimp the upper material at
the toe, or other parts, and if the material is thick, hard, and difficult to manipulate,
it is customary to cut the marginal edge thereof, where the plaits or crimps are
formed, and superimpose the slitted parts of the upper, one upon the other, whereby
the material is laid more closely to the inner sole and a surface prepared for better
receiving the outer sole.
This invention relates to a mechanism having for its object to perform the
cutting or slitting of the upper automatically during the lasting operation.
As represented in the present instance, this invention includes a cutter-blade N³
and cutter-blade support N°. The support is pivotally connected with collar 17 of
the machine pincers and is moved about therewith. Its bottom end supports the
blade N and is held rearwardly of the pincers jaws by spring N'. It is moved
forwardly to carry the cutter-blade forwardly and upwardly past the gripping
plane of the pincers jaws for slitting the material of the upper held there-between.
The operations of the cutter blade are effected mechanically as follows:-A rod N°
supported in the machine frame (Figures 3 and 7) is pressed yieldingly against the
lever N. Said lever carries cam-stud N to engage cam-block N carried by
pincers-operating cam 40 the arrangement being such that during a revolution of
cam 40, lever N10 is moved to carry forward the rod No. When released, the
rod is returned by spring N° being reciprocated thus backwardly and forwardly,
during each operation of the pincers mechanism. On the end of rod Na is a
fork N and as the rod moves forwardly the branches of said fork may pass on
either side of the support, No, during which there is no movement of the cutter
blade, and it is while thus positioned that the pincers are moved to work over the
last portions of upper, where pleating of the same is not desired. The lever 68 is
at this time, positioned centrally as in Figure 2. By a movement of lever 68 to
one side, the pincers are caused to move laterally for plaiting the upper in one
direction, and the support, No is thereby moved into alignment with one brauch of
fork N to be moved by each reciprocation of the rod N³ and advance the cutter
blade for cutting the upper. By a movement of the lever 68 to the opposite side

page_text: The
the pincers are caused to move for plaiting the upper in the other direction.
support N being thereby carried into alignment with the opposite branch of
fork N is again moved by each reciprocation of the rod to effect the cutting
operation. By a return movement of the lever, 68. to its central position, the
plaiting operations are discontinued, the support is again positioned between the
branches of the fork, where it is out of engagement therewith, and the cutting
operations are discontinued, (Figure 6).
At times, it is desirable to discontinue the cutting operations, during the plaiting
operations of the upper-working devices. To this end fork N is arranged to slide
vertically on rod, N8, from a position in alignment with the support, No, to an
altitude above the support, whereupon the support permits movement with the
pincers under the fork, without being engaged by the branches thereof. Connected
with the fork is a lever. NB, having toothed engagement with the fork. Said
lever is supported on a shaft, Ne, which shaft. is supported to turn in the machine
frame and carries a handle to he grasped by the operator in moving the shaft.
A
spring, N, holds the lever in position as set by the workman. This mechanism
is fully represented in Figures 7, 8, 9, and by it the workman may lift and depress
the fork at will.
The machine represented in the present instance comprises a single pair of
gripping devices, whereby a section only of the upper is acted upon at one time.
To complete the lasting process, the last, with the inner sole and upper thereupon,
is supported by the workman, held up to and moved about for presenting portions
of the upper to the grippers, at different times, as the lasting process may require.
Said mechanism comprises the gripper jaws, 14, 16, and their supporting bars, 13 15.
A collar, 17, secured to the bar, 15, operates to hold the bars in sliding contact.
The grippers are opened and closed by reciprocating bar 15, longitudinally.
Bar, 13, is supported in one end of a rocking lever, 18. Opening and closing of the
pincers jaws is effected by a cam, 40, operating through a mechanism supported in
connection with the lever 18, and movable therewith, it being also connected with
the pincers shank 15 by a collar, R. Lever, 18, is rocked for lifting and
depressing the pincers, by a cam, 280, and connections as represented in Figure 2.
The pincers mechanism has provision also for movements forwardly and
backwardly to carry the upper over the last. Said movements are effected in one
direction by a cam, 54, and in the opposite direction by spring, 53, through
mechanism as shown in Figure 2. In addition, the pincers mechanism has provision
for movements sidewise, which are effected by a cam, 61, through mechanism as
represented in Figure 2, for plaiting the upper, as referred to above. The sidewise
or plaiting movements are governed by a mechanisin under control of the workman,
including the lever, 68, shaft. D, and intermediate connections as also shown in
Figure 2, the arrangement being such that a movement of the lever, 68, to one side
of the central position, sets the pincers-operating mechanism to moving the pincers
laterally, for plaiting the upper in one direction, while a movement of the lever, 68,
to the opposite direction, past its central line, positions the mechanism for causing
the pincers to make opposite lateral movements for plaiting the upper in the
opposite direction. Said plaiting movements are repeated with each complete
operation of the pincers mechanism so long as lever, 68, remains in either of the
said lateral positions. The plaiting movements are omitted and the pincers moved
over the last in a substantially straight line, so long as the lever, 68, remains in a
position intermediate said lateral positions.
In connection with the upper working devices, mechanism is employed for
securing the over-drawn sections of upper to the inner sole. Said mechanism has
provision for advancing forwardly and backwardly over the last and comprises
means for distributing and driving tacks through the upper into the inner sole.
For a description of this mechanism and parts of the machine represented in
connection with this invention, as shown in Figure 1, reference is had to British
Letters Patent, 24405°³.
It should not be understood that this invention is limited in usefulness to the

page_text: particular machine with which it is herein described and represented. Mechanical
skill is sufficient, when of an ordinary quality to modify and suitably combine the
invention with other lasting machines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is;-
1. In a lasting machine in combination upper-working devices for working the
upper over the last a cutter-blade supported to permit an independent movement
with relation to the upper working devices for cutting or slitting the edge of the
upper and mechanically-operated driving connections for actuating the cutter blade
in the operations of cutting the upper said driving connections having independent
movement with relation to the upper-working devices for moving the cutter blade
in time relations independently thereof substantially as described.
2. In a lasting machine in combination upper-working devices for working the
upper over the last a cutter blade arranged for independent movement with relation
to the upper working devices for cutting or slitting the edge of the upper
mechanically operated driving connections for actuating the cutter blade in the
operations of cutting the upper said driving connections operating by described or
equivalent means to move the cutter blade intermittently substantially as described.
3. In a lasting machine in combination upper-working devices actuating
mechanism for moving said devices for working the upper over the last and
plaiting or crimping the upper at times a cutter blade arranged for independent.
movement with relation to the upper working devices for cutting or slitting the
edge of the upper and mechanically operated driving connections for actuating the
cutter-blade in the operations of cutting the upper the mechanisan being timed for
completing the operation of the cutter blade before the operations of the upper-
working devices for plaiting the upper whereby is allowed opportunity for
superimposing the marginal edges of the slitted upper one upon the other by the
upper working devices completing the operations of plaiting the upper over the
last substantially as described.
4. In a lasting machine in combination upper-working devices for working the
upper over the last a cutter blade movable independently of the upper-working
devices for cutting or slitting the edges of the upper a movable driver and actuating
means to move the driver and repeat the movements thereof automatically
connections between the driver and cutter-blade actuated by the driver to move
the cutter blade in the operations of cutting the upper substantially as described.
5. In a lasting machine in combination upper-working devices for working the
upper over the last a cutter blade for cutting or slitting the edge of the upper a
revoluble shaft and actuating means to revolve the same a cam cn said shaft and
connections between the car and cutter blade actuated by the cam to move the
cutter-blade in the operations of cutting the upper substantially as described.
6. In a lasting machine in combination upper-working devices for working the
upper over the last a cutter blade and a cutter blade support the support being
arranged to permit an independent movement of the cutter blade with relation to
the upper-working devices for cutting or slitting the edge of the upper and
actuating mechanism to be put in working relation therewith by a movement of the
cutter blade support for actuating the cutter blade in the operation of cutting the
upper substantially as described.
7. In a lasting machine in combination upper-working devices actuating
mechanism for moving said devices in working the upper over the last and plaiting
or crimping the upper at times a cutter blade permitting independent movement
with relation to the upper working devices for cutting or slitting the edge of the
upper mechanically-operated driving connections for actuating the cutter-blade in
the operations of cutting the upper said driving connections having provision by
described or equivalent means for repeating the operations of the cutter blade
automatically in time relation relatively to the plaiting operations of the upper-

page_text: working devices whereby the operations of the cutter blade are automatically
limited to take place in conjunction with the operations of the upper working
devices for plaiting or crimping the upper substantially as described.
8. In a lasting machine in combination upper-working devices actuating
mechanism for moving said devices in working the upper over the last and plaiting
or crimping the upper at times a cutter blade for cutting or slitting the edge of the
upper mechanically-operated driving connections for actuating the cutter blade in
the operations of entting the upper said driving connections having provision by
described or equivalent means for repeating the operations of the cutter blade
automatically and in time relation relatively to the plaiting operations of the
upper-working devices whereby the operations of the cutter blade are limited to
take place in conjunction with the operations of the upper-working devices for
plaiting or crimping the upper and mechanism controllable by the workman to
start and stop the plaiting operations at will substantially as described.
9. In a lasting machine in combination upper-working devices actuating
mechanism for moving said devices in working the upper over the last and plaiting
or crimping the upper at times a cutter blade for cutting or slitting the edge of
the upper mechanically-operated driving connections for actuating the cutter blade
in the operations of cutting the upper said driving connections having provision by
described or equivalent means for repeating the operations of the cutter blade
automatically and in time relation relatively to the plaiting operations of the
upper-working devices whereby the operations of the cutter blade are limited to
take place in conjunction with the operations of the upper-working devices for
plaiting or crimping the upper and inechanism controllable by the workman to
start and stop the plaiting operations at will and independent mechanism to be
actuated by the workman during the continuous operation of the machine for
starting and stopping the cutting operations of the cutter blade substantially as
described.
10. In a lasting machine in combination upper-working devices for working the
upper over the last a cutter blade for cutting or slitting the edge of the upper
mechanically-operated driving connections for actuating the cutter blade in the
operations of cutting the upper and a part or section movable by the workman
during the continuous operation of the machine to start and stop the cutting
operations of the cutter blade substantially as described.
11. In a lasting machine in combination upper-working devices for working the
upper over the last a cutter blade adapted for independent movement with relation
to the upper working devices for cutting or slitting the elge of the upper
mechanically operated driving connections for actuating the cutter blade in the
operations of cutting the upper and means to start and stop the cutting operations
of the cutting blade independently with relation to the upper-working devices
substantially as described.
12. In a lasting machine in combination upper-working devices for working the
upper over the last a cutter blade for cutting or slitting the edge of the upper
mechanically-operated driving connections for actuating the cutter blade in the
operations of cutting the upper a part or section movable by the workman during
the continuous operation of the machine to start and stop the operations of the
cutter blade and shifting devices for moving the said movable part substantially as
described.
13. In combination with the upper stretching devices having jaw members 16
movable and jaw members 14 fixed in relation to the movable jaw members of
the cutter blade support N supported movably in connection with the fixed jaw
members and a cutter blade said cutter blade being adapted for cutting or slitting
the edge of the upper by a suitable movement of the support substantially as
described.
14. In a lasting machine having in combination a single set of upper working
devices adapted for working a part or section only of a boot or a shoe upper over
the last at one time actuating mechanism arranged for moving the upper-working

page_text: devices in working the upper over the last and plaiting or crimping the upper
at times said mechanism having provision by described or equivalent means for
repeating the operations of the upper working devices at intervals the lasting
operations as a whole being completed by a plurality of operations of the upper-
working devices applied to different parts of the upper at different times a movable
cutter blade having local relation with the upper-working devices for cutting or
slitting the section of the upper engaged thereby or closely adjacent thereto
niechanically-operated driving connections for actuating the cutter blade in the
operations of cutting the upper having provision by described or equivalent means
for repeating the operations of the cutter blade automatically and mechanism
arranged to be actuated during the continuous operation of the machine for
starting the operations of the cutter blade where cutting of the upper is to be
introduced and stopping the operations thereof at intervals of one or more
operations of the upper working devices where cutting of the upper is to be omitted
substantially as described.
15. A lasting machine having in combination a single pair of upper working
devices adapted for working a part or section only of a boot or shoe upper over the
last at one operation of said devices being supported locally requiring a movement
of the last as a whole for presenting different parts of the upper to the lasting
devices at different times actuating mechanism arranged for moving the upper-
working devices in working the upper over the last and plaiting or crimping the
upper at times said mechanism having provision by described or equivalent means
for repeating the operations of the upper working devices at intervals whereby the
lasting operation as a whole is completed by a plurality of operations of the upper-
working devices applied to different parts of the upper at different times a movable
cutter blade having local relation with the upper-working devices for cutting or
slitting the section of the upper engaged thereby or closely adjacent thereto
mechanically-operated driving connections for actuating the cutter blade in the
operations of cutting the upper having provision by described or equivalent means
for repeating the operations of the cutter blade automatically and mechanism
controllable by the workman during the continuous operation of the machine for
starting the operations of the cutter blade where cutting of the upper is to be
introduced and stopping the operations thereof at intervals of one
operations of the upper-working devices where cutting of the upper is to be omitted
substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of July 1894.
or more
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.