Improvements in Lasting Machines for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1896

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by EDWARD BAYLIES SEAVEN, of No. 122 South Street,
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman.]
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 to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machines for wiping over the heel and toe portions of
a boot or shoe upper, upon the last upon which the upper is lasted; and it has for
its object, first, to provide for the proper lasting of the toe portion of the upper of
either a right or a left shoe, by the same appliances; secondly, to provide improved
means for adjusting and operating the wipers, which move forward in the direc-
tion of the length of the fast, and at the same time swing inwardly in opposite
directions, crosswise of the last; thirdly to provide a pressure device for pressing the
toe portion of the upper against the corresponding portion of the last, and shall
automatically conform in position to the shape or contour of the last on which it
operates, and to the differences that exist between right and left lasts.
Tho invention consists in the several improvements hereinafter described.
A machine embodying my invention has a supporting standard, on which is
mounted a fixed base-plate which supports an adjustable wiper-guide or bed. Said
bed is adapted to swing on the base, in the arc of a circle, whose centre is preferably
at about the centre of the curve of the toe of a last supported by the last-
holding devices hereinafter described, so that the direction of movement of the
wiping devices and their carrier may be changed to suit either right or left lasts.
This provision for changing the direction of the movement of the toe-wiping
devices is an important feature of the invention, and enables the toe-wipers to be
moved in a direction parallel with the median line of the bottom of the fore
part of either a right or a left last. This median line extends obliquely back
from the toe to the heel, toward one side of the last in a right last, and toward
the opposite side of the last in a left last. The object of this part of the invention
is to enable the movement of the toe-wipers to follow the said median line, in
each case, without adjustment of the last, and to enable the machine to be adjusted
so that when acting on left-hand lasts, the movemont of the toe-wipers may he
oblique in one direction, and when operating on right-hand lasts, said movement
may be oblique in the opposite direction, the movement in each case conforming
to the median line of the last.
The adjustable wiper-guide or bed is provided with a segmental rib upon its
under side, which rib enters a segmental slot in the fixed base-plate, the said rib
and slot being on the arc of a circle whose centre is at or near the centre of the
curve of the toe of a last supported in operative relation to the toe-wipers. The
adjustable bed is provided with guides, between which is fitted the slide or carrier
with which the toe-wipers are connected. The said wipers have segmental ribs
engaged with segmental slots in the wiper-carrier, said ribs and slots causing the

page_text: wipers to swing in circular arcs when the wipers are pressed forward. Sliding
racks are
provided, which are fitted to move in guides on the bed, and mesh with
pinions which are provided with studs fitted to rotate in bearings formed in the
carrier. Said racks are connected by links with the wipers. The pinions mesh
with a sliding rack having a screw-threaded socket meshing with a screw which
is journalled in a bearing on the bed, and has a hand-wheel. When the sorew is
rotated, it causes an adjustment of the wiper-plates toward or from each other,
as hereinafter explained. A carrier-operating lever is provided, which is pivoted
to the wiper-carrier, and is engaged with the adjustable bed by means of a pin
and a slot, said lever enabling the operator to move the carrier back and forth on
the bed. When the carrier is moved endwise by the lever, the adjustable rack
remaining stationary, the pinions moving forward with the carrier, roll on the
stationary rack, and impart an accelerated forward movement to the side-racks,
this motion being due to the bodily movement of the pinions with the carrier,
and to the rotation of the pinious on their own axes, caused by their engagement
with the stationary rack. This motion is imparted to the wipers by the links,
the wipers being thus caused to move forward with the carrier and to swing
inwardly toward each other, the segmental ribs moving in the segmental slot of
the carrier, constituting pivotal connections between the carrier and wipers. The
described forward and inward movements of the wipers causo them to properly
wipe the upper over upon the bottom of the last, the toe portion being wiped
backwardly, or lengthwise of the last, while the side portions are wiped inwardly,
or crosswise of the last.
The adjustable rack and its operating screw enable the operator to adjust the
wipers by swinging them toward or from each other, before moving them forward
by advancing the carrier. The jaws may bo thus adjusted to lasts of different
widths and shape, and may be caused to swing inwardly over the bottom of the
last, to any desired extent. The adjusting-screw holds the adjustable rack at the
desired adjustment, and when the carrier is moved forward, the wipers are swung
inwardly from the point to which they were adjusted, by the said ruck and screw.
Means are thus provided for adjusting the wipers toward and from each other,
before giving them the combined forward and inward movement which wipes the
upper over upon the last.
The segmental ribs on the wipers and the segmental slot in the carrier receiving
and guiding said ribs, may be termed "interlocked parts," or guiding members,
constituting a pivotal connection between the wipers and carrier, said connection
being strong and effective. The relative positions of said members may be
reversed, the wipers being provided with segmental slots, and the carrier with a
segmental rib.
To the rear end of the adjustable bed is pivotally connected a downwardly pro- 4
jecting nut, which engages an adjusting-screw, the shank of which is jourualled
to rotate in a bearing affixed to the base-plate, the said screw having an operating
crank or handle. The rotation of the screw causes the bed to swing upon the
base-plate, thus varying the direction of movement of the wiper-carrier and the
wipers, and enabling said movement to conform to the median line of the last.
being acted on. The wipers are thus caused to act uniformly upon the upper at
both sides of the last, wiping each edge of the upper equally over upon the bottoni
of the lust.
The flexible strap which presses the upper against the toe, and against the sides
of the fore part of the last, is composed of leather, or other suitable flexible 5
material, and is backed by inflexible curved arms or yoke-soctions, which are
pivotally connected together, and are provided with cars, with which are con-
nected bell-crauk levers, which are pivoted to a rocking bar. The inner ends of
the levers are connected by links with the inflexible arins, the links crossing each
other. The links and levers constitute equalizing connections between the 5
inflesible arms, which prevent unequal motion of said arms, and cause an equal

page_text: pressure of the end portions of the strap against both sides of the last. Without
said equalizing connections, there is liability of loose movement of the arms,
resulting in the displacement of the centre of the strap to one side or the other of
the median line of the fore part of the last. The rocking bar is of rigid couste-
tion, and supports the pivots of the two bell crank levers. Said bar is provided at
its contral portion with a stud or fulcrum, which is fitted to turn on a scat or
bearing formed for its reception on the supporting bed, the stud and its bearing
constituting a pivotal connection, which enables the bar to rock and assume
various positions, and to stand substantially at right angles with the median line
of the bottom of the last presented to it, whother the last ho a left or a right.
as
The last is supported by means of a heel-pin or rest, and a toe-rest. The heel-
pin, which is provided with mechanism for giving it a quick vertical adjustment
as hereinafter described, is supported in bearings on a swinging frame, which is
pivoted to cars on the fixed supporting standard, said frame being provided with
heel-wiping devices, comprising wipers and mechanism for operating the same.
The upper end of the heel-pin is formed to enter the spindle-socket in the last, and
its lower portion is screw threaded and is engaged with a nut which is journalled
in a bearing allixed to the frame and is provided with or formed
a part
bevel-gear meshing with a similar gear which is mounted
to rotate on a stud affixed to the bearing in which the nut is journalled, and is
provided with an operating handle. By rotating the gear having the operating
handle, the heel-pin will be rapidly raised or lowered by the resulting rotation of
the nut, provision being thus made for quickly raising and depressing the heel,
so that the heel portion of the last may be first raised to cause the heel-wipers to
first impinge upon the upper below the bottom of the last, and then lowered, to
permit the suid wipers to project over the bottom of the last, it being desirable
to repeat this movement several times in lasting the upper. It will be seen, there-
fore, that the provision of means for rapidly raising and depressing the heel-rest
enables the lasting of the heel portion of the upper to be more satisfactorily per-
formed than heretofore.
The described improvements relating to the means for operating the wipers and
for adjusting the position of the wipers and the path of their movement, may bo
applied to heel-wipers, as well as to toe-wipers.
Dated this 18th day of November 1906
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Lasting Machines for Boots and Shoes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
15 Sonthampton 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:-
This invention lats to machines for wiping over the heel and toe portions of
a boot or shoe upper, upon the last upon which the upper is lasted; and it has for
its object, first, to provide for the proper lasting of the toe portion of the upper of
either a right or a left shoe, by the same appliances; secondly, to provide improved
means for adjusting and operating the wipers, which move forward in the direc-
tion of the length of the last, and at the same time swing inwardly in opposite
directions, crosswise of the last; thirdly, to provide a pressure device for pressing the

page_text: which it operates, and to the differences that exist between right and left lasts.
The invention consists in the several improvements which I will now proceed
to describe and claim.
Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,―
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the principal parts of a lasting-machine
embodying my invention.
Figure 2 represents a section on line 2-2, Fig. 1.
Figure 3 represents a top plan view.
Figuro 4 represents a perspective view, showing a portion of a last and the upper
thereon, together with the toe-wipers in the act of wiping over upon the bottom
of the last.
Figures 5 and 5 represent views showing the relative positions of right and
left lasts in the machine.
Figure 6 represents an end view of a portion of the machine.
Figure 7 represents a top view of the last and of the devices for pressing the
toe of the upper against the last.
Figure 8 represents an edge view of one of the toe-wipers.
Figure 9 represents a top plan view, the wiper-carrier being removed to show
the mechanism below it.
Figure 10 represents a section on line 10-10, Fig. 9.
Figure 11 represents a top plan view of a portion of a lasting-machine provided
with my improvements.
Figure 12 represents a front elevation of the same.
Figures 13 and 14 represent views showing my improvements applied to a right
last and a left last.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
A machine embodying my invention has a supporting standard «, on which is
mounted a fixed base-plate b which supports an adjustable wiper-guide or bed b
Said bed is adapted to swing on the base in the arc of a circle whose center is
preferably at about the center of the curve of the toe of a last supported by the
last-holding devices hereinafter described, so that the direction of movement of
the wiping devices and their carrier may be changed to suit either right or left
lasts. This provision for changing the direction of the movement of the toe-
wiping devices is an important feature of the invention, and enables the toe-wipers
to be moved in a direction parallel with the median line of the bottom of the fore
part of either a right or a left last. This median line - extends obliquely back
from the toe to the heel, toward one side of the last in a right last and toward
the opposite side of the last in a left last . The object of this part of the invention
is to enable the movement of the toe-wipers to follow the said median line, and to
enable the machine to be adjusted so that when acting on left-hand lasts the move-
ment of the toe-wipers may be oblique in one direction, and when operating on
right-hand lasts said movement may be oblique in the opposite direction, the move-
ment in each case conforming to the median line of the last.
The adjustable wiper-guide or bed is provided with a segmental rib & upon
its under side, which rib enters a segmental slot b³ in the fixed base-plate, the said
rib and slot being on the arc of a circle whose center is at or near the center of
the curve of the toe of a last supported in operative relation to the toe-wipers.
The adjustable bed is provided with guides 6, between which is fitted the slide or
carrier with which the toe-wipers b are connected. The said wipers have
segmental ribs 8 engaged with segmental slots in the wiper-carrier, said ribs and
slots causing the wipers to swing in circular ares when the wipers are pressed for-
wand. Sliding racks are provided, which are fitted to move in guides on the
hed and mesh with pinions which are provided with studs b fitted to rotate
in bearings formed in the carrier. Said racks are connected by links with the

page_text: wipers be. The pinions
mesh with a sliding rack having a screw-threaded
socket meshing with a screw 63 which is journalled in a bearing on the bed,
und has a hand-wheel be. When the screw is rotated, it causes an adjustment of
the wiper-plates toward or from each other, as hereinafter explained. A carrior-
operating lever 69 is provided, which is pivoted at 610 to the wiper-carrier and is
engaged with the adjustable bed by means of a pin and a slot 613, said lever
enabling the operator to move the carrier back and forth on the bed. When the
carrier is moved endwise by the lever, the adjustable rack remaining stationary
the pinions moving forward with the carrier, roll on the stationary rack is
and impart an accelerated forward movement to the side-racks 620, this motion being
due to the bodily movement of the pinions with the carrier, and to the rotation of
the pinions on their own axes, caused by their engagement with the stationary rack.
This motion is imparted to the wipers 66 by the links 6, the wipers being thus
caused to move forward with the carrier and to swing inwardly toward each other,
the segmental ribs moving in the segmental slot of the carrier, constituting
pivotal connections between the carrier and wipers. The described forward and
inward movements of the wipers cause them to properly wipe the upper over upon
the bottom of the last, the toe portion being wiped backwardly, or lengthwise of
the last, while the side portions are wiped inwardly, or crosswise of the last.
The adjustable rack and its operating screw enable the operator to adjust
the wipers by swinging them toward or from each other, before moving them for-
ward by advancing tho carrier 6. The wipers may be thus adjusted to lasts of
different widths and shape, and may be caused to swing inwardly over the bottom
of the last, to any desired extent. The adjusting-screw holds the adjustable
rack at the desired adjustment, and when the carrier is moved forward, the
wipers are swung inwardly from the point to which they were adjusted, by the
said rack and screw. Means are thus provided for adjusting the wipers toward
and from each other, before giving them the combined forward and inward move-
ment which wipes the upper over upon the last.
The segmental ribs on the wipers, and the segmental slot in the carrier receiving
and guiding said ribs, may be termed "interlocked parts," or guiding membors,
constituting a pivotal connection between the wipers and carrier, said connection
being strong and effective. The relative positions of said members may be
reversed, the wipers being provided with segmental slots, and the carrier with a
segmental rib.
To the rear end of the adjustable bed is pivotally connected a downwardly pro-
jecting nut, which engages an adjusting-screw 15 the shank of which is
journalled to rotate in a bearing 16 affixed to the base-plate b, the said screw
having an operating crank or handle 6". The rotation of the screw causes the
bed bi to swing upon the base-plate b, thus varying the direction of movement of
the wiper-carrier and the wipers, and enabling said movement to conform to the
median line of the last being acted on. The wipers are thus caused to nel
uniformly upon the upper at both sides of the last, wiping each edge of the upper
equally over upon the bottom of the last.
The flexible strap which presses the upper against the toe, and against the
sides of the fore part of the last, is composed of leather or other suitable flexible
material, and is backed by inflexible curved arms or yoke-sections e c', which are
pivotally connected together at and are provided with cars c, with which are
connected bell-crank levers e' which in the construction shown in Figures 3, 7,
and 9 are pivoted at to arms or projections rigidly affixed to or formed on the
bed 6. The preferred construction, however, is that shown in Figures 11 to 14, in
which the levers are pivoted to a rocking har g. The inner ends of the levers
are connected by links with the inflexible arms c', the links crossing each
other. The links and levers constitute equalizing connections between the
inflexible arms e, which prevent unequal motion of said arms, and cause an equal
pressure of the end portions of the strap c against both sides of the last. Without

page_text: said equalizing connections, there is liability of loose movement of the arms c',
resulting in the displacement of the center of the strap to one side or the other of
the median line of the fore part of the last. The rocking bar g is of rigid construc-
tion, and supports the pivots of the two bell-crank levers c. Snid bar is provided
at its central portion with a stud or fulcrum g', which is fitted to turn on a seat or
bearing formed for its reception on the supporting bed, the stud and its bearing
constituting a pivotal connection, which enables the bar to rock and assume various
positions, and to stand substantially at right angles with the median line of the
bottom of the last presented to it, whether the last ho a left or a right.
The last is supported by means of a heel-pin or rest d, and a toe-rest. The
heel-pin d, which is provided with mechanism for giving it a quick vertical adjust-
ment, as hereinafter described, is supported in bearings on a swinging frame e,
which is pivoted at e to cars on the fixed supporting standard a, said frame
being provided with heel-wiping devices e, comprising wipers and mechanism for
operating the same. The upper end of the heel-pin is formed to enter the spindle-
socket in the last, and its lower portion is screw-threaded and is engaged with a
nut which is journaled in a bearing affixed to the frame and is provided
with or formed as a part of a level-gear meshing with a similar gear which is
mounted to rotate on a stud allixed to the bearing and is provided with an
operating handle. By rotating the gear, the heel-pin will be rapidly raised
or lowered by the resulting rotation of the nut, provision being thus mado for
quickly raising and depressing the heel, so that the heel portion of the last may
be first raised to cause the heel-wipers to first impinge upon the upper below the
bottom of the last, and then lowered, to permit the said wipers to project over the
bottom of the last, it being desirable to repeat this movement several times in
lasting the upper. It will be seen, therefore, that the provision of means for rapidly
raising and depressing the heel-rest enables the lasting of the heel portion of the
upper to be more satisfactorily performed than heretofore.
The described improvements relating to the means for operating the wipers and
for adjusting the position of the wipers and the path of their movement, may be
applied to heel-wipers, as well as to toe-wipers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In a lasting-machine, the combination of toe-lasting devices and a last-
supporting jack capable of a relative lateral movement about a center substantially
in vertical alignment with the central point of the toe of a last on the jack, mech-
anism for relatively laterally moving the toe-lasting devices and jack to change
the longitudinal inclination of the the-lasting devices aud jack to adjust the
tor-lasting devices for right and left shoes.
2. A lasting-machine having last-supporting devices, a lasting mechanism
comprising movable wipers and means for operating them, and a bed having means
for controlling the path of movement of said wipers, said bed being pivotally
mounted to swing in a plane parallel with the plane in which the wipers move,
and on a center coinciding with the toe or heel portion of a last supported by the
machine, so that the bed may be adjusted to conform the path of movement of
the wipers to the median line of the portion of the last with which the wipers
co-operate.
3. A lasting-machine having last-supporting devices, a lasting mechanism
comprising movable wipers and means for operating them, a bed having means
for controlling the path of movement of said wipers, said bed being pivotally
mounted to swing in a plane parallel with the plane in which the wipers move and
on a center coinciding with the toe or heel portion of the last supported by the
machine, so that the bed may be adjusted to conform the path of movement of the

page_text: wipers to the median line of the portion of the last with which the wipers
co-operate, and means for adjusting said bed and holding it in any position to
which it may be adjusted.
4. In a lasting-machine, a toe or heel lasting mechanism comprising a bed
pivotally connected to a supporting base and provided with guides, a carrier
movable in said guides, wipers connected with said carrier, and means for recipro-
cating the carrier, the pivotal connection of the bed to the base being arranged to
permit the bed to swing in a plane parallel with the plane in which the wipers
move and on a center coinciding with the too or heel portion of the last supported
by the machine, so that the bed may be adjusted to conform the path of movement
of the wipers to the median line of the portion of the last with which the wipers
co-operate.
5. In a lasting-machine, a too or heel lasting mechanism comprising a bed
pivotally connected to a supporting base and provided with guides, a carrier
movable in said guides, wipers connected with said carrier, means for reciproca-
ting the carrier, and means for swinging the bed on its pivot to change the direc-
tion of the guides, the pivotal connection of the bed to the base being arranged to
permit the bed to swing in a plane parallel with the plane in which the wipers
Love and on a center coinciding with the toe or heel portion of the last supported
by the machine, so that the bed may be adjusted to conform the path of move-
ment of the wipers to the median line of the portion of the last with which the
wipers co-operate.
6. In a lasting-machine, a too or heel lasting mechanism comprising a base or
support, a carrier movable thereon, devices for moving the carrior, wipers
pivotally connected with the carrier, mechanism operated by movements of the
carrier for giving the wipers an accelerated motion, and wiper-adjusting devices
co-operating with said mechanism, said devices heing independent of the carrier-
moving devices.
7. In a lasting-machine, a toe or heel lasting mechanism comprising a base or
support, a carrier movable thereon, wipers pivotally connected with the carrier,
pinions engaged with the carrier to move bodily therewith, an adjustable rack
mounted on the base between the pinions and meshing therewith, and connections
between the pinions and wipers whereby motion is imparted to the wipers.
8. In a lasting-machine, a toe or heel lasting mechanism comprising a base or
support, a carrier movable thereon, wipers pivotally connected with the carrier,
pinions engaged with the carrier to move bodily therewith, a rack secured to the
base and meshing with the pinions, sliding racks meshing with the pinions, and
links connecting said racks with the wipers.
9. In a lasting-machine, a too or heel lasting mechanism comprising a base or
support, a carrier movable thereon, wipers pivotally connected with the carrier,
pinions engaged with the carrier to move bodily therewith, a ruck secured to the
base and meshing with the pinions, means for adjusting and positively holding said
rack, and connections between the pinions and wipers whereby motion is imparted
to the wipers.
10. A lasting-machine having a flexible upper-pressing strap, arms supporting
said strap, equalizing connections between said arms, and a rocking bar sup-
porting said strap, arms, and equalizing connections, said bar having a central
pivotal support located under the central portion of the strap.
11. A lasting-machine having a flexible upper-pressing strap, arms supporting
said strap, levers pivoted to the outer portions of the arms and to a suitable support,
and links connecting the outer portions of said levers and the inner portions of the
arms.
12. A lasting-machine having a flexible upper-pressing strap, two strap-
supporting arms on the outer sides of the strap, levers pivoted to the outer
portions of the arms, links connecting the levers with the arms, and a rocking bar

page_text: to the ends of which said levers are pivoted, said bar having a central pivotal
support.
Dated this 25th day of June 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.