Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 15th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 24th May, 1895
I, LEWIS E. ERICSON, of No. 122, Lincoln Street, Boston, in the County of
Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Machinist, :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 :-
This invention relates to machines for trimming pieces of leather into sole form
by the action of a knife which is caused to travel around a pattern against which
the blank to be trimmed is clamped. The invention has for its object to provide
various improvements whereby the operation of a machine of this kind may be
made more efficient and desirable, and it consists in the improvements which I will
now proceed to describe and claim.
Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this Specification,-
Figure represents a side elevation of a sole-rounding machine embodying my
improvements.
Figure 2 represents a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents an end elevation of the machine.
Figure 3 represents a top view of a part of the machine.
Figure 3 represents a section on line 30-3° of Figure 3^.
Figure 4 represents a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1.
Figure 5 represents a section on line 5-5 of Figure 1, looking toward the right.
Figure 6 represents a section on line 6-6 of Figure 1, looking toward the right.
Figure 7 represents a section on line 7-7 of Figure 4, and a plan view of the
parts below said line.
Figure 7 represents a section on line 7-7 of Figure 7.
Figure 8 represents a top plan view of the machine.
Figure 9 represents a partial top plan view and partial section of the knife-
carriage.
Figure 10 represents a section on line 10-10 of Figure 9.
Figure 10 represents a section on line 10ª-10% of Figure 10.
Figure 11 represents a section on line 11-11 of Figure 9.
Figure 12 represents a section on line 12-12 of Figure 1.
Figure 13 represents a section on line 13-13 of Figure 12.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
In the drawings-
a represents the supporting standard, on which is the head or frame supporting
the chief working parts of the machine.

page_text: 6 represents the pattern against which the sole blank to be trimmed is held by
the clamp c.
Said pattern is supported by the studs hereinafter described over
the fixed cam-plate d, in which is formed a cam-groove d¹ the shape of which
approximates that of the pattern; that is to say, the groove has the form of an
ellipse the side portions of which are flattened or made parallel, as shown in
Figures 7 and 8, the length and width of the ellipse being somewhat greater
respectively than the length and width of the pattern, so that the knife-carriage
hereinafter described, which is caused to travel about the pattern and is guided by
said groove, is moved in a path that approximates the form of the edge of the
pattern, said carriage having a slide that directly supports the trimming knife and
is pressed inwardly against the edge of the pattern by spring pressure, so that the
path of the knife conforms exactly to the shape of the edge of the pattern.
The cam-plate has a fixed stud b, and two adjustable studs 62 62 which support
the pattern b, the studs 2 being at opposite sides of the fixed stud and
affixed to slides 3 (Figure 7A) which are fitted to move in a longitudinal guide-
way in the cam-plate d, each stud 2 being screw-threaded and provided with a
clamping nut which may be turned down against the top surface of the cam-
plate. The studs 62 can therefore be adjusted to support patterns of any desired
length, while the stud b', which is not adjustable, serves as a guide to enable the
operator to properly locate the pattern, the latter being provided with three holes,
one for each stud. The pattern rests loosely on the upper ends of the nuts 5, and
may be readily raised from the upper ends of the studs. The cam-plate is
supported by a stud d³ (Figure 4), which is rigidly attached to an arm a¹ forming
a part of the supporting frame. The cam-plate is detachably secured to the stud d³
by means of a clamping bolt e having an elongated head (Figure 7) formed to
pass through a slot d in the cam-plate d, and provided at its lower end with a
cam-lever which, when turned to one position, presses against a plate ³ bearing
on the under side of the arm a¹ and draws the head e' downwardly onto a seat
formed for it around the slot d, the bolt-head el being turned at right angles with
the slot d¹. The cam-plate may be released by moving the cam-lever to release
the pressure of the bolt and then giving the bolt a quarter-turn, bringing its head
into line with the slot d', whereupon the cam-plate may be raised from the stud d³.
Dowel-pins (Figure 4) secure exactness of position of the cam-plate when
is in place.
g represents the knife-carriage, which rests loosely on the flat upper surface of a
rotating driver, which is a flat plate rigidly affixed to a bevel-gear j hereinafter
described, said gear being journailed in a suitable fixed bearing in the standard a.
The gear is positively rotated by the driving-shaft, and rotates the driver h.
Motion is imparted from the driver to the knife-carriage by a coupling /' connected
at one end by a stud or pivot ² with the driver, and at the other end by a stud or
pivot with the carriage (see Figure 3B). The carriage has two trundle-
rolls gg which enter the cam-groove d¹, one of said rolls being on the stud ³.
The driver is provided with a recess 1ª (Figures 3 and 3B) which receives the
coupling, so that the latter does not project above the carriage-supporting
surface of the driver, the swinging end of the coupling being adapted to slide on
the bottom of the recess, while the upper side of the coupling is flush with the
upper surface of the driver, so that the coupling supports that part of the carriage
which projects over the recess.
It will be seen that when the driver is rotated, the coupling acts not only to
support a part of the knife-carriage, but also to communicate motion from the
driver to the knife-carriage and draw the latter along in a path that is governed
by the cam-groove. The variation in the distance between different parts of the
cam-groove and the centre of rotation of the driver causes the carriage to slide in
and out on the flat surface of the driver, the coupling moving in and out with the
carriage, as indicated by full and dotted lines in Figure 3A. It will also be seen
that the coupling swinging freely in the recess and arranged to constantly exert
a pulling force on the knife-carriage transmits power from the driver to the carriage

page_text: with little or no loss by friction. The connection of the coupling to the stud that
carries one of the cam-engaging rolls of the carriage still further reduces the
loss of power by friction, since said connection causes all the power that moves
the carriage to be exerted practically in line with the said cain-engaging rolls;
hence there is no tendency to press one roll against one edge of the cam-groove
and the other roll against the other edge, as would be the case if the power were
applied at a point considerably out of line with the cam-engaging rolls.
9
The trimming-knife g is directly supported by a slide g', which is supported by
the carriage and is movable independently thereof toward and from the centre of
rotation of the driver h. Inward pressure is constantly exerted on the slide g² to
hold the knife against the edge of the pattern, by a suitable spring or springs. In
Figures 9, 10, and 11, I show the preferred arrangement of springs, and means for
multiplying the motion caused by the action of the springs. ii represent the
springs, which bear against supports affixed to the outer end of the carriage g and
exert pressure in the direction indicated by the arrow (Figure 9) on ears formed
on an independently movable frame. i. In said frame is journalled a shaft 3 to
which are affixed a larger pinion and a smaller pinion. The pinion i* meshes
with a rack affixed to the slide g', while the pinion meshes with a rack affixed
to the carriage g.
It will be seen that inward movement imparted by the springs to the frame į² is
multiplied by the pinions and racks, so that a short spring having a comparatively
limited range of movement may be employed.
To enable the slide y' to be locked in a retracted position, as when the work is
being applied and removed, I provide it with a series of ratchet-teeth
(Figure 104) arranged to be engaged by a spring-pawl g" affixed to the carriage y,
said pawl engaging said teeth automatically and locking the slide in any position
to which it may be moved by a lever g2 which is pivoted at 13 to the carriage, and
is connected by a link g with the slide. A movement of the lever g¹² in the
direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 8 moves the knife and slide back from
the pattern, the pawl go holding the knife and slide at any point to which they
may be thus moved. The pawl may be depressed to release the slide, by means of
a cam-shaped stud g journaled in one side of the carriage and formed so that
when turned to one position it, will permit the pawl to rise and engage a tooth gº,
and when turned to another position it will depress the pawl below said teeth,
To the driver is affixed a bevel-gear j meshing with a bevel-gear k (see dotted
lines in Figure 1) on a shaft m, the latter being rotated by a connection with a
shaft n, as hereinafter described, and imparting a rotary movement to the driver /
and causing the latter, through the coupling ', to impel or draw the knife-carriage
around the cam-plate and pattern.
The shaft is arranged out of alignment with the shaft m, and is driven by
power communicated from a driving-shaft o through gears n'o' affixed respectively
to the shafts n and o. The shafts and m are so connected that a variable speed
is imparted to the shalt m (the speed of the shaft a being constant) in order that
the knife may move more slowly when trimming the toe and heel portions than
when trimming the side portions. To this end, I provide the gear with parallel
wings or guides n² n² between which projects a trundle-roll m' on a disk m² affixed
to the shalt m. The relative arrangement of the shafts mn causes the distance
between the said trundle-roll and the centre of the shaft to vary, as shown in
Figures 5 and 6, and therefore causes a corresponding variation in the speed of
rotation of the shaft m and of the parts driven thereby, there being one period in
each complete rotation when the motion is considerably retarded. The mechanism
is so timed that the said periods occur when the knife is trimming the toe and heel
portions of the blank.
The shaft o is driven by a loose driving-pulley p thereon, said pulley baving a
clutch-member, and a clutch-member p' keyed to the shaft so as to rotate therewith
and slide thereon toward and from the pulley p.
I provide automatic means for stopping the operation of the machine after each

page_text: complete rotation of the driver, said means being as follows: 9 represents a bell-
crank lever pivoted at q' to the supporting frame. One arm of said lever has a
fork g² engaging a grooved collar affixed to the clutch-member pl. The other
arm of said lever has an inwardly projecting finger q³, which normally extends
mder a pin 9 adapted to slide in fixed guides yo on the supporting frame, said pin.
being raised by a spring 9. The upper end of the pin q projects into the path
of a projection 7 affixed to the under side of the driver h, said projection being
formed to depress the pin g' when it is brought over said pin. The depression of
the pin q is imparted, through the finger 3, to the horizontal arm of the lever q,
and said lever is caused to move the clutch-member pl away from the corresponding
member on the driving-pulley p and into contact with a fixed braker attached to
the supporting frame. The notion of the clutch-member p, shaft o, and the
mechanism driven by the latter, is therefore stopped by the described depression of
the pin . In case it is desired to continue the operation of the machine without
automatically stopping it, the finger q3 may be moved out of line with the pin q',
this movement being permitted by the pivotal connection of the finger g³ with the
lever g shown at q³ (Figure 2). The finger q is normally held in position under
the pin q, by means of a spring 910 interposed between a handle q' on the finger q³
and a handle q3 affixed to the lever g.
The projection'q' is adjustably secured to the driver h, so that it may be adjusted
at any desired point, and therefore will stop the operation when the knife has
reached any desired part of the edge of the sole or pattern. To permit the
convenient adjustment of the projection g', I provide the under side of the driver h
with a circular grooves (Figure 4), with which the projection is adjustably
engaged.
The clamp c is secured to a sliding rod or plunger c', which is movable in a
socket formed on the supporting frame. A lever pivoted at c to said frame
bears at one end on the plunger c', and is connected at its other end by means of a
rod c with a treadle-lever cat the base of the machine. The operator, by
depressing said lever, forces the clamp down upon a blank interposed between it
and the pattern b. A spring c³ (Figure 1) in the socket c² raises the clamp from.
the blank when the treadle is released. The clamp is secured to the plunger c! by
means of a yoke e affixed to the clamp, and held by a detent 10 against a rounded
bearing in the lower portion of the plunger c', said bearing permitting the yoke
to oscillate to a limited extent, thus enabling the clamp to be slightly inclined
end wise to compensate for variations in the thickness of the blank.
The detent cio is formed on an elastic metal shank c¹ affixed at its upper end to
the plunger, and made sufficiently flexible between its fixed end and the detent to
permit any rocking motion of the clamp that may be required.
I do not limit myself to the particular devices and details of construction
herein before described, and may vary the same within the limits of mechanical
skill, without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a sole-rounding machine, the combination of the supporting frame, a fixed
tubular stud or support such as d³ rigidly secured to the supporting frame, the
cam-plate supported by and detachable from the tubular stud and provided with a
central slot, said plate and stud having interlocking projections and recesses
whereby exactness of position of the plate is insured, and a clamping bolt fitted
to turn in the orifice of the tubular stud and provided at its upper end with a head
adapted to be turned across the slot in the camn-plate and at its lower end with a
clamping lever, as set forth.
2. A sole-rounding machine comprising in its construction a fixed pattern, a stud
such as d³ affixed to the supporting frame, a cam-plate attached to the upper end
of said stud, a rotary driver mounted to rotate on said stud and provided on its

page_text: under side with a bevel-gear, a knife-carriage engaged with said driver and with
the cam-plate and having a knife co-operating with the pattern, a shaft m having
at one end a bevel-gear meshing with the bevel-gear on the driver and at the other
end an eccentrically arranged roll or projection such as m', a shaft n out of line
with the shaft m and provided with parallel guides between which the roll m
projects, and means for rotating the shaft », as set forth.
3. A sole-rounding machine comprising in its construction a fixed pattern, a
fixed cam-plate, a rotary driver having a projection such as q7 on its under side, a
knife-carriage independently movable on said driver and impelled thereby,
a driving-shaft and connections between said shaft and the driver whereby the
latter may be rotated, said connections including, first, a loose pulley having a
clutch-member, and secondly, a sliding clutch-member rotatively engaged with the
driving-shaft, a bell-crank lever pivoted to the supporting frame and engaged at
one end with the sliding clutch-member, said lever being adapted to be moved by
the operator to connect and disconnect the loose pulley and sliding clutch-member,
and devices intermediate the said lever and the projection 9' through which the
lever may be moved by said projection to disconnect the loose pulley and clutch-
member once during each rotation of the driver.
4. A sole-rounding machine comprising in its construction a fixed pattern, a
fixed cam-plate, a rotary driver having a projection such as q' on its under side,
a knife-carriage independently movable on said driver and impelled thereby, a
driving-shaft, and connections between said shaft and the driver whereby the
latter may be rotated, said connections including, first, a loose pulley having a
clutch-member, and secondly, a sliding clutch-member rotatively engaged with the
driving-shaft, a bell-crank lever pivoted to the supporting frame and engaged at
one end with the sliding clutch-member, said lever being adapted to be moved by
the operator to connect and disconnect the loose pulley and sliding clutch-member,
a plunger or pin such as adapted to be depressed by the projection 9', and a
finger g³ pivotally connected to the bell-crank lever and normally in position to be
depressed by said plunger, said finger being movable so that it may be displaced
to prevent the stoppage of the driver.
5. In a sole-rounding machine, the combination of the carriage, the knife-
supporting slide movable on said carriage, springs supported by the carriage, and
means for imparting a multiplied motion from the springs to the slide, as set forth.
6. In a sole-rounding machine, the combination of the carriage, the knife-
supporting slide movable on said carriage, springs supported by the carriage, a
frame movable independently on the carriage by said springs and provided with a
larger and a smaller pinion, a rack affixed to the carriage and meshing with the
smaller pinion, and a rack affixed to the slide and meshing with the larger pinion,
as set forth.
7. In a sole-rounding machine, the combination of the carriage, the knife-
supporting slide movable on said carriage, a spring or springs arranged to force
the slide forward, a lever and link whereby the slide may be moved backward,
ratchet-teeth and a pawl whereby the slide may be held in any position to which
it may be retracted, and a pawl-displacing device whereby the slide may be
released.
8. In a sole-rounding machine, the combination with the pattern, of the clamp,
the yoke rigidly fixed to the clamp, the plunger having a bearing on which the
yoke is adapted to rock, and a detent connected by a flexible spring with the
plunger and adapted to detachably secure the yoke to the plunger, as set forth.
9. The cam having a fixed pattern-guiding or locating stud and two adjustable
pattern-supporting studs at opposite sides of the said locating stud, as set forth.
10. The cam having a fixed pattern-guiding or locating stud and two adjustable
pattern-supporting studs at opposite sides of the said locating stud, combined with
a pattern having orifices for said studs.
11. The combination of the fixed cam-plate, the rotary driver having a flat
upper surface and a recess in said surface, the knife-carriage having rolls entering

page_text: the groove in the cam and independently movable on the flat upper surface of the
driver, and the coupling connecting the driver and carriage and located in the
recess of the driver.
12. The combination of the fixed cam-plate, the rotary driver having a flat
upper surface and a recess in said surface, the knife-carriage having rolls entering
the groove in the cam, and the coupling connecting the driver and carriage and
located in the recess of the driver, said coupling being connected with the carriage
at a point coinciding with one of the cam-engaging rolls on the carriage.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1894.
LEWIS E. ERICSON.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.