IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FORMING HEEL COUNTERS OR STIFFENERS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR FORMING HEEL COUNTERS OR STIFFENERS, PARTS OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES." A com-
munication from abroad by Michael Hynes and Napoleon Joseph Coté, both
of the City of Montreal, in the District of Montreal, and Province of Quebec,
Dominion of Canada.
Sealed the 25th June 1878, and dated the 6th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th February 1878.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FORMING HEEL COUNTERS OR
STIFFENERS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
SIMILAR PURPOSES." A. communication from abroad by Michael Hynes and
Napoleon Joseph Coté, both of the City of Montreal, in the District of Montreal,
and Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada.
This Invention has for its object performing more speedily and efficiently the
operation of manufacturing-from blanks of millboard or other like substance the
counters or stiffeners used for the heels of boots and shoes, but it is also applicable
to the formation of toe caps and the pressing of soles, and it consists of an improved
arrangement and combination of apparatus as herein-after described whereby these
objects are effected.
In carrying out this Invention the main shaft of the machine, operated as
herein-after described, imparts motion to a reciprocating slide moving in guides
transversely to the axis of the moulds to it, being pivotted in pairs, and preferably
by special devices for the purpose, links or toggle bars carrying on their ends the
die-blocks, and arranged to operate after the manner of toggle joints between the
moulds to force into them and withdraw the die blocks.

page_text: The moulds into which the die block enters, and in which the counter is formed,
are either composed of expansive substance or made in two parts and held in
blocks, tightened up or slackened as desired, and have in connection with them
spring rods formed to throw out the finished counter. They are also formed
specially in the first instance to allow the die block, tilted by a spring, to enter
therein partially from above the block, being also provided with suitable
mechanism, whereby the finished counter can be cast off on its return movement
from the mould..
The blanks from which the counters are to be made are placed in feed reservoirs
or compartments communicating with each mould, and are fed thereto by suitable
mechanism acting upon each blank in turn, and bringing it in position to be
operated upon by the die blocks, these blanks being when heel counters are to be
made either cut or creased previously, or cutting edges are formed on the die block
itself, or the blanks may be acted upon for the purpose before mentioned by the
mechanism for forming the upturn, which consists either of a roller arranged to
move forwards and upwards, and in the reverse directions operated by eccentrics on
the main shaft acting through suitable gear and rods, or when the blanks are not
treated before being put into the reservoirs two or more rollers may be used in
combination with a knife or knives suitably arranged and carried for that
purpose.
Motion is imparted to the main shaft by means of a friction wheel rotated by
any suitable power, and acting upon a friction piece keyed on the main shaft, and
so arranged that should any sudden stoppage to the machine take place the parts
will revolve freely without communicating motion to the main shaft, thus con-
sequently stopping the machine and obviating the possibility of any breakage of its
parts.
In the operation of the machine the following devices are successively brought
into action, viz. :-First, the mechanism which feeds automatically the blanks to
the moulds; secondly, that whereby the die blocks are forced into the moulds;
thirdly, the means for forming the upturn, after which the second device comes
again into operation, withdrawing the die block from the moulds; and, fourthly,
the device for casting off from the die block the finished counter.
The Invention is also applicable to the stamping of dies, to the striking up of
tokens, and to other like purposes, in which case the mechanism herein-before
described for forming the upturn may be dispensed with.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st
July 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FORMING HEEL COUNTERS OR
STIFFENERS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER.
SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Michael Hynes and Napo-
leon Joseph Coté, both of the City of Montreal, in the District of Montreal, and
Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada.
>
The said Invention has for its object performing more speedily and efficiently
the operation of manufacturing from blanks of millboard or other like substance
the counters or stiffeners used for the heels of boots and shoes; but it is also appli-
cable to the formation of toe caps, the pressing up of soles, the striking up of
tokens, the stamping of dies, and other like purposes.
"
t
The mode of carrying out the said Invention in order to effect the before-
mentioned objects will be understood by the aid of the several Figures on the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, which I shall now proceed to describe, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a plan partly in section of a machine con-
structed according to the said Invention for forming heel counters or stiffeners.
Figure 2 is a plan of the eccentrics. and their appurtenances, herein-after
referred to.
Figure 3 is a detail section drawn to an enlarged scale of the knee joint lierein-
after referred to.
Figure 4 is a part side elevation and a part longitudinal section taken through™
the moulds forming part of the said machine.
Figure 5 is a part end view and part transverse section of the machine..
Figure 6 is a part plan and a part horizontal section taken through the frictional
driving gear herein-after referred to.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the roller carriage herein-after referred to, shewing
the feed motion.
Figure 8 is a detail of a device employed for detaching the counter from the
punch.
Figure 9 is an additional device for the self-feeding apparatus herein-after
described.
Figure 10 is a view of the under side of the die employed, shewing the cutting
edges herein-after referred to.
A is the frame of the machine, of any desired form and suitable strength, in it
being formed bearings for the main shaft B, to which motion is imparted. as shewn
in Figure 5, and as will be herein-after more particularly described.. Secured to
the top of this shaft is an arm C, having on its end a roller C', which moving in a
covered cam D gives motion to it backwards and forwards, the guides D' runuing
each side of the rollers A' secured by a pin to the upper part of the frame, thus
ensuring the accuracy of the movement. D2 is an upper plate secured to D. by
any suitable number of bolts and distance pieces, or in any usual way. Between
these pieces D, D2, are pivotted, as shewn in detail in Figure .3, the ends of the
arins E which actuate the dies d, d, being slots formed in the plates D, D2, and
d', d', filling pieces of somewhat smaller size, through which pass the pivot pins e, e,
securing together each pair of arms E, E. The other ends of these arms are, as
shewn in detail in Figure 4, screwed into the heads E¹, a cushion of elastic material
being as at E preferably interposed between them. .F, F, are the blocks to which
the heads E' are secured, preferably by pins f, or in any suitable way; G, Gare

page_text: the dies pivotted or otherwise adjustably connected to the die blocks F, provided
with means, such as springs, elastic cushions, or the like, for slightly elevating their
free ends.
H is the mould formed either of soft metal or cast in two parts, and having its
upper part formed so that when the die has completely entered therein the pro-
jection G' on the top of the die will correspond exactly thereto. These moulds
have by preference interposed between them and the castings I placed in rear of
them and forming part of the frame elastic cushions h, and are held in mould
blocks H³, which may be tightened up or slackened by means of plates H² operated
by set screws working in lugs H³ cast on the frame, elastic cushions ¹ being
arranged as shewn; I, I', are spring cases formed on the casting, in which are
contained rods I2 acting by means of spiral or other springs to throw the finished
counter out of the mould.
In order to detach the formed counter from the die as it returns from the mould
there is pivotted to the side of the die block Fa bent lever arm K, which lies in a
groove formed in the under side of the die, and is held in place by a spring or
corresponding device K', the short arm K2 of this lever being arranged as the die
block recedes to come in contact with any projection formed on the frame, so as to
overcome the action of the spring and bring down the outer end of the lever, thus
throwing off from the die the formed counter, openings being left in the frame,
through which these formed counters can drop into proper receptacles.
ין
I will now proceed to describe the means by which the roller or similar
mechanism for giving the upturn is operated. Upon the main shaft B is mounted
a toothed arc L, which intermeshes with two pinions L' placed at opposite points
in the line of the centre of the guides D'.
It may be observed that the first tooth of either the arc or pinion is by preference
cut at the meeting point so as to allow the corresponding tooth of the other to
pass it and take a firm bearing on the second in order.
Guard plates and mounted respectively on the axis of the arc L and
pinions L hold the pinions in the proper place, so that they will be in the exact
position required when the arc begins to operate them. L2, L2, are two pairs of
eccentrics pivotted respectively to the pinions L' revolving on spindle L³, and
giving motion to the eccentric straps L' connected by rods L³ to the bar L, which
operates the driving rod M, the latter at its end terminating in a fork M. Each
end of this fork M¹ is by a spindle m connected with the carriage N, to which is
secured a rocker M² pivotted at m¹ thereto, and having formed in it bearings for
the spindle of the roller O, this part of the apparatus acting to raise the roller to
the horizontal plane, in which it will exercise pressure to form the upturn. N¹ is
a bush carried between the two sides of the carriage N, through which passes a
pin n pressing on the spindle m (which joins the two forked ends M¹), and having
on its outer end a nut n¹, which as the driving rod M presses in comes in contact
with the nut N2 screwed into the bush N', stopping the upward movement of the
roller and pressing it in a forward direction. The distance between the nuts n¹
and N2 (which is of course capable of adjustment) governs the amount of lift
given to the pressing roller O. The carriage N moves back and forth along the
frame on rollers N³, either or all of which may be grooved to run on ridges or
otherwise guided to ensure their accuracy of motion. 01, 0', are small angle pieces
formed on the carriage in advance of the roller O, and serving to bend up the mill-
board or other material of which tlie counter is made so as to partly form the
"upturn" which is to be finished by the roller. These may be of any shape found
most convenient, and in many cases entirely dispensed with.
It is of course understood that the blank from which the counter is made has
previously been prepared by cutting or creasing, so that the "upturn" can be
formed, or the necessary cuts may be made by means of one or more rollers or bars,
having cutting edges formed upon them and carried in and moving with the
carriage N.

page_text: It may be found be found in many cases advantageous to form the cutting edges
on the die block G, as shewn at g in Figure 10, so that when the die is, as before
described, pressed down into the mould these knives (which project from the face
of the die just the thickness of the millboard) will give the necessary divisions.
The roller having been, as described, raised to the proper height presses in its forward
motion with great force against the partially formed "upturn," leaving it perfect
as the roller by the reverse action of the machine recedes.
P, P, are the troughs or reservoirs (for greater clearness shewn only in Figures 4
and 9) containing the blanks from which the counters are to be formed. These are
fed to the machine by apparatus which I will now proceed to describe.
Between each pair of dies is placed, where shewn on the plan, a standard Q, to
the head of which are pivotted levers Q', Q¹, operated by lifting rods q, q, con-
nected at the lower ends by any suitable system of cranks or levers, such as that
shewn in Figure 7, with the ends M¹ of the driving bar M. To the free ends of
these levers are attached by pivotted links q¹ arms Q2, having their lower ends
curved to correspond with the outline of the blank, and moving up and down in
slotted guides Q3 to catch and press down in succession the blanks as they come to
the mouth of the reservoir. Q, Q, shew rests which stop the downward motion of
the blanks at the point at which they will come under the action of the dies.
In addition to the apparatus just described the following device is in some cases
provided for the purpose of separating the blank which is to be pressed down into.
the mould from the following ones, thus obviating any liability of the arms Q
coming in contact with or injuring the blank following that which is being pressed
into the mould-To the bar Le is secured, preferably a little above it, a short
parallel arm L, to which are pivotted links L³ working in and operating slotted
bent levers Q5 pivotted to the frame of the machine, and carrying on their ends a
thin plate Q sliding in proper guides, this mechanism being arranged to operate
alternately with that working the plungers Q2, so that the plate Q descends
behind each.blank in turn as it reaches the end of the feed trough P, and before it.
is pressed down by the plunger in front of the mould.
I shall next proceed to describe the device used to give motion to the main
shaft.
R is a bevel friction pinion rotated by any suitable means, hand or power, as
desired, and acting upon a horizontal wheel S mounted loosely upon and not
rotating the shaft B, and having on its lower side a flange S', which has, as shewn
at S2, downwardly projecting pieces formed upon it and fitting in the groove of the
ring T, which is bolted loosely to the flange S¹. U is a friction piece keyed on to
and rotating the shaft B; W is a friction ring surrounding the ring T and resting
upon the upper surface of the friction piece U, to which it is secured by any
suitable number of screw bolts w; between these pieces U and W may be inter-
posed a ring X of leather or other like substance, and between the bevelled surfaces
of T and U a similar ring X'. From this it will be seen that so long as the
machine is working smoothly the action of the pinion R is transmitted through the
wheel S and intermediate ring T to the friction piece U keyed on and rotating the
shaft B, and thus operating the machine, the degree of hold of the respective parts
on each other being regulated by the bolts we connecting the friction ring and
friction piece. Should however any sudden stoppages of the machine take place the
intermediate ring T, driven as just mentioned, will revolve freely inside the friction
piece U without imparting any motion to it, and consequently will stop the
machine, thus avoiding the breakage of any of the parts.
In order to obviate any sudden jerk of the parts in starting the machine the
spaces between the pieces S2 in the groove of the ring T may be filled with any
suitable elastic substance, as shewn at Y, the bolts t connecting the flange S¹ with
the ring T, passing through slots t' in the flange, as shewn in Figure 6, and pressing
against the sides of the pieces S². When the machine is started the bolts t moving
°

page_text: a little in the slots t¹ and pressing against the pieces S2 will compress the rubber or
elastic substance the other side of them until it is thoroughly tightened up, when
the ring T will commence to move, thus gradually and slowly starting the
apparatus.
The nature of the said Invention and the operation of the several parts will be
so clearly understood from the foregoing description and the Drawings that it is
only necessary to remark that the stroke of the roller C' in the cam D is so
arranged as to be divided into four parts, the first part operating one half the dies
and pressing them into corresponding mould; the cam then remains for a time
stationary, during which period the machinery for that purpose is operated by the
main axle to form the upturn and complete the counters; the cam then moves,
withdrawing from the moulds the dies previously pressed in, and forcing into the
other half of the moulds the corresponding dies. The cam then in the last part of
its stroke remains almost stationary, while the eccentrics operated by the main
axle act to bring in front of the first half of the moulds the blanks from which the
counters are to be formed, and at the same time, as before mentioned, to finish the
upturns of the counters in the second half of the moulds, thus at the same time
pressing in and withdrawing from the moulds the dies, finishing the counters, and
bringing fresh blanks in front of the moulds.
The foregoing description applies to the machine when used for forming heel
counters, but when the apparatus is used for stamping dies or tokens or for
pressing soles or the like the apparatus for making the "upturn" will be of course
dispensed with.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the precise
details of the mechanism herein described for accomplishing the several purposes,
but what I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,---
First. In a machine for making heel counters, striking-up tokens, and for other
like purposes, the combination, substantially as specified, of the reciprocating slide
for driving the die block, the die block arranged to move transversely to the line
of motion of the slide, and the intermediate connecting link or toggle bar.
Second. In a machine for making heel counters, striking-up tokens, and for other
like purposes, the combination, substantially as specified, of the reciprocating slide,
one or more lineally disposed pairs of die blocks arranged to move at an angle to
the line of motion of the slide and rods which connect each pair of die blocks to the
slide so as to operate like toggle joints between them.
Third. In a machine for making heel counters the combination of the gearing
eccentrics and rods and the roller or its equivalent for forming the upturn, all
arranged so as to operate substantially in the manner herein-before described.
Fourth. The combination, substantially as specified, of the driving wheel on the
countershaft, the loose driven wheel on the main shaft of the machine, the main
shaft, and a friction clutch between the said main shaft and the said loose driven
wheel thereon.
Fifth. The combination, substantially as specified, of the die, the cast-off, the
spring for holding the cast-off in its normal position, and the mechanism for
operating the cast-off.
Sixth. The combination, substantially as specified, of the reciprocating dee
block, the die pivotted thereto, and the spring for holding the die in a slightly
turned-up position until it enters the mould.
Seventh. The die G provided with cutting edges g, as and for purposes herein-
before described.
Eighth. In a machine for forming heel counters the combination, substantially as
specified, of the following devices, videlicet ;-First, a mechanism for automatically

page_text: feeding the blanks to the moulds; second, a die for pressing the counter into shape;
third, means for forming the upturn; and, fourth, a cast off for discharging the
finished counter.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)