Improvements in Lasting Machines for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 19th Jan., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES HIGGINS KELLEY, of 24, Beach Street,
Revere, in the County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, United States
of America, Machinist.]
Improvements in Lasting Machines for Boots and Shoes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 provide a compact, inexpensive and durable
machine for lasting boots or shoes, which shall be simple in construction, and easy
of operation, and it consists in a machine constructed as hereinafter set forth,
embracing mechanism whereby the upper is smoothly and evenly drawn over the
last, and held in position, devices whereby the jack is so moved as to present
successive portions of the edge of the sole to the tacking mechanism, tacking
mechanism, and means for operating the tacking mechanism, so as to automatically
locate the same in proper position to drive successive tacks on the sole of a shoe of
any shape or size, all as will be hereinafter more particularly described and the novel
features of which are pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form
a part hereof.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention in the best form now
known to me, and in the following description, reference is had thereto. In said
drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my machine, the upper portion only of the standard
being shown, and Fig. 2 is a front view thereof.
Fig. 3 is a rear side view of the lower portion of the head, certain parts being in
section. Fig. 4 is a front view thereof.
Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly sectional, of the separator device whereby the
lowermost tack in the raceway is separated from the succeeding tack. Fig. 6 is a
similar view showing the parts in a different position.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the hopper showing a portion of the raceway and also
showing the device which transfers the tacks from the hopper to the raceway.
Lasting machines as at present constructed, so far as known to me, are large and
complicated, expensive in construction, and require not only skilled operators to
obtain the best results, but also require operators having considerable physical
strength so that only men are able to operate them. My machine is designed,
among other things, to obviate these objections and to produce a simple and
inexpensive machine which may be operated by a girl or woman.
At A is shown the standard of the machine, which may be of any suitable
material and of any desired shape. On top of the standard is firmly secured a
hollow upright B, preferably cylindrical in form, in which is received the shank or
support C of the bed d. The shank C may be raised or lowered, raising or lowering
The tack-
the bed d, and secured in any given position by means of a set screw e.
driving mechanism rests upon the bed d and is adapted to slide horizontally thereon
during the operation of the machine, but said tacking mechanism and the connecting
parts which operate the same have no vertical movement in the operation of the
machine. The upper frame D which directly supports the tacking mechanism is of
the goose-neck shape shown, and is mounted between gibs or ways on the bed d so
that it may be moved horizontally thereon.

page_text: 72
At
The main shaft is shown at f and is mounted in bearings in projections from the
top of the standard A.
A belt pulley g is placed on said shaft f, by means of which
power is applied to the machine. Said shaft is provided at its opposite ends with
cranks hj, the crank h being slotted lengthwise as shown in order that the connecting
rod k may be adjustably secured thereto. The forward end of the connecting rod k
is pivoted to a crank 1, which is provided with a series of holes lengthwise thereof
so that the connecting-rod may be adjusted with reference thereto. The crank is
fast on the shaft m which is mounted in bearings in the upright A. Secured to
the said crank is one member n of a ratchet clutch mechanism which is mounted
on the shaft m, the other member o of said clutch mechanism being cast on the
gear p. The member o and the gear p are mounted loosely on the shaft m.
each revolution of the crank the connecting rod k is reciprocated, reciprocating the
crank 1, also the member a of the clutch mechanism, said member being free to slip
in one direction over the teeth of the other member o of the clutch mechanism, but
engaging said clutch when moving in the opposite direction, and thus moving the
member o and gear p through part of a revolution at each reciprocation of the
crank. The gear p meshes with a pinion formed on or fast to one end of
the horizontal screw r. The screw is mounted in bearings which project from the
top of the upright A and extends across the front of the machine, as shown Fig. 2,
the
purpose of the screw being to actuate the jack carrier so that it will have an
intermittent or step by step motion. The crank at the opposite end of the shaft f
is connected by means of a pivoted connecting rod s with the free end of a bent
lever t, which is secured to a collar or sleeve won the vertical shaft w upon which
the jack carrier bed z is mounted. On the upper end of the sleeve w² is splined on
a member a' of a ratchet clutch mechanism, the other member 61 of said mechanism
being fast on the said shaft w. The lever t is reciprocated at each revolution of the
crank j, and at each reciprocation of the lever the shaft w is turned through a part
of a revolution, the member a' of the clutch mechanism being free to move in one
direction without moving the member thereof, while by its movement in the
opposite direction the member is moved, as will be clear. By means of the
mechanism just described, the jack is rotated intermittently when the heel and toe
of the shoe are being tacked. As the jack does not rotate except at such times as
the heel and toe of the shoe are being tacked, the movement of the jack being in a
right line while the sides of the shoe are subjected to the tacking mechanism, it
follows that the clutch mechanism must be operative to turn the shaft w only at
certain times, namely when the heel or toe of a shoe is reached. For the purpose of
throwing the clutch mechanism into and out of operation at other times. I secure
the member a¹ of the said mechanism in such manner that it will have a slight vertical
movement on the sleeve w7, and I provide it with an annular groove d' with which
the free end of the lever arm or latch el engages when the member a' is in its lowest
position. When the end of the latch e' is in the annular groove d¹ the member a'
is held in its lowermost position and is thus out of operative relation with the other
member of the clutch mechanism, so that the armt may at such times reciprocate
without turning the shaft w. The latch e' is of the shape shown Figs. 1 and 2, and
is fast to an arm which is pivoted at the lower end of the downward projection g¹
fast to the standard of the machine. The arm f¹ is free to swing toward and from
the jack carrier bed, but is drawn toward said bed by means of a spring ¹, which
operates to throw the free end of the latch e¹ into the groove d whenever the
member a¹ is moved downwardly. For the purpose of releasing the latch e' from
the groove d'. I provide a pin which is set in the arm f' and projects upwardly
therefrom in the path of the portion of the jack carrier k'. When the jack has
moved a sufficient distance in a right line to tack the side of a shoe, the end of the
part strikes the pin j' forcing back the latch e' and freeing it from the groove d'.
As soon as the latch e' is thus freed, springs m¹ which are placed underneath the
member a and between said member and the levert act to force the member a¹
upwardly into engagement with the other member of the clutch. Reciprocations
of the arm are then effective to intermittently turn the shaft and the jack to

page_text: present the heel or toe of the shoe to the tacking mechanism. When the jack has
turned through one hundred and eighty degrees and the heel or toe has been tacked,
the pin n which projects from the member a¹ is brought into contact with the
beveled end of one of the pivoted latches p' which are on the upper member b¹ of
the clutch. The latches p are set in opposite sides of the clutch member and are
prevented from moving in one direction by pins q'. The pin n¹ is thus forced to
ride the beveled face of the latch and operates to force the member a' of the clutch
mechanism downwardly against the pressure of the springs m', and when the
groove is opposite the free end of the latch e¹ the spring operates to throw the
latch e' into the groove d' and the members of the clutch are thus held out of
engagement while the other side of the shoe is being tacked. When the opposite
end of the shoe is reached, the opposite end of the part of the jack carrier is
brought into contact with the pin thus freeing the inember a¹ and allowing the
clutch to again operate to turn the shoe while the opposite end or toe thereof is
being tacked.
The jack mechanism upon which the shoe is carried while it is being presented to
the tacking mechanism is supported upon the bed z which is mounted on the top of
the vertical shaft w. The bed is slotted lengthwise to form a slideway for the
reception of the carrier kas also for the reception of the templet. The templet pl
is a counterpart of the vertical lengthwise curvature of the sole of the last and
requires to be changed whenever a change is made in the style of last upon which
the shoe is lasted, that is to say, whenever the vertical lengthwise curvature of one
style of last differs from that of another. For lasts of different sizes no change of
the templet is required provided the lasts are of the same style or form. This
templet is made of sufficient length to accommodate the largest last and may be used
for lasts of smaller sizes of the same style or form. If a templet was made for a
last of smaller size of the same form and style, it would not differ from the templet
employed for the largest size except in length, the larger templet being extended
somewhat at each end. On the carrier is mounted a block or frames within
which is placed the shank or downwardly projecting portion of the jack support t¹.
The support t may slide vertically in the frame or block s¹ thus raising or lowering
the last. On one side of the support t' is placed a friction roll a² which is set on
a stud projecting from said support, and which is vertically in line with the
templet and rests on the upper edge thereof, as shown. As the sides of the shoe
are being tacked, the carrier k¹ and the jack mechanism resting thereon move
lengthwise of said carrier, across the front of the machine, and the shape of the
templet is such that as the high portion of the sole of the last is reached the jack
mechanism will be correspondingly lowered as the roll a² moves downwardly into a
depression in the templet . It will thus be seen that any vertical curvature of the
sole of the last may be provided for by a templet of corresponding shape. The top
of the support t' is provided with side pieces 2, as also with a vertical pin which
projects from the top of the support t¹ and which passes through a hole in the bed d²
of the jack. By means of the pin 2 and the side pieces the jack may be quickly
and accurately placed in position on the support t'. The bed of the jack is curved
vertically as shown Fig. 1, and is provided at the rear with a stud in which is
pivoted a post f2 which supports the heel of the last g. The toe rest consists of a
post having a vertically adjustable upper portion on which is pivoted the toe
rest k² in the well known manner. are horizontal arms which are pivoted at m²
on the bed. The arms 12 extend horizontally toward the heel of the last and are
provided with vertical spring arms n² which spring inwardly toward the side of the
last at their upper ends, and which at their lower ends are secured by screw bolts to
the horizontal arms l². A latch p² is pivoted to a lug on one of the arms 12 and
projects across as shown Fig. 2 to the other arm. The latch is of such a length
that when the arms are forced together so that the spring arms n² bear against the
sides of the last, the hook of the latch p² will pass over the arm 12 and the latch will
then hold the arms together and prevent their spreading. After the parts of the
shoe are assembled on the last, the last is placed on the heel-rest f, the arms are

page_text: brought together and latched, forcing the upper ends of the spring arms n² into
contact with the sides of the upper, and the last is then forced downwardly into
position on the jack, the upper being rubbed and smoothed down and held in place
tightly over the last by the rubbing and pressing action of the ends of the spring
arms n². The jack is then placed in the machine, the bed 2 being put in place on
the support t', and the shoe is ready to be tacked.
For the purpose of operating the tacking mechanism, I provide a vertical
shaft 9, which is journalled in bearings in projections 22 which are secured to and
project from the top of the standard and bed d respectively. The beveled pinions
shown at t², one of said pinions being on the shaft and the other on the shaft q²,
are employed to drive said shaft. The pinion on the shaft q2 is splined thereon
to permit the shaft to be raised or lowered when the part C is vertically adjusted.
The collar 2 is adjustably secured by the screw 30 on shaft q² above the bearing
in projection, and rests upon the latter to hold the shaft from descending. The
horizontal shaft w2, which is journalled in bearings in the goose neck D as also in
the upwardly projecting end of the arm s2, is driven from the shaft g2 by means of
the beveled gears a³, see Fig. 1. The gear a3 which is on the shaft w² is keyed
thereon so that said shaft w² may move end wise as the upper frame D slides on the
bed d, the said gear a³ being held in mesh with the beveled gear on the upper end
of the shaft g2 by means of the collar which is placed between said gear and the
end-bearing of the shaft w². The shaft 2 is provided at its forward end with a
cam which is in contact with a friction roll on the front of the driver bar d³, and
as the shaft w² revolves the cam c³ operates to raise the driver bar and after raising
it to free it so that said bar may he forced down to drive a tack by means of a spring
which operates upon its upper end in the well known manner, and which is not
indicated in the drawings. The driver bar d³ slides vertically in the head e³ and is
of the usual construction and operation. A presser and holder shown at 3 is
mounted on the lower end of a short vertical shaft g3 which is journalled in the lower
portion of the head of the machine. The upper end of the shaft g³ is provided with
a gear which is in mesh with a rack which slides horizontally in the rear
portion of the head e³. The rack 3 is actuated by means of a lever which engages
a stud on the rear of said rack, see Fig. 3. The lever is pivoted on said head
and is forked at its upper end, where it is engaged by a cam or short arm m
which is fast on the shaft w². At each revolution of the shaft the lever is
caused to vibrate and the rack to reciprocate, causing a reciprocation of the
presser foot f³. The presser foot 3 is thrown forward in the arc of a
circle, and its free end strikes and rides over the edge of the last, carrying
the edge of the upper inwardly over the last, pressing and smoothing it
down thereon, and holding it until a tack is driven, the free end of said presser f³
being so mounted and shaped as to slide over the edge of the upper and being also
bifurcated so that the tack may be driven between the prongs or bifurcations thereof.
The shaft w² is also provided with a gear 3 which is in mesh with a gear ³ which is
set on a stud fast on the upright portion of the upper frame D. A crank pin on the
face of the gear 13 serves to actuate the connecting bar m³ which is pivoted at its
upper end on said crank pin, and at its lower end to a pin n³ which projects from
the vertical plunger which is free to move vertically in a case or socket p
provided therefor on the bottom of the hopper q³. The case p³ is slotted vertically
to permit the vertical movement of the pin ³ as the gear 13 revolves. The hopper 9³
is provided with tacks, and the object of the rod er plunger o³ is to carry the tacks
upwardly in order that they may be thrown onto the upper end of the raceway ³,
the upper end of the plunger o³ being flat. As it passes downwardly below the level
of the bottom of the hopper, the mass of tacks therein closes over it and as it moves
upwardly it carries a number of the tacks up to the level of the upper end of the
raceway 73.
When it has reached the upper end of its movement a wiper J-3 passes
across its top and throws the tacks which have lodged thereon onto the upper end
of the raceway. The wiper consists of a pivoted lever, one end of which sweeps
across the top of the plunger o³, throwing the tacks thereon onto the raceway. The

page_text: gear
lever is operated to throw the tacks off the plunger by means of an arm which
1³ revolves
projects upwardly from the rod or connection m³ and which as the
trips the tail end of the wiper 53. The wiper is moved in the opposite direction by
means of the leaf-spring et which is secured to the hopper and is bent over at the
top and brought into contact with the said wiper s³ as shown Fig. 7. A clearer t³
is pivoted, as shown, on the hopper q3 so that its lower end projects very closely to
the raceway. The clearer t³ is provided with a bent spring a which projects
into the path of a pin or series of pins on a collar 6 on the shaft o, and thus as
the shaft revolves the clearer t³ is shaken or caused to move on its pivot, and all
tacks which are not properly in the raceway are cleared therefrom and fall back
into the hopper. When the tacks are properly in place on the raceway the jarring
of the machine causes them to travel down the raceway to its lower end where they
are presented one by one to the driver in position to be driven into the shoe. To
assist in jarring the raceway to insure the tacks travelling down the same, a lever d
is employed which is pivoted on the rear face of the heade³. The lower end of this
lever strikes the side of the raceway near the lower end thereof when the lever is
moved. The upper end of the said lever is in the path of a came on the shaft w
and as the shaft revolves the lever is swung on its pivot causing the lower end of
the lever as it flies back under pressure of spring to strike the raceway and jar
the same.
For the purpose of separating the tack at the lower end of the raceway from the
next succeeding tack, 1 provide a separating device comprising a pivoted part or
transferrer see Figs. 5 and 6 which is placed in the raceway underneath the top
plate thereof in such position that as it is reciprocated its free end will move in the
arc of a circle in the pathway of the tacks. Said free end of the part n is notched
as shown at of the notch being large enough to receive a single tack. When the
tack is in this notch of its head rests on the top of the raceway, that portion of the
shank directly underneath the head is in the notch of, and its point is in the bottom
of the groove in the raceway, that is, the tack is in the same position which it
occupies in the raceway, except that directly underneath its head it is in contact
with the transferrer n*. At one end of its movement, the transferrer n is in the
position shown Fig. 5, permitting the lowermost tack in the raceway to move into
the notch of and at the other end of its movement it is in the position shown Fig. 6,
allowing the tack which has been transferred down the raceway to pass out of the
notch of and on toward the driver. Since the part n acts on the tacks underneath
their heads, the point of the part of the transferrer n formed by the notch o* readily
passes between the tacks and separates then effectively, transmitting with certainty
one tack and only one to the driver. The tail of the part n is provided with a
pin which works in a slot q in the arm . The arm is secured to the lower
end of the short vertical shaft g³ which actuates the foot 13 and which is reciprocated
by the rack 3, as previously described, so that at cach reciprocation of said
rack j³ a single tack is transferred to the driver. After passing the transferrer n
the tack passes from the end of the raceway into the jaws or holders st, see Fig. 4.
The jaws stare pivoted as shown on the lower end of the head e³ and are held in
their closed position by means of the springs 10. They are provided at their
proximate ends with a small recess or cavity, part of which is in one jaw and part
in the other, into which the tack slides from the raceway, and which is in line with
the driver a³. When the driver descends, striking the head of the tack, the tack is
forced downwardly, the jaws st spreading against the pressure of the springs w³,
and the tack is driven into the shoe. The jaws t not only hold the tack in
position but serve to guide it while it is being driven.
As has been previously stated, the head D carrying the tacking mechanism slides
horizontally on the bed d which permits it to follow the curvature of the sides of
the sole and thus to drive each tack into the proper position as the shoe is moved
along in a right line by the jack carrier mechanism already described. As the
horizontal movement of the tacking mechanism, that is its movement toward or
from a central line lengthwise of the sole, depends upon the shape and curvature of

page_text: the sides of the sole, and as these vary in lasts of different shape and size, means
must be provided for moving the tacking mechanism horizontally a proper distance
to meet the requirements of lasts of different shapes. To effect this horizontal
movement of the tacking mechanism, I provide a pivoted frame comprising two side
pieces which are connected by a central cross bar c³ on which said pieces are
secured. The cross bar c is mounted in bearings in a projection on the part B.
This method of mounting the parts 15 permits them to be vibrated or reciprocated
as will be clear. The upper ends of these parts bear on adjusting bolts f³ which
are screwed into arms which project laterally from the base of the goose neck or
frame D. The bolts may be adjusted relatively to the said arms and thus afford
a means of adjusting the parts relatively to said arms and to the head D. The
lower ends of the parts are slotted to receive the templets g which are set
therein and suitably secured in place. These templets correspond in curvature to
the curves of the sides of the sole of the last, that is, they are a counterpart of the
said curves in the same manner as the curvature of the templet is a counterpart
of the vertical curvature of the sole of the last, and when a last of different curvature
is employed the templets g* * may be readily removed and others of proper form
put in their places. These templets gh are inexpensive in construction and may
be readily formed by using an insole which will fit the last as a guide from
which the proper shape of curvature may be obtained. The templet 5 serves
to actuate the head while one side of the shoe is being tacked, and
the templet serves to actuate the head while the opposite side of the shoe
is being tacked. The block of the jack carrying mechanism is provided
at one side with an upward projection in which is journalled an anti-friction
roll, see Fig. 2, which, as the jack carrying mechanism moves in one
direction, while one side of the shoe is being tacked, bears against the templet g³, a
spring being employed, if necessary, to move the frame D rearwardly, thus
forcing the lower ends of the parts forward so that the said templet g³ will always
he in contact with the roll . The spring 8 is preferably secured at one end to a
pin a underneath the base of the frame D and at the other end to a pin on the
stationary projection s², see Fig. 1. As the jack mechanism moves in a right line,
the said roll, will, as it reaches a projecting portion of the templet, operate to
force back the lower ends of the frame pieces 65 causing them to throw the tacking
mechanism forward against the tension of spring f8 and thus locating the driver in
proper position over the last. After the heel or toe of the shoe has been turned,
another roll corresponding to the roll and also mounted on a projection from
the part will come into contact with the templet which is of a shape to
properly actuate the tacking mechanism to tack that side of the shoe. By this
arrangement the machine may be readily changed to tack a shoe of any shape, it
being only necessary to provide proper templets go for the curvature of the sides
of the last and a proper templet for the vertical curvature of the bottom of the
last. On opposite sides of the part s¹ of the jack carrying mechanism, I provide
projections in which are set bolts 9 having pointed or thinned ends adapted to
project into the threads of the screw r, so that as the screw revolves the jack carrying
mechanism will be caused to travel in a right line so long as the end of either of
the said bolts q' is in contact with the said screw. While the heel or toe of the
shoe is being tacked, the jack mechanism is turning on its vertical axis, and neither
of the bolts is in contact with the screw r ; as soon, however, as the jack has
swung around and the heel or toe has been tacked, one of the bolts q³ is thrown
into contact with the screw and the jack mechanism is moved in a right line while
the side of the shoe is being tacked. In order to prevent the jack mechanism from
recoil or moving back so as to move the bolt y out of contact with the screw r, 1
provide an arm which is pivoted on a downward projections from the top of the
standard A and which has at its free end a hook or notch which snaps over a pin t
on the under side of the bed z. The arm ³ is held in contact with the pin
means of the spring shown at w. Another pin corresponding to the pin to is placed
on the opposite end of the bed z and engages in like manner with a hook or notch
by

page_text: on the lever f' so that at each half revolution of the jack mechanism the latch
levers snap over the said pins and steady the bed, preventing any recoil thereof
and insuring proper contact of the bolt g with the screw r.
To prevent the tacking mechanism from moving horizontally while the toe or
heel is being tacked, I provide a lever which engages the inner edge of the
hooked projection a³, see Figs. 1 and 2. This projection is secured to and extends
from the lower end of one of the parts 6. A spring 18, see Fig. 2, acts to draw
the said lever & inwardly out of engagement with the hook as so that when the
sides of the shoe are being tacked said lever is out of engagement with said hook.
When, however, the heel of the shoe is reached a projection on a moving portion
of the jack mechanism strikes the free end of the lever and throws it into
engagement with the hook a³. The jack mechanism then turns on its vertical axis,
freeing the engaging rolls from the templets, and the tension of the spring 8.
which acts to draw the frame D rearwardly, moves the upper ends of the levers
rearwardly, throwing the lower ends of the said levers forward, and holds the
lever in frictional contact with the hooked projection a. As soon as the heel
has been tacked the templet 95 or 75 is again engaged and pressed rearwardly
slightly thus freeing the lever 66 from the hooked projection as. By this means
the tacking mechanism is held in a fixed position when the heel or toe is being
tacked.
This will
The screw is preferably provided with three threads to the inch, becauses the
sizes of shoes vary by thirds of an inch, that is a shoe of one size is a third of an
inch larger than the shoe of the next size smaller. When it is desired to last a
shoe one size larger, the sliding jack carrier will require to be moved a distance
equal to the width of one thread of the screw, so that the bolts 7 will engage.
the screw one thread farther toward the end of the said screw.
accommodate a shoe one size larger since the bolt q leaves the screw
heel always at the same point whether the shoe be larger or smaller. It will be
seen that in this way the jack carrier may be readily set so that the bolt will engage
the screw at a proper point to tack a shoe of any size, and if desirable a scale or
gauge may be provided on the movable jack carrier k or on the fixed bed z by
means of which the setting of the mechanism for a shoe of any length may be.
facilitated.
to turn the
The distance apart at which the tacks are placed in the shoe will depend upon
the distance which the shoe is fed forward at each feed movement, and this may
be regulated as will be clear by adjusting the connecting rod k relatively to the
cranks and l. Cheap shoes in which the tacks are set farther apart may be
tacked with great rapidity while the speed of the machine is not increased.
Having now particularly ascertained and described the nature of my said inven-.
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A lasting machine embracing a jack device for supporting a last having a
shoe applied thereto, a support for said jack device, devices for laying the edge of
the shoe upper over the sole of the last into position for being tacked down, tacking
mechanism, a train of actuating devices engaging with the jack-device and
operating to move the latter upon the support therefor in a direction lengthwise
of the last, and a separate train of actuating devices having independent operating
connection with the said support and constructed to turn the same in rounding the
heel and toe of the shoe, substantially as described.
2. The combination with tacking mechanism, of a jack for supporting the shoe,
a feed screw, a jack-supporting block having oppositely positioned teeth fitted to
engage alternately with the thread of the feed screw according as the parts are
shifted to present opposite edges of the last to the tacking mechanism, a support
on which the block is fitted to slide past the tacking mechanism, independent
actuating means connected with the said support and adapted to rotate the same,

page_text: and means for bringing said independent actuating means into action on the arrival
of the end of the last at the tacking mechanism, substantially as described.
3. A lasting machine comprising tacking mechanism, a jack device for holding a
last carrying a shoe, means for automatically feeding said jack device lengthwise of
the last past the tacking mechanism, means for moving the jack device vertically
as it is fed horizontally to compensate for the vertical curvature of the sole, and
means for moving the tacking mechanism horizontally nearer to or farther from the
middle of the last, to drive the tacks at different distances from the said middle in
a line following the contour of the edge of the last, substantially as described.
4. A lasting device comprising tacking mechanism, a jack device for holding a
last carrying a shoe, means for automatically feeding said jack device lengthwise
of the last, a templet having a surface corresponding to the horizontal curvature of
the side of the last, and a templet-engaging part, one of the two latter moving
with the jack device and the other thereof having operative connection with the
tacking mechanism, whereby as the jack device is fed the templet and coacting part
operate to shift the tacking mechanism horizontally toward and from the middle of
the last to cause the tacks to be driven at different distances from the said middle
in a line following the contour of the edge of the last, substantially as described.
5. A lasting machine comprising tacking mechanism, a jack device for holding a
last carrying a shoe, means for automatically feeding said jack device lengthwise of
the last, templets respectively having surfaces corresponding to the horizontal
curvatures of the opposite sides of the last and alternately acted against by
parts moving with the jack device according as the respective sides of the last are
presented to the tacking mechanism, and a movable support for the said templets
having operative connection with the tacking mechanism, whereby the tacking
mechanism is shifted horizontally nearer to or farther from the middle of the last
to cause the tacks to be driven at different distances from the said middle in a line
following the contour of the edge of the last, substantially as described.
6. A lasting machine comprising tacking mechanism, a jack device for holding a
last carrying a shoe, means for automatically feeding said jack device lengthwise
of the last, templets respectively having surfaces corresponding to the horizontal
curvatures of the opposite sides of the last and alternately acted against by parts
moving with the jack device, according as the respective sides of the last are
presented to the tacking mechanism, a movable support for the said templets having
operative connection with the tacking mechanism, whereby the tacking mechanism
is shifted horizontally nearer to or farther from the middle of the last to cause the
tacks to be driven at different distances from the said middle in a line following the
contour of the edge of the last, and means for partially rotating said last support
on the arrival of the ends of the last at the tacking mechanism, whereby the sides
and ends of the last are presented and fed to the tacking mechanism successively,
substantially as described.
7. A lasting machine comprising tacking mechanism, a jack device for supporting
a last carrying a shoe, a support for said jack device, means for automatically
feeding said jack device along its support past the tacking mechanism, the said jack
and its support having combined therewith a templet corresponding to the vertical
curvature of the sole, whereby as the jack device is fed along the support the jack
and last are moved vertically on said support to properly present the successive
portions of the sole to the tacking mechanism, and means for shifting said support
to present the ends and sides of the last in succession to the tacking mechanism,
substantially as described.
8. A lasting machine comprising tacking mechanism, a jack device provided with
a vertically movable jack for the support of a last carrying a shoe, a support for
said jack device, means for automatically moving said jack device horizontally
along said support, the said jack device and its support baving combined therewith
a templet corresponding to the vertical curvature of the sole and acting to move
the jack vertically as the jack device is fed along the support, means for partially

page_text: rotating said support on the arrival of the ends of the last at the tacking
mechanism, whereby the sides and ends of the last are presented and fed to the
tacking mechanism successively, projections on the opposite sides of the last-
carrying devices, templets respectively corresponding to the horizontal curvatures
of the opposite sides of the last and alternately acted upon by the said projections
respectively as the last carrying devices are fed along the support, and a movable
frame supporting said templets and engaging with the tacking mechanism to move
the same horizontally toward and from the middle of the last, substantially as
described.
9. The combination in a lasting machine with a suitable support for the shoe,
and means for securing the upper in place, of a presser foot, a vertical rock-shaft
supporting said presser foot, and means for oscillating said shaft and thereby
reciprocating said foot horizontally in a curved line to engage the edge of the
upper to press and hold it smoothly over the edge of the last, substantially as set
forth.
10. The combination with shoe holding and tacking mechanism, of the presser
foot to press and hold the upper over the edge of the last, means for actuating said
presser foot comprising a shaft on which the foot is mounted, a gear on said shaft,
a rack engaging said gear, and a cam actuated lever engaging the rack, substantially
as set forth.
11. The combination in a lasting jack with the lateral arms pivoted at one end
thereof as described, and each having a series of vertical spring arms rigidly
affixed thereto, of a latch secured to one of said lateral arms and adapted to engage
the other lateral arm for the purpose of holding the arms in their closed position,
substantially as set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.