Improvements in Machines for Lasting Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Lasting Boots and Shoes.
1 ALBERT EDWARD STIRCKLER of Springfield 200 Kettering Road Northampton
in the County of Northampton Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to render machines for lasting boots and shoes
more perfect and efficient in action than hitherto.
My said invention relates more especially to the class of machines such as are
described in the Specifications of Letters Patent No. 3706 of 16th March 1886
No. 17581 of 21st December 1887 and No. 14586 of 10th October 1888. One part
of my present invention relates to the clamp by which the toe end of the upper
leather is gripped to draw it over for attachment to the under sole and has for its
object to give a greater grip on the leather of the upper and so effect a more perfect
drawing over of the leather in cases more especially where the upper leather does not
present a sufficient amount of material to be held by the clamp as at present arranged
or in operating with soft leathers that require more stretch to give them a good
appearance when lasted and further to adapt the same upper plate of the clamp to
receive lower plates called toe rings of different sizes and shapes. According to my
invention I make the distance between the upper and lower plates adjustable so that the
lower plate when the last is brought up towards the level of the upper plate is situated so
low down as to grasp between itself and the wiper plates below it a greater portion of the
leather of the upper than is possible with the ordinary arrangement and when the
last is afterwards depressed this extra amount of leather is extended above the last to
be wiped in by the action of the wiper plates. I prefer to make teeth or projections
on the underside of the lower plate of the clamp to give a firmer hold upon the
leather. The adjustment of the distance between the upper and lower plates of the
clamp may be conveniently done by placing rings or distance pieces between the two
plates preferably threading them upon the bolts or pins which are fixed to the lower
plate and slide in the upper plate. In order to make the upper plate capable of
accommodating lower plates of different shapes and sizes I may either make the pins
or bolts on all the different sized and shaped lower plates the same distance apart or
I make holes in the upper plate at different distances apart so as to correspond to the
different distances apart of the pins or bolts on the various lower plates. According
to a further improvement 1 reduce the inner edges of the wiper plates (so as to allow
of the more ready insertion of the tacks or performing of welt work) by the removal
of the metal at the upper side of the inner parts of the wiper plates which hitherto
has interfered with the tacking and welting operations. I may also reduce or bevel
the underside of the edges to give a better wiping action of the plates over the last.
The foregoing improvements may be applied to the heel clamps as well as to the toe
clamps.
A further improvement relates to the "nipper wipers" situated at the sides of the
last for drawing the leather over the sides. These wipers or such of them as may be
situated opposite the more curved parts of the last I make with the pieces which
form the lower jaw curved upwards towards the jaw end so that they accommodate
themselves to the curvature of the last and give a more effective wiping action of the
leather over the last.
Dated the 30th day of January 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Lasting Boots and Shoes.
1 ALBERT EDWARD STIRCKLER of Springfield 200 Kettering Road Northampton
in the County of Northampton Engineer 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 :-
My invention has for its object to render machines for lasting boots and shoes more
perfect and efficient in action than hitherto.
My said invention relates more especially to the class of machines such as are
described in the Specifications of Letters Patent No. 3706 of 16th March 1886
No. 17581 of 21st December 1887 and No. 14586 of 10th October 1888. One part
of my present invention relates to the clamp in connection with the presser referred
to by the letter Z in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 175817 by which
the toe end of the upper leather is gripped to draw it over for attachment to the
inner sole and has for its object to give a greater grip on the leather of the upper
and so effect a more perfect. drawing over of the leather in cases more especially where
the upper leather does not present a sufficient amount of material to be efficiently
held by the clamp as at present arranged or in operating with soft leathers that
require a considerable amount of stretch to give them a good appearance when lasted,
and further to adapt the same upper plate of the clamp to receive lower plates (called
"toe-rings") of different sizes and shapes. According to my invention I make the
distance between the upper and lower plates adjustable so that the lower plats when
the last is brought up towards the level of the upper plate is situated so low down as
to grasp between itself and the wiper plates below it a greater portion of the leather
of the upper than is possible with the ordinary arrangement, and when the last is after-
wards depressed the extra amount of leather is extended above the last to be wiped in by
the action of the wiper plates. I prefer to make teeth or projections on the under side of
the lower plate of the clamp to give a firmer hold upon the leather. The adjustment of
the distance between the upper and lower plates of the clamp may be conveniently
effected by placing rings or distance pieces between the two plates preferably
threading them upon the bolts or pins which are fixed to the lower plate and slide
in the upper plate or by nuts screwed on the bolts or pins by which the plates are
connected together. In order to make the upper plate capable of accommodating
lower plates of different shapes and sizes I may either make the pins or bolts on all
the different sized and shaped lower plates the same distance apart or I make holes in
the upper plate at different distances apart so as to correspond to the different
distances apart of the pins or bolts on the various lower plates.
According to a further improvement I reduce the inner edges of the wiper plates
(so as to allow of the more ready insertion of the tacks or the performing of welt
work) by the removal of the metal at or bevelling the upper sides of the inner parts
or operating edges of the wiper plates which hitherto has interfered with the tacking
and welting operations. I may also reduce or bevel the underside of the edges to
give a better wiping action of the plates over the last. The foregoing improvements
may be applied to the heel clamps as well as to the toe clamps.
A further improvement relates to the "nipper wipers" situated at the sides of the
last for drawing the leather over the sides. These wipers (or such of them as may
be situated over the more curved parts of the last) I make with the pieces which
form the lower jaw curved upwards towards the jaw end and if desired transversely so
that they will not catch against the edge of the inner sole and will accommodate them-
selves to the curvatures of the last and give a more effective wiping action of the
leather over the last.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent respectively in side
elevation and front elevation a presser constructed substantially as described in the
Specification No. 175817 but having combined therewith the improvements
according to my present invention.

page_text: Figure 3 is an underside view of Figure 2.
Figures 4 and 5 are plans of two differently shaped toe rings or plates.
Figure 6 is a plan of a pair of wiper plates by which the upper is wiped over
the toe and heel portions of the last.
Figure 7 is a section of one of the plates along the line 1. 2.
Figure 6 and Figures 8 and 9 shew in side elevation one of the nipper wipers
by which the upper is drawn over the side portions of the last, Figure 8 showing
the jaws closed and Figure 9 shewing the jaws separated to receive the edge of the
upper. It is not necessary to describe fully the construction and operation of the
pressor Z (as a full description thereof is given in the Specification No. 1758187
except with reference to those parts to which my present invention relates.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, s2 is a plate fitted to slide up and down the
hollow cylindrical piece p² of the presser. To the plate & there is connected, by pins
or bolts 2, a lower plate or toe ring between which and the wiper plates below
(not shown) the edge of the upper being lasted is nipped and securely held while
the last is being forced by the disc 3 into the upper. The toe ring or plate (²
may be adjusted to any desired distance from the upper plate 2 by interposing
between the plates distance pieces of the required thickness. In the drawing I have
shewn these distance pieces as consisting of rings of metal 2 placed on the pins or
bolts 2 springs 3 being interposed between the upper surface of the plates and
pins or projections 3 on the bolts a² to maintain the parts in contact and to admit
of distance pieces of different thicknesses being used so as to increase or reduce as
required the distance or height of the toe plate t2 above the last, according to the
amount of upper leather it is desired to wipe over the last and also to vary as required
the pressure of the plate on the leather.
•
To enable toe plates of different sizes and shapes being used with the same upper
plate I provide in the said upper plate several pairs of holes as at 31 for the
reception of the bolts or pins u² on the different sized toe rings shewn in Figures +
and 5 or the upper plate may have only one pair of holes and the bolts or pins u²
on the several toe rings be all arranged in the same positions to enter these holes.
The toe rings are provided on their under or bearing surface with pins or projections i
so as to ensure a firm hold on the leather while the last is being forced into the
upper by the plunger q³. These pins or projections i are preferably formed on screws
which screw into holes in the plates 2 so as to be capable of being projected more
or less as required from the face of plates whereby the whole or any desired number
of the points may be made to bear with equal pressure on the leather whether the
surface be flat or carved or any number of the said points may be made to bear with
greater pressure than the other points if required when for example the strain on
the leather is required to be unequal.
Instead of the distance pieces 2 for regulating the distance between the plates s
and 2 as herein before described the pins or bolts w² may be screw threaded to receive
nuts between the plates 2 and 2 so that by adjusting the position of these nuts on the
screwed pins the distance between the plates may be regulated as required.
In lasting by machinery, what are known as "welted boots," difficulty has hitherto
been experienced in forcing the upper into position in the groove formed in the inner
sole to receive it, and also in securing the upper by tacks. These difficulties have
been caused in consequence of the edges of the wiper plates, which draw the upper
over the inner sole, being as thick or nearly as thick as the body part of
the plates.
According to my invention 1 overcome these difficulties by bevelling the upper
and lower sides of the operating edges of the wiper plates as shewn at ab Figures 6
and 7 so that the said edges are sufficiently reduced in thickness to admit of their
entering and forcing the upper into the bottom of the groove in the inner sole the
strength and rigidity of the plates remaining unimpaired whilst by reducing their
thickness at their upper edges as shewn facility is provided for driving the tacks
which secure the upper to the inner sole. [ if desired reduce the upper edges
only but generally I prefer to reduce both edges as shewn.
may

page_text: The nipper wipers by which the upper is drawn over the sides of the last or some
of them are made according to my invention with their front or advancing portion
curved upwards as shewn at e in Figures 8 and 9 whereby they are rendered less
liable, when in operation to catch against the edge of the inner sole and are capable
of more readily accommodating themselves to the curvatures of the last and thereby
more evenly drawing the upper over the inequalities.
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
First. In machines for lasting boots and shoes the combination with means for
forcing the last into the upper while being lasted of a clamping device for holding
the upper secarely while the last is being forced thereinto the bearing plate of the
clamping device being capable of being adjusted in height relatively to the last so as
to regulate as required the pressure of the plate on the upper and to hold above the
last more or less as required of the upper to be wiped over the last substantially as
hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Second. In machinery for lasting boots and shoes a clamp for holding the upper
while the last is being forced thereinto the pressing plate of the said clamp having
pins or projections capable of being projected more or less as required from the face
of the plate substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Third. In machines for lasting boots and shoes a clamping device for holding the
upper while the last is being forced thereinto provided with and capable of carrying
interchangeable pressing plates of different shapes and sizes substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In machines for lasting boots and shoes wiper plates for wiping the upper
over the toe and heel portions of the last the operating edges of the plates being
bevelled above and below substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described
and shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In machines for lasting boots and shoes nipper wipers by which the upper
is drawn over the sides of the last having their forward ends curved upwards towards
the nipping jaws substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and
illustrated in rigures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of October 1900
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, Agents.