An Improved Machine for Cutting Soles and other Forms.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 14th July, 1894—Accepted, 6th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by WELLMAN SOLE CUTTING MACHINE
COMPANY, 144 and 146, Pearl Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United
States of America.]
An Improved Machine for Cutting Soles and other Forms.
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 to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machines for cutting soles and other forms and is
designed to improve the construction of the machines described in United States
Patents No. 443,123, dated December 23rd 1890, and No. 446,555, dated
February 17th 1891.
One feature of this invention consists in the combination of a chain or its
equivalent with a knife carrier by means of three arms, (as in Patent No. 446,555)
a fourth arm, and a form or pattern plate by which the outer end of the third arm
is guided in an endless path of such a shape as to give the desired thrust to the
third arm.
In the Patent No. 446,555 this third arm was connected to a chain
which was made sinuous by pulleys in order to give the proper thrust; but by the
use of a fourth arm and an extra pattern plate I do away with the need of moving
the driving chain or its equivalent in a sinuous endless path.
A second feature of this invention is the combination of a knife carrier, one part
of which moves in a path adapted to a considerable number of sizes or styles of
soles or the like a second part of which moves in a path varying only slightly from
the outline of the sole, while a third part and the knife moves in a path corre-
sponding to the outline of the sole, with three forms each controlling the path of its
part of the knife carrier, and suitable mechanism for travelling the knife carrier
about the forms.
In the United States Patent No. 443,123, two forms are described each corre
sponding to the outline of the sole or other article to be cut, and in the United
States Patent No. 446,555, is described a form which rests upon the stock and has
a ledge upon its upper surface whose inner wall corresponds in outline to the sole ;
but in the present invention I use that form in connection with a sheet metal
form secured to it; and this compound form is also a feature of the present
invention.
In cutting rubber soles the sheet material is clamped between a compound form
and the bed, the jog in the sheet metal part of the form taking the thicker portion
of the sheet which forms the tread of the heel; of course with stock of substantially
uniform thickness this jog is unnecessary, as would also be a projection which is
formed across the form and the spring between the upper and lower parts of the
forin, the upper part in that case having a flat under surface and the lower part
being a flat sheet of tin plate, flat against the under surface of the said upper part,
But it may be of an outline varying considerably from the outline of said upper
part and somewhat larger than this part, for the reason that the latter guides only
the axis of the knife block, while the lower part of the form guides the knife itself;
for in the present invention the knife is guided by the lower part the knife block
by the upper part of form, and the outer end of arm by top or plate form.
The chain is driven as usual in this class of machine; and its function is to pull
upon one end of the fourth arm. The other end of fourth arm is guided by top
form or plate which also guides one end of the third arm; that is said form guides
the axis which connects third and fourth arms. This form is of peculiar construction

page_text: and wholly new with me; and is so laid out to give the proper thrust to third arm
for the smallest sole to be cut on the machine. The same rule will apply to other
articles than soles; but after being so laid out the slot may be varied for smoother
working. The two plates forming the outer and inner walls of the slot of this form
or plate are secured to the cap and the inner part of form is secured to a sleeve
which is fast to the frame of the machine. The two studs connecting the inner
plate of top form or plate with cap serve as bearings for the sprocket wheels of the
chain.
The arms operate as in the United States Patent No. 446,555, but as the thrust
of third arm is controlled by the form the operation is smoother and better.
The axis of knife block is guided by the upper part of compound form as before;
but the knife is held in a holder which can be adjusted on a screw to give the
proper bevel, and after adjustment be held in place by set.screw. This holder is
fast in jaws, which are secured by screw to the arm of the knife block and block
can move about its axis to give proper freedom of motion to the knife; but as the
knife is guided by lower part of form which may, and in practice does, vary some-
what from upper part the knife block is made in two parts connected by spring the
lower part carries the roll which is guided by the inner wall of form, but the upper
part carries the knife holder so that when lower part of form differs in outline from
the upper part of the knife which is held against the edge of said lower part by
spring may follow the outline of the same, instead of being controlled wholly by
upper part as before.
This compound form is wholly new with me; and its great advantage is that the
casting which constitutes its upper part need not be made with that extreme
accuracy heretofore required in machines of this class. Obviously this casting
cannot be made, practically, in the factories where the machines are used, while it
has long been the custom in such factories to manufacture forms of tin plate or thin
sheet metal identical with lower part. It is highly objectionable, in practice for
the factories, to depend upon the inanufacturer of the machines for forms which
require to be varied slightly, such as lower part of form; and it is to meet this
objection that this compound form has been devised in which the lower part may be
readily filed off to the exact shape desired, and it is sufficient if the upper part of
form corresponds generally with the lower part of the same.
Dated this 21st day of October 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45. Southampton Buildings, London. W.C.. Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Cutting Soles and other Forms.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby 4
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 cutting soles and other forms.
The combination of a chain or its equivalent with a knife carried by means of
three arms, the outer end of the outer arm being connected to the chain, the inner
end of the outer arın to one end of the second arin, and the inuer end of the second
arm to the outer end of the first arm and the inner end of the first arm to the form
carrying spindle is old.
One feature of my invention consists in the combination of a chain or its
equivalent with a knife carrier by means of three arms, as above, a fourth arm, and
a form or pattern plate by which the outer end of the third arm is guided in an .
endless path of such a shape as to give the desired turust to the third arm.

page_text: In the old combination this third arm was connected to a chain which was made
sinuous by pulleys in order to give the proper thrust; but by the use of a fourth
arm as an extra pattern plate I do away with the need of moving the driving chain
or its equivalent in a sinuous endless path.
In my new combination, which is the main feature of my present invention the
outer end of the fourth arm is connected to a sprocket chain, which is supported
by only two pulleys; and the inner end of the fourth arm is guided by a pattern
plate, and is also connected to the outer end of the third arm; the third, second
and first arms being substantially as in the old combination.
A second feature of my invention is the combination of a knife carrier, one part
of which moves in a path adapted to a considerable number of sizes or styles of
soles or the like; a second part of which moves in a path varying only slightly
from the outline of the sole, while a third part and the knife moves in a path
corresponding to the outline of the sole, with three forms each controlling the path
of its part of the knife carrier, and suitable mechanism for travelling the knife
carrier about the forms.
In machines now in use two forms are used each corresponding to the outline of
the sole or other article to be cut; and also a form which rests upon the stock and
has a ledge upon its upper surface whose inner wall corresponds in outline to the
sole, but in the present invention use is made of that form in connection with a
sheet metal form secured to it; and this compound form is also a feature of my
invention.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the upper portion of a machine
embodying my invention;
Figure 2 is a view partly in section on line 2-2 of Figures 1 and 3, but with the
knife block in section;
Figure 3 is a plan view partly in section on line 3-3 of Figure 1;
Figures 4 and 5 are details in plan and edge view of the clamping pattern plates;
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are details illustrating the best form of knife block.
In the drawings the parts not lettered are in all substantial respects the same as
in former machines.
In cutting rubber soles the sheet material is clamped between the compound
form a a" and the bed B, the jog in the sheet metal form a" taking the thicker
portion of the sheet which forms the tread of the heel; of course with stock of
substantially uniform thickness this jog is unnecessary, as would also be the
projection across the form a and the spring between a and a", the form a in that
case having a flat under surface and the form a" being a flat sheet of tin plate,
flat against the flat under surface of form a, but it may be of an outline varying
considerably from the outline of form a, and somewhat larger than said form, for
the reason that the latter guides only the axis of the knife block, K; while
the form all guides the knife itself; for in my present invention the knife k is
guided by the form a", the knife block K by form a. and the outer end of arm ƒ'
by form a¹.
The chain D is driven as usual in this class of machines; and its function is to
pull upon one end of the fourth arm f³. The other end of arm is guided by
form a", which also guides one end of the third arm f'; that is form a" guides the
axis which connects arms and f. This form a¹ is of peculiar construction and
wholly new with me; and is so laid out as to give the proper thrust to arm f³ for
the smallest sole to be cut on the machine. The said rule will apply to other
articles than soles; but after being so laid out the slot may be varied for smoother
working. The two plates forming the outer and inner walls of the slot of form a
are secured to the cap a" and the inner plate of form a is secured to sleeve a³,
which is fast to the frame of the machine. The two studs connecting the inner
plate of form a" with cap al serve as bearings for the sprocket wheels of the chain.
The arms fff' operate as in former machines, but as the thrust of arm ƒ³ is
controlled by the form a" the operation is smoother and better.
13

page_text: The axis of the knife block K is guided by the form a, but the knife & is held
in a holder k¹ which can be adjusted on screw to give the proper bevel, and
after adjustment be held in place by set screw k³. This holder k¹ is fast in the
jaws k, which are secured by screw to the arm of the knife block K, which
block can move about its axis to give proper freedom of motion to the knife; but 5
as the knife is guided by form all which may, and in practice does, vary somewhat
from form a the knife block is made in two parts connected by spring 4º, see
Figure 2; the lower part carries the roll which is guided by the inner wall of
form a but the upper part carries the knife holder k so that when form a" differs
in outline from form a the knife k which is held against the edge of form all by 1
spring may follow the outline of form a", instead of being controlled wholly by
form a, as before.
This compound form a" is wholly new with me; and its great advantage is that
the casting which constitutes form a, need not be made with that extreme accuracy
heretofore required in machines, of this class. Obviously this casting cannot be
made, practically, in the factories where the machines are used, while it has long
been the custom in such factories to manufacture forms of tin plate or thin sheet
metal identical with form a". It is highly objectionable, in practice, for the
factories to depend upon the manufacturer of the machines for forms which require
to be varied slightly, such as form a"; and it is to meet this that I have devised
my compound form a al; in which a" may be readily filed off to the exact shape
desired, and it is sufficient if form a corresponds generally with form a".
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a machine for cutting soles and the like a knife carrier made up of
four arms, and a guide piece between the third and fourth arms; the inuer arm f
movable about an axis; the second arm f¹ hinged to the first arm f; the third
arm, hinged to second arm f1; the fourth arm hinged to the driving chain;
and the arms and f³ hinged to the guide piece; all combined and operating
substantially as set forth.
Second. In a machine for cutting soles and the like, the combination of a
permanent form, a", having a path arranged to suit all the sizes and styles of soles
for which the machine is adapted; a second form a, having a path nearly approaching
the outline of one particular size and style; and a third form a", whose outline
corresponds accurately with the outline of the particular size and style; the
second and third forms being detachably connected with the machine, substantially
as shown, to be changed at pleasure; all substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Third. In a machine for cutting soles and the like the improved form above
described consisting of main form a with inner and outer guiding surfaces and
supplemental form a" of thin sheet metal, making a form with three guiding surfaces,
two in the main form and the third the edge of the thin sheet metal form; all
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. In a machine for cutting soles and the like the knife block K made in
two parts in combination with knife holder k¹, attached by an arm to the upper
part of knife block K; a spring between the upper and lower parts of knife
block K, and an arm carrying a pattern roller and attached to the lower part of
knife block K; all substantially as specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.