IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES FOR OXEN
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Gérard, of the Firm of Gérard and Company, of
Reims, in the Department of the Marne, and Republic of France, Manufacturer,
for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES FOR OXEN."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Louis Gérard at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th July 1879.
LOUIS GÉRARD, of the Firm of Gérard and Company, of Reims, in the Depart-
ment of the Marne, and Republic of France, Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES FOR OXEN."
Shoes for oxen have hitherto been made by hand, nobody having sought to
manufacture them by machinery. The cheapness of machine work over hand work
is however generally admitted, and I have therefore sought to produce, by means of
special tools and a mechanical manufacture, a cheaper and particularly a better
made ox shoe than that now made by hand.
In my improved manufacture I use any kind of stamping, punching, cutting, or
shearing and planing machine which I may find suitable for my purpose. My
Invention does not therefore consist in one or other of these machines, but in the
several tools and devices hereinafter described, of which I claim the exclusive use.
The tools and devices which I adapt to the machine for the purpose of my manu-
facture are, firstly, shears or cutter blades for cutting the iron into bars; secondly,
a matrix serving to make the holes and shape the iron; thirdly, pieces for regulating
the working of the matrix; fourthly, pieces for lengthening and for bending the toe
or fore part of the shoe.
FIRST OPERATION.-The steel blades of the shears or cutting machine have the
shape of the shoe, one is placed in the head-stock or tool holder and the smallest on
Din 1071

page_text: the apron or feeding table of an ordinary shears or cutting machine. See A, B, and
B, C, Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1 of the accompanying Sheets of Drawing.
The-bar-of-iron-is-placed-on-the bottom blade; this bar is guided in the direction
of its length by two tappets, and its end strikes against another tappet placed at a
-suitable distance to give the breadth of the shoe.
The cutting-is-effected at a single stroke, it being only necessary for that purpose
to move the bar forward-after the reciprocating movement of the head-stock.
These blades are regulated or set according to the dimensions of the shoes to be
made.
By my mechanical cutting I obtain a saving of, say, fifteen per cent. over the
cutting by hand, and this will be readily understood, inasmuch as in consequence of
the shape given to my shear blades the iron or bloom is compelled to assume the
form fixed by my shears, whether for the right or for the left foot.
SECOND OPERATION.-The stamping and punching of the holes.
Directly the iron is cut by the shears it passes to the furnace to be heated, and
then follows the operation of punching and stamping the holes. This operation is
effected by the aid of an arrangement of plates and matrices or dies applied to a
shearing or clipping machine, which thus modified I term the " puncher and
stamper."
This machine should be placed in proximity to the furnace for heating the iron
or rough shoe.
The Figures, Sheet II. of the Drawing, show in detail the principal parts of this
machine, and those of Sheet III. the machine set up.
The iron hot from the furnace is placed upon a matrix or die M, N, against a
guide B, C, which keeps it in position.
In coming down into the matrix or bottom die the male or top die G, H, fixed to
the head stock, as shown on the Drawing, compresses the bloom and gives the final
shape to the shoe, which on reaching the bottom of the matrix M, N, is punched
out on the punching plate A, B. This plate carries five punches, more or less,
according to the pattern of shoe required, these punches having pierced the shoe
the second operation is completed.
Pieces for regulating the working of the stamping and punching machine.
The driver or pusher, which is actuated from the head stock fixed on the
support B, having nut K and the two connections J, follows the movement of the
slotted slide F of the machine, and pushes away the piece on the dieplate; there
remains therefore but to remove the shoe to make way for another. By the recipro-
cation of the headstock a product is obtained at each movement. When shoes for
the right foot have been made, and it is desired to make shoes for the left, it is
only necessary to turn the male part of the matrix or die, the dieplates, and the
driver.
The dies, guides, punch plates, and counter plates are secured by the aid of two
jaws G, G', and the regulating screw R. I would here observe that-the-left-as-well-
as the right shoe may be made with the same die plate and counter plate, it being
only necessary to turn the two matrices or dies.
To prevent oscillation a pin or stud at each end of the matrix is passed through
the matrix, the punch plate, and the counter plate.
The arrangement of the jaws G, G", facilitates the setting up and the taking to
pieces of the dies, plates, and other parts.
THIRD OPERATION.-To thin the shoe where required I place in the stamping
machine for certain patterns of shoes a female die A, B, and male die T, whereby
the shoe is at a single stroke perfectly thinned and shaped, and the proper thick-
ness left where required. There are shoes for which this operation is not required.
FOURTH OPERATION. - Device for lengthening and bending the toe or clip of the
shoe..
To lengthen the toe or clip of the shoes after they have been heated in a rotary

page_text: furnace I use a stamper or vertical or steam hammer; I then, without reheating,
place the shoe upon a bending machine fitted with two matrices or dies, into which
the shoes are placed vertically in a recess or groove made in the anvil in such a
manner that the toe alone rises above the level of the anvil, where it is bent by a
roller to which a horizontal motion is given by means of an alternate rectilineal
movement. The movement of this roller is clearly shown on the Drawing.
Upon the accompanying 5 Sheets of Drawing each Sheet represents each
operation.
Upon Sheet 1 Figure 1 represents the top shear blades A, B; Figure 2, the
lower blades B, C; Figure 3, the position of the dies or matrices D at the com-
mencement of the operation; Figure 4, pattern bar E; and Figure 5, the rough shoc
or bloom obtained by the cutting with the shears.
Upon Sheet 2 Figure 1 shows the die or matrix M, N, and guide B, C ;
Figure 2, the punch plate A, B, and punch X, forming the holes; Figure 3, counter
plate upon which rests the punch plate A, B; Figure 4, product D of the second
operation; Figure 5, the male part G, H, of the matrix or die; Figure 6, the driver
or pusher A; and Figure 6, the supports B of the driver.
Upon Sheet 3 Figures 1 and 2 show C, the tool holder or head stock upon
which is fixed the male die D; E, collar uniting the tool holder C and the two
rods or tappets J, J, between the headstock and the slotted slide F of the
machine; H, matrix; H', punch plate; H", counter plate; R, adjusting screw for
tightening up the plates, counter plates, and other parts; G, G¹, (Figure 1), jaws
fixing the plates to the die plates and counter plates H, H', H", Figure 2; J, J',
connections transmitting motion to the driver or pusher by the aid of the nut K.
The driver or pusher serves to withdraw the piece after the operation.
Upon Sheet 4 Figure 1 shows the top of the matrix or die; Figure 2, bottom
of same; and C, Figure 2, the product of the third operation.
Upon Sheet 5 A indicates the frame of the machine; B, plate or table for
transmitting the motion; C, shaft; D, D', supports of shaft C; E, E¹, driving
pulleys E, loose pulley; G, G, G", toothed gearing; H, rods; H¹, tappets;
K, anvil; the anvil K¹ is not shown on this Sheet, but it is identical with the
other. These anvils are arranged the one to make the right and the other the left
shoe. M, keys or cottars; N, the complete ox shoe with toe or clip bent by the
roller O.
In order that the working of this machine may be well understood I would here
observe that it entirely resembles a planing machine, in so far as regards the frame A,
the plate or table B, and the driving gear.
This driving gear is composed of the shaft C, carried by its supports D, D¹, of
the driving pulleys E, E', loose pulley E", toothed gearing G, G, G", rod H, and
tappets I, I, (these latter being pushed by the striker J).
The anvils K, K', are fixed to the bed plate L, by the keys or cottars M, M¹ (the
anvil K¹ is not shown on the Drawing, it is identical with that K. These anvils
are arranged that K¹ to make the right shoe, the other for the left shoe.
The toe of the complete ox shoe N is bent by the roller O.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be performed,
I claim as of my Invention,-
Firstly. The combination of the shear blades to operate upon the iron, substan-
tially as and for the purpose specified.
Secondly. The combination of the dies for stamping and punching the heated
shoe, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Thirdly. The mode of adjusting the thin and thick parts of the shoe in the
stamping machine, substantially as described.
Fourthly. The mode of lengthening the toe of the shoe on the anvil, and the

page_text: combination therewith of the roller for bending the toe or clip, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Louis Gérard, have hereunto set my hand
and-seal, this Fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight.hundred and seventy nine.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the above-named-Louis Gerard-
in the presence of
HENRY WILLOUGHBY,
British Vice Consul at Paris.
LOUIS GERARD. (L.S.)